Episode 599 – Unit Bearings 101

This Week In Jeep

 

It May Never Exist Though

A patent filed to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on May 19, 2021, and published on September 2, 2021, shows a diagram of a JT Jeep Gladiator with multiple hard top components being removed from the roof and locked into position atop of the truck bed onto a solid tonneau cover. The roof panels are locked into position manually with a rotating lever. While we may never see this patent go into production, there’s a good chance that we may see something similar to this from Mopar by the 2022 SEMA Show happening the first week of November. Although it could just as easily be one of the Overland Expo events, Detroit 4Fest, or another event that celebrates the modularity of the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator. I would have thought that this year’s Easter Jeep Safari would have been the ideal place to do so, especially with the D-Coder Gladiator all gussied up with every possible option from JPP in that hideous maraschino cherry red.

Is The Jeep V8 Officially Dead?

At the recent New York Auto Show, Jim Morrison, head of the Jeep Brand for the US, was hit with some hard questions about Jeep’s future. Now that the Hurricane inline-six is official, the writing is on the wall for the demise of the Hellcat and Chrysler’s family of Hemi V8s. Jeep has basically announced the end of V8s in the Grand Cherokee. Especially with the soon-to-be-released 4xe model. What this means is likely the end of the Trackhawk label as we currently know it. Jim was asked about this very topic, and his answer doesn’t leave a lot of faith. When Motor Authority asked Morrison about future Trackhawks, he replied, “I don’t know. Could there be a variant of Trackhawk? Electrichawk? Who knows…”….…sorry, I just threw up in my mouth a little there. Electrichawk? Really Jim? Dammit, I miss Mike Manley. 

Morrison also pretty much put to bed any chance of the Jeep Gladiator enjoying a V8 or some of the factory-fit off-road upgrades bestowed on the Wrangler. 

So for now, The Gladiator’s fractional sales compared to the Wrangler can’t justify the development spend, despite the truck outperforming expectations. Those who tow won’t be sacrificed by the removal of two cylinders and the move to electrification, either. 

Morrison also revealed, ((QUOTE)) “We might have a different solution for them (those who tow), though.” I think that almost guarantees we’ll see the new Hurricane Inline Six slapped into the Gladiator in one form or another. It likely won’t have the tune that the Hurricane H.O. variant that the Wagoneer line has, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a pay-to-play option later down the road. But seriously, imagine if it did have the same tune. 500 HP and 500-pound feet of torque or even in the mid 400s on both… if you can’t tow a load with that, then you’re doing something wrong.

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Wins Top Honors In NW Event

The Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) is a professional organization of automotive journalists and media members from throughout the Pacific Northwest and Southwest Canada. Founded in 1991, NWAPA includes members representing newspapers, magazines, radio stations, media groups, and the internet. Members of the organization have been testing SUVs and crossovers since the advent of the modern sport-utility vehicle in the mid-1990s, and for the last ten years, they have rejected my podcaster, voice-over, and DJ credentials to become a part of their secret society.

But I digress. Members of NWAPA spent two days testing vehicles on paved and off-road routes at the 27th annual Mudfest competition, hosted by the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA). The testing took place at “The Ridge” Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington just under three hours away from where I’m sitting right now. Journalists tested 20 vehicles from 17 manufacturers to select winners in eight categories. And you better believe Jeep was there. They brought the all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe – the first-ever electrified Grand Cherokee.

The Grand utterly dominated the field winning three of the eight vehicle categories, including taking home top honors. The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was voted Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year by the automotive journalist members of NWAPA. The Grand Cherokee, a nameplate that has been around for over a quarter-century, and holds the unique distinction of being the most awarded SUV of all time, is now apparently leading the Jeep brand toward its vision of Zero Emission Freedom. Either way, congrats to the Grand Cherokee once again for winning awards.

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Unit Bearings 101

If you wheel your Jeep, then it’s only a matter of time until a wheel bearing on your front axle goes out. But unless your Jeep has aftermarket hubs, it doesn’t have wheel bearings at all. What it has instead are called unit bearings. Unlike the traditional spindle and bearing combo as most trucks have, Jeeps have a unit bearing that is bolted into the knuckle. A unit bearing is a completely sealed, non-serviceable unit. 

When the bearings wear out, you have to replace the entire thing. If we compare the spindle type to the unit bearing assemblies, the advantage of a unit bearing is that you never need to pack the wheel-bearings with grease or replace bearing seals. In addition, unit bearings will generally last longer too.
BUT, they are not undefeatable.

The most stresses you put on them from things like larger tires, rough terrain, offset wheels, and the additional load of armor and other accessories essential to Jeeping, well… as you can see the stressors add up pretty quickly. The stock unit bearings are up to the task just fine, but they won’t last as long as they were intended to by the manufacturer.

