Gone Niner

[Xjaddiction]

My new unit bearing decided to fail this past weekend. Just after test drive on interstate, the wheel and brake came off with half of the cheap Chinese hub!!!

I just sold it as is. I'm out of Jeeps for a while, my wife is done with it, so must I. Still will enjoy the expedition crowd here, and will stay on this excellent site.

here are the sad pics. Almost rolled it whenthe wheel came off. I've rolled before, and lnow what it feels like, and this was really close to an endo...

Just bought a newer Expedition, so no mods going to happen there. But, will get the camping gear going, and my trailer. Plus, will get some BFG AT KOs soon for the Bertha, the expedition Queen!

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Even if the hub seperates, the outer axle stub will hold it together. (in fact, the outer holds the hub together)

Looking at the pics, it looks like the nut came off the axle shaft, causing the hub to seperate?

I don't see the 'ears' of the axle stub, just the 'hole'.

 

[BEVAN]

Sucks, I love those 5.9 limited's...

 

[dro805]

must be a dodge/jeep/chrysler thing my buddy had a dakota do the same thing but atleast you didnt get hurt and good look with the expedition

 

[alosix]

That sucks man..

Where is the axle shaft BTW? did it snap in the unit bearing? I kinda expected to see a ujoint or CV broken there.

I just checked mine again, 140k miles on 35" tires with a good bit of wheeling in there. Still tight. Planning on another set with some alloys shortly though.

Jason

 

[Xjaddiction]

Broke the stub shaft at the splines. The axle and ujoint are burried under that dirt the axle is in. The ground was soft there, and the axle dug down about a foot into it. That's prob. what kept the axle from bending, but caught the Jeep on that right side, nearly flippping it over. The new owner and I had it back on the road in two hours. He just drove it home. Sad day for me!

 

[Mr. D]

Happy that you we not physically hurt.

 

[MuckSavage]

Yes! We're glad to hear you weren't hurt. Care to Share what store the unit bearing came from? I would certainly stay away from that brand.

 

[hugh]

Glad you weren't hurt. This story reinforces what I,ve read over at the NAXJA site, stay away from the cheap Chinese junk, especially when it comes to things like unit bearings.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Broke the stub shaft at the splines.

That explains it. What a bummer! I almost went with the cheap ones last year when I replaced the ones on my XJ.

Very glad I didn't!

 

[Brigitta]

Yikes! Glad to hear no one was hurt. I hope your Expedition brings you many happy memories. Here's a pic of my '99, it took us all over the back roads of NV when the kids where young.

 

[Xjaddiction]

nice expedition! Yes glad I wasn't hurt. Always test drive before I put my family in the vehicle after service work done. Advanced Auto Parts... Chinese bearings... stay away from these. I've used them in the past without trouble, but just not worth it. I pick the Expi up tomorrow.

Funny thing about the Expi, I got them down $2500, told them I'd buy it if they fixed a few things and put deposit down, no signed papers. Today it's on their website for $500 less than we agreed on,,, and they said they couldn't go any lower... I just saved another $500 on it!

 

[Root Moose]

LOL

Well, car salesman aren't in that line of work because NASA is full.

 

[Maximus Ram]

Wow, scary to say the least. Good you ar ok. BUt I'm confused...the part broke because it was the cheap version...so instead of gettng the better made one to fix it you sold the vehicle. Also helping the new owner fix the broke piece...wouldn't have been cheaper in the long run to fix it with the better made on in the long run ?

 

[Xjaddiction]

Yes, and well.... no time to work on vehicles. New job, two young girls, and a wife. I don't have it in me anymore. I would have kept it, shoot, I was going to stick it in the garage, but the wifey said GONE! And, well, She's put up with a lot of my Jeep habbits for the past 15 years. I've owned 8, and that doesn't include an isuzu rodeo, and a Yota 80 series. She just doesn't want any more old Jeeps in the garage. I will eventually by a newer 4 door wrangler, but will always have a vehicle for a dd. I tried to do too much, building the 5.9L and driving it every day is not a good idea for me. I drive too much, and I work too much. My weekends , when I'm not working, are sports and family time now.
I've belonged to many other off-road boards for years. This is the only one I'm stayin' with. I just don't have the time or care anymore about rock crawlin, or mudding.

As for the part, well I've replaced many unit bearings made by the Chinese. Never had a problem. Maybe this one was made on the Chinese New Year... too much Chinese spirits maybe. It spun, and broke an already weak axle shaft. That was my next project, a complete front axle rebuild.