Rebuilding Hubs

[JMT]

What do I need to rebuild the front Dana 44 hubs on my 2005 Rubicon? I know there’s a bearing, just don’t know what else.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

There's no rebuilding the hubs that come on the TJ's front axle, they are sealed unit bearing hubs. They're replaced as an assembly and it's pretty easy to do. I'll give you a link to a 'how to' in a couple minutes if I can find it.

Edit: The old website (Stuoffroad) with those instructions is now apparently no longer around. I know it was sold but I expected to be able to find it archived somewhere but was unsuccessful. I sent an email to Stu to see if he has a better address for his former website. Sucks to have lost all the great how-to information he had on it!!!

 

[PRNDL]

Timken HA597449 Axle Bearing and Hub Assembly https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BZAF36/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Just ordered a pair for myself. Going to do them when I replace the axle joints.

 

[JMT]

There's no rebuilding the hubs that come on the TJ's front axle, they are sealed unit bearing hubs. They're replaced as an assembly and it's pretty easy to do. I'll give you a link to a 'how to' in a couple minutes if I can find it.

Ok, so I’ll need something like this hub assembly? Is there a preferred assembly?

https://www.nitro-gear.com/Jeep-Wrangler-TJ-Front-Wheel-Bearing-Hub-Assembly-p/ha597449.htm

 

[JMT]

Timken HA597449 Axle Bearing and Hub Assembly https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BZAF36/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Just ordered a pair for myself. Going to do them when I replace the axle joints.

Awesome! Thanks for link. I just got some spicer 5-760x u joints for the front axles too. Good time to do it all.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Yes that will work, it just bolts onto the axle so there is no setup and is held in place with just three bolts.

 

[JMT]

Yes that will work, it just bolts onto the axle so there is no setup and is held in place with just three bolts.

Awesome. Thanks Jerry!

 

[PRNDL]

Is the link to the assembly for a Rubicon Front Dana 44? Just want to make sure. Lots of reviews say Dana 30 and that axle is 27 spline, and I thought the Dana 44 was 30 spline. Who knows what Amazon does with reviews. Sometimes they are for mixed products.

The Dana 44 inner is 30 spline, the outer is 27. Everything outside the pumpkin shares Dana 30 characteristics.

That's what my research has shown, anyway. I can't anything about the Rubicon's using a different hub part number.

 

[PRNDL]

All list replacement shafts as 27 outers:
https://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p4...ter_axle_fits_2003_to_2006_jeep_wrangler.htmlhttps://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-18849300-dana-44-tj-rubicon-chromoly-axle-shaft-kit.htmlhttps://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8531608&cc=1425901&pt=10439&jsn=1940

 

[JMT]

The Dana 44 inner is 30 spline, the outer is 27. Everything outside the pumpkin shares Dana 30 characteristics.

That's what my research has shown, anyway. I can't anything about the Rubicon's using a different hub part number.

Yep, I forgot the outer was 27. Thanks. That part # came up correct on Summit too, so it’s right.

EDIT: I really miss TX for the people and wheelin

 

[PRNDL]

Yep, I forgot the outer was 27. Thanks. That part # came up correct on Summit too, so it’s right.

Had me panicking and questioning my research there for a minute!

 

[MountaineerTom]

There's no rebuilding the hubs that come on the TJ's front axle, they are sealed unit bearing hubs. They're replaced as an assembly and it's pretty easy to do. I'll give you a link to a 'how to' in a couple minutes if I can find it.

Edit: The old website (Stuoffroad) with those instructions is now apparently no longer around. I know it was sold but I expected to be able to find it archived somewhere but was unsuccessful. I sent an email to Stu to see if he has a better address for his former website. Sucks to have lost all the great how-to information he had on it!!!

I think most, if not all, of that stuff is here now.

https://jeepspecs.com/?s=TJ

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I think most, if not all, of that stuff is here now.

https://jeepspecs.com/?s=TJ

Great, I was on that site and looked for that section for quite a while and never found it. Thanks, I just bookmarked it!

 

[MountaineerTom]

Great, I was on that site and looked for that section for quite a while and never found it. Thanks, I just bookmarked it!

It is hard to find TJ related info on that site. It's not clearly advertised for some reason.

 

[rasband]

You could ~10x your price for lockable hubs that are rebuildable!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

@JMT I found the archived copy of Stu Olson's website, here's the part of it that shows how to get the unit bearing hub off. https://web.archive.org/web/20180303174901/http://www.stu-offroad.com/axle/Dana 30/axle-1.htm

Roam around his site, it's awesome! @Chris maybe we should add a link to his archived website https://web.archive.org/web/20180303164204/http:/www.stu-offroad.com/ to our resource section.

 

[Irun]

These aren't always necessary, but I've had the 12 point heads strip, due to seized bolts. Now, if I do any hub bearing, a new set of Spicer bolts go in. For $27, it's cheap insurance.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1531571312...d=link&campid=5337789113&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

 

[mrblaine]

The Dana 44 inner is 30 spline, the outer is 27. Everything outside the pumpkin shares Dana 30 characteristics.

That's what my research has shown, anyway. I can't anything about the Rubicon's using a different hub part number.

The Rubicon version does indeed use a different hub than some of the other TJs. Not due to it being a Rubicon but due to it being at least an 03. The early 27 spline unit bearing runs from 97-mid 99 or so. From mid 99 to 06 they run the slightly shorter 27 spline version to account for the switch to full cast rotors.

 

[PRNDL]

These aren't always necessary, but I've had the 12 point heads strip, due to seized bolts. Now, if I do any hub bearing, a new set of Spicer bolts go in. For $27, it's cheap insurance.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1531571312...d=link&campid=5337789113&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

Thanks for this. I was contemplating replacing the hub bolts. This is the voice of experience push that I needed.

 

[PRNDL]

The Rubicon version does indeed use a different hub than some of the other TJs. Not due to it being a Rubicon but due to it being at least an 03. The early 27 spline unit bearing runs from 97-mid 99 or so. From mid 99 to 06 they run the slightly shorter 27 spline version to account for the switch to full cast rotors.

Ah, thanks for the confirmation. I recall that now about the rotors from flipping through the BMB site.