1996 Grand Cherokee Limited Rear axle

norman52 · 05-21-2009, 09:34 AM

I want to to replace the rear axle bearings on my 1996 ZJ limited 5.2 4X4, 4 wheel disc brakes,I am trying to figure out what axle bearings I need. I thought by the shop manual I had a Spicer 44 axle but then I tried to check for parts at NAPA online and that site said I had a DANA 35. I would like to have the bearings on hand before I start the job instead of tearing it all apart to see what I have. My factory shop manual tells me that a 4x4 Limited V8 should have a Spicer 44. I checked the cover and there are no ID tags under one of the cover bolts. What is everyones best guess? My guess is I Remove the diferential cover and pull the axle and it slides out of the bearing and then I just pull the bearing and seal and replace them both and slide the axle back in. I believe the other kind is tapered and is pressed on? Anyway all help will be appreciated.

reekor · 05-22-2009, 02:28 AM

All modles came with a Dana 30 front axle, I6 modles have a Dana 35 in the rear, while the V8 modles have a Dana 44A.

norman52 · 05-22-2009, 08:53 AM

Thanks,
That is what I found when I crawled under there last night. Dana 44. Now I can order the right parts.

norman52 · 06-28-2009, 11:44 AM

Well, the tag said Dana 44 but the bearings that fit were from the Dana 35! The Dana bearings were way bigger than the axel housing. Go figure. I even took the Dana 44 bearings back to NAPA to make sure and they had sold me the right parts. I then handed them the Timken bearings that I pulled out and the numbers were from a Dana 35. So what I have is a 1996 Grand Cherokee, Limited, 4x4, 4 wheel disc brakes, 5.2 ltr and it had a Dana 35. I bought it new so I know nothing has been swapped out.When I pulled the rotors the emergency brake shoe lining fell off the shoes on the drivers side. Lots of material left but it looks like the glue they used gave up. So new bearings and new emergency brake shoes.

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