TECHNICAL FORUMS => Project Builds => Topic started by: Wingman on April 11, 2011, 09:58:19 PM
Title: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on April 11, 2011, 09:58:19 PM
I suppose I should start one of these. I\'ve been reluctant because I work slow and rarely take picutres. While not the most interesting build on these pages, maybe you\'ll appreciate some small part.
Once upon a time...
After having many different kinds of 4x4s, I bought another Jeep. As you can see, there have been many...
I wanted to keep a low COG. Learning from my previous TJ, I scavanged most of the good parts from it including the Skyjacker 2.5\" lift, Warn winch, steering skid, and rear bumper/tire carrier.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on April 17, 2011, 11:27:00 AM
Some more progress over the last few weeks. Keeping with the low COG theme, I opted for a Tummy Tucker from Nth Degree. Impressive quality and design, excellent instructions, and no real surprises during install.
With the additional drivetrain height, I needed to upgrade to a CV shaft and rotate my rear pinion up. Nth Degree deletes the UCAs and replaces it with this \"Stinger\". It bolts to the diff slider and compliments the system nicely. Also shown is my new Tom Woods (http://www.4xshaft.com/) drive shaft. (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/Rubicon%20build/103_4527.jpg)
The axle rotation caused my track bar to bind against the gas tank skid. So a call to Rusty\'s (http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=RC-TB550-TJ&Category_Code=SUS_TRAC) for their adjustable piece solved this issue. I love Rusty\'s parts! Stout and priced right. (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/Rubicon%20build/103_4525.jpg)
During the install, I also found that my Advance Adapters t-case shifter bracket hit the tunnel. I did a little research and found this set up by Novak (http://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/kit_sk2xr.htm). As you can see comparing the old stuff above to the new system below, it simplified things dramatically! (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/Rubicon%20build/103_4517.jpg) (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/Rubicon%20build/103_4519.jpg)
Vic at OEM (http://www.ontarioengine.com/) reworked my front shaft. It had a frozen slip yoke, bad u-joints, and needed a new CV. Nice work Vic!
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: MrMindless on April 17, 2011, 03:08:57 PM
I look forward to seeing the new rear suspension in person
It looks like an interesting change. Nice upgrades!
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on April 17, 2011, 03:31:59 PM
It\'s an option (although pricey) for those guys who tear off their UCA mounts. A set of LCAs should complete the rear. Ice Breaker will be good proving ground. Not expecting much more articulation but the ground clearance will be appreciated!
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: AWL4928 on April 18, 2011, 07:21:31 AM
I think when I called Tom Woods they said it\'s now included in their instructions, but if not, make sure to grease the ball socket on the cv joint. I learned the hard way-they fail after a year with no grease. It\'s really tough to see, and usually you have to drop the front of the shaft to get at it.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on April 18, 2011, 12:03:42 PM
Vic schooled me on that one. It sure is a hidden grease zerk!
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: jACeL86 on April 18, 2011, 05:33:04 PM
Indeed! Although New York Drivetrain saved me big time with a $60 complete rebuild.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on May 08, 2011, 09:07:56 AM
The rear stinger seemed to work great! The added clearance of the tummy tucker was a huge benefit, too.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: MrMindless on May 11, 2011, 10:05:12 AM
That Nth degree system is really pretty spectacular.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on November 14, 2011, 04:10:18 PM
After a season of hard wheeling, this thing needs some love. Front LCA rubber bushings, front RCV shafts, wheel bearings, to name a few...
Anyone have a money tree that needs pruning?
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: smichaelR22 on November 14, 2011, 04:47:11 PM
let me know when its getting dropped off :)
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: MrMindless on November 15, 2011, 01:55:54 PM
Drop a Rubi pick an Aveo?
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on November 15, 2011, 02:13:41 PM
The love mentioned above will be from me <3. smike will get his chance to love later in the winter season in the form of a windshield hoop and stringers.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on November 30, 2011, 10:48:35 PM
Over the past season, I've had a mystery thumping sound traversing bumps and pot holes. I think I've located part of the issue...
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: smichaelR22 on December 01, 2011, 09:10:50 AM
very niiiice!
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: jACeL86 on December 02, 2011, 04:24:01 PM
Did you opt for the axle tube seals as well?
