Rear main seal
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 842
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From: Everett, WA
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 5.2L
once it starts to pop out the other side, you can pull it out with a needle nose pliers or what I perfer, vice grips since you can clamp to it.
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CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,613
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From: Summerville, South Carolina
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by E-Rok
you are going to need a small diameter punch and tap at it, it will start to come out the other end. I had to put a 1/4 inch socket extention so get to it easier with a hammer
once it starts to pop out the other side, you can pull it out with a needle nose pliers or what I perfer, vice grips since you can clamp to it.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: NW Florida
Year: 1999
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I've used a very small screwdriver, but you've just got to make sure you don't scratch the crank. If necessary, you can loosen the bearing caps to drop the crank just a tiny bit, but if it's stuck then it will still take some solid hits from a hammer/punch.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 842
Likes: 4
From: Everett, WA
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 5.2L
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 1
From: NC/SC
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Mines was really stuck in there when I went to remove the seal also. I used a punch to remove the old seal. Just keep tapping it till it slides out enough for you to grab it with some pliers and pull it the rest of the way out. BTW did you check your valve cover before tackling the rear main seal? Its pretty common for the jeeps to have a valve cover oil leak I know mines did it when I bought it.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,220
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From: Arkansas
Year: 1987 & 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
My young friends,
There was a time when every engine used a two piece rear main seal.
This is called a sneaky pete.
You screw it into the seal and pull the top half out.
There was a time when every engine used a two piece rear main seal.
This is called a sneaky pete.
You screw it into the seal and pull the top half out.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,613
Likes: 0
From: Summerville, South Carolina
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by Caish
My young friends,
There was a time when every engine used a two piece rear main seal.
This is called a sneaky pete.
You screw it into the seal and pull the top half out.
There was a time when every engine used a two piece rear main seal.
This is called a sneaky pete.
You screw it into the seal and pull the top half out.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 5
From: Arkansas
Year: 1987 & 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 842
Likes: 4
From: Everett, WA
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 5.2L
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 1
From: NC/SC
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
No but he did state that he wasnt sure if it was even the rear main seal. I was just suggesting that he take a look at his valve cover also after he does the rear main. Atleast the rearmains on these are 2 peices instead of one like on my firebird. What a PIA lol.
Finally got it out!!! I am so happy right now! After about a week of the oil pan just hanging under my jeep (no time to work on it) I got a free weekend to work on it. I took most every thing off the axle and never fully took it out, once I had almost all
The bolts off I turned the oil pan to the left and it pretty much fell out! Spent most of the day (AGAIN) trying to get it out. Had a few hours so cleaned the pan spotless and got a lil of the oil junk off from under. Went and bought the new seals today and about 10 sockets. Oh and no I'm not sure it is even coming from the rear main. Hope it is... Lol things are finally starting to look up! Had me depressed when a spent a whole weened on it and made no progress. Ha
The bolts off I turned the oil pan to the left and it pretty much fell out! Spent most of the day (AGAIN) trying to get it out. Had a few hours so cleaned the pan spotless and got a lil of the oil junk off from under. Went and bought the new seals today and about 10 sockets. Oh and no I'm not sure it is even coming from the rear main. Hope it is... Lol things are finally starting to look up! Had me depressed when a spent a whole weened on it and made no progress. Ha
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 1
From: Dallas, GA 30157
Year: 1999
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
type. You think it'll work on the rubber based ones of today? If it can grab
the metal inside?