Running without front axle stub shaft (trail fix)
- Thread starter Txjkjpr
- Start date
DWiggles
Caught the Bug
The unit bearings support the whole front of jeep. its what transfers the the force from the ground, through the wheel, into the knuckle. :yup: the factory front axle is BASICALLY a full float setup. the rotational force is carried by the shaft, and the mass is carried by the unit bearing/housing assembly.
Last edited:
Bustedback
Member
Don't drive it without a stub shaft in the unit bearing, it can come apart and ruin your day.
Typed by my very own fat fingers on my iPad or iPhone.
Typed by my very own fat fingers on my iPad or iPhone.
WJCO
Meme King
How would it come apart? I've known several people who have driven around like this after an axle break with no issues.
J
JKDream
Guest
That was only the case on older Jeeps with non sealed bearings. JKs are sealed, the stub shaft serves no other purpose other than turning the tire.
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This ^^^ The stub shaft requirement was a TJ thing, the JK does not need it. I've personally driven about a thousand miles without a shaft in place. Just make sure to plug the axle tube with a rag or the like.
Bustedback
Member
The bearings are pressed onto the flanged part of the hub. The stub shaft keeps tension on the bearings and keep them from coming off of the flanged part of the hub. Yes, they're sealed bearings, but they can still come apart without a stub shaft.
Typed by my very own fat fingers on my iPad or iPhone.
Typed by my very own fat fingers on my iPad or iPhone.
Not true at all. At least, I have never seen it happen over the last 10 years.
J
JKDream
Guest
X2. If that was true early model 2wd JKS would have wheels falling off. But they didn't. And it's the same unit bearing.
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Yup. Hard to believe that JK's were made in a 2WD back in the day and they did come with the same unit bearings. :yup:
WJCO
Meme King
Well said. Just found this thread too: https://wayalife.com/showthread.php/43590-2wd-jk-unit-hub-bearings
Mybadjk
Caught the Bug
Never mind it'll be sitting on jack stands until I get an outer stub shaft, unit bearing bolts and u joint.
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Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app
J
JKDream
Guest
Looks like you accidentally posted two threads.
There's a bunch of replies on this one: https://wayalife.com/showthread.php/47130-Wheel-sitting-on-unit-bearing
** Thread merged, disregard
Mybadjk
Caught the Bug
I've tried searching on this as well. I've heard of people removing a shaft and driving home on the unit bearing. I'd have to remove both shafts, right? My outer stub is wallowed. So need to get a replacement from g2. U joints will be here today and unit bearing bolts tomorrow.
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Mybadjk
Caught the Bug
Thanks for merging the thread. I was in and out of service so that's probably why lol
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You can run with just one shaft out. If you're G2 is made for it, I'd highly recommend you run full circle clips on your u-joints to prevent something like this happening again.
J
JKDream
Guest
Ideally yes youd want to remove both shafts. Otherwise you risk breaking the side that is still in place. Just a heads up for the thread: the axle nut only serves the purpose of keeping the axle shaft from walking in and out of the splines. It does NOT hold your unit bearing together.
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Mybadjk
Caught the Bug
They came with full circle clips.
They all still had the circle clips attached. Just looks like the ends blew out. This is where it broke and then I think it blew the ends out.
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Mybadjk
Caught the Bug
https://youtu.be/vzf3b0TnZiM
Here's the stub wallowed.
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Here's the stub wallowed.
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WJCO
Meme King
After seeing that video, I'm thinking that may have been the cause of the failure. For that hole to be that elongated, that did not happen suddenly. I'm thinking that ujoint cap was walking around in there for awhile and then finally went. Wonder if the cap was the wrong size or something wasn't manufactured properly.