Jeep Performance Improvement Ideas
How to replace the knock sensor on the Jeep Renix engine.
The knock sensor is used by the Renix engine control system to fine tune the ignition timing. If it hears knock it will back off on the timing a bit. It will run the ignition timing as far advanced as it can to get the most power and fuel economy.
Continue reading “Renix Knock Sensor replacement”Replacing the rear axle in a Jeep Cherokee.
There are a lot of reasons you might have for removing and replacing he rear axle on a Jeep. In my most recent case I was swapping out the rear for a gear change. Here is how I did it.
I began by lifting the Jeep and removing the rear wheels and tires. Next, I removed the skid plate and the drive shaft. I then disconnected the brake hard lines from the T joint on the axle leaving the rubber line attached to the body. In this case it was because the rubber line on the other axle was not there. Also, I have found it is easier to break the two lines at the T joint than the one at the body. I then removed the vent bolt that holds the T joint to the axle and let the line drain into a bucket.
To remove the emergency brake lines, I removed the equalizer bar from the hand brake lever. I then used a small hose clamp to compress the locking taps where the cable attaches to the body of the truck. With he tabs compressed, I slid the cable out of the clam and the bracket. I left them attached to the axle.
Next, I removed the shocks from the axle leaving them attached to the body. Since the XJ I was working on has a slip yoke eliminator and the pinion has been adjusted, getting the shocks off the pins was difficult. I had to move the axle up and down to work them of the pins that are angled in relation to the shocks. If the pinion angle is stock, this will not be an issue.
Next, I supported the axle on jack stands and let the Jeep down until the springs were slightly compressed. I then removed the four U bolts that hold the axle to the springs. If the Jeep still has a sway bar, which this one did not, you will have to disconnect it as well.
I then lifted the Jeep of the axle making sure to keep track of the pinion shims. I then moved the axle off the jack stands with my floor jack. I was careful to keep the jack stands in the same position. I then sat the replacement axle on the jack stands using my shop crane.
I then lowered the Jeep don onto the axle making sure the pinion shims and the spring alignment pins went into place. I had to tap the axle just a bit with a hammer to make it all line up, but by having the jack stands positioned properly, the movements were small.
I then secured the U bolts and lifted the Jeep back up. Next, I worked the shocks back on. This proved to be quite a battle as the left shock was not long enough to reach with the spring at full droop. I used a hand winch to compress the spring slightly to get it on.
I then reconnected the brake lines and axle vent. Then I reconnected the emergency brake cables. I then reinstalled the drive shaft.
Next I filled the differential with fluid. Then, I refilled the brake system and bled the brakes. I reinstalled the wheels and tires and torqued the lugs.