Page 1 of 8 Front Wheel Bearings REPLACEMENT NOTE: Sodium-based grease is not compatible with lithium-based grease. Read the package labels and be careful not to mix the two types. If there is any doubt as to the type of grease used, completely clean the old grease from the bearing and hub before replacing. Cherokee/Wagoneer and Comanche 2WD MODELS 1. Raise and support the vehicle safely. 2. Remove the wheels. 3. Remove the caliper without disconnecting the brake line. Suspend it out of the way using a piece of wire to prevent damage. See Section 9 for additional service information. CAUTION Brake linings may contain asbestos. Asbestos is a known cancer-causing agent. When working on brakes, remember that the dust which accumulates on the brake parts may contain asbestos. Always wear a protective face covering, such as a painter's mask, when working on the brakes. NEVER blow the dust from the brakes or drum! There are solvents made for the purpose of cleaning brake parts. Use them! 4. Remove the grease cap, cotter pin, nut cap, nut, and washer from the spindle. Discard the cotter pin. Fig. 1: Exploded view of the 2WD hub and bearings 5. Slowly remove the hub and rotor. Catch the outer bearing as it falls. 6. Carefully drive out the inner bearing and seal from the hub, using a wood block.
Page 2 of 8 7. Inspect the bearing races for excessive wear, pitting or grooves. If they are cracked or grooved, or if pitting and excess wear is present, drive them out with a drift or punch. 8. Check the bearing for excess wear, pitting or cracks, or excess looseness. NOTE: If it is necessary to replace either the bearing or the race, replace both. Never replace just a bearing or a race. These parts wear in a mating pattern. If just one is replaced, premature failure of the new part will result. To install: 9. Thoroughly clean the spindle and the inside of the hub. 10. Pack the inside of the hub with high temperature wheel bearing grease. Add grease to the hub until it is flush with the inside diameter of the bearing cup. 11. Pack the bearings with the same grease. A needle-shaped wheel bearing packer is best for this operation. If one is not available, place a large amount of grease in the palm of your hand and slide the edge of the bearing cage through the grease to pick up as much as possible, then work the grease in until it squeezes through the bearing. 12. If a new race is being installed, very carefully drive it into position until it bottoms all around, using a brass drift. Be careful to avoid scratching the surface. 13. Place the inner bearing in the race and install a new grease seal. 14. Clean the rotor contact surface if necessary. 15. Position the hub and rotor on the spindle and install the outer bearing. 16. Install the washer and nut. 17. While turning the rotor, tighten the nut to 25 ft. lbs. (34 Nm) to seat the bearings. 18. Back the nut off 1 2 a turn. While turning the rotor, tighten the nut to 19 inch lbs. (2 Nm). 19. Install the nut cap and a new cotter pin. Install the grease cap. 20. Install the caliper. 21. Install the wheels. 4WD MODELS NOTE: If the hub is equipped with ball bearings, the entire unit must be replaced if defective. If the hub is equipped with tapered roller bearings, its internal components can be serviced or replaced as necessary. Fig. 2: Exploded view of the 4WD hub and bearings
Page 3 of 8 1. Raise and support the vehicle safely. 2. Remove the wheels. 3. Remove, but do not disconnect, the caliper. Suspend it out of the way. See Section 9 for additional service information. CAUTION Brake linings may contain asbestos. Asbestos is a known cancer-causing agent. When working on brakes, remember that the dust which accumulates on the brake parts and/or in the drum may contain asbestos. Always wear a protective face covering, such as a painter's mask, when working on the brakes. NEVER blow the dust from the brakes or drum! There are solvents made for the purpose of cleaning brake parts. Use them! 4. Remove the rotor. 5. Remove the cotter pin, nut retainer, axle nut and washer. Fig. 3: Remove the cotter pin...
Page 4 of 8 Fig. 4:... and the nut retainer Fig. 5: Loosen...
