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Has anyone on the internet showed how to jack the front of the XJ?
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go hereXJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.
Yup, it's shocking, but there is not a single photo or video on how to jack this car.
I thought this was a hobbyist car. Not even close.
Seriously, quit making ridiculous statements. To be honest, you are coming across as mentally unstable/delirious.
Honestly, there are hundreds of thousands of collective forum posts about the Jeep XJ and Jeep 4.0 platform vehicles. Is there a reading comprehension issue here?
Did you ever stop to think about how there are millions of Jeep forum postings, and yet you are unable to find a 100% exact guide for what you need? That immediately tells you it is a simple task that doesn't warrant in-depth discussion. You should then search existing info, gather as much info as you can, and grow a pair and get to work. You will figure out the rest as you progress through the steps.
How are you ever going to perform an advanced task if you need 100% Custom, bespoke instructions, AND someone to hold your hand through the whole process.
You can't even take the time to locate and read a Factory Service Manual (FSM), because that is exactly what the above is - a 100% bespoke procedural manual for almost any maintenance task you will encounter with the vehicle.
Sorry, just get rid of the Jeep and get something that is a "hobbist" car like a Subaru or BMW. ****ing tool
Assuming the the OP is serious or that someone else in need of help is reading this thread, I'll provide some visuals to help show how to raise and support the front end via the suspension. For those of you new to solid front axles, it's not like independent suspension where you have exposed axle half-shafts that can't bear any weight. Solid axles have a thick metal tube on the outside that's firmly attached to the differential housing in the middle, making the whole thing one solid piece of metal that doesn't turn. The actual axle shafts that drive the wheels are hidden inside the outer tubes.
In the rear of the Cherokee you can easily put the floor jack under the differential housing since it's in the middle and lift from there. The jack stands go under the axle tube as far out as possible to provide maximum stability. As long as the saddles of the stands are located on the solid outer axle tube, you're good to go.
The front axle is slightly more difficult since the differential is offset. You can jack from the differential, but you'll notice the driver's side gets lifted higher than the passenger side. It is possible to lift it high enough to get a stand under the driver's side and then lower it and jack from the passenger side of the axle tube to get a stand under that side. However, what I do is lift from the axle tube itself just to left (as you're looking from the front) of the differential, which is the center of the axle assembly. Using this lift point, the front axle will lift up level, so it's easy to get the stands under the axle.
The other complicating factor with the front that you don't run into with the rear is the lower control arm mounting points are located right where you'd naturally put the stands, so you have to get creative. What I do is put the jack stands right under the lower control arm mounting points so the saddle of the stand fits snug to the axle tube but slips right between the two sides of the mounting point. I just snapped a picture of my Cherokee to help illustrate it. No jack stands in place, but hopefully you get the idea. Lift at the red arrow, and put the jack stands at the yellow arrows.
There was a thread started by bimmer on Naxja a couple years ago on replacing corroded battery cables. Clear explanations, and even photos. Great photos! Reading that, and reading what weve been given recently, its like two entirely different people. Night and day. There is also a thread on replacing rear shocks, also started by bimmer, back in 2012. "So easy a blind 6 year old can do it in 5 mins. with a Spongebob screwdriver" > https://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1094146 Bimmer took the lead and even posted some nice photos...
A year later, right here on CF, is a thread on replacing the front shocks and its like night and day. "Are the front shocks a 2 man job? Special tools needed?" >https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/fro...needed-174013/. Nothing but problems, even with clear explanation, getting flustered way too easily, resulting in over 20 pages on how to do it. 20!!!
I tried to take off 2 lugs, and they did not budge.
I took the Cherokee to the shop and asked them to loosen the lugs.
One of them was stuck and the cap broke off.
The mechanic refused to drill out the lug, and said it took 3 hours last time.
I literally can not complete a single repair on this epic piece of ****.
So, no brake job, and no lug nut. No jacking needed.
I am pretty much done with this Cherokee.
Cherokee has consistently been the biggest nightmare car I have ever owned.
Basically impossible to do even the most basic repair on it.
Never again will I ever buy an American car. Ever.
Cutoff wheel to the studs/lugs, then cut off the remainder of the lug off. remove wheel, replace studs in the rear axle, and the hub Units in the front. Ive had to break lug nuts off with a hammer and screw driver 100 miles from the nearest town, it sucks. It seems Rust and lack of maintenance by the PO is your issue. One piece at a time man.
There was a thread started by bimmer on Naxja a couple years ago on replacing corroded battery cables. Clear explanations, and even photos. Great photos! Reading that, and reading what weve been given recently, its like two entirely different people. Night and day.
Is it the same BimmerJeeper? Possibly IS two entirely different people.
Last edited by PatHenry; 08-24-2018 at 12:19 PM.
Reason: clarity and appropriate-ness
Yes, on a normal car. But, this is the XJ, remember?
With the XJ, the lug nut cap snaps off. Now you have a STRIPPED lug nut.
Your method does not apply to the XJ, just regular cars that regular people can work on.
Any XJ repair is a total nightmare that even pro mechanics REFUSE to work on this car.
Too difficult. They don't have the time.
This car is only meant to be repaired by someone with a professional garage.
Took the mechanic 3 hours to drill out the lug.
I can't even remove the front wheels without paying someone potentially 15-20 hours in labor ($2000 to remove the wheels, cheaper to own a Ferarri)
That's more than the cost of the entire vehicle, Just to get a shot at trying the brakes yourself.
I had two lugnuts on mine that did it. I'm not an auto mechanic by trade but I do as much as possible myself. Heat didn't work. I went to lowes, spent 6 dollars on a socket that was 1 size too small for the lug. spent 16 dollars on a hammer. Hammered that thing on and cheater barred both off. To say the XJ is a difficult thing to work on is mind boggling. I have a 93 YJ that is extremely frustrating to work on due to rusted hardware all around but I don't need it to DD so I can take my sweet sweet time with it.
Its either a different person or the dude had a stroke. Its unfortunate but some people just shouldn't be working on mechanical things. My little sister, all 110 pounds of her, was able to change her own tire using the tools that came with her XJ - which includes the basis of this thread, and she didn't even ask anyone or look it up. Never changed a tire before. Just took the stuff out, used 5% of her brainpower, and got it done.
So please BimmerJeeper, either A. you're an unfunny troll or B. take it to a shop for your safety and the safety of others on the road.
To be serious, jack it up by the axle tube on passenger side first. Make sure to leave enough room to get your stand close to the innner side of the lower control arm bracket. Now let it down onto the stand. Place jack under differential housing and lift it. Since the passenger side is already on a stand just the driver side will lift. Now place a stand close to the inner side of the lower control arm bracket on the driver side. Now bimmer go ahead and make the video yourself.
08-21-2018, 08:53 AM
