2024-2025 Jeep Wrangler Rear Axle Noise TSB

Owners of 2024-2025 Jeep Wrangler vehicles may notice an intermittent grinding, screeching, or ratcheting noise coming from the right hand side of the vehicle on the rear axle. This issue is addressed by Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 03-003-25, which identifies the root cause as insufficient lubrication of the axle shaft and hub splines.

This TSB, referenced as 03-003-25, supersedes an earlier bulletin, TSB 03-007-24 REV. A, issued on July 19, 2024. It has also been released as Rapid Service Update (RSU) 24-104, dated July 16, 2024. The repair involves a specific procedure to clean and lubricate these components, aiming to eliminate the Jeep Wrangler rear axle noise.

Symptoms

Customers experiencing this issue will typically observe:

• "Intermittent grinding, screeching, ratcheting noise coming from the right hand side of vehicle on the rear axle."

Cause of the Noise

The primary cause identified for the Jeep Wrangler rear axle noise is a lack of proper lubrication between the axle shaft and hub splines. Over time, this can lead to friction and wear, producing the described noises.

Diagnosis and Verification

To determine if your vehicle is covered by this service action, technicians will check the VIN against a list in the VIP system or the RSU VIN list. If your vehicle exhibits the symptoms but is not on the VIN list, the repair procedure may still be performed.

Repair Procedure Summary

The repair outlined in TSB 03-003-25 focuses on cleaning and lubricating the axle shaft and hub splines. The process involves several steps:

1. Disassembly: The brake caliper, rotor, wheel speed sensor, and parking brake cable are removed. The four hub nuts (Fig. 1) are then removed, allowing the hub to be extracted from the tube assembly using a pry bar.
2. Component Removal: The axle shaft, hub, and bearing assembly, along with the backing plate, are removed from the axle housing. The axle shaft is then separated from the hub.
3. Cleaning: Both the shaft splines and hub splines are thoroughly cleaned using brake cleaner and a wire brush to remove any fretting or corrosion (Fig. 2). After cleaning, forced air is used to ensure all debris is removed from the interface.
4. Lubrication: Mopar® Wheel Bearing Grease is applied to both the hub splines and axle shaft splines, ensuring the entire spline interface is coated (Fig. 3). Additionally, 75-85W sump lube is applied to the tube flange inside diameter to assist with O-ring guidance (Fig. 4).
5. Reassembly: The axle shaft is installed into the hub, followed by the reinstallation of the axle shaft, hub, and bearing assembly onto the tube. Four new hex flange lock nuts are installed. The parking brake cable, wheel speed sensor, brake caliper, and rotor are reconnected and installed.

Required Parts

To perform this repair, the following parts may be needed:

• 05083150AA: Mopar® Wheel Bearing Grease (1/100 of a 14.5 ounce cartridge)
• 68003275AA: Hex Flange Lock Nut (4 required)
• 68651258AA: O-Ring (1 required, to be inspected and replaced if damaged)

Important Notes for Technicians

• O-ring Inspection: Technicians are instructed to inspect the O-ring for any damage and replace it if necessary during the disassembly process.
• Debris Removal: After cleaning the spline interfaces, it is crucial to use forced air to remove any remaining debris.
• Air Purge: During axle shaft installation, air may purge through the shaft splines.

Warranty Information

All repairs performed under TSB 03-003-25 are reimbursable within the provisions of the vehicle's warranty.

---

NHTSA ID: 11018244