Jeep Cherokee (XJ): Drive axle assembly. Tube axle assembly. Axle shaft-cardan U-joint
Drive axle assembly
REMOVAL
- Raise and support the vehicle.
- Position a suitable lifting device under the
axle.
- Secure axle to device.
- Remove the wheels and tires.
- Remove the brake rotors and calipers from the
axle. Refer to Group 5, Brakes, for proper procedures.
- Disconnect the wheel sensor wiring harness
from the vehicle wiring harness, if necessary.
- Disconnect the vent hose from the axle shaft
tube.
- Mark the propeller shaft and yoke for installation
alignment reference.
- Remove propeller shaft.
- Disconnect stabilizer bar links at the axle.
- Disconnect shock absorbers from axle brackets.
- Disconnect track bar.
- Disconnect the tie rod and drag link from the
steering knuckle. Refer to Group 2, Suspension, for
proper procedures.
- Disconnect the steering damper from the axle
bracket.
- Disconnect the upper and lower suspension
arms from the axle brackets.
- Lower the lifting device enough to remove the
axle. The coil springs will drop with the axle.
- Remove the coil springs from the axle.
INSTALLATION
CAUTION: The weight of the vehicle must be supported
by the springs before suspension arms and
track bar fasteners can be tightened. If the springs
are not at their normal ride position, ride height and
handling could be affected.
- Install the springs and retainer clips. Tighten
the retainer bolts to 21 N·m (16 ft. lbs.) torque.
- Support the axle on a suitable lifting device
and position axle under the vehicle.
- Raise the axle and align it with the spring
pads.
- Position the upper and lower suspension arms
in the axle brackets. Loosely install bolts and nuts to
hold suspension arms to the axle brackets.
- Connect the vent hose to the axle shaft tube.
- Connect the track bar to the axle bracket.
Loosely install the bolt to hold the track bar to the
axle bracket.
- Install the shock absorbers and tighten the
bolts to 23 N·m (17 ft. lbs.) torque.
- Install the stabilizer bar links to the axle
brackets. Tighten the nut to 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.)
torque.
- Install the drag link and tie rod to the steering
knuckles. Refer to Group 2, Suspension, for proper
procedures.
- Install the steering damper to the axle
bracket and tighten the nut to 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.)
torque.
- Install the brake rotors and calipers. Refer to
Group 5, Brakes, for the proper procedures.
- Connect the wheel speed sensor wiring harness
to the vehicle wiring harness, if necessary.
- Align the previously made marks on the propeller
shaft and the yoke.
- Install the straps and bolts to hold the propeller
shaft to the yoke.
- Check and fill axle lubricant. Refer to the
Lubricant Specifications in this group for the quantity
necessary.
- Install the wheel and tire assemblies.
- Remove the lifting device from the axle and
lower the vehicle.
- Tighten the upper suspension arm nuts to 75
N·m (55 ft. lbs.) torque. Tighten the lower suspension
arm nuts to 115 N·m (85 ft. lbs.) torque.
- Tighten the track bar bolt at the axle bracket
to 100 N·m (74 ft. lbs.) torque.
- Check the front wheel alignment.
Tube axle assembly
REMOVAL
- Raise and support the vehicle.
- Position a suitable lifting device under the
axle.
- Secure axle to device.
- Remove the wheels and tires.
- Remove the brake rotors and calipers from the
axle. Refer to Group 5, Brakes, for proper procedures.
- Disconnect the wheel sensor wiring harness
from the vehicle wiring harness, if necessary.
- Disconnect stabilizer bar links at the axle.
- Disconnect shock absorbers from axle brackets.
- Disconnect track bar.
- Disconnect the tie rod and drag link from the
steering knuckle. Refer to Group 2, Suspension, for
proper procedures.
- Disconnect the steering damper from the axle
bracket.
- Disconnect the upper and lower suspension
arms from the axle brackets.
- Lower the lifting device enough to remove the
axle. The coil springs will drop with the axle.
- ) Remove the coil springs from the axle.
INSTALLATION
CAUTION: The weight of the vehicle must be supported
by the springs before suspension arms and
track bar fasteners can be tightened. If the springs
are not at their normal ride position, ride height and
handling could be affected.
