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

A growl from one rear corner of a 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ that gets louder as you sweep through a turn, a hub soaked in gear oil, or a brake shoe ruined by a leaking axle seal are the problems this part solves. Yukon AK D44-SUPER is a replacement rear axle bearing and seal kit for the WJ rear axle, whether your Jeep came with the Dana 44 or the Model 35 rear. Each kit services one side: one axle bearing and one seal.

What the axle bearing does in a WJ rear axle

The differential bearings carry the gears, but the axle shaft bearing at the outer end of each tube carries the weight of the Jeep and every cornering load that goes through the wheel. On the WJ, Yukon lists this bearing as a bolt-in design, meaning the shaft and bearing are held in the axle tube by a bolted retainer at the brake backing plate rather than by C-clips inside the differential. The seal sits inboard of the bearing and keeps gear oil in the tube and out of the brakes. When the bearing wears, the shaft starts to move in the tube, the seal loses its sealing lip contact, and oil walks out to the brakes.

Symptoms of a worn WJ axle bearing

• Hum or growl from one side that changes with load when you turn left or right (a differential noise usually does not)
• Noise that rises with road speed and stays the same on throttle and coast
• Gear oil on the inside of the wheel, the backing plate or the rear brake parts
• Play you can feel when you grab the tire top and bottom with the Jeep on stands
• A low gear oil level in the rear axle with no leak at the cover or pinion seal

How to confirm before you buy

Jack up the rear, support it, and spin each wheel by hand in neutral. A bad axle bearing feels rough or gravelly and often makes a dry grinding sound you can hear at the backing plate. Check for oil inside the brake drum or on the rotor hat. Then confirm which axle you have: the axle tag and cover shape tell the Dana 44 from the Model 35. If the noise is in the center of the axle rather than one corner, the bearings in the differential are more likely, and our differential noise guide helps narrow it down. The Dana 44 axle problems guide covers what else wears in this axle family.

Fitment

Yukon lists AK D44-SUPER as a bolt-in rear axle bearing and seal for the 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ (two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive) with either the Dana 44 rear or the Model 35 rear. The kit services one side, so order two if you are doing both sides. It is not for the earlier ZJ Grand Cherokee, the Wrangler or the 2005-up WK Grand Cherokee, which use different axles. If you are unsure, send us your year and VIN before ordering. More axle parts are in our hard parts section.

Install notes

• Remove the wheel, brake caliper and rotor, then unbolt the retainer through the axle flange and pull the shaft with a slide hammer.
• The bearing is a press fit on the shaft. Cut the old retaining ring off (do not torch near the bearing), press the new bearing and ring on, and fit the new seal into the tube without cocking it.
• Clean any oil off the brake parts or replace them if they are soaked; contaminated pads and shoes will not stop properly.
• Top up the rear axle with 75W-90 or 75W-140 gear oil to the fill hole, with friction modifier if your WJ has a clutch-type limited slip.
• If the axle also hums from the center, rebuild the differential while it is apart: a Dana 44HD bearing install kit (Timken) or ZBKD44HD Koyo kit fits the WJ Dana 44 and a WJ Dana 35 master bearing kit fits the Model 35.

Does this kit do both rear wheels?

No. Each AK D44-SUPER kit includes one axle bearing and one seal and services one side. Order two for both sides.

Which Jeeps does it fit?

Yukon lists it for the 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ rear axle, both the Dana 44 and the Model 35, in two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. It is not listed for the ZJ, WK or Wrangler.

Do I need a press to install it?

Yes. The bearing and retaining ring are pressed onto the axle shaft. Most people pull the shafts and take them to a machine shop if they do not own a press.

Why did my rear brakes get soaked in oil?

A worn axle bearing lets the shaft move, and the seal behind it can no longer hold the gear oil, so oil reaches the brakes. Replace the bearing and seal together and clean or replace the brake parts.

How do I tell an axle bearing from a differential bearing?

Axle bearing noise usually changes when you load one side in a turn and comes from one corner. Differential bearing and gear noise comes from the center and tends to change with throttle and coast rather than steering.