Has anyone on the internet showed how to jack the front of the XJ?
#31
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
It's hard to believe the E36 cars are now 18 years old. How time flies!
XJs are stupid easy to work on except when you've got to deal with a rusty fastener or component. That's when you can run into problems. I've spent a lot of time driving and working on German cars, and they tend to be much more corrosion resistant than Jeeps. Sure, you might have some more complex parts and systems (to say nothing of those damn plastic bits that break), but the chances of having a seized bolt are much lower.
As for reliability, I wouldn't hesitate to hop in my XJ in the dead of winter or the heat of summer and drive across the country. Same with my VW. My GTI has 100 track days on it (probably 30k miles of flat-out driving), and the engine is as good as new. Never burns oil and all I've done is change the plugs and and cooling system components to be safe.
XJs are stupid easy to work on except when you've got to deal with a rusty fastener or component. That's when you can run into problems. I've spent a lot of time driving and working on German cars, and they tend to be much more corrosion resistant than Jeeps. Sure, you might have some more complex parts and systems (to say nothing of those damn plastic bits that break), but the chances of having a seized bolt are much lower.
As for reliability, I wouldn't hesitate to hop in my XJ in the dead of winter or the heat of summer and drive across the country. Same with my VW. My GTI has 100 track days on it (probably 30k miles of flat-out driving), and the engine is as good as new. Never burns oil and all I've done is change the plugs and and cooling system components to be safe.
#32
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Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
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#33
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Year: 96
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
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used my torque wrench in reverse to check how tight the mongrel things actually were.
The front diff fill plug was at @100ftlb,,, enough for me to shear a 1/2" to 3/8" adaptor
I am seriously thinking of spraying inside the boxed frame rails with mixture of used ATF/engine oil, it really helps prevent fasteners corroding
the studs and nuts seem a bit low quality on these XJ Jeeps, dealing with various older vehicles, some are better than other in this respect
Last edited by awg; 08-15-2018 at 08:31 PM.
#34
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I love jeeps. Ive loved all my jeeps, even the sad looking '92 I'm currently rejuvenating. But i have a BMW because its also nice having a quick, comfortable, reliable car that NEVER leaves me on the side of the road.
My 18 year old BMW.
With 240K miles.
That everything still works on, even the heated seats.
That still avgs 30mpg.
And will boil the tires right off the wheels.
...
On the rare occasion i do work on it, its easy to work on, & the parts are dirt cheap.
I wouldn't hesitate to hop in this car tomorrow and drive it clear across the country.
#37
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
#38
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Year: '98
Engine: 4.0 I6
I love jeeps. Ive loved all my jeeps, even the sad looking '92 I'm currently rejuvenating. But i have a BMW because its also nice having a quick, comfortable, reliable car that NEVER leaves me on the side of the road.
My 18 year old BMW.
With 240K miles.
That everything still works on, even the heated seats.
That still avgs 30mpg.
And will boil the tires right off the wheels.
...
On the rare occasion i do work on it, its easy to work on, & the parts are dirt cheap.
I wouldn't hesitate to hop in this car tomorrow and drive it clear across the country.
They all break on the E46
They are overall reliable cars, but part prices are high.
OP,
If you are having trouble working on a Jeep definitely do NOT get a Subaru. PITA to work on
I suggest financing a new or off-lease car. Would be much happier overall - just get in and drive.
#39
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L i6
Every Subaru I've worked on has been a breeze. Same with BMW. Basic hand tools all ya need.
XJ gets a special place in hell for being impossible to work on without $25,000 worth of tools ya never heard of.
TwistedWrench, that's a gorgeous E46. Is it a 325, 328, or 330?
XJ gets a special place in hell for being impossible to work on without $25,000 worth of tools ya never heard of.
TwistedWrench, that's a gorgeous E46. Is it a 325, 328, or 330?
#40
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Ha! Freudian slip on my part. I've been looking at E36 M3 track cars lately, and the E36 was on my mind. The best part about crappy interiors on old BMWs is taking them out to fit in the cage!
#41
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Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L H.O.
Thanks man. 2000 328i 5spd with '09 328 wheels, full length header & CAI.
LOL, well my passenger side is fine, but i did have to replace the driver side regulator awhile back.
$95 with new motor. Bout a 10min job once the door panel was off.
Id say thats pretty on par with XJ parts prices, lol.
$95 with new motor. Bout a 10min job once the door panel was off.
Id say thats pretty on par with XJ parts prices, lol.
#42
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Those things should be like $45, especially for the XJ because of it's stupid design
#43
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Year: 2000
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If all of the XJs had issues like you encounter, there would be an endless list of threads here and every other Jeep forum expressing the same problems. There also would not be as many XJs on the road still.
The problem is not all XJs, it is your XJ or you.
#44
CF Veteran
I don't know why you make such a big deal about a stuck lut nut, all you have to do is turn it until it comes loose or breaks the stud, and if the stud breaks it is cheap and easy to replace.
#45
Senior Member
I've worked on quite a few different vehicles as an amateur shadetree mechanic for over 40 years now and am finding the XJ is one of the easiest to work on. About the only thing simpler might be something like an old Rambler with a flathead engine and no electronics beyond the radio.
As far as the original question, for grins I checked Cherokee and Grand Cherokee repair videos on youtube and just about all of them do not show jacking up the Jeep. The only one I found so far was this guy showing how to change a front tire using a floor jack. To work on brakes though you'd want to lift on the axle center and use jack stands near the ends.