To replace the Welsh/Freeze Plugs on the rear of the block, the transmission is removed. 3 plugs on the rear, usually the middle one goes bad. The symptom is coolant drip from bell housing when jeep sits for a full day or two. If driven everyday with a leaking rear plug, the coolant usually evaporates and goes unnoticed.
As a rule, when one needs replaced, replace them all. They come in stainless and brass. I've had good luck with brass on our cast iron blocks. A properly fitted socket to seat the plug is crucial. It needs to fit snugly inside the lip of the plug.
Good Luck

 

I got a week before i tackle the freeze plugs. still gotta buy them but i wasnt sure which ones as there are a couple of different kits. I found this one from summit racing :http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rn...view/make/jeep

it looks like it should fit, just wanted to make sure.

 

Don't do it. Get the brass ones ONLY. Ask me how I know, I dare ya.

Get these. I used them and no problems at all.

 

I heeded this same advise from others that rallied "use brass".
Installation went well. The kit from Summit is listed as brass but the picture is steel. Jegs has free shipping and NAPA usually have the plugs in stock.
I used a socket 1"+3/8". It needs to fit perfect inside the plug to support the 'wall'. The axle hub socket I have, 36mm is a too big.
A wooden mallet is perfect to knock these in with. Proper installation depth is crucial.

 

I will take the dare, but allow me to guess..
The worst thing I can think of is the block cracked while seating a plug. Least would be knocking the plug through the hole and having to fish it out...

 

I think that is very unlikely to happen. You're more likely to tap one in a little too far. As Steve said, installation depth is crucial. Take a good look at how your old plugs are situated.

As for the steel plugs... I thought they felt like they went in too easy, and sure enough I was right. I was a good 15 miles away from home and blew a freeze plug on the worst road. Of course, all my coolant just came rushing out and burned up on my exhaust, and the hill I was on demanded that I punch it (there was no shoulder and just a very bad hill) Overheated real badly. I thought the 4.0 was done for after that experience, but had it towed to my parents' house, replaced the plugs again with brass, and all good since and runs great. I got lucky!

 

I looked up the kit number on dorman and it says that it is brass. Its the cheapest one i found and i have other stuff i need to get from summit. the picture is steel but everything else says its brass

 

Correct, they are brass.

 

okay so i will purchase that kit