Rock Krawler JK Heavy Duty Deep Sump Automatic Transmission Pan Installation Write-Up

While the Jeep JK Wrangler comes with great skid plate right from the factory that actually does a job of protecting your 42RLE Automatic Transmission, it does have a way of getting in the way of your drive shaft if you have a 3″ or taller lift installed. Because of this problem, there are a lot of people choose to remove this skid plate but, by doing this, you leave the thin transmission sump pan dangerously exposed to rocks. For those of you who have a long arm kit installed on your JK, removing your transmission skid plate is a requirement. So, what is one to do? Well for me, I decided to get a Rock Krawler heavy duty replacement deep sump transmission pan.

Constructed out of seam welded laser cut steel featuring sides made out of 3/16″ steel, a bottom that is a 1/4″ thick and a puncture proof lifetime warranty, the Rock Krawler heavy duty deep sump pan is all that you’ll need to protect it from the rocks. Of course, being that this is a deep sump pan, you also get the added benefit of greater fluid capacity and this does wonders to help your transmission from running dry as is so common when operating at extreme angles.

The write-up below will show you just how easy the Rock Krawler heavy duty deep sump pan is to install on your Jeep JK Wrangler.

What you will need

• (6) Quarts ATF+4
• 10,18mm Sockets
• 9/16″ Socket
• Torx T-25 Bit
• 1/4″ Drive Ratchet
• 3/8″ Drive Ratchet
• Inch Pound Torque Wrench
• 1/4″ Drive Universal Joint
• 1/4″ Drive 3″ Extension
• Dead Blow Hammer
• Brake Cleaner
• High Temp RTV
• Mopar Lock & Seal
or Blue Lock Tite
• Flat Razor Blades
• Sand Paper
• Rags
• Small Funnel

Where you can
get yours

I got my Rock Krawler JK Heavy Duty Deep Sump Transmission Pan directly from Rock Krawler.Rock Krawler

Instructions
	Here’s a shot of all that you should get with your new Rock Krawler Heavy Duty JK Deep Sump Transmission Pan.
	1. Park your Jeep JK Wrangler on level ground and remove the 3 bolts securing your automatic transmission skid plate to your Jeep JK Wrangler’s frame rails and cross member. You will need an 18mm socket for this job.
	2. Place an oil catch pan under your transmission. Then, using a 10mm socket and 3″ ratchet extension to make things easier, remove all but the 2 driver side transmission sump pan bolts.
	3. The 4 bolts located on the back of the sump pan can be difficult to remove due to the exhaust cross over being in the way. A small 1/4″ drive ratchet with a universal joint like the one shown in this pic will help out a lot.
	4. As you can see in the photo, there is just enough space between the exhaust cross over and the sump pan to reach the 4 rear bolts using a universal joint.

5. More than likely, you will find that the ATF+4 inside your transmission will start to leaking out of the bolt holes along the sides of your sump pan. Allow the fluid to drain as much as possible before proceeding.	6. Make no mistake, there is still plenty of ATF+4 inside your transmission so, with one hand placed under the sump pan for support, lightly tap the side with a dead blow hammer until the pan breaks free of the RTV.	7. Remove the last 2 bolts and then carefully pour out the remaining ATF+4 inside the transmission sump pan. Then, set the sump pan aside.

8. Using a Torx T-25 Bit, remove the 2 bolts securing the filter from the bottom of your Transmission.	9. Carefully pull the filter off your transmission making sure that the reddish/orange O-Ring comes off the pickup port as well. Use a flat razor to clean any RTV that might still exist on the mating surface of the transmission.	10. Remove the round magnet located on the inside bottom of your transmission sump pan. Use a clean cloth to wipe off the fine metal fuzz attached to it.

11. Using some brake cleaner, clean out the entire inside and mating surface of your new Rock Krawler HD deep sump transmission pan.	12. Using a piece of sand paper, roughen up one side of the filter pick-up extension provided with the kit as shown.	13. Use a clean rag to wipe up any ATF+4 that might be sitting inside the groove surrounding the filter pick-up port.

14. Using a piece of sand paper, roughen up the edge of the filter pick-port as shown.	15. Carefully spray some brake cleaner along the grove and then wipe it clean using a clean rag.	16. Apply some high temperature and oil resistant RTV along the inside groove of the filter pick-up port as shown.

17. Making sure that the roughed end is pointing down, firmly install the filter pick-up extension on to the pick-up port.	18. Apply some high temperature and oil resistant RTV along the base of the pick-up port extension and filter.	19. Use your finger to smooth out the RTV evenly along the base of the pick-up port extension and filter. Allow enough time for the RTV to cure as is instructed on the tube prior to continuing with the installation.
	20. Take the cleaned up round magnet that you removed from the factory transmission sump pan and place it in the same general location on the inside of your new Rock Kralwer HD pan as shown.

21. Make sure that the transmission filter O-Ring is seated securely onto the connection tube as shown.	22. Carefully reinstall transmission filter onto the bottom of your transmission and secure it in place with the factory bolts. A Torx T-25 Bit will be needed for this job.	23. Apply a thin bead (about 1/8″ – 1/4″) of high temperature and oil resistant RTV along the inside mating surface and around the bolt holes of your Rock Krawler HD transmission sump pan as shown.
	24. As is stated in the factory service manual, you will need to apply some Mopar Lock & Seal to bolt #5 in the diagram above prior to reinstalling it. I’m 100% sure what this is but by the look of things, it’s just a mild grade thread locker so I just used blue loc-tite for this step.
	25. Carefully place the sump pan onto the bottom of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s transmission and secure them in place using the factory hardware. A 10mm socket, 3″ ratchet extension and universal joint will be needed for this job. Tighten all bolts to 14.5 ft. lbs. of torque.
	26. Using a 9/16″ socket, double check that the drain plug is securely fastened onto the side of transmission sump pan. Then, open up your Jeep JK Wrangler’s hood and pull out the automatic transmission dip stick which is located next to the firewall. Insert a small funnel into the dipstick and proceed to fill up the transmission with 4 quarts of ATF+4 as is instructed by the FSM.
	27. Reinsert your dipstick, start up your engine and allow it to idle for at least 1 minute. Then, with the emergency hand brake engaged and your foot on the brake pedal, shift your transmission lever into each position going from Park down to 1st gear and then back again making sure to leave the shifter in each position for about 30 seconds.
	28. Pull out your transmission dipstick and check it’s fluid level. Being that the Rock Krawler HD sump pan is deeper than factory, you will get a low reading. Add more ATF+4 until it shows up about 1/8″ below the lowest mark on the dip stick. Recheck the fluid level after your transmission has reached normal operating temperature, approximately 180°F.
That’s all there is to it. You now have a heavy duty deep transmission sump pan installed on your Jeep JK Wrangler. As is the case with any fluid change, please be sure to take your old fluid into your local auto parts store so that it can be recycled. And, if you have any questions, please let me know.