BEARING CARNAGE (some gear carnage, with pics)

jeepsr4ever

You are looking at a Rubicon D44 front I have in my ZJ.

:confused: :shaking:

Nice looking pattern there...well sort of. Notice the surface of the gear.

Here is the other side of the gear...doesnt look pleasant. The surface is actually smooth but you can see areas where it spalded and micro welded itself many times.

Sharing these pics just for fun 😃

Anyone care to guess how this happened?

jeepsr4ever

Well outer pinion bearing looks like it has seen better days. Reminds me of the next morning from tender years of boozing. 😃

I had to use my 12lb tack hammer about 45 times to get the pinion out of the housing ;D

Hmm yes very strange

Now the strange part is that the inner pinion bearing was perfect but the upper was completely shot. I either suspect low fluid or bearing damage while setting up the gears. Hard to say can only speculate at this point.

runnamuck

man, that looks, uh ... not good. i think the bearing went first and the gear damage is the residue of the metal bearing getting squashed between the gears. like you said, probably lack of lubrication or damage from install. if you haven't, i would check the housing for obstruction in the oil passages.

MoPedal

How long have you had it? Could it have been setting around with water left in the oil but then changed just before you bought it? Any evidence of water or sand?

jeepsr4ever

No the fluid was perfect. This gear set made noise the second the axle was in motion.

BREK

I might have a set of bearings in stock if you need? Might this problem have something to do with your driving habits :-| or would it be those huge tires :mrgreen:

jeepsr4ever

No I need a rubicon 44 front yoke though....got one?

BREK

no that will take me 3-5 buisness days at a cost of $44.64 part # is 4797689

tufcj

Looks to me like the bearing was loose/damaged enough to let the pinion deflect. It moved enough to change the pattern and cause the damage. I actually saw an outer pinion bearing fail and let the pinion drop into one of the openings in an open carrier. Locked up the rear of a Jeep at about 40MPH. Exciting skid to a stop on a busy street (I was a passenger). Bob tufcj

cj5 buggy

i just think that you have a run of bad luck when it comes with front ends and bearings... 8)

jeepsr4ever

cj5 buggy wrote
i just think that you have a run of bad luck when it comes with front ends and bearings... 8)

X2,454,672,178,479,992,341,720

runnamuck

jeepsr4ever wrote
X2,454,672,178,479,992,341,720

:greenjumpers:
haven't seen that one before.