JeepXJLtd2000

Cherokee Ltd 2000 4L 6 with 80k on her (original owner)

I'm trying to replace the Camshaft Pos Sensor. The replacement part (Duralast SU3186) has 7/32 heads, but the factory original part on there does not. 6/32 is too big and 5/32 won't fit on. Tried metric too; 4.5mm too big, 4mm won't fit on. Anyone know factory specs for screwhead sizes?

This wintered in NE, but the heads didn't look too bad. I brushed and cleaned them up. They don't look exploded or rounded to me.

PatHenry

Can you get a small adjustable wrench on them?

JeepXJLtd2000

No clearance. I guess I could try coming in vertical on it tomorrow, but I'm guessing, even if it bites, I won't be able to get enough torque on it to loosen or it will pop off trying to.

Turbo X_J

5/32 with a little persuadingwith a hammer?

JeepXJLtd2000

Violence is always a valid response. I could try that after the wrench/vise-grip I guess.
I was thinking my ultimate fall back will be either using an extractor bit and drilling them out or attaching a nut with some epoxy or JBWeld (btw, anybody with experience what works the best in this method?).
But was trying to find the "correct" answer first. Why can't I get a socket to fit these?

Turbo X_J

The bolt head is almost gone. Waaaaay back when...they were 7/32".
Pound a socket on there & giterdone.

Big David

Vice grips

JeepXJLtd2000

Oh really? You think they've eroded 1.5/32? I wouldn't have thought so because it would have had to have done so uniformly to still hold the head shape. That seemed unlikely to me; I thought they were still in good shape. I don't have experience recognizing rust wear patterns though. Thanks. I'll try a wrench+vise-grip first tomorrow and then give it the old cable guy try and see.

Idunno

These sockets are designed for your problem. They're the socket version of EZ-Outs. When it comes to rusted bolts I prefer to grab what's remaining of the corroded bolt head because I can apply more torque to it than I can to a standard EZ-Out. I would make sure that penetrating oil has had a chance to sit for at least a day before I make with the muscle. Push comes to shove, die-grind the bolt heads off to get the sensor out of your way and then use vice grips on the remaining threaded portion of the bolts.

JeepXJLtd2000

Thanks for the info. Though I'd rather not spend $30-40 on something I might only use once or twice if I have a solution I already own. Don't you think standard EZ-Out style bit extractor will work if I have to go to that?
I thought about a universal socket, but I don't own one of those either and I've heard they're crap.
The grinding/cutting it off won't work because the part itself is threaded, so once the head is off, it won't just slide off.
I was also thinking of dropping a nut over it and fill it in with epoxy and then use a socket for the nut. Anyone ever try this / opinions?
Haven't put any WD-40 or Liquid Wrench on it though cause haven't even got anything for the head yet. Assumed it would come off easy once I got a grip on it since there's no real pressure on the screw to freeze it in there. But guess I should go out and put some on to sit overnight. Thanks.

dave1123

I sincerely hope those screws aren't in an aluminum housing, although I'm pretty sure they are. My wife's Dodge 2.2 K-car had screws holding the distributor cap on and they sheared off, leaving the screws in the housing. I had to replace the whole distributor.