[jt_armstrong]

According to the Jeep workshop manual there are 10 fairly simple steps to remove the oil pan. Remove the starter, disconnect the O2 sensors, drop the exhaust and the oil pan will simply slide out the back. Is it really this straightforward? A few searches on JF gives me reason to doubt the simplicity of this task.
What do you guys think.

[dnuccio]

never had to do it, but to me it looks like the front axle would have to come out. never really looked at it that close

[Uniblurb]

Yeah, the directions in the 96 FSM sure make removing the oil pan on the 5.2 seem easy. I noticed they said you have to "remove the exhaust pipe", rather than saying disconnect it, but not sure if that's necessary if you can get it out of the way.

Heck, on the 4.0 oil pan removal instructions they say you need to remove the engine flywheel, remove the transmission toque converter housing cover, remove the engine mount through bolts, disconnect the exhaust pipe, and jack the engine up on the vibration damper. I didn't do any of that and since had the pan stuck had to drop the whole front axle down. Did this by unbolting the shock tops, sway bar link bottoms, and finally the axle track bar bolt. I had trouble getting the track bar bolt out/in only because I didn't know the trick. Once the axle was dropped I had enough room to get the pan out/back in.

You may not need to do all of what I had to and best to let someone who has taken the pan out on the 5.2 around your year to explain the easy way, if there is one. Good luck.

[Pierre_r]

I have done it on my 5.2
I only removed the starter and cut out the exhaust that goes under the oilpan. No need to drop the axel like on the 4.0
Then after i had put the oilpan back i just welded back the exhaust piece i had cut out.

Edit: I just remembered that i hade the trans out while i was doing my RMS seal.

[DeejayZeejay]

Remove starter and cut exhaust bolts.....finagle pan out. My trans was pulled when I did the RMS. Jack stands on the frame so axle hangs low.

[sebian]

I removed the axle bolt on the trackbar, and raised the Jeep to let the axle hang. Slid the pan out the front.

[Uniblurb]

What I didn't know in removing the axle track bar bolt to drop the axle down is you need your front tires on the ground and turn the steering wheel to let the unibody take the tension off of it. I stripped the threads off of this $18 bolt in removing it with tension on it but used the steering wheel to align it in putting a new one in. Could probably have bought this M12x1.75x70 bolt cheaper than the dealer.

If dropping the axle instead of removing/cutting the exhaust you best start hosing down the axle bolt and flag nut with PB, or another rust cutter, now since mine was super rusted after 16 years. But I also live in the salt/rust area.

Since your changing the pan gasket you also may want to make sure your rear seal isn't leaking into the trans bell housing too. I changed both of mine out and here's a couple vids made by someone else. It's for a 4.0 and not sure if the 5.2 is any different?

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/o...l#post13508136