I plan on hitting the pick & pull tomorrow and I'll be searching for a front skid. What size sockets and or extensions will do the trick? I don't want to not have the right size or a "special" tool that will make it fairly painless. I carry a fairly complete yard tool kit but don't want to be caught short as well as lugging a boatload of tools that I don't need.
Normally this wouldn't be much of a thought, but it's gonna be pretty nasty cold and want to do a quick in and out if I can find one....

 

15mm.

 

Thanks! All 5 are 15mm?

 

Pretty sure. Take an 18 just in case.....

 

The nuts along the core support are take a 13mm or 1/2" socket and are attached to studs, the side bolts near the swaybar mounts are 15mm and require around a 12" extension to get on cleanly. The later model studs on the core support (which you will need if your Jeep didn't come factory equipped with a skid) require an inverted torx or E socket. I believe it is an E6 or smaller but you can also lock two nuts on the studs to back them out. Earlier Jeeps (not sure on the break) don't have the inverted hex on the end so you will have to lock two nuts on them anyway. Often the studs back out before the nuts break loose which is no big deal, you'll just have to lock two nuts on the top side and take it apart before you install it.

 

Torx? Ew. I'm glad I bought mine already off of a Jeep

 

Mine takes a 13 & 15mm with a long extension. Wobbly sockets help also.

 

My front three on studs are 1/2" and the other two are 15mm. The fronts with best with a deep wall socket or box wrench.

 

Hahaha I was dealing with this earlier tonight I made my own front core support ones. The rears are 15mm and the front 13mm like you said the inverted torx, but you'll have to get some riv nuts aka blind hole rivets to attach them. If you want them like factory or you get some exhaust studs, washers and nuts and bolt them on.

 

Sadly, despite the pick n pull having quite a few XJ's, no skids were found. The search continues....