After changing tires on my '98 GC, I have a lot less tire noise but now notice what seems to be a rear axle bearing noise.My questions are-
how do I I.D. which axle it is
what type are the axle bearings (needle or roller)
if needle, are these things bad about cratering the axle ( like the GM'S in the past?) Thanks

 

 

very much.

 

Just saved that chart. Thanks for posting it.

 

It's either a dana 35 or an 8.25. The D35 has "dana" stamped on the cover. Shouldn't be too hard to see unless you got a lot of **** on there lol

 

If you have the V8 you have the D44a, if you have the I6 you have the D35. The Grand Cherokee never had the Chrysler 8.25 from the factory.

 

I just noticed he said grand cherokee lol. My bad

 

some guys claim there was a handful that left the factory with the 8.25, but noones ever actually seen one.

 

Until I see one, I'm sticking to my statement above.

 

up and down movement on D/S is .007-hello new axle. Ain't them needle bearings grand? Thanks for your help.

 

If you're talking about the pinion bearings, I do not believe they are needle bearings. Tapered roller, maybe, but I believe they are ball.

 

here. Pass. side bearing shows .0007-.0001" up and down move according to my handy-dandy Starret dial indicator. I'm almost afraid to check the pinion bearing now. According to pics. on Rock Auto site, they are the da**n needle bearings, and I've seen plenty of them eat the axles on GM. I'm debating now whether to replace both axles. This GC has 181,000 miles and I prefer it our new one, (not so my wife though). I wish now I had never started to fix this thing after a collision in which the ins. co. totaled it. But hey, the damage was an easy fix and I needed something to do.

 

All diffs use tapered roller bearings for the pinion and carrier bearings and roller bearings for the axles for semi-floating C clip axle designs, full floating axles use tapered roller bearings at the hubs.