Replacing Rear Wheel Bearings on Jeep YJ

I have recently started hearing a lot of noise coming from the rearend
of my '94 Jeep Wrangler. It clicks and pops mainly when turning
corners... particularly while backing up but only after being driven
for a while. I got the the Jeep about 6 months ago and don't know much
about the structure of the rearend. I'm thinking (hoping) it's outer
wheel bearings and not the differential. Can anyone offer any guidance
on replacing the rear wheel bearings... how much time/work is
involved? can it be done at home with a minimum amount of tools? any
special tools needed?

Thanks,
TJ

You really need to find out what you have back there.

Some rear ends do click and pop like crazy normally, some do it when the
fluid gets low and some do it when they are full of water and about to
explode....

No matter what, the cover has to come off for an inspection and to
remove the axles if you have a Dana 35C.

Some rear ends have clutch packs in them that are a 'limited slip' rear.

Some rears have lockers added that will click and pop.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

tj wrote:
>
> I have recently started hearing a lot of noise coming from the rearend
> of my '94 Jeep Wrangler. It clicks and pops mainly when turning
> corners... particularly while backing up but only after being driven
> for a while. I got the the Jeep about 6 months ago and don't know much
> about the structure of the rearend. I'm thinking (hoping) it's outer
> wheel bearings and not the differential. Can anyone offer any guidance
> on replacing the rear wheel bearings... how much time/work is
> involved? can it be done at home with a minimum amount of tools? any
> special tools needed?
>
> Thanks,
> TJ