Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler YJ radiator

95 Rear Axle Bearing Damage

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Bri-Guy

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Joined
Mar 15, 2024
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Location
New Hampshire
My 95 YJ had a right rear axle bearing grind into the axle. With the cost of a new axle in mind, i'm curious if a machinist could fix this? How would he do it?
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A new or good used axle shaft is not super expensive, I’d just grab one of those and replace the bearing and roll on.

I wonder what allowed it to get to that point. Low on fluid?
 
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machoheadgames said:
A new or good used axle shaft is not super expensive, I’d just grab one of those and replace the bearing and roll on.

I wonder what allowed it to get to that point. Low on fluid?
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Not sure, possibly. The bearings themselves didn't seem to have any damage to them. It made a lot of noise though.
It's also possible that the hub part of the axle is bent, thanks to the many frost heaves and potholes in our local roads. Though it isn't perceptible to my naked eye.
I had a lady in another car get my attention. She said "It looks like your wheel is going to fall off!"
After looking things over, I can only find damage to the bearing surface of the axle, so not sure what is going on.
 
Bri-Guy said:
Not sure, possibly. The bearings themselves didn't seem to have any damage to them. It made a lot of noise though.
It's also possible that the hub part of the axle is bent, thanks to the many frost heaves and potholes in our local roads. Though it isn't perceptible to my naked eye.
I had a lady in another car get my attention. She said "It looks like your wheel is going to fall off!"
After looking things over, I can only find damage to the bearing surface of the axle, so not sure what is going on.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. Never seen that before, but who knows. Too bad this didn't happen a few months ago, as I tossed some D35 shafts when I moved. You should be able to find one relatively easily and cheap though on Facebook or similar.
 
I'll say that pitting is definitely caused by the bearing overheating, most likely due to lack of lubrication. The surface got really hot causing microscopic particles to break away which gets progressively worse until you get what you see there. You can have both pitting and a build up of metal if the bearing is copper like the ones in the engine.

My crank and cam shaft journals looked just like that when the engine was run without oil.
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler YJ radiator
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