Yukon Gear M220 Rear Axle Bearing and Seal Kit
Gear oil streaking down the inside of a rear wheel, a wet brake caliper, or a growl from one rear corner that gets louder in sweeping turns are the reasons Wrangler JL Rubicon and Gladiator JT owners go looking for this part. The Yukon Gear and Axle AK R-J01 is the axle bearing and seal kit for the Dana M220 rear axle used under those trucks. Yukon lists it with a 3.149 inch outside diameter bearing, sized for the outer end of the M220 axle tube, and pairs it with a new axle seal so the shaft goes back in sealed and running on a fresh bearing.
The M220 is Dana's 220 mm rear axle, the new-design Dana 44 that Jeep put under the JL Rubicon and every JT. It is a semi-float axle: the shafts carry the weight of the truck at the outer bearing and also drive the wheels. The bearing is pressed onto the shaft and held by a pressed retaining ring, and the shaft is then bolted into the end of the housing tube with a retainer plate. The seal rides on the shaft just inboard of the bearing and keeps the gear oil that splashes down the tube from reaching the brakes. Big tires, heavy payloads and a loaded bed on a Gladiator all add side load at that bearing, and once it wears the shaft can wobble enough to wear the seal lip and start a leak.
Lift the rear, pull the wheel and look at the backing area behind the rotor. Fresh, wet gear oil there means the axle seal is leaking, not the brake system. Spin the hub and listen; a rough or gritty feel through the shaft is the bearing. A whine that changes on and off the throttle, rather than in turns, usually comes from the ring and pinion or carrier bearings instead, and that calls for a center section rebuild with the Yukon JL Dana 44 220mm rear master kit. If you are not sure whether the noise is coming from the axle or from the transmission and transfer case, our Wrangler JK and JL service guide covers what to check on the driveline side.
Yukon catalogs AK R-J01 for the Jeep M220 rear axle in the Wrangler JL Rubicon and the Gladiator JT. All JL Rubicons and all JT Gladiators use the new-design Dana 44 front and rear. Non-Rubicon JL Sport and Sahara models were built with either a Dana 35 (M200) or a Dana 44 rear, and those axles do not share this listing, so read the axle tag on the housing tube or check your build sheet before ordering. Yukon lists a 1.5 lb shipping weight for the kit, which matches a single bearing and seal set; if you are doing both sides, contact us to confirm how many you need. Send us your year and VIN if you want us to check the fitment for you. Other differential and axle overhaul parts are in our rebuild kit category.
If the shaft itself is bent or the seal surface is damaged, a Yukon chromoly right rear axle for JL and JT Rubicon replaces it outright. While the rear is apart, a Yukon Hardcore rear cover for the 220mm protects the center section on the trail.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | AK R-J01 |
| Fits | Yukon Gear M220 Rear Axle Bearing and Seal Kit |
| Type | Bearings |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Only if the truck has the M220 Dana 44 rear, and Yukon catalogs this kit for the JL Rubicon and JT. Many Sport and Sahara JLs have a Dana 35 (M200) rear. Check the axle tag or send us your VIN before ordering.
Yukon lists a 1.5 lb shipping weight, which matches one bearing and seal set. If you are replacing both sides, contact us to confirm the quantity before you order.
Not properly. The bearing and retaining ring are pressed onto the shaft. Most owners pull the shaft and take it to a shop with a press, or replace the whole shaft assembly.
Fix the leak first with a new seal and bearing, then replace the oil-soaked brake pads and clean the rotor and caliper. Pads that have absorbed gear oil will not grip properly again.
Axle bearing noise changes when you load one side in a turn. Ring and pinion noise changes between acceleration and coast. If the noise follows the throttle, look at the center section instead.