I noticed the other day when attempting the brakes, that my front axle had some "play" in it. When I got the passenger side tire bolted back on, I wiggled it to make sure it was snug and true. Well, the wheel was on snug, but there was some play in the axle.

Being that this is my first go round with Chysler (Jeep and my Ram) and I am finding quirks here and there, and some are just "It's a Jeep thing." I don't know what is expected and what isn't. Having play in the D44 can't be a good thing, right? Or is this what they mean by a full floating axel?

Unfortunately, I had already put the driver's side wheel on the ground, and I only noticed it on the passenger side. When I have them back up to replace the brakes, I will check both.

What could this be?

 

where exacally is there play?

 

If you grab the tire at the top and bottom and can wiggle it perpendicular to the axle housing, thats a wheel bearing going out. If you are rotating the tire with the axle locked in 4wd, that could be a U-joint or side gear play.

 

Top and bottom wobble can also be ball joints. going right to left is how you check tie-rods. now if it has play all around, then wheel bearings are gone

 

I was moving it top to bottom with it in 2WD.

When driving at slow speeds, I can sometimes feel the same sort of play in my steering wheel. Very minor...but I notice it.

 

sounds like the wheel/hub bearings

 

Is this something that I can do in the driveway? I have never attempted this before.

Also, does anyone have a link to a PDF version of the FSM? You can PM me with the link.

 

you can but you may have to fight with it to get it out of the knuckle

 

everything I do on the Jeep, Dodge is a fight. Accept for the tail light replacement. (accept I have to figure out why both back up lights don't work, now. lol)