Yukon Gear Replacement Standard Open Spider Gear Kit For Jeep KJ Dana 30 Front
A Jeep Liberty KJ that clicks or pops from the front end in tight 4WD turns, bangs when you add throttle with the wheels cranked, or leaves broken gear teeth on the front diff magnet usually has tired spider gears in its front differential. The Yukon Gear and Axle YPKD30-S-27-KJ is a replacement spider gear set for the open front differential in the 2002-2007 Liberty, which uses an independent-suspension version of the Dana 30. It lets you fix the gears that failed without paying for a whole loaded carrier.
The Liberty does not have a solid front axle. Its Dana 30 center section bolts to the frame, and CV shafts run out to each front wheel. Inside the carrier, two side gears are splined to those inner shafts and two pinion gears ride on a cross pin between them. Going straight in 4WD, the whole set turns together. In a turn, the pinions spin on the cross pin so the outside wheel can travel farther than the inside one. Because it is an open differential, a front tire that loses grip spins the pinions at speed, and when that tire bites again the shock lands on these gears and on the cross pin. On a KJ the front only drives when 4WD is selected, so most wear builds up in snow, on gravel or off pavement. When the cross pin wears, the pinion gears get sloppy and start to chip.
This kit includes two side gears, two pinion gears, the cross pin shaft, the roll pin that retains it, and the spider gear thrust washers. The side gears are 27-spline, matched to the Liberty front inner shafts.
Raise the front, drain the gear oil into a clean pan and look at it under a light. Pull the cover and turn the carrier by hand. Check every tooth on the four gears, look for a stepped or blued wear spot on the cross pin, and confirm the roll pin is still in place. If the noise follows road speed going straight instead of only in turns, the ring and pinion or the carrier bearings are the more likely cause, and a spider kit will not fix it. If the carrier case itself is cracked or the cross pin bores are worn oval, replace the case. The Yukon loaded open carrier for the Liberty Dana 30, 3.73 and up comes with gears already installed, and a bare Dana 30 open carrier case, 3.73 and up is the option if you are reusing parts.
2002-2007 Jeep Liberty KJ with the Dana 30 open front differential and 27-spline inner shafts. It is not the same kit as the Wrangler JK version; for that Jeep use the JK Dana 30 spider gear kit. If your Liberty has had an aftermarket locker or limited slip installed, this kit does not apply. Not sure what is in your axle? Send us the year and VIN and a photo of the axle tag. More axle parts are in our hard parts section.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | YPKD30-S-27-KJ |
| Fits | Yukon Gear Replacement Standard Open Spider Gear Kit For Jeep KJ Dana 30 Front |
| Type | Differential Spider Gears |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
It fits the Liberty KJ Dana 30 front with the factory open differential and 27-spline inner shafts. If a locker or limited slip has been added, or the axle has been swapped, check the tag and send us the VIN before you order.
Two side gears, two pinion gears, the cross pin shaft, the roll pin that holds it, and the spider gear thrust washers.
Usually not. The spider gears come out through the carrier window with the carrier in the housing, so ring and pinion backlash and carrier bearing preload are not touched. If the carrier bearings are noisy, that is a separate repair.
On a Liberty the front differential is not driven in 2WD, so spider gear noise shows up mostly in 4WD turns. Noise in 2WD at all speeds points more toward bearings, CV joints or the rear axle.
A quality 75W-90 GL-5 gear oil for an open front differential, filled to the bottom of the fill hole. Check your owner's manual for the exact spec on your year.