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on December 02, 2011, 07:31:41 PM
Stuff is going to get in there with or without them. I declined. I just can\'t see how they\'d seal as well as they should and then they\'d keep the yuck in...
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on March 19, 2012, 05:44:56 PM
After 3 months in hibernation...
RCVs installed along with new wheel bearings. Got to have Vic do some front driveshaft repair. Then I'll be a 4wd again...
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: s0l0ithz on March 19, 2012, 06:11:35 PM
Sexy.....
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: jACeL86 on March 19, 2012, 07:15:08 PM
Ohhhhh yeahhhhh!
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: MrMindless on March 20, 2012, 09:09:28 AM
:like:
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on July 16, 2012, 06:54:45 PM
Just got a notification from AEV. They are discontinuing the Nth Degree TJ products. Not happy. >:(
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: MrMindless on July 17, 2012, 12:15:18 PM
Sad to hear, they seem to treat you exceptionally well.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: gCracker on July 17, 2012, 12:39:03 PM
time to bite the bullet and just buy the rest of the package?
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on July 17, 2012, 12:44:23 PM
Irony here is that I sent them an email last week inquiring about just that. Now, the list of leftovers does not include the required subframe. Still debating if I should jump in for the control arms ($650) and fab up the frame mounts with heims instead of their gyro joints.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: smichaelR22 on July 17, 2012, 02:03:07 PM
heims are the only way to go on abuse rig. ill never build another buggy with any kind of useless joints.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on May 21, 2013, 11:14:36 AM
My Rusty's LCA flex joints were not as durable as I had hoped (see Product Reviews) so...
Ruffstuff joints ordered and installed. Should be more HD and less maint. Only increased length by roughly .125", practically a bolt-in. Rear done, front pending "field-test" at RC this weekend.
Out with the old (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/100_5416.jpg)
And in with the new (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/100_5417.jpg) (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/100_5418.jpg)
EDIT 6/24/13: After two wheeling trips to RC, the joints are 100% solid, zero play. Ordered another set for the front. Quality stuff.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: MrMindless on May 21, 2013, 12:18:54 PM
good thing those ears are thick, they're looking well worn and a little tweaked in spite of the beef!
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on June 15, 2013, 04:28:21 PM
Got tired of the factory rocker guards allowing my fenders and tub to get bent. They were definitively inadequate for my style of "driving".
Upgraded with some bare steel wheel-opening to wheel-opening units from A to Z Fab (http://www.atozfabrication.com/store/) in PA. 3/16" plate, good coverage side and bottom, no frills. Trimmed 1/4" from the front for clearance, dressed them up, and painted. Did I mention that the price was superb? Cheaper than their site listed and Zach delivered to RC during my last trip to save shipping ($60)! And no install issues that I didn't cause myself.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: s0l0ithz on June 16, 2013, 06:26:52 PM
Sweet
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: jACeL86 on June 16, 2013, 06:30:17 PM
Oh great, something to give you more confidence. Now I'm REALLY not following you down red trails. Lol
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on June 24, 2013, 10:17:02 AM
New rockers got a little QC testing this weekend. Somehow, I managed to scrape the top edge and sheet metal in front of the passenger door on something! I give up... :o
A couple of solid underside hits, still 100%.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on August 06, 2013, 12:37:58 PM
For a long time, I've had on my Jeep-to-do list a hard-wired winch controller. Not as simple as most because Warn uses a 5-wire instead of a 3-wire and finding the right switch and cable would be a challenge. I decided to sacrifice the original wired remote controller that had a bad switch in it (in, no out). I had ordered a momentary DPDT switch months ago off eBay. Procrastination be damned...
This type of Warn controller is not meant to come apart easily... (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/104_5513.jpg)
Snaked the cable in and around, hopefully finding the best route. Decided to leave the plug on for safety reasons... (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/104_5514.jpg)
Drilled a new hole in the firewall up high and used some vacuum hose for a grommet... (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/104_5515.jpg)
Zip-tied everything secure and selected a dash location for the switch. Carefully opened a hole and mounted same. I figured that close to the door was better than the console so it could be operated from outside too... (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/104_5518.jpg)
Checked off the list.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: s0l0ithz on August 06, 2013, 02:29:16 PM
Nice Mark
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: xjh3 on August 08, 2013, 01:52:56 PM
Good mod. I'd like to do the same.
