Jeep Cherokee (XJ): Removal and installation

Front skid plate

REMOVAL

(1) Remove the screws that attach skid plate to side sills.

(2) Remove the nuts that attach the skid plate to the crossmember (Fig. 1).

(3) Remove the skid plate from the vehicle.

Fig. 1 Front Skid Plate

1 - STUD
2 - PUSH NUT
3 - SPLASH SHIELD
4 - SKID PLATE
5 - SCREW
6 - NUT
7 - SCREW

INSTALLATION

(1) Position the skid plate at front crossmember and side sills.

(2) Install the nuts to attach the skid plate to crossmember.

(3) Install the screws to attach skid plate to side sills.

Transfer case skid plate

REMOVAL

(1) Support skid plate.

(2) Remove bolts that attach skid plate to transmission support crossmember and frame sill (Fig. 2).

(3) Remove support and skid plate from vehicle.

Fig. 2 Transfer Case Skid Plate

1 - FRAME SILL
2 - NUT-SERT
3 - TRANSFER CASE
4 - BOLT
5 - SKID PLATE
6 - NUT-SERT
7 - CROSSMEMBER

INSTALLATION

(1) Position and support skid plate at frame sill and transmission support crossmember.

(2) Attach skid plate to frame sill and crossmember with bolts. Tighten bolts to 22 N·m (16 ft. lbs.) torque.

Fuel tank skid plate

REMOVAL

(1) Position a support under skid plate.

(2) Remove bolts that attach skid plate to underbody side rails (Fig. 3).

(3) Remove support and skid plate from vehicle.

Fig. 3 Fuel Tank Skid Plate

1 - RIVET HOLES
2 - REINFORCEMENT
3 - FUEL TANK SKID PLATE
4 - BLIND RIVET

INSTALLATION

(1) Position and support skid plate under fuel tank.

(2) Install bolts to attach skid plate to underbody rails. Tighten bolts to 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.) torque.

(3) Remove support from under skid plate.

Trailer hitch

REMOVAL

(1) If necessary, remove the trailer tow wire harness connector from the hitch (Fig. 4).

(2) Support the hitch.

(3) Remove the bolts that attach the trailer hitch to the frame sills and reinforcement brackets (Fig. 5).

(4) If equipped, remove the fuel tank skid plate.

NOTE: The reinforcement brackets are held on the frame sills with two blind rivets.

INSTALLATION

(1) Install frame reinforcement brackets, if removed.

Slide the brackets through the vehicle rear sill openings and attach to the frame sills with blind rivets.

(2) Using an adequate lifting device, position hitch at the proper location for installation on vehicle and support it.

(3) If equipped, position fuel tank skid plate on vehicle frame sills.

Fig. 4 Trailer Hitch Harness Connector

1 - CONNECTOR
2 - TRAILER HITCH

Fig. 5 Trailer Hitch

1 - TRAILER HITCH
2 - BLIND RIVET
3 - RIVET HOLES
4 - REINFORCEMENT

(4) Loosely install the bolts to attach the trailer hitch (and the skid plate) to frame sills and reinforcement brackets.

(5) Tighten all bolts/nuts to 74 N·m (55 ft. lbs.) torque.

(6) Remove the lift/support.

(7) If removed, attach the trailer wire harness connector to the hitch.