- Install the springs and retainer clips. Tighten
the retainer bolts to 21 N·m (16 ft. lbs.) torque.
- Support the axle on a suitable lifting device
and position axle under the vehicle.
- Raise the axle and align it with the spring
pads.
- Position the upper and lower suspension arms
in the axle brackets. Loosely install bolts and nuts to
hold suspension arms to the axle brackets.
- Connect the track bar to the axle bracket.
Loosely install the bolt to hold the track bar to the
axle bracket.
- Install the shock absorbers and tighten the
bolts to 23 N·m (17 ft. lbs.) torque.
- Install the stabilizer bar links to the axle
brackets. Tighten the nut to 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.)
torque.
- Install the drag link and tie rod to the steering
knuckles. Refer to Group 2, Suspension, for proper
procedures.
- Install the steering damper to the axle bracket
and tighten the nut to 75 N·m (55 ft. lbs.) torque.
- Install the brake rotors and calipers. Refer to
Group 5, Brakes, for the proper procedures
- Connect the wheel speed sensor wiring harness
to the vehicle wiring harness, if necessary.
- Install the wheel and tire assemblies.
- Remove the lifting device from the axle and
lower the vehicle.
- Tighten the upper suspension arm nuts to 75
N·m (55 ft. lbs.) torque. Tighten the lower suspension
arm nuts to 115 N·m (85 ft. lbs.) torque.
- Tighten the track bar bolt at the axle bracket
to 100 N·m (74 ft. lbs.) torque.
- Check the front wheel alignment.
Axle shaft-cardan U-joint
Single cardan U-joint components are not serviceable.
If defective, they must be replaced as a unit. If
the bearings, seals, spider, or bearing caps are damaged
or worn, replace the complete U-joint.
REMOVAL
CAUTION: Clamp only the narrow forged portion of
the yoke in the vise. Also, to avoid distorting the
yoke, do not over tighten the vise jaws.
- Remove axle shaft.
- Remove the bearing cap retaining snap rings
(Fig. 4).
It can be helpful to saturate the bearing caps
with penetrating oil prior to removal.
- Locate a socket where the inside diameter is
larger in diameter than the bearing cap. Place the
socket (receiver) against the yoke and around the
perimeter of the bearing cap to be removed.
- Locate a socket where the outside diameter is
smaller in diameter than the bearing cap. Place the
socket (driver) against the opposite bearing cap.
- Position the yoke with the sockets in a vise
(Fig. 5).
Fig. 4 Axle Shaft Outer U-Joint
1 - SHAFT YOKE
2 - BEARING CAP
3 - SNAP RINGS
4 - BEARING CAP
5 - SPINDLE YOKE
6 - BEARING
7 - BEARING CAP
8 - SNAP RINGS
9 - BEARING CAP
Fig. 5 Yoke Bearing Cap Removal
1 - LARGE-DIAMETER SOCKET WRENCH
2 - VISE
3 - SMALL-DIAMETER SOCKET WRENCH
- Compress the vise jaws to force the bearing cap
into the larger socket (receiver).
- Release the vise jaws. Remove the sockets and
bearing cap that was partially forced out of the yoke.
- Repeat the above procedure for the remaining
bearing cap.
- Remove the remaining bearing cap, bearings,
seals and spider from the propeller shaft yoke.
INSTALLATION
- Pack the bearing caps 1/3 full of wheel bearing
lubricant. Apply extreme pressure (EP), lithium-base
lubricant to aid in installation.
- Position the spider in the yoke. Insert the seals
and bearings. Tap the bearing caps into the yoke
bores far enough to hold the spider in position.
- Place the socket (driver) against one bearing
cap. Position the yoke with the socket wrench in a
vise.
- Compress the vise to force the bearing caps
into the yoke. Force the caps enough to install the
retaining clips.
- Install the bearing cap retaining clips.
- Install axle shaft.
Other materials:
Diagnosis and testing
General information
Axle bearing problem conditions are usually caused
by:
Insufficient or incorrect lubricant.
Foreign matter/water contamination.
Incorrect bearing preload torque adjustment.
Incorrect backlash.
Axle gear problem conditions are usually the resu ...