Where are my dogs at- took the CJ in for allignment

[cfgraneto1118]

Bad news all around....
First, there is something wrong in the front passenger hub. Tire guy recommended that a Transmission guy look at it. It was beyond his "pay grade." and out of his prevue. So we have a hub and axle question. (yes, I know. I need to be more specific. But given the nature of most of my post, even IO understands that I have to vent before we can deduce what is actually going on here....Please bare with me. I will know more tomorrow, when I show up at the shop.)

Secondly, there is way too much play in the steering box. He asked me to find the replacement part, given that all he could get was what sounded like an Italian, decora or deborra rebuild, which he says would not really be an improvement.

I being the internet whore and idiot that I am scoured the interweb and found the AGR super box 2 and the M.O.R.E. mounting bracket. (Yes, I read the post about the "Saginaw series 800 HD" but ,.....) Am I being stupid here?

I use this baby as a daily driver, and given that I have come back east I am on the highway a lot more than I was in California. I like the idea of something that makes this baby a little easier to handle close to fifty five.

I want something that is a straight swap. Don't have time for switching fittings and lines. I am willing to drill the third mounting hole that the bracket requires. I will be risking burns and blindness but I am used to that.

But what about my front axle, should I just go for a straight rebuild? I won't be hitting trails before the spring of next year. I have the money, it's not the question. The question is: simple nuts and bolts mechanics or should I just go all in and replace the front Dana 20 ?

All opinions and help are appreciated, as usual
GREATLY APPRECIATED

 

[cfgraneto1118]

Bad news all around....
First, there is something wrong in the front passenger hub. Tire guy recommended that a Transmission guy look at it. It was beyond his "pay grade." and out of his prevue. So we have a hub and axle question. (yes, I know. I need to be more specific. But given the nature of most of my post, even IO understands that I have to vent before we can deduce what is actually going on here....Please bare with me. I will know more tomorrow, when I show up at the shop.)

Secondly, there is way too much play in the steering box. He asked me to find the replacement part, given that all he could get was what sounded like an Italian, decora or deborra rebuild, which he says would not really be an improvement.

I being the internet whore and idiot that I am scoured the interweb and found the AGR super box 2 and the M.O.R.E. mounting bracket. (Yes, I read the post about the "Saginaw series 800 HD" but ,.....) Am I being stupid here?

I use this baby as a daily driver, and given that I have come back east I am on the highway a lot more than I was in California. I like the idea of something that makes this baby a little easier to handle close to fifty five.

I want something that is a straight swap. Don't have time for switching fittings and lines. I am willing to drill the third mounting hole that the bracket requires. I will be risking burns and blindness but I am used to that.

But what about my front axle, should I just go for a straight rebuild? I won't be hitting trails before the spring of next year. I have the money, it's not the question. The question is: simple nuts and bolts mechanics or should I just go all in and replace the front Dana 20 ?

All opinions and help are appreciated, as usual
GREATLY APPRECIATED

Dana 30 front axle

 

[Old Dog]

By hub do you meen the locking hub or the hub that has the wheel bearings in it.

 

[JR74CJ5]

When you get it today, post what the actual problem is.

IE: It's wobbly, grinding, hard to turn, doesn't engage... etc.

If Tire guy said something is wrong, ask him to explain further... Or if you took it to him to diagnose a problem, what problem were you having?

Then we can start giving you some pointers.




~ JR

 

[cfgraneto1118]

By hub do you meen the locking hub or the hub that has the wheel bearings in it.

Wheel bearings hub. The locking hubs, I am told are fine.

 

[Old Dog]

I would think you could replace the hub (and maybe spindle) if needed
cheaper than getting a whole new axle. It's not a bad job to change them.
The only thing I can think of that could go wrong is if you spun a bearing.

 

[cfgraneto1118]

Ok so I picked it up. Here's what's going on. I took it in to get an alignment. (Last week on my way to work, driving my friends Toyota, I had a blow out on the interstate and wound up crashing into the guard rail with my front end facing north on a southbound Interstate. So, I have had a lot of play in the steering for a while and had really thought nothing about it. It always felt like you were driving a tractor. Little or no immediate reaction when I turn the steering wheel and then it felt like it would ride, or glide over and one would have to compensate, but not too much or it would skip back over to where you started. It was shakey....But I haven't been doing a lot of highway driving. The accident made me acutely aware that the truck was dangerous especially at higher speeds.)

So I took it in. The allignment guy told me two things:
firstly, the steering box was shot. There was way to much play in it. He suggested that I find the replacement steering box since all he had access to was a re-build which he had never had any luck with. Essentially putting back in what was there before and there was never any difference. He pointed me to Saginaw series 800 HD or the AGR superbox 2. I went with the superbox and got it from summit racing along with the MORE HD mounting bracket.

Second: the wheel bearing need to be replaced or repacked on the passenger front. he suggested having the entire front axle serviced/overhauled and all the wheel bearings repacked. My question is: is it worth it to do this or should I swap out the front axle now? Took it to my old friend the local mechanic and he said, just do the service and the repacking. No sense in spending the money on the upgrade. Is he right. He said for the service and the repacking/replacing of the wheel bearings about three hundred to four hundred. Does this sound reasonable? Am I thinkning about this the right way?

 

[JR74CJ5]

Replacing wheel bearings is very easy. Packing them also. You need 2 special tools. Hub socket, and snap ring pliers.

Other than that its just an afternoon.

Now if you are wanting to take both axles out, carrier out, and rep[lace inner and outer seals, at the same time, its a little more complicated, but no where near as bad as you think.

If you do want to just pay to have it done right, it is reasonable as far as the pricing in my oppinion. These guys make good labor rates, the parts are cheap, but they have to make the business some dough too.

So all in all not that bad.

Now if he was charging you 3-400 to pack your wheel bearing, I'd say no.



~ JR

 

[Old Dog]

I just rebuilt my 30 a month or so ago. New wheel bearings, spindle bearings, and all new seals. Parts came to app. $175.

 

[86 Tex CJ]

I have a front passenger side wheel bearing that needs replacing (86 CJ7 , Dana 30 ). I believe the bearing 'spun', it looks like a war zone - see video on YouTube if interested entitled "CJ7 front wheel bearing 1 001" by CJ Main at the link below. There are 4 more short clips of 1 to 2 minutes each that show the problem... "CJ7 front wheel bearing 2 001" , "CJ7 front wheel bearing 3 001", "CJ7 front wheel bearing 4 001", "CJ7 front wheel bearing 5 001". My question is "where do you suggest purchase of wheel bearings?

CJ7 front wheel bearing 1 001 - YouTube

 

[hole]

Napa

 

[cfgraneto1118]

I have a front passenger side wheel bearing that needs replacing (86 CJ7 , Dana 30 ). I believe the bearing 'spun', it looks like a war zone - see video on YouTube if interested entitled "CJ7 front wheel bearing 1 001" by CJ Main at the link below. There are 4 more short clips of 1 to 2 minutes each that show the problem... "CJ7 front wheel bearing 2 001" , "CJ7 front wheel bearing 3 001", "CJ7 front wheel bearing 4 001", "CJ7 front wheel bearing 5 001". My question is "where do you suggest purchase of wheel bearings?

CJ7 front wheel bearing 1 001 - YouTube

NAPA