Front diff bearing oddness, run it or replace it?

[ColoJeep]

Now I'm confused over the damn seal. All accounts say that Spicer 50660 is the one for a Dana 30 - BUT - some sources also claim that a 44895 is mo' bettah for a 2001-up version (mine's 2006). Nothing's ever straightforward...

I would stick with the 50660 , it has a lip on the O.D. to keep it from being over driven . The 44895 is driven in until it is flush with the casting . Either will work fine as long as you install them correctly. I have made marks on the pinion nut and pinion shaft and counted how many turn it took to unthread the nut when reusing the crush sleeve and nut . Then I tightened it just the tiniest bit more. Not saying this is text book , however I have had no issues doing it this way.
Hang in there , you can handle this Zorba !

 

[Zorba]

...replace them all . You have done most or the work already . Finish strong my friend .

That's precisely my plan - I got the carrier bearings on order (Timkin), and now, thanx to all the help here, the pinion bearings are coming too.

 

[Zorba]

I would stick with the 50660 , it has a lip on the O.D. to keep it from being over driven . The 44895 is driven in until it is flush with the casting . Either will work fine as long as you install them correctly. I have made marks on the pinion nut and pinion shaft and counted how many turn it took to unthread the nut when reusing the crush sleeve and nut . Then I tightened it just the tiniest bit more. Not saying this is text book , however I have had no issues doing it this way.
Hang in there , you can handle this Zorba !

50660 it is! Thanx.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Thanx guys - I can always rely on this forum and its inhabitants to (mostly) keep me out of trouble, and get me out of it when I've done something stupid. This is an adventure for sure. I have the tools on order, the carrier bearings on order, a certain tool from Home Depot that I'm going to modify, a bearing and seal press because it was cheap; so I think all I need are the bearings and the seal itself.

I do appreciate the help - I've done "light car work" all my life, but this is "heavier" by far, so its a new world. More stupid questions in the offing I'm sure...

It's great to see you digging into the "heavier" projects, Zorb. It's so nice to have a good group of knowledgeable friends here to help you get through, isn't it.

Next, you'll be doin' Tonz and Fodeez!

 

[macleanflood]

Next, you be doin' Tonz and Fodeez!

Nah you don't tell someone who just rebuilt their axles to replace them...

Stroker!

-Mac

 

[Zorba]

I thought it was "TUNS and fodeez"...

This project is a BFD for me. All kinds of tools incoming along with the bearings and seal. Also had to order some carbide drill bits to help with making the pinion hold tool. Of course, nobody local has them, at least not on a Sunday.

 

[hear]

I thought it was "TUNS and fodeez"...

This project is a BFD for me. All kinds of tools incoming along with the bearings and seal. Also had to order some carbide drill bits to help with making the pinion hold tool. Of course, nobody local has them, at least not on a Sunday.

I used a huge pipe wrench from HF, but it really didn't want to hold the yoke very well. I either braced it on the garage floor or on one of the control arms. Cant remember which, but I do recall thinking there has got to be a better way.

 

[Zorba]

I used a huge pipe wrench from HF, but it really didn't want to hold the yoke very well. I either braced it on the garage floor or on one of the control arms. Cant remember which, but I do recall thinking there has got to be a better way.

Yea, I don't wanna fool with a pipe wrench unless I just have to. Don't wanna hold it, don't trust it braced, blah, blah - I'm too fucking BIG to not simplify things as much as I can. I can't convince my one dance teacher to come and help - she has experience wrenching on cars, and is a runt, she'd fit under the Jeep better than I can.

 

[ColoJeep]

I used a huge pipe wrench from HF, but it really didn't want to hold the yoke very well. I either braced it on the garage floor or on one of the control arms. Cant remember which, but I do recall thinking there has got to be a better way.

I've used a REAL Ridgid pipe wrench a 4' pipe cheater to the floor and half a roll of Scotch 33+ to secure it in place . Always seem to work for me .

 

[Apparition]

I thought it was "TUNS and fodeez"...

This project is a BFD for me. All kinds of tools incoming along with the bearings and seal. Also had to order some carbide drill bits to help with making the pinion hold tool. Of course, nobody local has them, at least not on a Sunday.

 

[sab]

View attachment 681243

Hey, I got that one - yeah, me!

 

[Zorba]

Hey, I got that one - yeah, me!

Makes zero sense to me!

 

[ColoJeep]

Makes zero sense to me!

Think Chinese food and malt liquor .

 

[Zorba]

Think Chinese food and malt liquor .

I got that much - I guess I'm dense. Explain it in words of no more than 2 syllables...

 

[Apparition]

Makes zero sense to me!

Wontons and 40's

 

[machoheadgames]

Now I'm confused over the damn seal. All accounts say that Spicer 50660 is the one for a Dana 30 - BUT - some sources also claim that a 44895 is mo' bettah for a 2001-up version (mine's 2006). Nothing's ever straightforward...

I posted this last year:

The parts manual is a bit confusing and doesn't really clear this up, but RockAuto lists 44895 for Dana 44 and Dana 30 front reverse rotation, which would be the high pinion Dana 30, which the TJ did not have. 50660 is what RockAuto shows for normal Dana 30 (low pinion), which is what the TJ came with.

So 50660 for stock, 44895 for high pinion axle swaps.

I have used the 44895 on a high pinion 30 and it worked.

What's weird about the parts manual is that the 94-96 parts manual shows 83503390 for all applications, which means high pinion (XJ and YJ were both high pinion at the time).

97-99 XJ and 97-99 TJ parts manuals both show an update to 04746772, even though 97-99 XJ were high pinion and 97-99 TJ were low pinion.

I have a feeling the 97-99 parts manual was wrong on the XJ and should have continued listing 83503390 since it was high pinion through 1999.

 

[machoheadgames]

I use this to hold yokes. I find it to be better than a pipe wrench. Crush sleeves are very difficult to crush. Use a spicer one and you will probably want an impact. Underneath the Jeep my arms could not develop enough torque to crush the Dana 35 sleeve...I imagine the LP30 will be similar.

https://bleepinjeep.com/products/yoke-wrench-tool/

 

[Zorba]

Wontons and 40's

Firing squad at dawn...

 

[Zorba]

I use this to hold yokes. I find it to be better than a pipe wrench. Crush sleeves are very difficult to crush. Use a spicer one and you will probably want an impact. Underneath the Jeep my arms could not develop enough torque to crush the Dana 35 sleeve...I imagine the LP30 will be similar.

https://bleepinjeep.com/products/yoke-wrench-tool/

Well shit - I'm already down the rabbit hole of making it myself. Sigh...

 

[Zorba]

I posted this last year:

The parts manual is a bit confusing and doesn't really clear this up, but RockAuto lists 44895 for Dana 44 and Dana 30 front reverse rotation, which would be the high pinion Dana 30, which the TJ did not have. 50660 is what RockAuto shows for normal Dana 30 (low pinion), which is what the TJ came with.

So 50660 for stock, 44895 for high pinion axle swaps.

I have used the 44895 on a high pinion 30 and it worked.

What's weird about the parts manual is that the 94-96 parts manual shows 83503390 for all applications, which means high pinion (XJ and YJ were both high pinion at the time).

97-99 XJ and 97-99 TJ parts manuals both show an update to 04746772, even though 97-99 XJ were high pinion and 97-99 TJ were low pinion.

I have a feeling the 97-99 parts manual was wrong on the XJ and should have continued listing 83503390 since it was high pinion through 1999.

This conversation is giving me gas...

50660 on order.