Ok wife has a 99 Cherokee sport, front drivers side wheel bearing growling. I have only replaced wheel bearings before and never a hub assembly...when I called to get prices they all asked if I had composite or full cast rotors, is there a easy way to tell which ones I have? Also I have always replaced both sides when one goes out but theses are about $150 each alot more than just bearings, still a good idea to replace both or is one side OK?

Thanks!!!!

 

Funny post- I just had the same issue-but mine I belive is more. My jeep has Cast Rotors. The diffrence is that the hub will sit incorrect, thus the wheel wont sit correctly on the studs. Cast Rotor's are a a single unit, while compsit rotors are 2 pices, perhaps more. I was told this by the Jeep dealership parts center. I picked up a Hub for about that same price- I also had to replace my Axle U joint.

On my 99 Cherokee Sport, the Axle Nut is 39mm,
the 3 bolts on the back of the hub that holds every thing on is 13mm 12point. A breaker bar or ( air) would be best, also a torque wrench is adviseable, 3 hub bolts at 70lbs and the axle at 150lbs.

After I replaced my hub and Axle U joint I still have a grouling and houling noise. The Driveshaft is in good condition with its ujoints, the sound that I have gets higher with speed and sounds like its coming from my pumpkin.

Hope this helps

Best Regards
Mike

 

front axle nut should be 36mm, and if they aren't both bad just do one. the other might go bad next week , or next year. definately replace the u joint while you're there. otherwise 13mm 12point is a must.

don't do the cheapest part you can find either, i've had to deal with too many problems with cheap hub assemblies, such as auto zone.

 

Hi jpdocdave, not meaning to step on your toes, but my jeep is a 39mm for the axle nut- I had to use an inpact socket, does that change the size? again not ment to cause an uprising here.

Best regards
Mike.

 

no, no problem. but everyone i've done has been a 36. i do remember having to buy a socket for the ram trucks, maybe the newer ones are different. i remember just doing a newer one, 2000 or so and it was 36 also, but hey maybe yours is 39, i just wanted to make sure it wasn't a typo for someone gathering tools. be prepared for both i guess. i'm a mechanic, and i don't think i own a 39mm.

 

yes, the 39mm was quite hard to find luckly, the auto parts store had that in stock.


Best Regards
Mike

 

the hardest part about doing hubs is getting that nut off. i found it easiest to use air tools for it, if you don't have any go down to your local garage where you may or may not know someone and ask them to do it for you. other than that its pretty straight forward. make sure you clean the splines on the shaft before you put it back in, i used a q-tip and a clean rag to get all the junk off of it. since they are expensive, like was previously stated, just replace the bad one now and wait til the other one goes bad. unless you have the cash to blow on it, then you can do do both.

 

on my 2000 its a 36mm nut.

 

See this thread:
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=983264

Been down this road. Read the thread carefully - it correctly ID's the different rotors and, just as importantly, the different hub/bearings for the early vs. late 1999 XJ.

Rockauto.com has good bearings at a reasonable price. Ebay knockoffs are not highly regarded for quality.

I have only ever heard of 36mm axle nuts for the D30.

It is important to torque everything up to correct spec. Axle hub nut is - I believe - 175 ft lbs. Double check though. If you don't have a torque wrench that goes that high, bring it to a shop to have them give it the final snug. Dont' overtorque... can lead to premature wear-out... don't undertorque... can lead to premature wheel-falling-off.

 

Wow, great info everybody thank you! This is why this is the best Jeep forum out there....every time I ask a question I get great detailed answers quickly. Thanks again! Let everyone know how it turns out.

 

As for ebay hub/front wheel bearing assemblies I have found only 1 ebay store that sells good hubs. They sell Dorman hubs with Federal Mogul bearings. I have emailed or called just about every ebay store that sells hubs for the 91-98 XJ's..I personally would trust the Federal Mogul bearings myself. Timken bearings are made in China now not the US as they once were. Federal Mogul are US made bearings. Just some info and if anyone wants a link to the store let me know.

 

that was a pretty impressive tread there very use full. as for the question about do 1 or both just dependes on how long it will be before you do the other don't wait a year you want to do them around the same time.

 

Interesting. You know, I did Timkens from RockAuto last time and I don't recall where they were from... forgot to check I guess.

Hopefully I won't have to swap them out again for a while but I'll keep that in mind.

 

good year stated they could not correct my alignment based on the grease bearings wobble and may be going out any thoughts or ideas?

 

The difference in the rotors is easily visible, the cast has a sharp 90* shoulder the composite has a rounded shoulder.

Cast:


Composite: