atomic-xj

After doing a full oil pan removal, I want to float a theory about changing the rear main seal....wondering if anyone has been able to do it.

If all you want to do is change the rear main seal, I think it might be possible to:

1) jack the XJ up until the front wheels are just off the ground
2) put jack stands under it
3) undo the oil pan
4) slide the pan forward and take off the #6 bearing cap
5) pop out rear main seal
6) replace and reassemble.

I think that there would be (barely) just enough room to get the 12 bolts that hold the brace in place off, and then plenty of room to get the #6 bearing cap off, then remove the rear main seal with the pan slid forward.

Any thoughts? If it works, it could save you tons of time and effort that it takes to fully remove the oil pan from the XJ (gotta undo the sway bar and shocks...and wiggle it around a bunch)

thevervaeckes

sound like it would work if you don't rip the gasket, but while you already have it off what is the sense of not replacing the gasket at the same time. jmo

atomic-xj

Well you can replace the gasket at the same time if it comes off easily, like my old one piece did....You just thread it around the oil pump pickup. That part is definitely possible, I didn't put my gasket on until the pan was already back under the XJ....However, if you think you got gunk in the pan, or the gasket wont come off easily, you need to get the pan off to clean it.

93gc40

My thought is 99% of the time the gasket does not come off cleanly. Also if you have room to slide the pan forward out of the way, you could just as easily drop it out, so that you can clean the gunk out of it.

atomic-xj

Thats not quite true in my experience. To drop the pan out, you really need to loosen the shocks, and the sway bar. You are right though that the gasket typically does not just come loose....I got lucky.

javajeep

I have posted on this many times, but I keep doing it to help my fellow jeepers.

It is counterintuitive, but it works great.

1. Lift the jeep and put it on jackstands so that the front axle is hanging completely off the ground.

2. Loosen the oil pan until it falls down on the axle.

3. Put the jack under the front differential and RAISE the axle about 3 to 4 inches. The axle will still be drooping downward, but drooping less. The oil pan will easily come out without undoing any linkages.

This works because the front axle does not move in a straight line up and down. It moves in an arc. So -- when the axle droops it also moves toward the rear of the jeep. When you raise it a few inches, it also moves FORWARD a few inches. Therefore, when you raise the axle, you gain enough clearance to take the oil pan completely out.

XJ Stryker

Now I have never had a problem pulling the pan out. You just have to find the sweet spot. And it comes right out and goes back in no problem everytime.

I know I put in a new High Volume pump and you have to take out and put in the pan several times till it fits right ( modd the pan). I found the spot and it was easy every time with no problem.

I had the axle at full droop. No additional mods. I tried the lift the axle idea and it did not work for me. But once you find the sweet spot you will see what I am talking about. You need to have a hand on the front of the pan and on the rear and it will slide out will lil to NO effort.

javajeep

I am wondering whether it depends on the model year. Mine is 1997. I have noticed some guys with model years have no trouble at all.

fantic238

My oil pan came out with the jeep sitting on it's wheels, no jacks, stands or whatever. Only a 3 inch lift.