2002 JEEP LIBERTY The

AXLE BEARING/SEAL
REMOVAL
(1) Remove axle shaft from vehicle.
(2) Drill a shallow hole into soft steel axle bearing
retaining ring with a 3/8 in. drill bit (Fig. 25). Use a
drill depth stop to avoid marking the axle.
(3) With a cold chisel cut the retaining ring across
drilled hole. (Fig. 26)
(4) Slide retaining ring from axle shaft.
(5) Remove axle bearing from the shaft with a
press and Splitter 1130 placed between the seal and
bearing (Fig. 27).
(6) Remove seal from axle.
(7) Remove retaining plate from axle shaft.
Fig. 25 DRILL RETAINING RING
1 - DRILL BIT
2 - AXLE
3 - RETAINING PLATE
4 - RETAINING RING
Fig. 26 CUT RETAINING RING
1 - AXLE
2 - COLD CHISEL
3 - VISE
4 - RETAINING RING
Fig. 27 AXLE BEARING AND SEAL
1 - SPLITTER
2 - AXLE SHAFT
3 - BLOCKS
4 - BLOCKS
3 - 66 REAR AXLE - 198RBIKJ

INSTALLATION
NOTE: Verify axle shaft retaining plate is flat with a
straight edge. If the plate is warped replace the
plate.
(1) Install retaining plate on the axle shaft (Fig.
28).
(2) Apply a coat of multi-purpose grease on sealing
surface of axle seal.
(3) Install seal on the axle shaft with cavity away
from retaining plate (Fig. 28).
(4) Lubricate bearing with MopartWheel Bearing
Grease or equivalent. Wipe excess grease from the
bearing.
(5) Install bearing on the axle shaft with Installer
7913 and a press (Fig. 29).
(6) Press retaining ring onto axle shaft with
Installer 7913 and a press (Fig. 30).
(7) Install axle in vehicle.
Fig. 29 BEARING ON AXLE
1 - PRESS RAM
2 - INSTALLER - 7913
3 - AXLE BEARING
4 - SEAL
5 - RETAINING PLATE
6 - AXLE
Fig. 30 BEARING RETAINING RING ON AXLE
1 - PRESS
2 - AXLE
3 - AXLE BEARING
4 - INSTALLER
5 - SOFT METAL RETAINING RING
Fig. 28 AXLE BEARING AND SEAL COMPONENTS
1 - RETAINING RING
2 - SEAL
3 - AXLE
4 - RETAINING PLATE
5 - AXLE BEARING
KJREAR AXLE - 198RBI 3 - 67
AXLE BEARING/SEAL (Continued)

PINION SEAL
REMOVAL
(1) Raise and support the vehicle.
(2) Remove wheel and tire assemblies.
(3) Remove rear brake rotors drums.
(4) Mark propeller shaft and pinion yoke for
installation reference.
(5) Remove the propeller shaft from the yoke.
(6) Rotate pinion gear three or four times and ver-
ify that pinion rotates smoothly.
(7) Measure and record torque to rotate the pinion
gear with an inch pound dial-type torque wrench.
(8) With a short piece of pipe and Spanner Wrench
6958 remove the pinion nut and washer (Fig. 31).
(9) Remove pinion companion flange with Remover
C-452 and Flange Wrench C-3281. (Fig. 32)
(10) Remove pinion seal with Remover 7794-A and
a slide hammer (Fig. 33).
INSTALLATION
(1) Apply a light coating of gear lubricant on the
lip of pinion seal. Install seal with an appropriate
seal installer (Fig. 34).
(2) Install yoke on the pinion gear with Installer
C-3718 and Spanner Wrench 6958 (Fig. 35).(3) Install anewnut on the pinion gear.Tighten
the nut only enough to remove the shaft end
play.
CAUTION: Do not exceed the minimum torque 271
N´m (200 ft. lbs.) when installing the pinion yoke
retaining nut at this point. Damage to collapsible
spacer or bearings may result.
(4) Rotate the pinion a minimum of ten times and
verify pinion rotates smoothly.
(5) Measure and recore pinion torque to rotate
with an inch pound torque wrench. Torque to rotate
should be equal to the reading recorded during
removal, plus 0.56 N´m (5 in. lbs.) (Fig. 36).
Fig. 31 YOKE SPANNER WRENCH
1 - PINION YOKE
2 - WRENCH
3 - PIPE
Fig. 32 PINION YOKE REMOVER
1 - WRENCH
2 - YOKE
3 - REMOVER
Fig. 33 PINION SEAL REMOVER
1 - REMOVER
2 - SLIDE HAMMER
3 - PINION SEAL
3 - 68 REAR AXLE - 198RBIKJ

