Yukon Gear Replacement Axle Bearing and Seal Kit For 77 To 91 Dana 44 and Jeep Wagoneer...

If your full-size Jeep Wagoneer or Grand Wagoneer has a front wheel that rocks when you grab it at twelve and six o'clock, a growl that changes as you sway the steering through a long corner, or grease slung across the inside of the rim, the front axle bearings and seal are the first things to service. This is the Yukon Gear and Axle AK F-J04 kit, built for the 1977-1991 Dana 44 front axle used under the Wagoneer. It ships same business day when in stock.

What this kit does on a Dana 44 front

On the Wagoneer Dana 44 front, the axle shaft and U-joint pass through the steering knuckle and spindle, and the hub rides on a pair of tapered roller bearings around the spindle. The bearings carry the weight of the front of the truck and the cornering loads, while the seal keeps grease in and water and road grit out. Once a seal lets water in, the grease emulsifies, the rollers and races pit, and the bearing starts to make noise and develop play. Yukon's AK kits are application-specific: AK F-J04 includes the bearings, the matching races and the seal, and it services one side of the axle. Replace both races with the bearings; a new cone running in an old cup will wear quickly.

Symptoms of worn front axle bearings or seals

• Clunk or free play when you rock the tire top to bottom with the front end lifted
• Humming or grinding that gets louder with speed and changes when you load one side in a turn
• Grease on the back of the wheel, brake rotor or caliper, which also ruins brake pads
• Steering wander or a front end that never aligns properly because the hub moves
• Water or milky grease found inside the hub after a deep crossing

How to confirm before you buy

Lift the front tire off the ground and check for play by hand at the top and bottom of the tire. Movement that disappears when a helper holds the brake points to the bearings; movement that stays points to ball joints or the knuckle instead. Spin the wheel and listen for roughness. A howl that changes with throttle rather than steering is more likely differential gears, and those need the differential bearings in a Dana 44 front master overhaul kit rather than this kit.

Fitment

The kit is listed for the 1977-1991 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer with the Dana 44 front axle. Full-size Jeeps of this era used more than one hub and axle configuration over the years, and many have been swapped or modified, so check the bearing numbers stamped on your old cones and races against the new parts, or send us your year and VIN before you order. The kit covers one side; order two to do both front wheels. More axle and differential parts are on our rebuild kits page.

Install notes

• Drive the old races out and seat the new ones fully with a driver of the correct size; a cocked race will fail early. A bearing race and seal driver kit with grease packer makes this a clean job.
• Pack the bearings completely with a high-temperature wheel bearing grease before installation.
• Clean the spindle and inspect the seal surface; a groove worn into it will leak past even a new seal.
• Adjust the bearing preload with the spindle nuts to the factory specification, set the lock washer, and torque the outer nut. A spindle nut socket set fits the slotted nuts used on these axles.
• Inspect the axle shaft U-joint and the inner axle seal while the hub is apart; a leaking inner seal lets gear oil wash out the bearing grease.
• Re-check for play after the first 100 miles. Our gasket and seal materials guide explains why seals fail after water exposure.

Does this kit do both front wheels?

No. AK F-J04 services one side. Order two kits to replace the bearings, races and seals on both sides of the axle.

What is included in the kit?

The bearings, the matching races and the seal for one side of the Dana 44 front axle.

Will it fit my Cherokee XJ or Wrangler?

No. This kit is for the full-size Wagoneer Dana 44 front. The XJ and Wrangler use different front axles and hub bearings.

Do I need to replace the races?

Yes. Install the new races that come with the kit. Running new bearings in worn races shortens their life.

What grease should I use?

Use a high-temperature wheel bearing grease and pack the bearings fully before installation. Never mix grease types in the hub.

• Gasket and Seal Materials Guide