For decades, the Dana axles under our Jeeps have used Spicer bearings to roll on, and still today these are considered one of the best replacements. In this segment, I’ll cover what a unit bearing is, which I believe we just did, and go over what the symptoms are of a unit bearing on its way out. I’ll go in depth about replacements and even provide a tip or two for those who can tackle this job themselves. Ok, so now that you know what a unit bearing is, and how it differs from normal wheel bearings, let’s look closer at why they fail. Typically when you see a Jeep with aftermarket wheels, that Jeep will have a wider stance than a stock one with the same size tires. Why? Because a wider Jeep is more stable on the trail and in off-camber situations. The best way to achieve a wider stance is by swapping out the axles, but that’s a bit extreme and way out of reach for most Jeepers. The second best way would be to buy wheels with less backspacing. Backspacing is simply the distance from the back of the mounting surface of the wheel to the back lip of the wheel. It is measured by laying the wheel on its face, placing a straight edge across the wheel, and then measuring down to the mounting surface. Obviously the less the number, the more the wheel will protrude from the axle. This is great for looks and offroad performance but adds a considerable amount of shear force on the bearing. All the vehicle’s weight, the engine, all that armor, the bumper, the winch, everything you add to your Jeep, adds to the weight that is amplifying the already present amount of shear force the unit bearing is fighting.

Again, the bearing is up to the task, it can do it, and do it well, but only for so long. This doesn’t mean a narrow track Jeep is a way to go. The bearing will still wear out over time, no matter what. If you got 100k miles out of your stock ones, consider yourself ahead of the game. Unit bearing on average only lasts about 100k miles, if that. Less, on built Jeeps that wheel hard. So what happens when a unit bearing fails? The bearing no longer has tight tolerances, it has been worn and over-exerted, and is in need of replacement. You may hear a groaning, or a hum, sometimes only around corners or as you come to a stop. This is because of something called weight shift. As the Jeep’s inertia changes, so do the weight distribution. As you turn, the weight is shifted to the outside wheels. As you brake that weight is shifted forward, so even more stress on the front bearings. As a bearing starts to go, the symptoms will build, multiply, and get worse. So if you’re at the groaning stage, things haven’t gotten as bad as they CAN get. Aside from an audible change, there may be handling changes as well as things progress. You may start to see a worsening in fuel economy as the Jeep is now not rolling as smoothly down the road. You may hear clunks and feel a sudden shift in the front end as you go around a corner. Eventually, this will all turn to a grinding noise worse than any worn brake pad could produce, and it will eventually lock up. I don’t have to tell you that you never want to let things go this long, and regular testing should help keep the gremlins away. And speaking of tests here’s the best physical test to determine if your front unit bearing is going out. With one of the front wheels in the air, grab the tire at the 6 and 12-o-clock positions, and really put some effort into trying to rock it back and forth. Don’t strain yourself so much you can’t hear, see, or feel what’s going on. You’ll be looking for any amount of play as you try and force the wheel to rock. You may feel the rubber give, or even some tie-rod play, so that’s why you need to really focus on where you’re putting the force. If you do feel play, then the bearing is bad. You should be able to confirm this by removing the wheel, and the brakes. With all that removed, try to spin the bearing. It should spin very smoothly, with little resistance. It likely won’t free spin like a fidget spinner, but it should feel smooth. If it’s rough, if you hear grinding, or there are points where it is easier or more difficult to spin than others, then this is confirmation that you have a bad bearing.

So how hard of a job is this? Well if doing your own brakes is something you can tackle with ease, then this will be too. They’re usually held in by only 3 bolts, and to get to them, all you have to do is remove the wheel, rotor, and the brake caliper. No specialty tools outside of a large wheel nut socket, and you can generally swap out a pair in an afternoon. Here’s a rule of thumb… always replace both the driver’s side and the passenger side at the same time. They both came from the same place, and out of the same batch, so if one went, then chances are the other is not far behind. Trust me I speak from experience here. Unit bearings are oftentimes press-fitted into the knuckle, so they may not want to come right out, even when no longer bolted in. Hammering in them isn’t always easy, so here’s a trick I’ve found that works like a charm. 

Using the Jeep’s power steering to act as a ram to press it out. To do this, your Jeep needs to be secure, and on a jack stand. The engine will need to be running, and you will need a short 3/8″ socket extension.