But I really need a new winch first
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on August 09, 2013, 02:49:29 PM
Getting tired of straightening my tie rod after each trip so I thought I'd try something else...
(I apologize for the lousy pics)
I had a brand new spare that I put on after the last RC trip so I could "play" with the bent one a bit. I took it to sMike's shop and got it pretty straight with his press. After discussing my idea with him, he suggested heat-and-bend.
New unbent, no-rock-rash ZJ tie rod. (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/100_5521.jpg)
Tried to reverse the factory bends. (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/100_5522.jpg)
Old bent, straightened, rebent, straightened, etc, now custom-bent installed. Sure is tolerant of abuse. (http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q17/wingman0/100_5524.jpg)
I'm sure it will still see some rock rash but it's better than before. Seems to "clear" other linkages OK. It should also be noted that I no longer have a steering stabilizer. This mod occupies the same space.
Pending field testing...
Edit 8/27: After a weekend on some of RC's finest trails, this mod shows very little fresh rock rash!
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on August 18, 2013, 08:42:53 PM
As seen in the last pic of the tie rod mod, my diffs are annoyingly leaky. Instead of another RTV application, I decided to try Lube Lockers (http://lubelocker.com/collections/axles/products/lub-llr-d044). No more drips. We'll see how long they last...
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: s0l0ithz on August 18, 2013, 09:16:30 PM
Mark were your bottom diff bolts half shaved off?
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on August 18, 2013, 09:33:26 PM
Had to replace the bottom three, front and rear. Not much left of the heads...
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: s0l0ithz on August 18, 2013, 11:13:31 PM
Same covers or new?
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on August 19, 2013, 06:33:58 AM
Same Riddler (http://www.quadratec.com/products/12011_2002.htm) covers I put on a couple of years ago.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Callelle on August 19, 2013, 09:00:13 AM
I have a lube locker on my 8.25 and love it, never had a leak from it. I get the same ground down heads on my bottom 3 bolts for my Riddler as well.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: smichaelR22 on August 19, 2013, 09:59:18 AM
i dislike lube lockers to fragile for more than3-4 instals, RTV is 9$ for a cawk gun full of it
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: MrMindless on August 19, 2013, 10:04:53 AM
*caulk.
I don't want to know how you apply RTV....
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on August 19, 2013, 10:26:49 AM
If they have to come off as often as in the past, that would be once every 2.5 years (purchased in fall 2010). So, three to four installs would get me to 2020? Ha, I'm good with that.
It wouldn't have come apart this time if not for the mystery leaks. Unknown cause for RTV failure. I'm hoping that these last longer, that's all. I'm lazy.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on September 25, 2013, 04:21:51 PM
kNOw Where 2Jeep Acquires Nth Degree Mobility
AEV is pleased to announce that the Nth Degree Mobility TJ product line will be continuing, with kNOw Where 2Jeep recently acquiring the rights. kNOw Where 2Jeep currently has several products already in stock and ready to ship, including 4.0L Oil Pan Skid Plates and Rear Spring Relocators.
kNOw Where 2Jeep is working hard to complete other popular products such as Front and Rear Differential Sliders, Tummy Tuckers, Rear Track Bar Tower, and 3.0†and 4.5†Progressive Rate Coil Springs. These are expected to be ready to ship in a few weeks. Gyrojoint Isolator Kits and other service parts will be in stock shortly.
Complete Nth Degree Long Arm Suspension Systems are expected to begin shipping late this year. The Nth Degree Long Arm Suspension System has long been hailed as one of the highest quality, best performing TJ suspension systems on the market and we are happy to see kNOw Where 2Jeep continue its legacy.
kNOw Where 2Jeep 130 Leah Lane Spring Grove, PA 17362 Ph. (717) 739-8029 http://www.knowwhere2jeep.com/
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: xjh3 on September 26, 2013, 08:34:50 AM
Good news for you!!!
Never heard of them though...
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: MrMindless on September 26, 2013, 08:36:55 AM
That's pretty exciting that someone picked up their line.
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on September 26, 2013, 08:54:26 AM
I know others were interested in the diff skids and other armor parts. Glad to see the tech continued!
Title: Re: another Rubicon...
Post by: Wingman on October 15, 2013, 12:24:51 PM
