Axle Shaft Bearing?

timothyd · **Joined:** Wed Feb 20, 2019 2:58 am **Posts:** 90

I am replacing the front CV Axles on the liberty and wanted to replace the bearings on the differential side that the CV Axles ride on, but I am not entirely sure what that bearing would be called? Anyone got any ideas?

APC9199 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2020 2:05 pm

The OEM part number is 05066056AB for the "bearing" and 05066066AA for the seal. Search for those and you'll find several suppliers, including Amazon which is my go-to as long as the price is comparable.

*DO NOT TAKE MY WORD AS GOSPEL ON THE FOLLOWING*

I have been told that Spicer part number 566131 is a needle bearing version of the OEM phenolic "bearing" (which is a bushing), and should last significantly longer. I have not personally installed or used this part, so do some checking yourself before going this route. The seal is the same and is still required if you use this part.

My66dodge · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2020 2:35 pm

Yep and Timken and federal also make needle bearings to replace the plastic bushing also

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timothyd · **Joined:** Wed Feb 20, 2019 2:58 am **Posts:** 90

Also is that bearing accessible from the outer tubes of the differential, or does it require a tear down to replace those?

Assuming either, is it worth doing? I am replacing the CV Axles as is while doing the lift, and I did notice that the side to side play is pretty extreme, with almost not in/out play.

APC9199 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2020 3:41 pm

timothyd wrote:

Also is that bearing accessible from the outer tubes of the differential, or does it require a tear down to replace those?

Assuming either, is it worth doing? I am replacing the CV Axles as is while doing the lift, and I did notice that the side to side play is pretty extreme, with almost not in/out play.

The bearing and seal is accessible from the outside of the differential. You'll need a bearing puller to remove the old one (or just carefully chip it out with a chisel). Mine were pretty worn out when I had the front differential rebuilt, so it MAY be worth doing. That being said, I still have quite a bit of side-to-side play in mine after the rebuild, so it think that's somewhat normal.

Make sure you get the intermediate shaft in addition to the CV axle on the passenger side. Part number 5066057AB. Often times the splines are damaged on this once you get everything apart, and it can also be completely seized into the CV axle housing. If the old one looks OK, you can always send it back.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2020 6:51 pm

The bearing can be used in place of the bushing or you can simply replace with a new bushing, your call. (Bearing is better)

Part No. 5 on diagram. SEAL. Axle Drive Shaft.
Part Number: 05066066AA

Part No. 6 on diagram. BEARING. Axle Drive Shaft.
Part Number: 05066056AA

Part No. 7 on diagram. BUSHING. Axle Drive Shaft.
Part Number is: 05066056AB

timothyd · **Joined:** Wed Feb 20, 2019 2:58 am **Posts:** 90

The bushing was readily available so I ordered that for now, but that diagram is a bit confusing, is it just suggesting that the bearing can replace the bushing? Or that both are used?

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2020 9:57 pm

timothyd wrote:

The bushing was readily available so I ordered that for now, but that diagram is a bit confusing, is it just suggesting that the bearing can replace the bushing? Or that both are used?

I believe either can be used, your choice, that is why it shows two part numbers for the same part location on the diagram.
Bearings are usually a better choice over bushings on rotating parts.

My66dodge · **Posted:** Wed Feb 05, 2020 11:17 pm

At my shop we use a slide hammer to pull the bearing or bushing and it pops out easily, just read down and remove the axle shaft and it comes right out

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rancherman · **Posted:** Thu Feb 06, 2020 10:57 pm

WWDiesel wrote:

timothyd wrote:

The bushing was readily available so I ordered that for now, but that diagram is a bit confusing, is it just suggesting that the bearing can replace the bushing? Or that both are used?

I believe either can be used, your choice, that is why it shows two part numbers for the same part location on the diagram.
Bearings are usually a better choice over bushings on rotating parts.

yes, 'usually'.

Me personally. would stay WITH the bushing if building a swamper/mudder/off road/ (and in my case TALL GRASS) type vehicle. Grass has killed more seals on my equipment than anything. It wraps around anything that rotates, and cuts. boy, does it cut!! Next thing you know, dirt and water has a path in.
yes, the skid pan should help a lot here..
Bushings are a lot more 'forgiving' than a extremely hardened roller.. Water and dirt will blow one out in no time. I'd rather have bits of phenolic plastic in the differential than remnants of bombed out needle bearings.

Look, road splash seems to be worse on the front end, my guess is that front axle is 'cutting trail' in snow, mud, rain.... and there is more flying debris/water than the rear axle see's because it benefits from a 'premade' trail by the fronts.

So, if you are using the Jeep mainly on clean, hard roads, those rollers will probably outlast the bushing 2 to 1, or more.
With the bushing, run em until the seal give way.. and you see leaks. You have some 'time' to fix it..
Time on the other hand isn't so nice to precision needles, especially when subjected to water and dirt.

So, like anything, there are pro's and con's. Bushings triumph in the dirt. But kept clean, rollers outlast.

one last consideration; Bushings can be sacrificial. This is good. A worn bushing and seal usually wont destroy whatever is riding in it.. the intermediate shafts for example. Those 'grooves' on the ID part of the bushing make a great place for foreign material to collect, and kept away from chewing directly on the shaft.
Not the case with the needle bearing. There is NO room for 1 tiny crumb.

Axle Shaft Bearing?

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