Page 5 of 8 Fig. 6:... then remove the nut... Fig. 7:... and washer
Page 6 of 8 6. Remove the 3 hub-to-steering knuckle attaching bolts. 7. Remove the hub/bearing carrier and the rotor shield. Fig. 8: Remove the hub-to-knuckle attaching bolts... Fig. 9:... then remove the hub assembly and rotor shield
Page 7 of 8 8. Using an arbor press, press the hub out of the bearing carrier. Special tools 5073 and 5074 are available for this job. Secure the carrier to the press plate with M12 x 1.75mm x 40mm bolts. 9. Cut and remove the plastic cage from the hub inner bearing. Using diagonal pliers or tin snips, cut the bearing cage. Discard the rollers after removing the cage. 10. Remove what remains of the inner bearing as follows: A. Install a bearing separator tool on the inner bearing. B. Position the separator tool and hub in an arbor press. C. Force the hub out of the inner bearing with press pin tool 5074. 11. Remove the bearing carrier outer seal and discard it. 12. Drive the inner bearing seal out and discard it. If you're using tool 5078, make sure that the word JEEP faces downward. 13. Attach press plate tool 5073 to the rear of the carrier. Secure it in the press using M12 x 1.75mm x 40mm bolts. 14. Position bearing race remover 5076 in the carrier bore between the inner and outer bearing races. 15. Position the press pin tool 5074 on tool 5076. 16. Place the bearing carrier in the press and force the inner bearing race from the carrier bore. Reverse the position of the carrier and tools and force the outer bearing race from the bore. To assemble and install: 17. Thoroughly clean all reusable parts with a safe solvent. Discard any parts that appear worn or damaged. 18. Attach press plate tool 5073 on the bearing carrier. Secure it in the press using M12 x 1.75mm x 40mm bolts. 19. Position the new outer bearing race in the bore. 20. Position bearing race installation tool 5077 on the race. Make sure that the word JEEP faces the downward. Press the race into the bore. The race should be flush with the machined shoulder of the carrier. 21. Position the new inner bearing race in the carrier bore. Reverse the position of the carrier and tools and force the inner race into the bore. 22. Thoroughly pack the new outer bearing with wheel bearing grease. Make sure that the bearing is fully packed. 23. Coat the race with wheel bearing grease and place the bearing in the bore. 24. Place the new outer seal on the bearing and position bearing installation tool 5079 on the seal.
Page 8 of 8 Place the carrier in the press and force the seal into the bore. Apply wheel bearing grease to the seal lip. 25. Insert the hub through the seal and outer bearing and into the bearing carrier bore. 26. Install bearing installation tool 5078 into the rear of the bearing carrier bore and place the race installation tool 5077 on the front of the hub. Make sure that the word JEEP on 5077 is facing the hub. 27. Place the assembly in the press and force the hub shaft into the carrier bore. 28. Pack the new inner bearing with wheel bearing grease. Make sure that the bearing is thoroughly packed. 29. Coat the inner seal lip with wheel bearing grease and place it on the inner bearing. 30. Coat the inner bearing race with wheel bearing grease. 31. Place the carrier in a press along with tool 5077. The word JEEP must face the hub. Position the bearing and seal in the carrier. Place seal installation tool 5080 on the seal. 32. Force the bearing and seal into the bore and onto the hub shaft. WARNING Use extreme care when forcing the assembly into position! The carrier must rotate freely after installation of the bearing! Do not attempt to eliminate bearing lash with the press. Final bearing preload is attained by tightening the drive axle nut. 33. Install the new outer seal on the carrier. 34. Thoroughly clean the axle shaft and apply a thin coating of lithium-based grease to the splines and seal contact surfaces. 35. Install the slinger, rotor shield and hub/bearing assembly on the axle shaft. 36. Coat the carrier bolt threads with Loctite. Install them and tighten to 75 ft. lbs. (102 Nm). 37. Install the rotor and caliper. 38. Install the washer and axle shaft nut. Tighten the nut to 175 ft. lbs. (237 Nm). 39. Install the nut retainer and cotter pin. NEVER back off the nut to install the cotter pin! ALWAYS advance it! 40. Install the wheel. Grand Cherokee/Grand Wagoneer 1. Raise and support the vehicle safely. 2. Remove the wheel. 3. Remove the caliper and rotor. 4. Remove the cotter pin, nut retainer and axle hub nut. 5. Remove the hub-to-knuckle bolts. Remove the hub from the steering knuckle. To install: 6. Install the hub to the steering knuckle. Tighten the bolts to 75 ft. lbs. (102 Nm). 7. Install the hub washer and nut. Tighten the nut to 175 ft. lbs. (237 Nm). Install the nut retainer and a new cotter pin. 8. Install the rotor and caliper. 9. Install the wheel and lower the vehicle.