Fastener Types

[LibertyFever]

Okay I must confess that I haven't done very much wrenching under my KJ but I expect to be when the drivetrain warranty expires.

Can anybody tell me what I can expect to find for fasteners on a KJ? Are they all SAE sizes or will I also find a few metric sized bolts? I sure hope there aren't any of those damn Torx screws. I hate them with a passion.

hmmm...I wonder if I'll need to get one of these left handed metric screwdrivers
http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=21

 

[jeepkj02]

The only torx I can remember is the drain plug on the front diff, and the drain/fill plug on the t-case.

Most, if not all, of the fasteners are metric. Biggest you'll probably need is 18mm. There are bigger like axle hub, pinion nut, etc...

 

[tjkj2002]

No Torx bolts(that I have found) on the KJ,but the front hub bearings are held on with "E" Torx bits(E-14).All the bolts/nuts are metric on the KJ.

 

[LibertyFever]

Odd that the fasteners are metric, aren't Liberty's manufactured in USA? the last holdout against the metric system?

 

[tjkj2002]

Odd that the fasteners are metric, aren't Liberty's manufactured in USA? the last holdout against the metric system?

Your not going to find a vehicle made today that isn't mostly metric bolts/nuts.Soon SAE will be gone,though mechanics will still need SAE tools for the older US vehicles.

I have only encountered 4 bolts/nuts on the entire KJ(mine at least) that are SAE,the t-case drain plug,t-case fill plug,the lugnuts,and the front diff fill plug(takes a 3/8" ratchet).There are many more bolts/nuts on the KJ that a SAE socket/wrench will work on since many metric sizes have a very close SAE size(7/16=11mm,1/2=13mm,9/16=14mm,and so on for certian sizes).

 

[Atrus]

I used to work in a cold-heading facility (makes automotive fasteners) - tier 1 supplier.

I would bet that 95% of our business was metric fasteners. Really, the only SAE that we'd do were for service parts.