Tapered D44 Bearing Maintenance?

Hi. I’m getting into the maintenance of the Jeep for summer wheeling. I took the brakes off and pulled out the axle. In the past I’ve packed this bearing right on the shaft and put back together.

Is that the common practice?
I assume that the inner bearing is on the carrier and only sees gear oil in the Differential?

Thanks for your replies.

 

I'll hopefully be doing the same this week.

 

Mine has grease fittings on the axle tube on top I think

 

I seem to remember folks saying those are mostly ineffective.

 

I don't think there is a seal in the inner tube like a D30.

Internet, correct me if im wrong! I dare you!

 

With axle bearing on the shaft I was taught to use a shop rag to pack the bearing.
Apply liberal amounts of wheel bearing grease to the top of the bearing and then using the tightly stretched out and wound up rag, pull the rag to force pressure to force the grease into and out of the bearing.
Pull on the shop rag to force the grease into the bearing until you see it exit both the rollers and the bottom of the bearing.
Too much grease here is a good thing.
Just keep working the rag and grease all the way around the bearing.
If done correctly, you will make a greasy mess out of your rag and your hands.
And there is an inner axle seal right inside the tube at axle end.

 

There is definitely an inner seal just inside the wheel bearing. Felt seal thing on the outside.

20220405_004852 by Joe with a jeep, on Flickr

It looks like if you go crazy it would rupture the inner seal. I'm going to pack mine since it is already apart.

 

Very good info. I’m going to have to check that inner seal. I don’t remember ever replacing it.
https://www.quadratec.com/products/916535_01.htm

 

Yes. You can pack the bearing the same way you pack a front one. Put some grease on your palm and pack it using a scrapping motion against the rear of the bearing till it squeezes out the front.

There is no inner bearing. The inner part of the axle is splined and rides inside the carrier side gears.

Overpacking via the zerk can push the grease into the axle tube. Not a real issue. If the inner seal goes bad, the usual first sign is 90WT migrating through the bearing and out onto the backing plate or the grease drain hole.
Most overpacking goes out the outer seal and (theoretically) down the grease shield and out the drain hole at the back of the flange. The usual issue is missing grease shields and/or plugged drains, both which can force the excessive grease to migrate into the inside of the backing plate, then usually onto the shoes.
Zerks were found on 56 to 65 axles.

 

My '66 has Zerks. But we all know swapping all kinds of items on early CJs is common. It's kind'a what we do.

 

Also titles and registrations don't always align exactly with the date of manufacture.

 

They are effective if you clear the vent and pump the grease in slowly until you see clean grease coming out the vent. On some Jeeps the vent is just an open hole but on others such as military there is a threaded plug that must be removed.

They do have inner seals and if you pump grease too quickly it will blow by those seals.

All of my flat fender Jeeps have had the grease fittings, but not my 67 CJ5. So, these were omitted on later models and servicing the bearings requires pulling the axles. When I pulled my CJ5 axles I installed grease fittings and vents so I can service the bearings without that much work.

 

But most, if not all axles of that era, have a small relief hole on top of the axle where that excess grease is supposed to go.

 

I'll have to look when I get home today. I'll need to clean it out and get a rubber plug or something to keep water out.

 

If you have it apart, IIRC, I tapped those holes 8-32 and put set screws in them.

 

Hello Chris,
Correct me too.... I think you were referring to the non existent inner seal @ the carrier. Right on , there ain't one.

 

Update. The technique of pushing the grease in with a rag worked well. Pushed most of the old grease out. I got both sides back together then cleared the vents I had grease coming out the little holes with the grease gun. On to the front axle next.

 

I did find the overflow holes but got called back inside.