I have an 82 cj7, stock rearend that has apparantly locked up. I took the drive shaft loose from the rear and the rear wheels are still locked up. I pulled the cover off and cannot see any visible teeth broken but bet thats what the problem is. Is there any way I can move the vehicle without towing it with the rearend raised. I have a buddy with a rearend out of a ford explorer. Will it fit? Will I have to pull the axles to get the spider gears apart? What are some suggestions on this? It's a farm jeep thats mainly used for just getting around the place with limited highway driving but I sure miss it when it's down. Thanks in advance for any help.
82 cj7 rear end trouble
- Thread starter jeepofino
- Start date
GaryMB
New member
RE: 83 scrambler
When did you notice that the rear wheels were locked up? Sometimes on rear ends with alot of wear in the bearings, the axle shafts can fuse to the (bearing?); at least I think it's the bearing. If I'm not mistaken though, this usually happens with highway driving and the rear end will start to howl well in advance. Broken teeth could be the culprit as well. Swapping 8.8" rear ends out of ford explorers and into jeeps is getting to be pretty common. I think the spring perches may have to be moved, and the whole assembly will be a little wider than the cj rear end, but it shouldn't be that hard. The ford axle should be pretty sturdy. I havn't pulled apart a diff yet though, so I can't offer any advice for that.
When did you notice that the rear wheels were locked up? Sometimes on rear ends with alot of wear in the bearings, the axle shafts can fuse to the (bearing?); at least I think it's the bearing. If I'm not mistaken though, this usually happens with highway driving and the rear end will start to howl well in advance. Broken teeth could be the culprit as well. Swapping 8.8" rear ends out of ford explorers and into jeeps is getting to be pretty common. I think the spring perches may have to be moved, and the whole assembly will be a little wider than the cj rear end, but it shouldn't be that hard. The ford axle should be pretty sturdy. I havn't pulled apart a diff yet though, so I can't offer any advice for that.
Although I am at work I've been thinking about this all day. I looked in the housing and did not see any thing visible without tearing it apart but remember hearing a noise when backing up that may be the rear brakes. I am wondering now if it's possible that I have a brake seized thats the problem. I am going to put a floor jack under the chunk to see if both tires are locked. This would be a lot simpler if it's the problem. Sound practical?
SenorCole86
New member
That was my first thought as well. Maybe your parking brake is locked up, because the parking brake only locks the rear wheels. Yeah, check it out, good luck.
Nope it wasn't the brakes...that would have been too easy. I can take my hand and reach over the spider gears and feel something about the size of a tin can lid in between the spider gears and the pinion gear. All I can think of is a shim has come out and got between them, but I don't know how that happened. I think I will have to pull the axles to get the spider gears out but has any one done this all before and can you offer any advice? Thanks.
Bounty__Hunter
Super Moderator
Yes, you'll have to pull the axles for the spider and side gears to come out. I'm not too familiar with the AMC20 but I'm guessing you have to unbolt the axlebearing from the axletube at the brake backing plate and the shaft will come out.
After studing the diagram in the manual the only thing it can be is the spacer/washer that sits on top of the pinion gear. I rember when I had it apart that they were kinda hard to get to stay put when sliding the gears together. I am going to try backing the bolts out of the bearing caps and put it in reverse to see if I can unwedge the washer out of the bind it's in. I got my hand burned (the old saying that the burnt hand teaches best) pretty bad on this one but it could have been worse. Hope someone will learn from my hastiness on this. I still ain't got it fixed but hopefully will have this afternoon. Thanks for the responses.
AMC 20 widetrack 1 piece axles and pitman arm
And the Ford 8.8 from an Explorer won't work. The lug pattern is wrong. I thought of doing that myself when I found on for $100 with 3.73 gears I needed. I was like how lucky can I be, thats cheaper then 1 piece axles. But oh well. The right lug pattern 8.8 is only from a full size truck and of course it's full width.
And the Ford 8.8 from an Explorer won't work. The lug pattern is wrong. I thought of doing that myself when I found on for $100 with 3.73 gears I needed. I was like how lucky can I be, thats cheaper then 1 piece axles. But oh well. The right lug pattern 8.8 is only from a full size truck and of course it's full width.
redrooster
New member
RE: Axle swap
I don't know what washer you are talking about. There is a washer like oil slinger that is supposed to go over the shaft of the pinion gear, but there is no way it would come off and get in there. The only other thing it could be is a shim from the side of the carrier bearings and they are supposed to be installed under the carrier bearings before pressing the bearing on. If you put them on the outside of the bearing then they are installed wrong.
Sounds strange.
Why did you have the gears apart before?
I don't know what washer you are talking about. There is a washer like oil slinger that is supposed to go over the shaft of the pinion gear, but there is no way it would come off and get in there. The only other thing it could be is a shim from the side of the carrier bearings and they are supposed to be installed under the carrier bearings before pressing the bearing on. If you put them on the outside of the bearing then they are installed wrong.
Sounds strange.
Why did you have the gears apart before?
RE: Spring compatability
It was a washer that goes between the small differential pinion gear and differential case. I don't know that it might have been in the differential case for awhile and finally worked it's way between the gears. Any way it had and the way I relieved it was to back the four bolts out of the bearing caps to give it just a little play, jack up the rear end and worked it in 1st and reverse until it backed it out of the gears. Sounds strange I know but with an old jeep that's been through who knows what I am never suprized at anything. Thanks for all the input. It's rollin' again.
It was a washer that goes between the small differential pinion gear and differential case. I don't know that it might have been in the differential case for awhile and finally worked it's way between the gears. Any way it had and the way I relieved it was to back the four bolts out of the bearing caps to give it just a little play, jack up the rear end and worked it in 1st and reverse until it backed it out of the gears. Sounds strange I know but with an old jeep that's been through who knows what I am never suprized at anything. Thanks for all the input. It's rollin' again.
