Ideas for trailering a CJ7--sealed bearing in T-case?

[GaryMB]

I'm rebuilding the dana 300 from my Jeep. The t-case/transmission adapter came with a sealed bearing for the input shaft to replace the input shaft seal should I run into clearance problems and have to remove the seal. Well, it turns out there are no clearance problems, and I am left to decide between using the sealed bearing and using the bearing and seal that came in the rebuild kit. I really have no ideas of the pros and cons of the two types of bearings. I think I read somewhere that trailering a Jeep starves the t-case input shaft bearing and seal of oil. Would installing a sealed bearing allow for trailering w/o pulling the driveshaft? Or would the sealed bearing not last as long as the oem style with normal driving? I do not plan to do alot of trailering now that my Jeep will be reliable on the road, but hey, you never know. Any suggestions?

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

RE: Out of town

I would use the seal, and pull the bearing cover off the side away from the seal so it's properly lubed. Just my .02, don't know anything about flat-towing CJ's and starving the bearing for oil.

 

[redrooster]

Ditto. From the transmission back in order, you should have the bearing with an open side facing the transmission for lubrication, then a shaft seal to hold the gear oil in the transmission. Make sure the seal is pointing the right way. The side with the spring should be facing toward the transmission. The side with the seal number printed on it should face the t-case. If it is a double lip seal then it doesn't matter.
Not sure about the flat towing problem. I can't recall what all spins inside the case when you go to neutral. I believe the problem in flat towing would be the bearing in the output housing of the t-case, not the bearing in the transmission/transfer case adapter.