Torque Converter Bolts
 

I was recently informed that the smacking sound I hear just below me when I start my jeep(only happens sometimes) and almost everytime I go over a bump might be a result of loose torque converter bolts..how do I tighten these? do I need to drop and tear open the tranny? Any help would be great.

For reference .. the sound when I start me jeep sounds like the drive shaft is hitting the floor..but my u-joints seem fine I cant get any play in them. its a really quick "whap whap whap" then is fine...I also hear it sometimes when I turn it off.

I had a torque converter bolt back all the way out and the flywheel would sling it around. It sounded like crap and dented the heck out of my inspection cover. Eventually the bolt busted a hole in my bell housing and stuck there. I am not sure on the AW4 but if it is like most autos it should have a cover over the torque converter and flywheel. Remove this. Bolt should fall out unless lodged somewhere. Then manually turn the fly wheel around checking each bolt and for cracks. Block the truck, set E-brake and put the trans in N.. You will have to fight the compression of the engine though to turn it over. All in all, not a hard job to do.

I just checked mine a couple days ago. The plate is secured by four bolts. IIRC You need a 14mm, 15mm, 17mm and 19mm to open it up and tighten the 4 TC bolts. Everything but the 15mm is for the plate itself, you can use sockets or wrenches. The TC bolts are 15 and you'll need a wrench.

any chance I can get a pic of the cover? Im not quite sure what Im looking for down there but this sounds pretty easy..Is there a gasket that will be needed to be replaced, and if there's a gasket I assume there is oil...Thanks guys!

no gasket needed. It is on the bottom of the bellhousing facing the front of the truck, you can't miss it.

Allright thanks I will take a look at this tomorrow..hopefully I can find some $$ to get some PB Blaster to help loosen these bolts off...is there enough room to fit a power bar in there?

I did not need any pb blaster. I dunno what a power bar is- all I needed was a good old set of metric wrenches and my two hands. My truck is a 1990 and it came right apart.

powerbar its a 3ft bar with a 1/2' drive on it for extra leverage over a normal 8' long ratchet

when I put mine in I just used a box wrench, put locktite on it so they don't do this again. If memory serves its 12 ft.lbs. so you don't need to wrench the heck out of them, again double check the ft. lbs.

Is there a site on the net that lists the torque specs?

Well I found the ones for a 4.7 V8 which kinda helps because now that I think about it I think I did them to 28, but the V8 requires 28. You would be safe at 28.

Edit: surprisingly the wife remembers 28 since she found it for me the first time.....though I should ask, and turned out she remembered.

Here You Go!

Flywheel to Converter Housing Bolts
38 N· m
28 ft. lbs.
Flywheel to Crankshaft Bolts
143 N· m
105 ft. lbs.
Source: 1999 Jeep Wrangler Factory Service Manual (FSM)

awsome looks like I have a project for tomorrow :)

well I took a look down there and couldnt find this plate...im sure I looked right at it but I didnt find anything that I was sure was it ... didnt want to take the wrong thing off :S If you can get me a pic of the cover I will be sure to-do a write up for it :)

96, I can get you a picture of the inspection cover later tonight after I get off work. Basically going aft from the oil pan, you'll run right into it. Where the tranny bellhousing is round on the bottom, come forward over the edge going up. At this point you should be touching the cover. There are 2 really big nut and bolts holding it on. Then there are 2 or 3 more smaller bolts holding it on. Don't be frightened by thos 2 large ones thinking your tranny will fall out. really all they hold on is the cover. Once you get the cover off. You will see the fly wheel. The Torque Converter bolt heads will be on the front side of the flywheel. Threaded part goes aft therough the flywheel and then into the torque converter.