Place the socket extension between the back of the bearing and the inside of the knuckle. And just steer into it. Now there is still a chance that depending on where you live, the bearing may be rusted in place. In which case, you’ll need to remove the entire knuckle and take it into a shop to have it pressed out. The good news is that installing the new one will be much easier. Especially when you wire brush the living you know what out of the race the bearing sits in. I also like to put the tiniest bit of anti-seize on the surface before installation to ensure when it comes time to replace this one, it’ll go much easier. As far as brands go, well the OEM one lasted this long, and it’s a good choice for a replacement. Don’t get sucked into the parts store’s heavy-duty option. I tried the NAPA HD ones and they didn’t even make it a year. Timken is about the only other one I would trust outside of a Spicer unit. Those two brands seem to hold up the best for Jeeps who wheel. Ok, so let’s say you don’t have the tools, the know-how, or the space to do a job like this, but you know for sure now that you have a wheel bearing issue. No problem. This is a same-day turn for many shops, and the average price of parts and labor is about $350 per side. Obviously, at that kind of a price, you may have to do one side at a time, but I wouldn’t go longer than a month between the two to ensure even wear and longevity. Now before we go much further, I do have to address the super high-end specialty type of Jeep unit bearings. You know the ones, like from Currie Enterprises, Spidertrax, Yukon, and more. These are the ones that start at like $550 and go all the way up to like $700 or more EACH. I don’t know about you, but I doubt I will EVER go through $1500 or more in unit bearings for as long as I own this Jeep. 

And like you, I’m surely not going to pay nearly a grand to replace a single bearing. Are they worth it? I honestly don’t know. But that seems like a huge price to pay to get something that may still fail at some point. Unit bearings are a cornerstone to our Jeeps rolling down the road, and they need some attention, so don’t forget to take a look at yours, at least at every other oil change. 

Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma

I am now on Tik Tok @ The Jeep Momma.  Tik Tok is a social media site where you post short videos from your phone. YouTube has now started something similar to compete with Tik Tok. They are called YouTube Shorts. I started a Jeep Momma Question of the Week on my Tik Tok and YouTube shorts where I ask you the question and you comment on your response. My question this past week is about the Jeep Badge of Honor and who gets the badge the Jeep or the driver. The funny thing is most people have been saying the Jeep, but someone claims they were told by the Jeep Badge of Honor Program it’s the driver. So I have put out my calls to Jeep to verify that. I will keep you posted on what I find out.

Share you answers with me on YouTube or Tik Tok  –  Subscribe

Jeep Life with Jeep Momma’s topic is going to be a little upsetting for some. My apologies in advance for hurting your feelings or bringing up a topic that might trigger you.

We see the questions all the time on social media. For some, we jump right in and help with our suggestions and answers. For others, we scream at our computer monitors at the person posting the question. It’s an age-old debate where there are three different views.

What should I name my Jeep? There seem to be 3 corners you could fit into. Naming your Jeep is stupid, You don’t name your Jeep it names itself or by others or You pick your own name. Whatever your corner you are in and how you feel the question, it will never stop being asked.  Why do we feel the need to name our vehicles anyway?

https://axleaddict.com/cars/car-names

For Some people, their Jeep is their second home, a best friend, a pet, and an alter ego all in one. Some folks getting behind the wheel of a jeep gives them a whole new personality or like me, it rejuvenated my whole life.

“We share the milestones of our lives with our cars,” says David Bennett from AAA  “Maybe you drive it to your wedding, or to the birth of your child. There are so many things that connect us to the cars we drive.”

Naming your Jeep, in a sense, gives it a personality; it’s a way for Jeepers to form some kind of bond with their Jeep.

“People name their car because of the emotional connections they have with it,” Bennett says. “For the majority of people, the purchase of their first car is a rite of passage. They become akin to a parent to the car — cleaning, maintaining, and repairing it.” That as well transfers over to any purchase of a jeep whether it’s the first Jeep or fifth Jeep.

 My Jeep friend in Australia says his Jeep is an extension of himself. He feels no one else can name it for him or it’s no longer a personal thing. His Jeep’s name ranga cause its Red. Ranga in Australia is another name for Redhead and also a twist on Wrangler. It becomes an extension of his personality.

There are many ways that people choose to name their Jeep. And it’s become trendy, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing! Some people choose to name the name after themselves or things they enjoy. I know a Star Wars fan who has a white Jeep and the name is clone trooper.

Then there are those who wait for the name to pick the Jeep. A nickname of sorts from someone else or because of something they did in their Jeep. Sometimes when the right name comes along it sticks like glue.

Then there’s the group that doesn’t believe in names at all. It’s true some Jeeps just go nameless. Honestly, that’s my Jeep. My Jeep to me is just MY Jeep. Some people have decided to name my Jeep for me. School Bus. I really don’t think that fits me, but I go with it sometimes.  The next time someone asks to help name their Jeep you could send them a few internet links. Yes, there are websites on the internet to help you name your Jeep or car.  There are car name generators as well.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

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Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) www.nwapa.org

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