Intermediate shaft passenger front, bad bearing

[John/Horace]

Was doing an oil change, noticed passenger side intermediate shaft bearing was looking bad.  Side Seal was flopping around and a few ball bearings were missing. Also transmission output oil seal was starting to drip fluid. Around 175k miles, so not unexpected.


Dealer had the output seal in stock, but shaft was on back order...and very pricy. Heavy item for shipping so rockauto not a great option, local part store had one in stock.

Shaft came out ok, but knocking in output seal squarely not easy. Had a small drip after assembly was finished. Tapped seal in farther and added bead of gray rtv around perimeter; let in dry 24 hrs. Seems ok now.  On a hoist it would be easier to do this repair.

 

[5rebel9]

YES, it would be a LOT easier on a hoist to do this job! 

Thanks for the nice pic's of your chore in doing this maint. repair!

[5rebel9]

Well John/Horace....

You jinxed me by your posting his topic ! Of all the 5 DJ's we've got/had, only ONE has needed a right side CV Joint shaft....UNTIL NOW!

Both the wife's 13RT and the new to us 17 crossroad need the intermediate shaft AND CV shaft. The 13 is so bad that it has done in the wheel bearing also. 

Parts are ordered thru rockauto and with tax & shipping comes to about $410. us., and should be here on Monday.

My buddy will install the parts on the 17 and if good weather holds, I will do the 13 here at home.

It's going to be quite a "chore", so don't anyone be looking for pic's of how I go about the job. Suffice it to say, my plan is to "pop" the control arm down instead of the 2 strut bolts, as one has aftermarket eccentric bolt for camber adjustment there.

I STILL WISH I HAD A GARAGE AND HOIST!!!!!!

[John/Horace]

Ouch, sorry about that. It's only the third time I've ever changed one on a vehicle.  So not a common failure I think. The bearing could be pressed out and changed by itself on intermediate shaft, but finding exact bearing would be a chore. 

 

I did the wheel bearing hub on that side three years ago, shaft was ok at the time. The leaking transmission oil lip seal is hardest part of job. Recessed far back, so getting it in square is tricky. Had to make up my own seal driver. Not a tight fit at all, which is why a smear of silicone is sometimes used.

 

Looks like daughter in laws high milage journey going to my daughter in the fall.  Certification may keep me occupied for a while. Big rockauto order coming up. A 2.4 two wheel drive so easier to work on.

[5rebel9]

Well the wife is always driving it and I rarely even ride in it to "hear" things. She just finally told me that it was getting loud again like previous wheel bearing noise. A jack up and check showed the shaft bearing completely gone and slop in both the inner and outer CV joints and able to "rock" the rf tire 1/2" play at wheel bearing! The seal on the PTO is NOT leaking.

 

The '17 is not worn nearly as bad for the shaft bearing(just a low droning sound like a wheel bearing) but it needs the shaft and CV shaft due to the splines of both the inner CV joint and the intermediate shaft being very worn and rocking... once in a while it will even pop over the spline making a horrible clacking noise. I've only put about 500 miles on the car and it did get a new wheel bearing on that side by my friend as part of the purchase.... noises were not diagnosed far enough by him to see this problem. So I buy the parts and he will do the labor. Not upset with my friend other than me having to pinpoint  the problem and now waiting to get fixed and not driving it places I need to go to prevent more damage or breakdown.

Edited 21 hours ago by 5rebel9