Hi all

I am trying to change the rear main seal in my 1997 4.0 Jeep Grand
Cherokee. I have been pretty much over my head in the whole project.

In trying to remove the main cap, my 13/16 socket seems too big, and my
20mm socket won't fit on the main bearing bolt.

Does anyone know what size these are? At first, I thought the 20mm
socket just needed to be deeper so I just got back from the store with
a deep socket and it doesn't fit on either.

I do not have a factory manual.

Thanks in advance.
Doug

 

You could measure across the flats. It's a SEA (inch) engine. The next
smaller from 13/16 is a 3/4"

JoBo

<dornbos@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1155402728.602268.29390@74g2000cwt.googlegrou ps.com...
> Hi all
>
> I am trying to change the rear main seal in my 1997 4.0 Jeep Grand
> Cherokee. I have been pretty much over my head in the whole project.
>
> In trying to remove the main cap, my 13/16 socket seems too big, and my
> 20mm socket won't fit on the main bearing bolt.
>
> Does anyone know what size these are? At first, I thought the 20mm
> socket just needed to be deeper so I just got back from the store with
> a deep socket and it doesn't fit on either.
>
> I do not have a factory manual.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Doug
>

 

You could measure across the flats. It's a SEA (inch) engine. The next
smaller from 13/16 is a 3/4"

JoBo

<dornbos@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1155402728.602268.29390@74g2000cwt.googlegrou ps.com...
> Hi all
>
> I am trying to change the rear main seal in my 1997 4.0 Jeep Grand
> Cherokee. I have been pretty much over my head in the whole project.
>
> In trying to remove the main cap, my 13/16 socket seems too big, and my
> 20mm socket won't fit on the main bearing bolt.
>
> Does anyone know what size these are? At first, I thought the 20mm
> socket just needed to be deeper so I just got back from the store with
> a deep socket and it doesn't fit on either.
>
> I do not have a factory manual.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Doug
>

 

You could measure across the flats. It's a SEA (inch) engine. The next
smaller from 13/16 is a 3/4"

JoBo

<dornbos@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1155402728.602268.29390@74g2000cwt.googlegrou ps.com...
> Hi all
>
> I am trying to change the rear main seal in my 1997 4.0 Jeep Grand
> Cherokee. I have been pretty much over my head in the whole project.
>
> In trying to remove the main cap, my 13/16 socket seems too big, and my
> 20mm socket won't fit on the main bearing bolt.
>
> Does anyone know what size these are? At first, I thought the 20mm
> socket just needed to be deeper so I just got back from the store with
> a deep socket and it doesn't fit on either.
>
> I do not have a factory manual.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Doug
>

 

You could measure across the flats. It's a SEA (inch) engine. The next
smaller from 13/16 is a 3/4"

JoBo

<dornbos@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1155402728.602268.29390@74g2000cwt.googlegrou ps.com...
> Hi all
>
> I am trying to change the rear main seal in my 1997 4.0 Jeep Grand
> Cherokee. I have been pretty much over my head in the whole project.
>
> In trying to remove the main cap, my 13/16 socket seems too big, and my
> 20mm socket won't fit on the main bearing bolt.
>
> Does anyone know what size these are? At first, I thought the 20mm
> socket just needed to be deeper so I just got back from the store with
> a deep socket and it doesn't fit on either.
>
> I do not have a factory manual.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Doug
>

 

I don't think you have to remove the main bearing cap. I've replaced the
rear main seal in my 91 YJ and never had to remove the bearing cap. I don't
think the GCs are much different in that respect.

Scott
<dornbos@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1155402728.602268.29390@74g2000cwt.googlegrou ps.com...
> Hi all
>
> I am trying to change the rear main seal in my 1997 4.0 Jeep Grand
> Cherokee. I have been pretty much over my head in the whole project.
>
> In trying to remove the main cap, my 13/16 socket seems too big, and my
> 20mm socket won't fit on the main bearing bolt.
>
> Does anyone know what size these are? At first, I thought the 20mm
> socket just needed to be deeper so I just got back from the store with
> a deep socket and it doesn't fit on either.
>
> I do not have a factory manual.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Doug
>

 

I don't think you have to remove the main bearing cap. I've replaced the
rear main seal in my 91 YJ and never had to remove the bearing cap. I don't
think the GCs are much different in that respect.

Scott
<dornbos@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1155402728.602268.29390@74g2000cwt.googlegrou ps.com...
> Hi all
>
> I am trying to change the rear main seal in my 1997 4.0 Jeep Grand
> Cherokee. I have been pretty much over my head in the whole project.
>
> In trying to remove the main cap, my 13/16 socket seems too big, and my
> 20mm socket won't fit on the main bearing bolt.
>
> Does anyone know what size these are? At first, I thought the 20mm
> socket just needed to be deeper so I just got back from the store with
> a deep socket and it doesn't fit on either.
>
> I do not have a factory manual.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Doug
>

 

I don't think you have to remove the main bearing cap. I've replaced the
rear main seal in my 91 YJ and never had to remove the bearing cap. I don't
think the GCs are much different in that respect.

Scott
<dornbos@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1155402728.602268.29390@74g2000cwt.googlegrou ps.com...
> Hi all
>
> I am trying to change the rear main seal in my 1997 4.0 Jeep Grand
> Cherokee. I have been pretty much over my head in the whole project.
>
> In trying to remove the main cap, my 13/16 socket seems too big, and my
> 20mm socket won't fit on the main bearing bolt.
>
> Does anyone know what size these are? At first, I thought the 20mm
> socket just needed to be deeper so I just got back from the store with
> a deep socket and it doesn't fit on either.
>
> I do not have a factory manual.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Doug
>

 

I don't think you have to remove the main bearing cap. I've replaced the
rear main seal in my 91 YJ and never had to remove the bearing cap. I don't
think the GCs are much different in that respect.

Scott
<dornbos@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1155402728.602268.29390@74g2000cwt.googlegrou ps.com...
> Hi all
>
> I am trying to change the rear main seal in my 1997 4.0 Jeep Grand
> Cherokee. I have been pretty much over my head in the whole project.
>
> In trying to remove the main cap, my 13/16 socket seems too big, and my
> 20mm socket won't fit on the main bearing bolt.
>
> Does anyone know what size these are? At first, I thought the 20mm
> socket just needed to be deeper so I just got back from the store with
> a deep socket and it doesn't fit on either.
>
> I do not have a factory manual.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Doug
>

 

I really hope it wasn't just your valve cover leaking down the back
imitating a bad seal. You can tell by running a clean rag across the
back of the head. If it comes out wet with oil....

My main's use a 13/16 wrench. It has a 'slight' amount of play when
fitted.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

dornbos@charter.net wrote:
>
> Hi all
>
> I am trying to change the rear main seal in my 1997 4.0 Jeep Grand
> Cherokee. I have been pretty much over my head in the whole project.
>
> In trying to remove the main cap, my 13/16 socket seems too big, and my
> 20mm socket won't fit on the main bearing bolt.
>
> Does anyone know what size these are? At first, I thought the 20mm
> socket just needed to be deeper so I just got back from the store with
> a deep socket and it doesn't fit on either.
>
> I do not have a factory manual.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Doug