Yukon Gear Replacement Axle Bearing and Seal Kit For Jeep JK Rear
A hum from one rear corner of a 2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK that changes as you lean the Jeep into a turn, gear oil smeared across the inside of a rear wheel, or rear brakes that keep getting soaked are the signs this kit is built to fix. Yukon AK D44JK is a replacement axle bearing and axle seal for the JK's rear Dana 44. It is a one-side kit, so order two if you are doing both ends of the axle, which is the usual move on a high-mileage or heavily-tired Jeep.
The carrier and pinion bearings in the center section handle the gears. The axle bearing out at the end of each tube does a different job: it holds up the back of the Jeep and takes every side load that passes through the tire when you corner, crawl off-camber or air down on the trail. On the JK the bearing is pressed onto the axle shaft and the shaft is held in the housing at the outer end, which is why replacement Yukon JK rear shafts come with a bearing, seal and retainer already installed. The seal sits just inboard of the bearing and keeps the differential oil in the tube. Once the bearing gets loose, the shaft starts to wobble, the seal lip can no longer follow it, and oil heads straight for the brake.
Jack up the rear, support the axle on stands, and spin each wheel by hand with the transmission in neutral and the transfer case in 2H. A bad bearing feels rough or notchy and you can often hear it through the backing plate with a screwdriver to your ear. Grab the tire at 12 and 6 o'clock and rock it; brake hardware should not move, the shaft should not clunk. If the noise changes between acceleration and coast instead, the problem is more likely the pinion bearings, and our rear axle bearing noise and axle seal guide and transmission vs differential noise guide help you sort out which end of the driveline you are hearing. Owners of automatic JKs can also use our Wrangler JK and JL transmission service guide to rule out a transmission noise.
Yukon lists AK D44JK for the rear Dana 44 under the 2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK, both Rubicon and non-Rubicon 4WD, plus the 2007-2010 non-Rubicon rear-wheel-drive JK. The JK rear Dana 44 was used across the whole JK run, so two-door and Unlimited models share it. It does not fit the 2018-up JL, the front axle, or the TJ and WJ rear axles, which use different bearings. If your JK has an aftermarket axle housing, match the bearing size to your shafts before ordering, or send us the year and VIN. More JK axle and drivetrain parts are in our hard parts collection.
Each kit is new Yukon Gear and Axle part number AK D44JK, in stock and shipping the same business day from the USA.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | AK D44JK |
| Fits | Yukon Gear Replacement Axle Bearing and Seal Kit For Jeep JK Rear |
| Type | Bearings |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
No. Each kit has one axle bearing and one seal and services one side. Order two kits to do both rear wheels.
Yes. Yukon lists it for the 2007-2018 JK rear Dana 44 on both Rubicon and non-Rubicon models, including 2007-2010 two-wheel-drive JKs.
No. The 2018-up JL uses a different rear axle with different bearings. This kit is for the JK, including the 2018 JK models built alongside the early JL.
Yes. The JK rear axle bearing is pressed onto the shaft with a retaining ring, so you need a shop press or a machine shop to swap it. The seal can be driven in by hand with a seal driver.
Usually. Seals on the JK rear tend to leak because the bearing has worn and lets the shaft move, so a new seal alone often fails again quickly. Doing both while the shaft is out saves a second teardown.
