I got a tranny skid plate from the dealer today to cover the oil filter area. The instructions are just a pictograph and I don't understand how to use the expander for the rear fittings. The installatiion kit came with two bolts and two sleeves to install in a crossmember and an expansion tool to spread the sleeves in the crossmember hole. I can't figure out from the diagram exactly how the expander is supposed to work.

I am hoping someone who has installed these types of sleeves on the jeep can advise. The expander consists of a threaded bolt, spinning nut and a threaded metal piece (the expander?), but I can't figure out how to use them properly.

Thanks in advance

OK -

There should be the two inserts that go into the holes in the crossmember, and another threaded "insert" that was probably screwed onto the tool - the smaller threaded insert (should have a slight gold tinge to it) is not needed.

The tool consists of two pieces - a black bolt and a black sleeve - you hold the sleeve with a wrench to keep it from spinning, which also keeps the insert from spinning while tightening the bolt down - what is does is crush the sleeve inside the hole to spread it out (much like a rivet).

So the black bolt goes thru the black insert and screws into the silver insert - once you have inserted the silver insert in the crossmember all the way, you tighten the bolt to X amount of torque, and then go on to the second one.

Sorry if this doesn't make sense ... I can picture it better than I can describe it.

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2006 CRD Sport 4X4, bought 6 July 2006, born 5/20/2006 1900 hrs.
Mods N Things:
235/70r16 Wrangler SilentArmor, ProVent, Gasser airbox, CAT filter, Kennedy lift pump, fuel cooler, Evic from wrecked 05 KJ, factory skidplates, towhooks, OME 2" CRD lift, Magnaflow 12256 muffler, Alpine stereo & XM "stealth antenna" install

Just make sure you get the assembly in the hole all the way and straight before you start tightening everything

Thanks, that is exactly what I needed to know. The gold colored thing was driving me nuts. I could not figure out what it did (nothing it turns out)

Also good advice about fully seating

This is EXACTLY what this forum is for !!

The skid plates also remove a noticeable amount of body flex when they are installed. The unibody does flex some on rough terrain and roads, and you are adding a lot of strong steel to the belly of your KJ. I installed all 3 shields on mine (transmission, transfer case & fuel tank) but I think that it is the long one you are installing that strengthened the body. It ties the front suspension wishbone to the transmission support - nice solid to solid contact!

Installed today. Very easy installation, took onlly about 20 mins. Did it with the jeep on the ground. Hardest part was backing out bolts from engine skid which had rusted a little.

Thanks again to all who helped !!

Glad to hear the install went well - I definitely agree that is what this forum is for - I've definitely learned a lot hear, and hope to learn more, and hopefully help here and there as well ....

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2006 CRD Sport 4X4, bought 6 July 2006, born 5/20/2006 1900 hrs.
Mods N Things:
235/70r16 Wrangler SilentArmor, ProVent, Gasser airbox, CAT filter, Kennedy lift pump, fuel cooler, Evic from wrecked 05 KJ, factory skidplates, towhooks, OME 2" CRD lift, Magnaflow 12256 muffler, Alpine stereo & XM "stealth antenna" install

I'm going to check with Greg at LubercationSpecialist this week to see if he can match up a Fumoto drain valve with nipple for the CRD so we don't have to drop the skidplate to drain the fluid. Ok so you really don't have to drop it, but then there is the mess with the red stuff dripping all over and around the skid onto the floor of my garage.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

The skid plate I got from the dealer has a cutout for the oil drain and you can reach around the cover to get the filter. It leaves plenty of room for the drain plug and if you put a hole in the filter first I think the stream would clear the cover and drain into a pan without wetting the skid.

Sorry, apparently I didn't mention that I was refering to transfer case for some. I guess CRS struck. I was talking about the transfer case and draining it with skid plate on and not making a mess there if we had a Fumoto drain valve for the transfer case. Sorry man.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

Could be my senior moment as well.
I think that you could change the tranny fluid via one of those power flushes without taking off the skid plate, but if you wanted a screen change i don't think it could be done without removal. Removal only means taking off 2 bolts and loosening 2 others so in the scheme of a tranny service it should only add about 2 mins.

Maybe so, but the tranny does not have a drain plug and has to be dropped. The transfer case on the other hand has a drain & fill plug with seperate skid plate and that is what I want to find a Fumoto drain plug for, to have a nipple to drain to bottle without having to lower transfer case skid.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

I had my tranny serviced last week at 30k (before I installed plate). I had the job done at a local shop where I have had tranny work done before. The owner said there were 2 ways to do the job. The "easy" way was just to powerflush which required no removal of anything, but the plug. The "better" way (which I opted for) did the flush plus a change of screens and clean of the pan which of course required its removal. The charge was $ 153 for the service.

I did not install any other skids beyond the tranny piece as I only go on dirt trails and logging roads for fly fishing and do not "rock climb" so I figure I don't need anything beyond protecting the oil filter from the errant rock. No trail I have ever been on would be listed as more than "moderate" even though they may be long. In fact, next week I am tripping to northern Quebec for a fishing trip that includes about 60mi jog on "forest road" (whatever that means)

Though you didn't mention them, I hope you had the two filter's replaced.

Need company on that fishing trip???

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

Yes, said screens meant filters.

Is that also a yes for the fishing trip???

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine

12 bunks at cabin, 12 rear ends allready reserved

I'm always a day late and dollar short.

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91 MB 300D 2.5L Turbo. Her's

05 MB E320 CDI. Mine