How to Change a Clutch on a Jeep

The Jeep is a long-lasting, dependable four-wheel drive vehicle that has a host of aftermarkert parts and performs well past 100,000 miles of rough use. One particular part that gets a lot of abuse is the clutch. Used to "slip" along in rock filled gullies, or dropped at full throttle in order to get up a hill climb, the clutch tends to be a part that needs replaced a bit more often than other parts. Changing a Jeep clutch is a bit more complicated than other "at home" repairs, however with a little bit of knowledge any novice mechanic can tackle this task as well.

Things You'll Need

• Jack
• Jack stands
• New clutch kit
• Socket wrench
• Extra wood or cinder blocks

Instructions

1. Jack the front of the jeep up and support it with the jack stands. Crawl underneath the front of the Jeep and use the socket wrench to remove the two silver skid plates covering the bottom of the transmission's transfer case.

2. Use the jack to support the bottom of the transfer case and then remove the transfer case bolts with the socket wrench. Slowly lower the transfer case down with the jack to reveal the clutch plates.

3. Slide the clutch plates out of the transfer case and slide the new clutch into place. Slowly raise the transfer case back up into position and reattach it with the crescent wrench.

4. Reattach the skid plates and then slowly lower the Jeep down off of the jack stands. Start the Jeep up and see how it runs and make sure that it will shift through all of its gears correctly.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to have the Jeep's parking brake engaged when working underneath of it to keep if from rolling off of the jack stands onto you.

Resources

• Source for purchasing Jeep parts here