Wow, I learned a lot about XJ front bumpers and tow hook brackets today!
The first J/Y I went to, the first XJ I found...complete (almost) unmolested front end!
A few things I learned:
1) I'm not a big fan of Torx fasteners.
2) XJ's come with a stock front skid plate!?! Mine didn't...Thanks, DAPO!
3) A wobble extension is your friend.
4) Bring flattened cardboard boxes, rags, handcleaner, and invest in a set of coveralls.
5) A successful junkyard mission is a good thing..There is something therapeutic about taking a car apart and NOT having to put it back together!

I will have to go back next weekend with hammer/chisels/Makita drill/C4 to get the little brackets that mount the tow hooks to the front crossmember at the bottom. Stupid Torx fasteners!
They might be a good idea, if the Torx holes were DEEPER.


DA

 

The junkyard is therapeutic. I go weekly and I absolutely love it. By the way not all XJ come with a front skid plate.

 

I always cheat with the Torq, I hammer a allen wrench into the torq.. it normal works out..

 

By the way not all XJ come with a front skid plate.

I guess I'll pick that one up when I'm up there next weekend..I was still wrestling with the tow hook bottom mount tab bolts when they started showing me the door @ 2:00...
It seemed like a good thing to have, but a PITA to work around...I can understand why DAPO left it off.

DA

 

I always cheat with the Torq, I hammer a allen wrench into the torq.. it normal works out..

Thanks for the idea. I'll give that a try...an allen wrench is cheaper and easier to find than C4...

DA

 

Quieter too. I always carry a set of torx sockets with me and those get hammered into the bolt heads first and I give that a try. If they strip out then I break out the chisel and BFH.

 

Only one thing is more therapeutic than a J/Y run.

Smashing off bolts with a BFH. Even more so if your knuckles are busted and somewhat bloody...helps to relieve ALOT of pent-up agression.

 

I think I need to go to the JY tomorrow. My jeep is frustrating me and I need some excitement.

 

I agree with #1

I found a reciever hitch at the J/yard with all the bolts out but 2,they had torx head, I just smack them a few time with a BFH and use a visegrip and got them out! someone else did all the hard work for me. but now I carry a set in my tool bag.

 

I have a set of torx sockets that work great. I use them alot so i had to invest into a set of them

 

If you own a Cherokee or Comanche you are going to find Torx bolts, all over it. Just break down and buy the sockets. You will thank yourself later.

 

I borrowed the JY's torx sockets, but the bolt holes were bunged up, so they wouldn't bite.
I bought a set of my own to try next weekend...if no luck, it's "Hammer Time" (break it down)
I wouldn't mind so much if the bolt heads weren't tapered/round...hard to get a good grip with ViseGrips.
I guess I can take comfort in the idea that I will get more JY Therapy...required due to aggravation caused by JY Therapy...

DA

 

if you get frustrated there plenty of glass around to break

 

if you get frustrated there plenty of glass around to break

True!

 

When me and my brother would go it always ended in frustration. So we would bust up a spark plug and throw the white part threw windows. It's amazing what a speck of spark plug will do to a window.