Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: lefty on December 17, 2005, 09:47:48 PM

Title: XJ Underbody Protection
Post by: lefty on December 17, 2005, 09:47:48 PM

Hi,

Does anyone here have diff guards, steering guard / sump guard etc on their XJ?

I've spent a bit of time looking on the net but can't find much. A defender-owning mate of mine reckons it's not worth going off road without them. Although I'm running on 31's, the diffs do still look quite vulnerable...

Anyone had a bad experince?

Is it necessary to get some underbody protection?

Cheers,
iain

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Post by: Bubba on December 17, 2005, 10:28:05 PM

defender needs all the help it can get do he take a prayer mat aswell

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Post by: Anonymous on December 17, 2005, 10:33:13 PM

hi mate

a steering guard is a must.......go rob one off an early XJ in the breakers, they were std kit on early ones!

dont know if the transfer case skids fit but they were std on some of the early 4 litre XJ's too.......am sure someone will tell you if they fit!

never really found i needed any diff guards but maybe i have been lucky!!

full length sump guard is my next plan........have to ship em from the states tho.....or have a word with the guys at mountainjacks!

hope that helps

paul

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Post by: Bubba on December 17, 2005, 10:37:18 PM

better still kd you buy one an let phatfuks offroad copy it and sell loads

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Post by: Anonymous on December 17, 2005, 10:40:53 PM

Quote from: "V8 Bubba"

better still kd you buy one an let phatfuks offroad copy it and sell loads

i already have that plan up my sleeve mate!!!

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Post by: lefty on December 17, 2005, 10:44:43 PM

Thanks fellas, I'll look at mountainjacks and post my findings...

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Post by: Mike Pavelin on December 18, 2005, 08:54:26 AM

Front diff cover is a bit vunerable to big rocks, a simple bolt on guard  is worth getting to deflect the worst of the punishment.
The Mopar factory steering skid fitted as standard to most pre '96 UK Cherokees is fine for protecting the front end and can be had from a breaker's. I reinforced mine by welding a couple of uprights into the sides of it and it's now super strong.
A full length engine skid will protect the sump and the gearbox all the way to the transmission crossmember.
A factory or aftermarket transfer case skif will help protect the rear of the transfer case.
A factoty fuel tank guard or aftermarket version will cover the whole fuel tank.
Rock rails are also advisable as the long sills on the XJ can be quite vunerable to damage

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Post by: Mort on December 18, 2005, 10:46:38 AM

It might be worth checking your local dealership to see if they can still get hold of any Mopar skids.  DC were selling them off at silly prices - £8.00 for a fuel tank skid! - to clear their stocks.

Part numbers are:-

82200616 - pre '97 Transfer Case
82205147 - post '97 Transfer Case
82203726 - Fuel Tank
82202851 - Front

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Post by: Anonymous on December 18, 2005, 05:33:48 PM

Transfer case skid is very good

Had a Rustys fitted to my old Cherry

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Post by: Tank on December 18, 2005, 06:58:57 PM

I also got Birtys workshop team to re-inforce the lower control arm mounts as i found out just how vulnerable they are when i bent one.Its part of the axle so if you break it it will be a right pain.They just welded a plate across to give protection and support-a very cheap but effective fix.Not many people even think about this and i only did because of bending mine.Hope that helps :)  :)  :)

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Post by: Psychoman on December 19, 2005, 06:43:50 PM

Fitted rock rails and Rusty's full engine and gearbox skids to my XJ - it already had the standard front guard, but we welded some angle into it to strengthen it up. Both the steering guard and the gearbox guard got a lot of abuse - even a lifted Cherry gets a lot of whacks in the middle, but never did any real damage. Never bothered with the diffs, and didn't have any problems... not sure if that was just good luck. My 90 was armored up by the previous owners, though I have added rock rails...

It all depends on how serious you are going to get and what terrain your driving. If you're going to do a lot of stuff in quarries, I think you need guards...

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Post by: JamesH on December 19, 2005, 08:36:27 PM

The more armor the better I think. I currently have Engine & Transmission, Transfercase, Fuel tank and Rockrails. Diffs are next and I'm considering the front one but was told it can get hung up and hinder any reversing out of a problem?

Having the vitals protected means fun without worry

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Post by: lefty on December 20, 2005, 07:24:33 AM

I spoke to my local dealer and they don't sell any underbody guards for the 97 cherokee anymore.

Will the steering guard from the early cherries fit the 97??

Thanks for all your help guys

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Post by: chrisjones on December 20, 2005, 10:56:00 AM

Yup.  The guard from Pre '97 XJs will fit yours.  They bolt straight on.