Dana 30A Bearings

APC9199 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 16, 2017 9:53 pm

I'm pretty sure my front Diff is giving up the ghost. My CV axles have a lot of up/down play and the vehicle hums at highway speeds with an almost "wheel hop" kind of feel in the front. I haven't had the time to open up the diff, but I changed the fluid recently and it came out fairly clean, but obviously used. In any case, in an attempt to get a little further on it until I can tear it down and see whats going on, I wanted to at least get the CV axle bearings replaced. Is it kind of like doing the rear axle bearings, with a seal and press-fit bearing? Are they something I can do with a bearing puller and press? I think if I can get those bearings hanged it might prevent the whole diff from going into obit one of these days on the way to work.

Has anyone done these themselves?

flash7210 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2017 8:37 am

You may want to ask this over in the Liberty 4x4 section.

On the drivers side, if the bearing were bad I would think that seal would be leaking.
On the passenger side, where the CV axle goes in is just a plastic bushing, not really a bearing.

The hum you hear could be a hub bearing or tire noise.

You will know more once you pull the drivers side CV axle.

APC9199 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2017 9:04 am

Sorry, I should have given more info.

Both CV axles and intermediate shaft are new within 6k miles. Tires are about the same age. The hub bearings are new within about 12k miles. The condition really didn't change when I changed them, but seems to be getting a little worse the more I drive. I have eliminated almost everything that can be causing this problem outside of the differential itself. I want to tear the diff apart, but don't have the luxury of down time right now to get that involved. That's why I was hoping to band-aid the situation with new bearings. I'll get the parts on order and look into replacing them. I can look the procedure up in the FSM, but like to ask questions here to see if anyone has done it and has any suggestions/recommendations. Seems like people here always do!

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2017 11:28 am

It really is no different than rebuilding the rear differential, just a little harder to get at! :roll:

Probably pinion bearing or maybe a carrier bearing going bad. If it is, don't run it too long like this, could cost you the ring and pinion gears.
Opening up the differential and inspecting all the bearings should tell you which one is the problem... :wink:

Reminder: Diesel and Gaser CV axles are different lengths!

Plenty of parts available online, just Google for one of the Mopar vendors!

Part numbers can be found here for the diagram below!
https://www.factorychryslerparts.com/sh ... ont%20Axle

APC9199 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2017 12:09 pm

I know the CV axles have 1/8" or more of up/down play, so they need to be done. I WILL get into the differential at some point, I just know I can't do it myself in an evening and my weekends are taken up with home improvement projects right now :roll:

I'll get to digging!

flash7210 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2017 1:12 pm

I know that removing the whole front diff is a huge PITA, but you could remove the CV axles, front driveshaft, and differential assembly and still drive around in 2wd.

APC9199 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2017 3:54 pm

Would a stub axle be required to prevent any potentially disastrous bearing failure from releasing the front wheel from the hub? I know this isn't likely, but it has happened on other vehicles! Also, the differential wouldn't really need to be removed to do this, right? Just plug the shaft ends with something durable and water-tight after removing the CV axles and it shouldn't even know the difference?

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2017 8:39 pm

Just do what Flash advised! Simple and it will work! :roll:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 18, 2017 10:28 pm

APC9199 wrote:

Would a stub axle be required to prevent any potentially disastrous bearing failure from releasing the front wheel from the hub? I know this isn't likely, but it has happened on other vehicles! Also, the differential wouldn't really need to be removed to do this, right? Just plug the shaft ends with something durable and water-tight after removing the CV axles and it shouldn't even know the difference?

Not for KJ's,same bearings used for 2wd and 4wd.

Dana 30A Bearings

Who is online