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Wheel Hubs

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Old Feb 12, 2015 | 05:22 PM
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Default Wheel Hubs

Just wondering how many have had to change their wheel hubs and at how many miles. I haven't verified but I started feeling a vibration at slow speed that feels like possibly a bad wheel hub bearing. I recently went through some trails in the OBX that had some water puddles and think that may have contributed to what I'm feeling. I can't tell if I'm experiencing something transmission related (I hope not) or is a wheel hub. Plan on checking it out tomorrow after work. I havent seen anybody complain about the JK wheel hubs but I'm hoping this is what my problem is.
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Old Feb 12, 2015 | 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by hornetman
Just wondering how many have had to change their wheel hubs and at how many miles. I haven't verified but I started feeling a vibration at slow speed that feels like possibly a bad wheel hub bearing. I recently went through some trails in the OBX that had some water puddles and think that may have contributed to what I'm feeling. I can't tell if I'm experiencing something transmission related (I hope not) or is a wheel hub. Plan on checking it out tomorrow after work. I havent seen anybody complain about the JK wheel hubs but I'm hoping this is what my problem is.
I think it's going to be tough to get a "mileage" figure on it because most everyone's rigs are setup different. Do they wheel it or not so 1 wheel is hanging in the air or not? Are they using wheel adapters and/or low back spaced wheels which puts more stress on the bearings as the wheels are pushed out? Weight of tires/wheels?

1 of the guys up here pretty much went through his front end before figuring out it was his front aftermarket drive shaft causing the vibrations.

I'm no expert but if you've done the obvious (making sure all the bolts are tightened up front, looked for ovaling, etc.), then check on your ball joints. If ball joints ok, then check your unit bearings. If the unit bearing needs to be replaced, good thing it's only less than $100 per side to replace.

Probably take about an hour to change out by yourself.

Also don't discount things like an out of round tire, bent tie rod, etc.

Last edited by DJ1; Feb 12, 2015 at 08:18 PM.
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Old Feb 13, 2015 | 07:37 AM
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Default can be a long process to try &

chase it down good luck start with that dam track bar
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Old Feb 13, 2015 | 01:00 PM
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Damn Valentines Day weekend is gonna mess with my plans. I wasn't going to drive it today but went ahead and drove to work and back about 20 miles total. I don't have a wobble at all just now kind of sounds like something is slightly grinding in the transmission. Sound goes away when coasting putting into neutral or just putting the clutch in. I 'm thinking now could be pressure plate / throw out bearing? I don't know really what the noise is but can feel it through the floor and definitely sounds when down shifting every now and then when shifting up. Will a throw out bearing or something else cause a vibration like this? I briefly looked under jeep and the drive shaft seams fine. Any recommendations or somebody have similar problems please chime in. Hopefully the wife will give me some time tomorrow to investigate, also should be warmer then the 20-30s we had today.
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Old Feb 14, 2015 | 12:23 PM
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Feeling a little stupid. I put on a Rock Hard Skid last weekend and the noise started right after. It turns out the bracket for the skid that attaches to the driver side engine mount bracket was bottoming out and that was causing the vibration which felt like it was coming from the clutch/transmission. So if anyone installs one of these mounts beware of the close tolerance for this bolt and add a couple washers so it does to hit the engine mount.

Click image for larger version

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The cause!
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Old Feb 14, 2015 | 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by hornetman
Feeling a little stupid. I put on a Rock Hard Skid last weekend and the noise started right after. It turns out the bracket for the skid that attaches to the driver side engine mount bracket was bottoming out and that was causing the vibration which felt like it was coming from the clutch/transmission. So if anyone installs one of these mounts beware of the close tolerance for this bolt and add a couple washers so it does to hit the engine mount.

<img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=596828"/>

The cause!
Ha..that is flippin funny. I installed the same skid about year and a half ago. I've had a vibration/ rattle
That I could not find. But it only seems to happen when I shift into reverse. I'll have to check those bolts
Out tomorrow . Thanks for the heads up..
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Old Feb 15, 2015 | 02:57 AM
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Well I don't know what I was thinking or reading but both bolts for engine mount come in from the top. I guess I should have watched the video. And I reread the instructions and even the small picture show the bolts coming from the top. Usually I'm prettying good at following instructions but this time I whizzed right by but luckily figured it out before I started replacing stuff that wasn't wrong. I apologize Rock Hard for my error in reporting and am really glad that I went this route with this skid. Now I need to save some more $$ for the gas tank skid.
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Old Feb 15, 2015 | 06:09 AM
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Well I checked the bolts on mine, and their installed correct, so I guess
The mystery continues. lol.....
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