Derek Parker

Hey guys im new here and really need some help fast i was driving my 2004 jeep GC 4.0 tonight to work it has the selector 4x4 2wheel 4high and 4 low beside gear shift and i heard a weird grinding noise and my front tires locked up. So right there i removed front drive shaft to see if it was front diff or T case and wheels are locked up forward and reverse. I am assuming pinion gear maybe but is there a temporary fix in order to drive it until i can replace either pinion and bearing or just replace front end completely with new axle. Can i remove cv axles and drive it with front tires free spinning qnd if anyone has any ideas on what to check to make sure its my pinion or something else please let me know thanks guys in advance

4.3L XJ

You can remove the axles, but you will have to take them apart and reuse the stub shafts to hold the unit bearing together. If you do, make sure it is in 2 wheel drive. I would also remove the front drive shaft too.

Derek Parker

Ok thanks very much and by stub shafts are you referring to the smaller side that the axle nut tightens down on? And do you by chance know what size that axle nut is thanks again for the response

4.3L XJ

Most axle nuts are 36mm. I use the english equivalent that is close and it works fine

dave1123

They are also torqued to around 150 lb/ft. I think the ones on my 2000 WJ are 125 lb/ft. but I'm not sure. You can stick a LARGE screwdriver into the rotor vent holes to hold it in place, prying against the caliper bracket.