(6) If rotating torque is low, hold pinion yoke with
Wrench 6958 (Fig. 37) and tighten pinion shaft nut
in 6.8 N´m (5 ft. lbs.) increments until rotating
torque is achieved.
CAUTION: If maximum tightening torque is reached
prior to reaching the required rotating torque, the
collapsible spacer may have been damaged.
Replace the collapsible spacer.
(7) Align the installation reference marks on the
propeller shaft and pinion yoke and install the pro-
peller shaft.
Fig. 34 PINION SEAL INSTALLATION
1 - HANDLE
2 - INSTALLER
Fig. 35 PINION YOKE INSTALLER
1 - INSTALLER
2 - PINION YOKE
3 - WRENCH
Fig. 36 PINION GEAR ROTATING TORQUE
1 - TORQUE WRENCH
2 - PINION YOKE
Fig. 37 YOKE SPANNER WRENCH
1 - PINION YOKE
2 - WRENCH
3 - PIPE
KJREAR AXLE - 198RBI 3 - 69
PINION SEAL (Continued)

(8) Fill differential with gear lubricant.
(9) Install the brake drums
(10) Install wheel and tire assemblies.
(11) Lower the vehicle.
COLLAPSIBLE SPACER
REMOVAL
(1) Raise and support the vehicle.
(2) Remove wheel and tire assemblies.
(3) Remove rear brake drums.
(4) Mark the propeller shaft and pinion yoke for
installation reference.
(5) Remove the propeller shaft from the yoke.
(6) Rotate the pinion gear three or four times.
(7) Measure and record torque to rotate the pinion
gear with an inch pound dial-type torque wrench.
(8) Hold pinion yoke with Spanner Wrench 6958
and remove pinion nut and washer.
(9) Remove the pinion yoke with Remover C-452
and Flange Wrench C-3281 (Fig. 38).
(10) Remove pinion shaft seal with a pry tool or a
slide hammer mounted screw.
(11) Remove front pinion bearing using a pair of
pick tools. Pull the bearing straight off the pinion
gear shaft. If the bearing becomes bound on the pin-
ion shaft, lightly tap the end of the pinion gear with
a rawhide/rubber hammer.
(12) Remove the collapsible spacer.
INSTALLATION
(1) Install anewcollapsible preload spacer on pin-
ion shaft.
(2) Install pinion front bearing.(3) Apply a light coating of gear lubricant on the
lip of pinion seal and install anewseal with an
appropriate installer (Fig. 39).
(4) Install yoke with Screw 8112, Cup 8109 and
Spanner Wrench 6958 (Fig. 40).
(5) Install yoke washer andnewnut on the pinion
gear. Tighten the nut to 271 N´m (200 ft. lbs.).
CAUTION: Never loosen pinion gear nut to decrease
pinion gear bearing rotating torque and never
exceed specified preload torque. If preload torque
or rotating torque is exceeded a new collapsible
spacer must be installed.
Fig. 38 PINION YOKE
1 - FLANGE WRENCH
2 - YOKE
3 - REMOVER
Fig. 39 PINION SEAL
1 - HANDLE
2 - INSTALLER
Fig. 40 PINION YOKE INSTALLER
1 - INSTALLER
2 - PINION YOKE
3 - WRENCH
3 - 70 REAR AXLE - 198RBIKJ
PINION SEAL (Continued)

