justinburnett

I found a few posts that had to do with the removal of oil pans, but didn't see anything that dealt with the problem I'm having. May be there, and if someone wants to link me a thread, I'd appreciate it, but here it is.

Got all the bolts out, no problem.
Broke the seal and freed the pan, also no problem (took a while but i got it)
My problem is that I can't get it past there. Got it past the thin spot between the starter and the exhaust, but it's running into the axle/bell housing. Put a hi-lift on the front bumper and lifted it all the way till the wheels just came off the ground, but it's not helping. it's ALMOST there, but I wrestled it around for about an hour before I threw in the towel.

Please help me find more room somewhere. If I need to remove something, i don't mind, as long as you tell me what and how. I'm fairly new to jeeps and have never done this before. Was going to take it to a shop but i saw an instruction thing online that said it was easy so i thought I'd save the money that I can't afford now anyway.

I can't drive it like it is now, so I can't get it to a shop, and I can't just put the pan back on, half the gasket is all over the driveway. Don't have anything to tow it with so... I really need it to drive asap, not to mention it's a lot of fun and I've only driven it twice and i want to go play. Please help me out, and if there are any tricks anyone has used in replacing a rear main seal, or any snags that I should expect, might as well tell me that now also cause that's where i'm headed.

Thanks in advance.

Metmknice

Need to remove the lower shock bolts, trackbar bolt, then jack up the vehicle. Should give you enough room.

98 JeepJeep

like stated start taking off suspension parts.....

justinburnett

Will do. Hoping that helps. I'll find out in the morning. Thanks for the quick replies. I'll let you guys know if that works.

lestatsghost

haynes manual says to take off the lower shock bolts however unbolting the drive shaft form the axle yolk and lower control arms will really drop the axle. if you take that step you can give yourself as much room as needed.

flexin91xj

If I remember corectly, the only thing I had to unbolt was my starter. It took me several tries to get it down, but I got it without undoing any suspension or steering parts. Im lifted 5" so maybe that helped.

lestatsghost

a 5" lift would help. left stock the more you can unbolt the better to get the axle out of the way.

keith two tone cherokee

i took my axle out you think its hard getting it out try putting it on with a gasket on it

justinburnett

haven't got to it yet, it's still dark. I was hoping to stick the gasket to the block with rtv and then press the pan up into it... i don't know how in the hell I could get the pan back in with a gasket on, given the trouble it's giving me getting it out. I'll start with the shocks, then start messing with the driveshaft and control arms if I have to but I hope i don't. At this point I wish I'd just paid someone to do it, but I know when I get it done, if it all goes back together, i'll feel better about it knowing I did it myself and saved a bunch of money. Just want to start driving it. I've had it for a week now, and only driven it home and to work one day. I'll let you guys know how it turns out, and thanks very much for the help.

texdig

I'm out in the dirt right now trying to do the same thing! Decided to run to the town library internet finding you in the same "so close but so far' predicament. A search revealled to me that people are removing both the bell housing plate and the starter. The other thoughts here sound great, so let me add my thanks. Earlier I put two bottle jacks on both sides of the engine ...from front axle to some brackets above and it pressed the axle down (lots of force) and though it went down a good bit ...there's still another 1/8 inch more to freedom! When it's out, I promise to beat the living poop out of that ridge in the oil pan so it's not such a bear to clear next time. The engineer of this really should be tied to a tree and spanked. If I can beat that ridge in nicely (I'm nice) will share pics.

justinburnett

Sorry I didn't get back yesterday. I made it!!!! Removed both sides of the sway bar (I think that's what it was anyway), and both shocks, and got it to squeak by. Spent the next hour or so chipping away at the old, burnt on gasket, and started on the underside of the engine before I had to give up. Going to get back to in as soon as the sun comes up. It's freaking cold out here right now.

I think I should be able to remember where everything goes, but one thing I have a problem with is that when I was wiggling the pan around, a U-shaped bracket type thing fell out, and I have no idea where it goes. Just a thin metal half-circle with tabs on the ends. Same size about as the round part of the back of the oil pan, but.... does it go on the inside or the outside of the gasket, or is it something else entirely? Never saw it in its proper place.

Probably won't get it finished today, but i should get all the rest of the gasket scraped off and hopefully the rear seal replaced, then I'll put the oil pan and the suspension back together on thursday gonna be out of town till then.

tannerp89

that lil ring goes on the outside of the pan at the main seal, right at the rear of the block. helps squeeze the pan around the round part of the rear main seal.

TrekkerJmm

Hi Justin, check out this link http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:...toRearMain.htm it should help you out...Tj

flexin91xj

Im curious to how that thin ring squeezes the pan to the rear main seal. When I changed my rear main that rig fell out and I couldnt figure out where it came from so I left it out. Stupid me! Cause now I have more of an oil leak than ever. I also used a multie-piece cork gasket. Stupid me #2!
Just got a Permadry 1 piece gasket and gonna change it once it gets warm and install that ring piece too. Im glad I saved it!

milmat1

Jack it up and put jackstands under the BODY then let the jack down so the suspension is Hanging Down...
Sorry if someone already said this...