Swapping rear axle housing

Devallee

Devallee

New member
Is there more to it other than just jacking the body up and unbolting the 4 control arm bolts, shocks, track bar and driveshaft and dropping the axle? Minus all the little stuff of course like brakes and whatnot. Best quote I got is $400 to unbolt the rear housing and swapping in a completely bolt-in ready housing and I'm really not sure if it's worth it or not. I've changed my springs and shocks in the past so I've done everything listed above before other than the control arm bolts. Am I missing something?
 
jkrichard

jkrichard

New member
Looks like about it, sway bar is the only thing to add but all of those things are easy enough. If the guts are already in the new axle I'd save myself a few hundred bucks and get a case of beer, maybe a friend too for the heavy bits.

That said, I don't let anyone touch my jeep... unless it is one mechanic that now lives too far away to go to.
 
Heavyhaul07

Heavyhaul07

New member
It's really not to hard to do. You basically have the jest of it. Just take your time. You'll have a vent tube parking brake cables brake line. Grab a case of your favorite beverage and go to town. Just remember to bleed the rear brakes and tighten everything up when done.


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aermotor

aermotor

Member
The rear is a lot easier to do than the front at least. Plan to spend 3-6 hours (or more) doing it though. $400 isn't a lot really if you don't want the headache (but I wouldn't pay it). Grab a friend and do it in an afternoon. It's as straight forward as you describe, it's just cumbersome at times.
 
cozdude

cozdude

Guy with a Red 2-Door
Devallee said:
Is there more to it other than just jacking the body up and unbolting the 4 control arm bolts, shocks, track bar and driveshaft and dropping the axle? Minus all the little stuff of course like brakes and whatnot. Best quote I got is $400 to unbolt the rear housing and swapping in a completely bolt-in ready housing and I'm really not sure if it's worth it or not. I've changed my springs and shocks in the past so I've done everything listed above before other than the control arm bolts. Am I missing something?
Click to expand...

Nope that's it and it's pretty simple.
 
wayoflife

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Devallee said:
Is there more to it other than just jacking the body up and unbolting the 4 control arm bolts, shocks, track bar and driveshaft and dropping the axle? Minus all the little stuff of course like brakes and whatnot. Best quote I got is $400 to unbolt the rear housing and swapping in a completely bolt-in ready housing and I'm really not sure if it's worth it or not. I've changed my springs and shocks in the past so I've done everything listed above before other than the control arm bolts. Am I missing something?
Click to expand...

Honestly, I would do yourself a favor and do the work yourself. As others have stated, it really is easy to do and unless you're replacing your brake calipers, there's no bleeding you need to do or anything. The hardest part of the job is would be getting the e-brake hooks off and even that's easy with a pair of vice grips. :yup:
 
dchew

dchew

Caught the Bug
If you are on cement, borrowing a pallet jack really helps because you can position it, raise an lower it so much easier when fitting it into place. Just beats wrestling with jack stands. Also a strap looped over a cross member to lift the pinion flange. The housing loves to roll at the most inappropriate times. Other than that I think it is one of most straightforward tasks you can do and you learn a lot.


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wayoflife

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
dchew said:
If you are on cement, borrowing a pallet jack really helps because you can position it, raise an lower it so much easier when fitting it into place. Just beats wrestling with jack stands. Also a strap looped over a cross member to lift the pinion flange. The housing loves to roll at the most inappropriate times. Other than that I think it is one of most straightforward tasks you can do and you learn a lot.
Click to expand...

No need for a pallet jack. I've done it with a pair of jack stands to hold up the Jeep at the frame rails and 2 floor jacks - one to hold the axle at the pumpkin and one to hold the pinion. The nice thing about doing it this way is that you can raise and lower your pinion as needed to help free up your control arm bolts. Of course, an extra pair of hands is always helpful especially when it comes time to roll out the old axle and roll in the new :yup:
 
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