(6) Using yoke with Spanner Wrench 6958 and a
torque wrench set at 474 N´m (350 ft. lbs.), (Fig. 41)
slowly tighten the nut in 6.8 N´m (5 ft. lbs.) incre-
ments until the rotating torque is achieved. Measure
the rotating torque frequently to avoid over crushing
the collapsible spacer (Fig. 42).
NOTE: If more than 474 N´m (350 ft. lbs.) torque is
required to crush the collapsible spacer, the spacer
is defective and must be replaced.
(7) Check rotating torque with an inch pound
torque wrench (Fig. 42). The rotating torque of the
pinion gear should be, the reading recorded during
removal plus an additional 0.56 N´m (5 in. lbs.).
(8) Install propeller shaft with reference marks
aligned.
(9) Install rear brake drums.
(10) Add gear lubricant, if necessary.
(11) Install wheel and tire assemblies.
(12) Remove supports and lower vehicle.
DIFFERENTIAL
REMOVAL
(1) Raise and support vehicle.
(2) Remove differential cover and drain fluid.
(3) Clean the housing cavity with flushing oil, light
engine oil or lint free cloth.NOTE: Do not use water, steam, kerosene or gaso-
line for cleaning.
(4) Remove axle shafts.
(5)
Note the reference letters stamped on the bearing
caps and housing machined sealing surface (Fig. 43).
Fig. 41 YOKE SPANNER WRENCH
1 - PINION YOKE
2 - WRENCH
3 - PIPE
Fig. 42 PINION ROTATING TORQUE
1 - TORQUE WRENCH
2 - PINION YOKE
Fig. 43 BEARING CAP IDENTIFICATION
1 - REFERENCE LETTERS
2 - REFERENCE LETTERS
KJREAR AXLE - 198RBI 3 - 71
COLLAPSIBLE SPACER (Continued)

(6) Loosen the differential bearing cap bolts.
(7) With Spreader W-129-B and adapters from
Adapter set 6987, position the adapters in the differ-
ential holes (Fig. 44). Install hold-down clamps and
tighten the tool turnbuckle finger-tight.
(8) Install Pilot Stud C-3288-B at the left side of
the differential housing. Attach Dial Indicator C-3339
to pilot stud. Load the indicator plunger against the
opposite side of the housing (Fig. 45) and zero the
indicator.
(9) Spread the housing while measuring the dis-
tance with the dial indicator. Spread the housing
enough to remove the differential case (Fig. 46).
CAUTION: Do not spread over 0.38 mm (0.015 in). If
housing is over-spread, it could be distorted or
damaged.
(10) Remove the dial indicator and pilot stud.
(11) Remove differential bearing cap bolts and caps
while holding the case.
Fig. 44 SPREADER LOCATION
1 - DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
2 - ADAPTER
3 - SAFETY HOLD DOWN
4 - SPREADER
5 - TURNBUCKLE
Fig. 45 DIAL INDICATOR LOCATION
1 - CLAMP
2 - DIAL INDICATOR
3 - LEVER ADAPTER
4 - SPREADER
5 - PILOT STUD
Fig. 46 SPREAD DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
1 - DIAL INDICATOR
2 - SPREADER
3 - 72 REAR AXLE - 198RBIKJ
DIFFERENTIAL (Continued)

(12) Remove differential from the housing. Ensure
that the differential bearing cups remain in position
on the differential bearings (Fig. 47).
(13) Remove bearing cups from the differential and
tag them to indicate their location.
(14) Remove differential case preload shims from
the housing and tag them to indicate their location.
(15) Remove spreader from housing.
INSTALLATION
NOTE: If differential bearings or differential case are
replaced, differential bearing preload shim require-
ments may change. Refer Adjustments (Differential
Bearing Preload and Gear Backlash) to determine
the proper shim selection.
(1) With Spreader W-129-B and adapters from
Adapter set 6987, position the adapters in the differ-
ential holes (Fig. 48). Install the hold-down clamps
and tighten the tool turnbuckle finger-tight.
(2) Install a Pilot Stud C-3288-B at the left side of
the differential housing. Attach Dial Indicator C-3339
to pilot stud. Load the indicator plunger against the
opposite side of the housing and zero the indicator.
(3) Spread the housing while measuring the dis-
tance with the dial indicator. Spread the housing
enough to install the differential case.
CAUTION: Do not spread over 0.38 mm (0.015 in). If
the housing is over±spread, it could be distorted or
damaged.
(4) Remove the dial indicator.(5) Install differential case in the housing (Fig. 49)
with bearing cups and preload shims in their original
locations. Tap the differential case to ensure the
bearings cups and shims are fully seated in the hous-
ing.
Fig. 47 DIFFERENTIAL CASE
1 - DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
2 - DIFFERENTIAL CASE
3 - BEARING CUPSFig. 48 SPREADER LOCATION
1 - DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
2 - ADAPTER
3 - SAFETY HOLD DOWN
4 - SPREADER
5 - TURNBUCKLE
Fig. 49 DIFFERENTIAL CASE
1 - DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING
2 - DIFFERENTIAL CASE
3 - BEARING CUPS
KJREAR AXLE - 198RBI 3 - 73
DIFFERENTIAL (Continued)