Cherokee

I have tried everything that I've searched for and read online, and I cannot figure this out.

I want to change the rear main seal, and i have the oil pan bolts all taken off and everything, but I can't get the pan out over the axle.

I have the sway bars disconnected, and I've had it jacked up with jack stands so the tires are hanging, and still I can't get enough space to get the pan out.

so what do I need to do? take off the UCAs? steering stabilizer?

I'm running at about 1.5 inches of lift up front right now.

suggestions are appreciated!

96_xj

disconnect your shocks you should get enough droop if your axle is hanging

rich

I dont think you very hard cause there is a ton of write ups about this.

5-90

Remove the four stud nuts on the transmission mount (M8-1.25 if you lose one, use Nylon collar CRES locknuts. 13m/m wrench) and you can get an extra inch or so by jacking up the transfer case using a floor jack.

I've done the job several times, and I've never had to remove anything in the front suspension to get the sump out...

TheGreatGazoo

when i did mine i had to disconnect the front shocks and the axle droped just enough

Cherokee

I did search. its my opinion that the search function on this website is flawed. In fact searching for the query "oil pan" yields no results, so don't tell me its my fault. I have read all the write ups about the rear main seal and none really help me in getting much more droop.

I have disconnected the shocks and I still don't get enough droop on the axle to get it out. I took off the starter as well.

I even jacked up the axle, left it compressed, then let it hang for an extra little bit of droop and tried to get it out, but no luck.

I can't really jack up my transfer case, as the skid plate is blocking it and the nuts just spin when I try taking it off (i guess they are rusted out on the inside).

what the heck is keeping my axle from dropping more? with the shocks disconnected its just the control arms right?

this is so annoying.

Brian

Your drag link connected to the pitman arm maybe holding you up?
did you remove that?

I want to drop my pan to change a few gaskets as well.
I have a 6.5" LA kit I was hoping I could do it without removing the axle like it says to if your jeep is stock.

interested in hearing how yours turns out.

cheers.

EDIT:
on a side note I had to disconnect my drag link to drop my axle far enough down to put my 6.5" coils in without using a coil compressor.

lesagesix

What about taking a motor mount out and lifting the motor?

oneal916

i did mine on my 90 and it was easy. all i did was take and move my exsuast pipe from the the manifold to the cac and un bolted it. i slipped it off and took it out backwards. you should only havt to take out 2 bolts and wiggle it out

oneal916

it should just slid back and then forward towards the axle try taking the exhaust pipe between the manifold and the cat and remove the 2 bolts and move it around me and my buddy did it on my 90 .

SpyderJeep

Just the shocks should be enough. I've done this in my lifted XJ and my stock one.

Cherokee

well i finally got it to work, and I'm posting here to help anyone who may stumble upon this thread looking for answers later.

I have the AX15 just in case you were wondering, the position of the bellhousing may be different depending what tranny you have.

anyway, what I did to get it out included...

front jacked up on unibody w/ jack stands
shocks disconnected
sway bar disconnected
transmission mounting plate disconnected
transfer case jacked up after previous step


thanks everyone for the suggestions, and thanks 5-90 for the transfer case jacking up suggestion, thats what really gave me the clearance i needed to get it out.

troy fritz

Disconnect the sway bar and bottom of shocks.I did this and the axle dropped alot.After you drop the pan down you will have to remove the oil pump to get it out.

troy fritz

Search don't allways work well.I searched gauge problems and got this,
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f11/91...0-trade-58903/
How is this going to help fix my gauges?^

sandaddik2

why do you need someone on a forum to tell you how to? its simple, the axle has to drop you undo the jillion bolts holding it on and it falls off. it the axle wont droop down then unbolt whatever is making it bind up, its easy