Topic: Wheel Bearings

[chrisfranklin]

My 2.5L YJ has more than 140k miles on it and I've owned it for the last 75k of those miles. I seriously doubt that the first owner did any maintenance on the jeep other than regular oil changes.

During the time I've owned it, I've never replaced or repacked the wheel bearings.  Of course, I've also driven through water a bunch of times, etc. 

I was looking for some information on wheel bearing maintenance.  Some places are saying repack every 10,000 miles and replace every 30-40K miles.  What do you guys think/do? 

[oldjeep]

How would you repack the wheel bearings?  The rear axle bearings are lubricated by the diff oil, the front bearings are unit bearings which are sealed and non - servicable

[chrisfranklin]

How would you repack the wheel bearings?  The rear axle bearings are lubricated by the diff oil, the front bearings are unit bearings which are sealed and non - servicable

Good to know. I had an old YJ maintenance book that got trashed about a year ago, so I am guessing around on this. 

If the rear bearings are lubed by the diff fluid and fronts are sealed, what other kinds of lubrication work, if any, do you need to do on the chassis?

[oldjeep]

Change the tranny and transfercase fluid occasionally.  Diff fluids, especially if you have been playing in the water. 

If your balljoints have grease zerks, give them a shot of grease.  Same goes for tierod ends.  If your driveshaft and driveshaft u-joints have zerks give them a shot of grease.  That's about all the normal stuff I can think of.