Spicer 2004703 Rear Axle Shaft Wheel Bearing Retainer Plate with Studs (2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK Dana 44)

Lock your rear axle assembly safely into place, eliminate wheel-end play, and complete your differential overhaul correctly with this genuine Spicer Rear Wheel Bearing & Seal Retainer Plate. Engineered as a direct original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement component by Dana, this high-tensile steel retainer (Part Number: 2004703) includes all four backing plate mounting studs pressed in at the factory for an effortless installation on your Jeep Wrangler JK.

On semi-floating rear axle designs like the Jeep JK Dana 44 (Super 44), the axle shafts are held inside the housing tubes entirely by the outer wheel bearings and these exterior retainer plates. Bolted directly over the brake backing flange, this plate applies vital axial clamping pressure against the pressed-on outer wheel bearing and axle seal. Over years of hard trail wheeling, deep mud immersion, or aggressive rocks crawling on oversized tires, these plates are prone to rust or structural bending when an axle shaft flexes under load. Furthermore, when pressing off an old, failed wheel bearing during a seal replacement, the factory retainer plate is frequently warped, scored, or distorted by industrial shop presses. Installing a compromised, bent plate fails to lock down the bearing squarely, causing immediate gear oil leaks past the outer lip seal and dangerous outward shaft movement. Sourcing this authentic Spicer plate ensures factory-spec wheel end retention.

Manufactured by Dana Spicer—the original axle assembly line builder for Jeep—this retainer plate is stamped from premium heavy-gauge carbon steel and left in its durable natural finish. It features a precision-machined 2.50-inch center cutout diameter to clear the axle shaft while firmly seating against the outer bearing race. It comes outfitted with four premium-grade M12-1.50 threaded studs pre-pressed into the flange ears, saving you the tedious shop labor of hammering out and reusing old, stretched-out hardware. Whether you are building custom aftermarket chromoly axle shafts or performing a routine rear seal leak service, changing out your old plates guarantees your wheel end is buttoned up to absolute safety tolerances.

Component Highlights:

• Pre-Installed Mounting Hardware: Features four factory-pressed mounting studs with clean $M12 \times 1.50$ thread leads to guarantee an easy drop-in fit over your factory brake backing plates.

• Restores Wheel End Alignment: Provides perfectly flat, heavy-duty structural clamping force to stop axial shaft play and prevent premature outer wheel bearing wear.

• Genuine Spicer OEM Stamping: Fabricated with the exact metal thicknesses and hole spacing configurations specified by original vehicle blueprints.

• Essential Rebuild Guardrail: Replaces factory plates that have been warped, stretched, or deeply grooved during bearing press-off operations.

Vehicle & Axle Fitment Specifications:

• Axle Profile: Fits Dana 44 (226 mm / Super 44) Rear Axle Housings. Does not fit factory standard front Dana 30 or Dana 44 front steer axles.

• Jeep Wrangler JK (2-Door): 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 4x4 models (Fits Sport, Sahara, and Rubicon trims).

• Jeep Wrangler JKU Unlimited (4-Door): 2007 to 2018 4x4 models across all trim packages running solid rear Dana 44 configurations.

• Position: Rear Wheel Outer Housing Ends — Fits Left (Driver) or Right (Passenger) Side Axle Shaft Flanges. Note: Plates are sold individually; one plate with four pressed studs included per package. Ordering two is highly recommended to fully refresh both sides of the rear axle assembly.