Ok I know there may be more threads like this but I couldn't find one that fit my jeep (89 jeep Cherokee 4.0). I know I need to jack it up and let the front hang, drain oil, remove pan, but after that I'm kinda lost. Found a write up about it but it really wasn't very helpful. What do I do from here? And while I'm down there do I change the oil pump? Anything else I should change while I'm down there? And most of all, how do I even "make sure"
that is definitely where my leak is coming from?? Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

 

Yes, change the oil pump if you can.

 

You know a link to get the right oil pump? Like advanced or something? If so, can you attach it and post?

 

Any one have any advice or help???

 

I've never done a rear main myself but i know about as much as you do on the subject, that you have to drop the oil pan. Not sure where to go from there. Replace that oil pan gasket with a nice rubber Fel Pro one while you're down there and have it off. And replace the ring that acts as a seal on the drain plug (mine was leaking there). Those are my 2 suggestions, sorry I can't be more help, I'm still new with jeeps =P

 

pretty easy job

jack it up, pull the pan. its gonna be a tight fit getting it out, tighter fit getting it in

gonna remove the rearmost bearing cap, then you can remove the rear main, its in 2 parts. the top part must be punched out with a narrow punch, it will rotate down. youll see what I mean when you see it.

pretty easy really, 3 hour job.

 

Yes, fairly easy job even for a DIY. I used to be able to do them in just over and hour with a lift and the proper tools. Depends on how rusty it is under there. Like it was said, the seal is in 2 pieces and when you take the rear main cap off you will see that. The first half of the old seal will come right out of the cap and the other half should just roll right off of the crank when you push up on one side of it. Then just roll the new seal in the way the old one came out and replace the cap. Make sure to tighten to proper specs as it is a rear main cap and all. Scrape off the old gasket and replace with a nice new one and youre good to go. You can replace the oil pump while youre in there I suppose but get a good one. Its been a while but I always used Mopar replacement parts. Good luck sir.

Found this:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/rear-main-seal-111787/

 

Thanks a million guys! This was a lot of help!!

 

 

Just got done watching! Thanks!!

 

also, my OE gasket was soooooooooooo caked on, I would have spent all day trying to get it off, so I got off what I could easily, and put a layer of RTV on each side of the new gasket, everything was bone dry.

 

Whats rtv?

 

RTV is a sealant used either in addition to gaskets or in some places, in place of gaskets (like the differentials). Kinda like super glue for gaskets

 

Ok, so the oil pan was so strong on there is was like basically welded! I spent (no joke) ALL DAY trying to get it off! It honestly took me around 1 hour to get the bolts off (because my neck) and 5-6 hours to get the pan off! I tried everything, screw driver, rubber mallet, scraper, degreaser and nothing worked. So I put a block of wood on the side and pinned a jack between it and the frame. It took so much pressure my small jack couldn't do it. So I used a larger jack and it Finally broke loose. By now it's to late to go any further so I left it there and came inside so I can finish tomorrow. :exhausted:

 

And also, I don't know if this matters (or even what it is) but this thing in front of my oil pan is bent like crazy. Is that a prob??