Jeep Rear axle Replacement SCRubicon

[SCRubicon]

This was an easy enough task, but it was damn cold today in the shady driveway. (not enough width in the 1 car garage to do it)

I picked up my parts yesterday afternoon in Ork.(Boulder) Pollard has decent internet pricing on Mopar replacement parts and pieces - http://www.mopar-parts-dealer.com/parts.htm The complete axle shaft assembly would have been $405 at a more local stealership. Pollard's internet price was $324 plus tax for local pickup. Could have shipped it to my front door for $5 more, but I wanted my parts yesterday not Tuesday. This price included everything - axle shaft, studs, retaing plate, ABS tone ring, seals and bearings. The best part? It was already all pressed together!


Here we go...

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/smfwookie/JeAx/DSCN5171.jpg

You have to tilt the axle housing up, or you're going to have a mess of diff fluid draining out.

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/smfwookie/JeAx/DSCN5173.jpg

Pointing at the nuts and bolts (this is not all of them) that have to come off to remove the axle shaft. They are the bolts that hold the caliper on and the retaining plate nuts.

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/smfwookie/JeAx/DSCN5175.jpg

Now that the caliper and brake disc are off the next thing to get out of the way is the ABS tone ring sensor.

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/smfwookie/JeAx/DSCN5176.jpg

One small bolt to remove.

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/smfwookie/JeAx/DSCN5178.jpg

Sensor from the front side.

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/smfwookie/JeAx/DSCN5177.jpg

Once the four retaining plate nuts are removed the axle shaft assembly slides right out with a little tug.

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/smfwookie/JeAx/DSCN5180.jpg

Here's a look down the axle tube...

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/smfwookie/JeAx/DSCN5181.jpg

The new assembly in after hi-temp greasing the bearings. If the axle shaft splines are not lined up properly you'll know because the shaft won't go all the way home. There is no need to hammer it in.

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/smfwookie/JeAx/DSCN5182.jpg

Tighten the four bolts on the retaining plate to spec, put the ABS sensor back in place, slide the brake rotor on (don't forget to spray on some brake cleaner), bolt the caliper on and replace the wheel.

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/smfwookie/JeAx/DSCN5170.jpg

Ta-daaaa! :D

[Popsgarage]

Not bad at all. I know all about the shady driveway. Homes with northern exposures suck. How'd ya bend the shaft in the first place?

[SCRubicon]

How'd ya bend the shaft in the first place?

Being a lead foot idiot... Late night Lakewood drift out of my buddy's crescent shaped driveway about 10-11 days ago on the fresh snow. It was either eat the curb sideways or plow straight into a fire hydrant. Maybe it was a bad idea to wire in that traction control cut off switch after all? :lmao:

[Popsgarage]

Maybe!!!:lmao::lmao:

[Aaron]

Great info! A good,one for the tech section Pete.

[glacierpaul]

Being a lead foot idiot... Late night Lakewood drift out of my buddy's crescent shaped driveway about 10-11 days ago on the fresh snow. It was either eat the curb sideways or plow straight into a fire hydrant. Maybe it was a bad idea to wire in that traction control cut off switch after all? :lmao:

Nice fix Steve! I have been playing around with the trac control on and off, messing around up here to see the difference. Nice to see how easy the fix is :)

[Java]

really like your Jeep, I've been casually shopping for one and the 2-door rubicon JK is where i'm leaning. the new axle shaft is purty.

are the control arms stock? I noticed the tubular lower one, is that what Jeep is using now? they just keep getting better...

[SCRubicon]

Nice fix Steve! I have been playing around with the trac control on and off, messing around up here to see the difference.

The switch I put in kills it completely.(ABS goes out too) I got the link/instructions years ago from another JK driver who found it on a Mopar forum. What sucks about the 2007 model is the traction control is either full on or only partially off when you use the factory button. There's no way around it. Without this little mod the Georgetown Ice Races are frustrating. You step on the gas and the computer cuts the throttle when the wheels spin. Automatic limp mode and no go.


are the control arms stock? I noticed the tubular lower one, is that what Jeep is using now? they just keep getting better...

They are stock. IIRC the TJ models used some sort of stamped/pressed upper and lower control arms. These are all together different.