Ouch, the worst nightmare is a spun out bearing! That 'can' mean you
end up needing a new housing or it easily can mean a used one is cheaper
than the fixes it might need.

Peening means hitting the bearing with a ball peen hammer to make
dimples in it. The idea is these dimples will make the bearing appear
larger by being bumpy so it might hold in the axle tube. I 'think'
there might be a loctite product to help make this band aid hold.

If the peening doesn't work, they can take it apart and maybe machine
the inside of the tube larger so they can fit a shim sleeve in there to
try and hold the bearing in place.

I spun a front bearing on my CJ7 and tried the peening, it didn't hold,
then just went and got a new spindle.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
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Deano wrote:
>
> Just had my 86 cj7 (dana 44 rear) into my local jeep mechanic to
> replace my oil seal, bearing, retainer etc, and brake pad on the rear
> axle, driver's side. When I picked it up he mentioned that he had
> noticed a lot of play when he reinstalled the new axle - he guessed
> that a PO had spun a bearing. Basically the bearing was not fitting
> tightly into the surrounding housing. He said it seemed ok, but if
> there were any problems he may have to spot peen? (weld?) the bearing
> to keep it from turning.
>
> As it turns out, it has started leaking again just a few weeks later
> and I don't understand whether or not these two issues are or could be
> related. He checked the axle for straightness at the time which wasn't
> a problem. Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? I will
> take it back in, but wanted to have some ideas ahead of time...
>
> Dean