I'm replacing both of my hubs on my 98 xj soon. There real bad and I was looking for any helpful tips or tricks to make this easier. The torque specs and wrench sizes would be great as well. I have to buy the tools needed for this and its my only vehicle so I don't want any surprises when I go to do this. Thanks for any help you can give.

 

12pt 13mm socket or ratchet wrench, breaker bar or something to get leverage to break them lose, oh and the 34mm or whatever size it is socket to get the axle nut off.

and a rubber mallet

edit: if you have an impact gun it would make it that much easier as the bolts would come right out. I always forget this since I dont have a compressor

 

pretty easy job you can swap them both out in an hour or two

is also soak the 3 bolts on each side in pb blaster each day for a few days before you do it, those bolts tend to rust up

 

Any idea what the torque specs are on the axle nut? Or can I just tighten it up?

 

My most important advise on this one is to break loose the big axle-hub nut in the center of the hub B4 u disassemle anything. While the tire is still on the ground, if ur wheel has a big enuf whole in the center to let u get a socket on it that is. Otherwise, do it B4 u take the brakes apart. Have a buddy stand on the brake pedal, and u stand on the breaker bar, or vise-versa. It's Gunna be TIGHT. U might need a pipe to slip over the breaker bar. I don't remember what size it is, 34mm sounds about right. Also u HAVE to have a 13mm, 12pt socket to remove the 3 other, smaller bolts that come thru from the back side and holt the hub into the knuckle. A 6pt socket WILL NOT fit on them. They gunna be pretty snug to. If u use some PB Blaster and a good wire brush on the heads of these, b4 u start on them, it will greatly help ur socket not getting stuck on the bolts and causin u headaches. Idk how old (rusty) ur jeep is but mine is old and from Jersey so it's ALL rusty. Once u get the brakes off, and the HUB nut off, and the 3 - 13mm knuckle to hub bolts out, all that's left do is get the Hub out of the knuckle. Sometimes they slide right out. Sometimes they'll cause u to cuss a lot. @ this point a good Slide Hammer would be invaluable. I just use a big azz hammer and tap around it. When in doubt, hit it harder. If the Axle wants to come with it, don't get excited. That's ok.

The Torque Specs are:
Front axleshaft hub nut....................................... 175 ft-lbs.
Front hub assembly-to-steering knuckle bolts.......... 75 ft-lbs.
Wheel lug nuts.............................................. .... 75 ft-lbs.

MOST Important thing of all is to get ur Jeep safely supported on a good set of stands (no Mickey Mouse BS), on a good flat surface. Be Safe! Good luck! If ya got any other questions or problems, post up.

 

First and foremost, get TIMKEN hubs. You'll thank yourself later.

what you need:
the new hubs
new cotter pins (2.5" is a good length)
3/8 drive ratchet
1/2" drive 36mm socket (axle nut)
short 3/8" drive 12point 13mm socket (hub bolts)
deep 3/8" drive 12mm socket (brake caliper bolts)
lug nut socket
1/2" drive breaker bar
1/2" drive torque wrench
1/2" to 3/8" drive adapter
1/2" drive short extension
needle nose pliers
mallet (rubber or a 3lb sledge works well)
blue lock-tite
If you have a compressor, use it! Makes life much easier

1.Loosen your front lug nuts (if you have a large enough center hub on your rims, do step 5 and then loosen the axle nut, if not just go to step 2)
2. set the parking brake and chock a rear wheel
3. jack up the front of the vehicle and put jack stands under it
4. remove the front tires
5. remove the cotter pins and the nut cap
6. with someone else pressing teh brake pedal in, loosen and then remove the axle nut
7. remove the brake caliper (2 bolts) with 12mm socket and the rotor
8. remove the 3 hub bolts using the 12point 13mm socket
9. remove the hub. you may need to tap (don't smack) the back of it with a hammer (work around the hub) to get it out. If the axle shaft comes out too, keep the inner end elevated and slowly slide it back in.
10. put the new hub in (make sure the brake dust shield in in place properly) and put some lock-tite on the bolts when putting them back in. torque to 75 ft/lbs.
11. put the rotor and caliper back on.
12. Put the axle nut back on (if you needed someone to press the brake pedal in to remove it, you'll need them again so you can tighten it. torque to 175ft/lbs (if you're torque wrench only goes to 150ft/lbs, set it to that, then turn it past that another 3-4" at the end of the handle)
13. put the wheels back on, and hand tighten the lugs
14. raise the vehicle, remove the jack stands, and then slowly lower it until the tires have some weight on them. Torque lug nuts to 100-110 ft/lbs.
15. lower the vehicle completely, remove the wheel chock, and put all your tools away.

 

So why timken hubs? I can get 2 of an off brand for the same price as 1 of those. Are they a lot better or last longer?

 

MUCH better. They're stronger, they last longer, and have a really good warranty.

 

yea ther axle nut is hit or miss, ive done it where they came off real easy, and otherers wher eI needed some leverage to get it free.

 

Well thanks for all the impute I suppose I won't cheap out here and go for the good hubs. Thanks again for all the help

 

You're Welcome.