Hub replacement

Alright, so the grinding noise at my feet turned out to be a hub. I replaced it but never took the time to take any pics. I felt guilty so I ordered another hub and replaced the other side. This time I took pics. So here goes.

Just so you don't think I'm full of crap, here's the invoice. $170 from the dealer. I figured if the OEM part lasted 80K miles, another would be just as good. I shopped around, the SKF part was $308 :mfr_omg:from the NAPA here in Cold Lake.



And the second new hub.



First things first, find a suitable place to work on the KJ. I have access to a pretty well equiped shop. Perks of being in the military, and seeing as I volunteer to manage the thing, I have my own key. So, at about 10 pm today I went to swap the hub.



I put my KJ up on a hoist. Removed the front wheel and was about here...



Remove the brake caliper and hang it from some wire or something. Don't let it dangle from the hose.



Next, remove the two 21mm bolts that hold the brake caliper adapter in place.



If you remove it slowly the pads will stay in place and be easier to put back on the knuckle when the time comes.

Now, with the rotor out of the way, remove the 36mm axle retaining nut.



Great, now you're ready for the little E Torx bit and a couple of extensions. The hub CAN be removed and replaced without removing the steering knuckle.





With all three bolts removed, fasten a hub puller if you have one, to the hub face. It's a giant slide hammer and makes yanking the hub uber easy. If you do not have a hub puller, a couple of good whacks against the side of the hub flange (with a brass drift or a punch) on the knuckle will be enough to break it free and you can pry it out. Use a pry bar on both sides and rock it out of the knuckle. If the hub is rusted into place, you will have to remove the knuckle and press the hub out.



All it took was a couple of solid whacks with the slide hammer to get the hub out. Now I'm staring at this bit, a hole where the hub used to be.



And this trainwreck of a hub was sitting on the floor.



The hub wasn't to beat up but it was on it's way out. I figured that swapping both at the same time was the best method of ensuring that I didn't have any trouble during a couple of the longish road trips I have planned this winter.

New hub is in...



During reassembly be certain to pay attention to the torque specs....

hub bolts x3... 96ft/lbs
axle nut ........100ft/lbs
brake caliper adapter... 100ft/lbs
caliper bolts 11ft/lbs

Enjoy.

Looks great, Ian! Thanks for that. It'll definitely be a help to people down the line.

Ummmm........Where are your other tires/wheels at?

mag03kj said:

Ummmm........Where are your other tires/wheels at?

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When it first started to make noise I went with the easy fixes first. Like take off the knobbly tires and put the Craplops back on. Just haven't swapped them back yet. Have to by Saturday morning, heading out with the CLAW (Cold Lake Area Wheelers) to Beartrap Lake. No roads.

Sweet. I'm sure this'll come in handy in a while. Thanks for the write up.

So you were drinking Tim Horton's coffee at 10 in the evening? ********.

Wow, Tom Jones works at your local Chrysler dealer? :smokin:

Nice right up Ian. I will be looking to do this in the near future.

Great write-up, thanks for the help!

Do you have to mess with any of the ABS stuff or wheel speed sensor?

what was that e-torx size?

sota said:

what was that e-torx size?

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Yea, what gives. does nobody want to give out any info anymore?

What's the size of that e-torx!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:whip:

Hang on, I'll look it up...

Size is (external torx socket) E-14.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=54492&p=612239



You're welcome.

yellocoyote said:

Size is (external torx socket) E-14.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=54492&p=612239



You're welcome.

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Thanks a BUNCH!!!!!!!

Thanks to pssb5a for a great post. Pictures were a big big help. I was able to knock the hub free with a large hammer tapping around from the inside of the lug plate. I did need a 3 jaw puller to get it off of the axle though. Other side slid right off once the hub was free. Still have a humming sound coming from the front end. Hope its just tires. '05 with 106k probably needed them anyway and got the disc pads replaced while I was in there. Dealer wanted $330 per side just for the part. Got TIMKENS for $160. each at Autozone.

great forum. really appreciated all the info replacing the fan resistor block too.

WOW parts are overpriced north of the border... BEST Canadian price I could find was online for $336... I can't imagine what a dealer would want. Awesome how-to though. I'll be doing my hub this weekend if it gets here in time.

Once your KJ's dead ... due you still hear the compliments?

Where are you IAN ....lmao

He's been in his kayak...

ndz said:

WOW parts are overpriced north of the border... BEST Canadian price I could find was online for $336... I can't imagine what a dealer would want. Awesome how-to though. I'll be doing my hub this weekend if it gets here in time.

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Check my invoice there partner. Cold Lake, Alberta, CANADA. Go to your dealer, unless of course you have ABS, price might be a way bit steeper.

To Luke and Jayme, yeah, been living debt free, driving a Jellybean (TBJ would be proud) and spending too much time outdoors. Saving to buy a house, which round these parts starts at about $300K.

No Jeep yet. :disgust:

What were all the symptoms of the hub going out, besides just feeling it in the floor?

Jake.Ski said:

What were all the symptoms of the hub going out, besides just feeling it in the floor?

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Some have play,some make noise,some have both play and noise,and some it takes a stethoscope to hear the noise.It all depends on many factores.

whats the easiest way of getting the axle nut off?