EVO MFG 2012 Jeep JK Wrangler
Vacuum Pump Relocation Kit

The all new 2012 Jeep JK Wrangler comes with a new vacuum assist or pump which is located on the driver side frame rail and just behind the front bumper. For the most part, there’s nothing wrong with where it’s placed but, if you choose to run an aftermarket front bumper and install a large winch that sits between the frame rails, it is something that will need to get relocated. Fortunately, EVO MFG makes a great kit just for this that is cheap and easy to install.

What you will need:
• 10mm, 16mm and 18mm socket
• 3/8″ wrench
• Ratchet
• 3″ Ratchet extension
• Phillips screwdriver
• Small & Large flathead screwdriver
• Prybar
• Needlenose pliers
• Dremel rotary tool with cutoff wheel
• Large vice grips

Here’s a shot of showing everything you will get with the EVO MFG 2012 JK Vacuum Pump Relocation Kit.

Front Bumper Removal:
NOTE: For the most part, removing the factory bumper is still pretty much the same from 07-11 JK’s and so, the initial steps on this write-up have been recycled from a previous one I did for our white JK.

1. Begin the removal of your JK’s front bumper by unscrewing the 4 plastic screws securing the factory air dam to the bottom of your front bumper. A phillips screwdriver will be needed for this job.

2. Once unscrewed, you should be able to pull out both the plastic screw and insert with little effort but if you find that your screws are just spinning (as several of mine did), you will need to wedge a flathead screwdriver or small pry bar between your JK’s plastic bumper and air dam to help you force it out as shown in this photo.

3. Now, climb under the front of your JK and using a phillips screwdriver, remove the remaining 2 plastic screws securing the air dam to the lower cross member. As before, if these screws just spin in place, use a flathead screwdriver or small pry bar to help you force them out. Your air dam should now be free of your Jeep and it can now be discarded as it will no longer be needed.

4. If your JK came equipped with factory fog lights, climb under the front of your Jeep, look up behind the front bumper, locate the wiring harness plug, lift up the clip and then pull it off as shown in this photo.

5. Using a pair of needle nose pliers, pry off all the fog light wiring harness connectors on the back of your JK’s front bumper.

6. Using an 18mm socket, remove the 4 bumper mounting nuts (2 on each side) located next to the inside of your JK’s frame rails and fog light holes.

7. Using an 18mm socket, remove the 4 bumper mounting nuts (2 on each side) located next to the outside of your JK’s frame rails.

8. Remove the backing plates off the bumper mounting studs as shown in this photo.

9. Carefully pull the front bumper off the frame rails. If your JK came equipped with factory tow hooks, grab and use both of them to carefully pull your front bumper off the frame rails.

10. Using a phillips screwdriver, remove the 2 plastic screws securing the top plastic cover in place.

11. Again, if you find these screws to just spin in place, use a flathead screwdriver or small pry bar to help you lift up the cover off the frame rail and force the screw out.

EVO Relocation Bracket Installation:
Here are a couple of shot of the new vacuum pump which is mounted to the inside of the driver side frame rail and, what we will be relocating.

1. There are 2 vacuum hoses and 1 wiring harness that will need to be removed from the pump. The first of these is a small rubber hose and to remove it, all you need to do is pull down on it.

2. The 2nd hose has a green retaining clip that will need to be pushed back before you can safely disconnect it. Use a small flathead screwdriver to pry this clip up as shown.

3. Pull the wiring harness plug off the frame rail, push down on the retaining clip and unplug it.

4. Using a 10mm wrench, remove the 2 nuts securing the vacuum pump to it’s mounting bracket.

5. Lift the pump off it’s mounting studs and set aside for now.

6. Using a pair of needle nose pliers, pry off the wiring harness attached to the vacuum pump mounting bracket as shown.

7. Using a Dremel rotoray tool with a cutoff wheel, make a deep score on the back edge of the vacuum pump mounting bracket. Try to make sure that the score you make is on the other side of bracket’s weld.

8. Again, using a Dremel rotoray tool with a cutoff wheel, cut a line down the lenght of the front corner on the vacuum pump mounting bracket as shown. Try to make sure this cut is on the other side of bracket’s weld.

9. With the front corner of the bracket cut, use a prybar to separate it from the frame rail as shown.

10. Grab a hold of the bracket with a pair of large vice grips and then work it back and forth until the back edge breaks off.

11. This is what your frame rail will look like after it’s been freed of the vacuum pump bracket – just like an 07-11. Take some time to clean up the rough edges and spray some paint on it before proceeding with this install.

12. Using the hardware supplied, install your JK’s vacuum pump onto the EVO MFG relocation bracket as shown. You will need a 3/8″ wrench and flathead screwdriver for this job.

13. Climb under the front of your JK and then, using a 16mm socket, remove the 2 bolts securing the driver side sway bar mount to the bottom of the frame rail.

14. Move over the the passenger side and loosen, but do not remove, the 2 bolts securing the sway bar mount to the bottom of the frame rail. NOTE: You want the sway bar to hang from these bolts as shown.

15. Coming in from behind the sway bar, slip the EVO MFG relocation bracket in between the sway bar mount and frame rail and then, slip 1 of the provided spacers on top of it.

16. Loosly reinstall the 2 bolts onto the driver side sway bar mount.

17. Move over to the passenger side of your JK, remove the 2 sway bar mount bolts, slip in the remaining 2 spacers provided with the kit.

18. Reinstall the 2 sway bar mount bolts and then, using a 16mm socket, tighten all 4 bolts to 45 ft. lbs. of torque.

19. Plug the wiring harness back in and then secure it to the holes on the new EVO MFG relocation bracket.

20. Reconnect the large hose onto the forward facing large port and then push the green retaining clip to lock it in place.

21. Last but not least, reconnect the small rubber hose onto the downward pointing port behind the vacuum pump as shown.

22. That should be it. You are now ready to install just about any aftermarket bumper made for the Jeep JK Wrangler and install a big winch like the WARN PowerPlant in between the frame rails.