Noisy carrier bearings?

Brianj5600

Brianj5600

TJ Expert
Joined
Jul 4, 2018
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Location
Middle Tennessee
I regeared 4 or 5 years ago and the rear has been making gradually more noise. I replaced the pinion bearings and no change. I didn't want to mess with the carrier bearings due to the bladder for the locker. While changing the pinion bearings noticed the outer races on the carrier bearings looking like a frosted finish. Anyone ever seen this?
 
I don't know anything about your locker, but if you had the carrier out it should've been a pretty simple exercise to replace the carrier bearings. I don't know why the locker would've complicated that but whatevs. Without pics we're probably not going to be able to help a ton, other than to say that replacing those bearings isn't super hard and shouldn't require the whole setup process....unless your preload/backlash/pinion depth aren't right, which could be the source of the noise in the first place. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
Thanks for the reply. I have a stock Rubicon locker. The locker mechanism is held on to the carrier by the bearing. Next step is to change carrier bearings. The only way I know change the bearing on the right side is to cut the inner race like axle bearings.
 
Brianj5600 said:
Thanks for the reply. I have a stock Rubicon locker. The locker mechanism is held on to the carrier by the bearing. Next step is to change carrier bearings. The only way I know change the bearing on the right side is to cut the inner race like axle bearings.
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I’ve cut them off before, it’s not that bad. But a clamshell puller won’t work? I guess I need to see a pic to understand.
 
I doubt it is really an issue changing that bearing. Just one more thing to go wrong. What clamshell do you have?

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I don't have a puller, but there are several on amazon that appear to be identical the only one I've ever had hands on, all in the ~$100 range. Given what I've got invested in bearing splitters, new arbors, and the fact that building the rig broke my drill press, I should've just bought the clamshell puller. Well worth the money.
 
So I cant provide much assistance with the whine. However this is literally sitting at my front door waiting for me to get home. I plan to use it between now and Sunday. Watched a few YouTube videos and I know BFH Garage (his handle here slips my mind) uses it as well. I'll keep you posted how it goes for this first timer.

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SouthernTJ2000 said:
So I cant provide much assistance with the whine. However this is literally sitting at my front door waiting for me to get home. I plan to use it between now and Sunday. Watched a few YouTube videos and I know BFH Garage (his handle here slips my mind) uses it as well. I'll keep you posted how it goes for this first timer.

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@hosejockey61 Is his name.

I have a clamshell I bought several years ago before I had heard of Vevor and it shipped directly from India. Worked great.

I have a case spreader from Vevor that also works very well, used it a couple weeks ago.
 
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@machoheadgames met me a few weeks back to pull the bearings off my carrier. That tool is slick. Very easy, especially if you have a good impact.


ps. you need a good impact.
 
Did you check the axle shaft bearings? Can you for sure isolate the sound to the pumpkin? Any pics of the races you described?
 
I did both rear axles with Timken 9912s seals and the rest Spicer. The old axle bearings sounded like there was gravel in the bearings at low speed. I will post this weekend. The carrier races look bad. There is a dull band on the outer race where the rollers contact the outers. I'll run a pattern and check backlash too.
 
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Nothing to report other than my sciatic nerve is pissed off, or psychotic nerve I refer to it. I did get a pic of the carrier bearings races the rollers look like new.. I not sure when I'll finish it.


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Brianj5600 said:
It kinda sounds like straight cut gears starting at about 30 mph. The pitch goes up until wind and tire noise drowns it out at 45 or 50 mph.
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I forget if it's in the axle chapter of the main TJ FSM or a supplemental manual but there were noise descriptions to help troubleshoot and if I remember correctly, what you describe sounds more like gear noise than bearing. 🫤
 
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