ICEBOX Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Ok guys I'm going to go look at a jeep 1989 cherokee 2.5 hrs away . the guy says the jeep runs and drives BUT the front makes a grinding sound. He tells me it has a front locker.(type unknown) So here is the question. If I wanted to drive it home. is it simple to remove the front locker if I had too ? my ideas were to take out the axles or the locker pending on the problem. he says it makes a Grinding sound. Heck could even be just a shot brg assembly. this jeep has rebuilt motor front and rear lockers, confer roof rack front and rear custome bumpers 2 in lift , full cage and a snorkle for 900 bucks ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 I think it depends on the locker. If it's a "lunchbox" locker, you could remove the guts and leave the empty carrier. I don't think that would work with a true locker like a Detroit. Does it have an axle disconnect? If so, leaving the axle disconnected takes the right side out of action, so if you pop the left side hub off and remove the inner axle shaft, you can reassemble with just the outer stub shaft holding the hub/bearing unit together and drive it like that. The differential will be totally isolated from the wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redneck23ms Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 if something in the front axle is bad your best bet would be to pull the axle shafts out and put just the outer shafts back in. you have to have outers or else your wheel bearing will fall apart. with a lunchbox locker if you "remove the guts" the axle shafts will flop around in the carrier and likely cause damage to themselves and the carrier. however if the locker itself is bad it shouldn't make much noise at all when going straight in 2wd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEBOX Posted December 19, 2009 Author Share Posted December 19, 2009 the Cherokee is the same as the MJ it is a bearing unit . 1 pc. should be able to pull the complete axl out and drive it with no axles at all if need be ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 The safest bet would be pull the shafts and leave the stub shafts in the unit bearings. Better yet pull the front driveline and place it on a dolly to tow it home. How do you know it is the carrier/locker? There are some other possibilities including ring/pinion damage or even unit bearings themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redneck23ms Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 yes the mj uses the same unit bearing as a xj but neither of them can be ran without the outer axle in place. the bearing will self destruct and the wheel/hub will fall off if it is ran without a stub shaft in place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEBOX Posted December 19, 2009 Author Share Posted December 19, 2009 Ok so car dolly it is then . better safe then chase parts down the highway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Ok so car dolly it is then . better safe then chase parts down the highway Make sure you use the transfer case neutral and pull the front driveline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEBOX Posted December 19, 2009 Author Share Posted December 19, 2009 I will make sure Cracker. ty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now