Yukon Gear Dana Super Model 35 & Super Dana 44 Replacement Axle Bearing and Seal Kit

A growl from one rear corner of a 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ, or gear oil soaking the inside of a rear tire and the brake, usually means the axle bearing or the axle seal at the end of the tube has given up. The Yukon Gear & Axle AK M35-SUPER is the replacement bearing and seal kit for the two rear axles Chrysler used under the WJ, the Dana Super Model 35 and the Dana Super 44. Each kit contains one axle bearing and one axle seal, enough to service one side of the axle.

What the axle bearing and seal do in a Super 35 or Super 44 rear

In these rear axles the outer end of each axle shaft is carried by a bearing pressed into the end of the axle tube. That bearing takes the weight of the Jeep at that corner plus cornering loads, and the seal next to it keeps gear oil from the differential from running out of the tube and onto the brakes. Gear oil from the center section lubricates the bearing, so a leaking seal and a dry, noisy bearing often show up together. When the bearing wears, the rollers and the shaft surface they run on can both get pitted, so a bad bearing that is left too long can also ruin the axle shaft.

Symptoms of a worn rear axle bearing or leaking axle seal

• A hum or growl from the rear that rises with road speed, not engine speed
• Noise that gets louder in a sweeping turn as weight shifts onto the bad side
• Wet gear oil on the inside of the rear wheel, the backing plate or the brake caliper
• A rear brake that grabs or pulls after oil contaminates the pads
• Gear oil level dropping between changes with no leak at the pinion or cover

How to confirm before you order

Drive at a steady speed and gently swerve left and right; a wheel bearing usually gets louder when the load moves onto it. With the rear on stands, spin each wheel by hand and feel for roughness, and look behind the wheel for oil. Noise that stays the same in turns and changes between acceleration and coast is more likely the ring and pinion or carrier bearings, which calls for a center section rebuild with a master bearing kit matched to your axle; for a standard Dana 35 rear that is the Dana 35 rear differential master bearing kit, so confirm your axle type first. A worn front driveshaft CV joint can also hum and vibrate on a WJ, so rule out the WJ 4.7L front driveshaft on V8 trucks. If the noise only shows up in certain gears, read our 545RFE Grand Cherokee common problems guide before you blame the axle.

Fitment

Yukon lists the AK M35-SUPER for rear Dana Super Model 35 and Dana Super 44 axles, the rear axles found in the 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ. It is built for these Super versions, so do not assume it fits a standard Dana 35 from a Cherokee XJ or Wrangler, or an older Dana 44 rear, without checking. If your Jeep has had the rear axle swapped, or you are not sure which axle is under it, read the tag on the axle tube or the casting numbers on the housing, or send us your year and VIN and we will confirm. For other axle wheel-end kits, compare the Yukon M220 rear axle bearing and seal kit or browse all of our hard parts.

Install notes

• Order two kits if you are doing both sides; one kit services one side.
• Drain the gear oil and pull the axle shaft following the service procedure for your axle, then pull the old seal and bearing out of the tube with a slide hammer and bearing puller.
• Inspect the area of the axle shaft where the bearing rollers run. If it is pitted, grooved or blue from heat, a new bearing will wear out quickly and the shaft needs to be replaced.
• Drive the new bearing in square to the tube until it seats, then install the new seal with a proper seal driver and a light film of gear oil on the lip.
• Refill with 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil as your owner's manual specifies, and add friction modifier if the axle has a clutch-type limited slip such as Trac-Lok.
• Clean the brake parts with brake cleaner, and replace pads or shoes that are soaked in oil.

Does one kit do both sides of the axle?

No. The AK M35-SUPER contains one axle bearing and one seal and services one side. Order two kits to do both rear wheels.

Which Jeep does this fit?

It is listed for the rear Dana Super Model 35 and Dana Super 44 axles used in the 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ. Do not assume it fits a standard Dana 35 from an XJ Cherokee or Wrangler. Send us your VIN if you are unsure what axle is under your Jeep.

Can I just replace the seal and keep the old bearing?

You can, but the seal rides right next to the bearing and a worn bearing lets the shaft move and wear the new seal out. Since the shaft has to come out anyway, most people replace both.

How do I tell a wheel bearing from a differential noise?

A wheel bearing usually gets louder in turns as weight shifts onto it and feels rough when the wheel is spun by hand. Ring and pinion or carrier bearing noise changes between accelerating and coasting and stays about the same in turns.

What gear oil goes back in?

Use the 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil your owner's manual calls for, and add friction modifier if the axle has a clutch-type limited slip.

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