Removal of the Front Wheel Bearings on a '98 Jeep Wrangler

The 1998 Jeep Wrangler was equipped with a 2.5-liter inline-four cylinder or optional 4.0-liter inline-six cylinder engine. The four-wheel-drive Wrangler uses a solid front drive axle with coil spring suspension and conventional shock absorbers. The front wheel bearings on the Wrangler are incorporated into a hub and bearing assembly and cannot be serviced separately. The hub assembly must be replaced as a unit. The procedure for replacing the hub assembly is the same for either side.

Instructions

Removal

1

Park the Wrangler on a level, paved surface and set the parking brake. Pry the center cap from the wheel with a flat-head screwdriver. Remove the cotter pin from the axle with a pair of pliers. Discard the pin. Remove the nut retainer. Loosen the hub nut with a breaker bar and socket. Loosen the lug nuts.

2

Raise the front of the Wrangler with a jack and support it with jack stands. Finish removing the lug nuts and wheels.

3

Remove the two caliper bolts with a ratchet and socket. Pull the caliper from the rotor. Tie the caliper to the coil spring with a piece of wire. Pull the rotor from the hub flange.

4

Finish removing the hub nut and washer with a ratchet and socket. Remove the three hub mounting bolts from the back of the steering knuckle. Pull the hub assembly from the knuckle. You may have to tap the hub with a rubber mallet if it will not pull loose. You may also have to tap the end of the axle with a rubber mallet to loosen it from the hub.

5

Clean the mounting area on the steering knuckle with emery cloth to remove any rust or dirt.

Installation

6

Apply a little wheel bearing grease to the axle splines and the mounting area on the knuckle. Mount a new hub assembly on the knuckle. Install the bolts and use a torque wrench to torque them to 75 foot-pounds.

7

Attach the washer and hub nut and snug it down with a ratchet and socket. Torque will be applied later.

8

Mount the rotor and caliper. When mounting the caliper, make sure the bushings where the mounting bolts go are pushed in or the caliper will not slide onto the knuckle. Install and torque the bolts to 11 foot-pounds.

9

Mount the wheels and lug nuts. Raise the Wrangler, remove the jack stands and lower the Jeep to the ground. Torque the hub nut to 175 foot-pounds. Install the retainer and a new cotter pin. Torque the lug nuts to between 80 and 110 foot-pounds. Replace the center cap.