need some clarity!

[fraserr7]

I wanna change the fluids in my tansfer case and diffs, however I was told the skid plate holds up my transmission and transfer case. This doesn't seem right to me though... Can any one clear this up?

[fug]

'tis true.  Skid plate holds the tranny up which in turn holds up the t-case.  Don't remove it without supporting the tranny/tcase combo with something

[specialk]

Get used to removing it.   You will also need to drop it when your front drive shaft goes...

[fraserr7]

Well a couple jack stand should do the trick! Specialk, don't jinx it!

[specialk]

I usually put a small jack on the front of the the tranny and my bigger jack on the plate to lower and lift.   So the jack stand should work.

Not trying to jinx ya 

[JackstandJohnny]

Get used to removing it.   You will also need to drop it when your front drive shaft goes...

obviously you haven't removed enough driveshafts in your life Kev

or do the square headlights make life/things easier?

[BlackYJ]

obviously you haven't removed enough driveshafts in your life Kev

or do the square headlights make life/things easier?

That is what I was wondering.  I never remove my skid plate to change t-case or tranny fluids.  What the heck did they do to the TJs

[fraserr7]

I've been really pleased with the abuse mt stock tj has taken! All I seem to need at this point is a lift and some slightly bigger tires so I don't catch up on the hubs all the time!

[specialk]

I think you can change the fluids without dropping the plate.  I'm going to try that soon.  The plate is in the way though.  Should be good a messy.

[fug]

33 Engineering 2 piece skid FTW

http://www.rockcrawler.com/techreports/33engineering_tcase_skid/index.asp

Unfortunately I think they went out of business

[01sahara]

I think you can change the fluids without dropping the plate.  I'm going to try that soon.  The plate is in the way though.  Should be good a messy.

Yes, you need a big pan to catch the stuff  as it drips out several places on the skid but have never removed the skid to change fluid. I also have never taken it off to pull the drive shaft.  

[BlackAura]

Eep....I was thinking of doing this soon myself.  Probably do a total fluid change....Jason told me the diff fluid was dirty when he checked it, and should be changed soon....plus I should change the seal in the front diff, as it has a very small leak or something (some sweat around it at the bottom).

[BlackYJ]

Yes, you need a big pan to catch the stuff  as it drips out several places on the skid but have never removed the skid to change fluid. I also have never taken it off to pull the drive shaft.  

A simple piece of cardboard works great at directly the flow of oil

[jpthing]

Personally, I would way rather just drop the belly pan than be annoyed by working around it. I always just figured if you wanted to do pretty much anything under a tj you have to remove the belly pan first.

This is how I do it, removing pan and reinstall can be done in about 15-20 minutes

1) remove 4 13mm nuts in centre of bellypan
2)using jack etc support weight of tranny /tcase on a jackstand behind the bellypan.
3)place something under the belly pan so it wont fall (I use two milk crates and blocks of wood)
4)loosen 6 belly pan bolts (19mm) and thread out about halfway.
5)confirm that weight is on jackstand, not bellypan.
6)remove belly bolts and lower pan

To reinstall, raise the trannyé t-case slightly (one inch or less), bolt up the belly pan, then lower the powertrain onto the pan and reinstall the four small nuts.

I thought it was impossible to do much of anything without removing the pan, but I guess some people would rather work around it.