The CJ2A Page Message Board

(Click RELOAD after posting to see your message.)

NOTE: I am cleaning out the Message Board, and am creating a new page called Questions and Answers that contains information gleaned from this forum.

Questions and Answers | Return to The CJ2A Home Page Re: front axle problem

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ ]

Posted by Vern on October 24, 2002 at 01:33:28:

In Reply to: Posted by on October 23, 2002 at 19:25:30:

Dear Andy,

If you haven't already, jack up the front axle and grab each wheel at the top and bottom. Try to shake each wheel and you should feel virtually no play. Do NOT drive the Jeep until you can do this. This could be a very dangerous situation. If lucky, the kingpin bearings are simply worn. These are not too hard to replace. The dangerous possibility is if the lower bearing cup has come loose from the big ball on the end of the axle tube. This is fairly common on these old axles, and then everything from the knuckle outboard (including the wheel!) will depart the axle. If you can see the wheel tipping in at the top, do not fool around with this and check it out carefully. Here is a link to some details of the kingpin bearings:

http://vernco.com/id373.htm

The picture included with this reply shows how the kingpin bearing cups fit into the big ball on the end of the axle housing. That thin crescent outboard of the bearing can stretch and break. The lower one is much more prone to this as that bearing is pulled outward by the combination of hitting bumps and the vehicle's weight.

The problem could also be loose wheel bearings, but they'd be making lots of noise. You'd probably also have the brake drums dragging on the shoes if that were the case. When you shake the wheel, try to see where any relative motion occurs.

Link to Kingpin Bearings

Follow Ups

Post Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Message:
: Dear Andy, : If you haven't already, jack up the front axle and grab each wheel at the top and bottom. Try to shake each wheel and you should feel virtually no play. Do NOT drive the Jeep until you can do this. This could be a very dangerous situation. If lucky, the kingpin bearings are simply worn. These are not too hard to replace. The dangerous possibility is if the lower bearing cup has come loose from the big ball on the end of the axle tube. This is fairly common on these old axles, and then everything from the knuckle outboard (including the wheel!) will depart the axle. If you can see the wheel tipping in at the top, do not fool around with this and check it out carefully. Here is a link to some details of the kingpin bearings: : http://vernco.com/id373.htm : The picture included with this reply shows how the kingpin bearing cups fit into the big ball on the end of the axle housing. That thin crescent outboard of the bearing can stretch and break. The lower one is much more prone to this as that bearing is pulled outward by the combination of hitting bumps and the vehicle's weight. : The problem could also be loose wheel bearings, but they'd be making lots of noise. You'd probably also have the brake drums dragging on the shoes if that were the case. When you shake the wheel, try to see where any relative motion occurs. :

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ ]