My new TJ

[smichaelR22]

very stuburn spindles to get off the nuckles....  might have taken a little longer cause i changed out the front inner and outer bearings / seals while i was at it.... wished i had two new ujoints at the time since the shafts were out but didnt.....

[gCracker]

Here is a pict of the Jeep with the new rocker guards.

[gCracker]

I tore into the front to install the locker and found that the tie rod was definitely bent.  Keith noticed it a bit after the pre-run, but it is definite now

[gCracker]

well this morning I had a decided to drive the TJ to work to soak up the sun on the 90 degree day.  About half way to work it had a fit of Death Wobble, I had to pull over.  I ducked into a side street and looked over the front to see if I could see anything awry, but all looked fine.  Then on the way home it got worse.  I then pulled over and saw this.  The whole link mount has ripped off the axle.  This is the same mount that Ryan fixed a few months ago, his welds are still fine, it broke in other areas.  I called AAA and had it towed home until it can be fixed and upgraded.

[MrMindless]

man....  ugly.  glad it was just one of four and nothing serious happened.  Time to build new stronger mounts then I guess?

[Crusarius]

thats typical with tj\'s anytime you really start to use them I ended up ripping all my brackets off the axles and off the frame end. would have been easier just to cut them all off and make new ones the first time :)

[gCracker]

After threatening Snort that I was going to come steal his trailer for the last 2 years I finally did it.  It will be nice to be able to go wheeling with the whole family and all of our gear.  It is a 1977 Sigame model 1030.

[smichaelR22]

looks hot

[GTJake]

are you going to paint the wheels black so they match?

[gCracker]

After the trip to Rausch I have a list of things that need to be addressed:

1.) steering, all of the tie rod ends are loose, with the pitman arm end being almost scary loose.  Upgrade to tie rod and drag link from V8 ZJ http://bluedogjeep.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/tie-rod-upgrade/

2.) tune up.. getting hard to start and stalling quite a bit while trying to idle through the rocks.

3.) rework tire carrier latch so I can open it all the way with the trailer connected.  Will make hooking up the trailer loads easier.

4.) rewire radio.. driving 4 hours with out tunes is brutal.

5.) gas tank skid plate.. stock plate is getting pretty bashed and has already caused the tank to leak when too full

6.) inspect brakes.. they seem a bit low after riding them through the rocks for 2 days

7.) longer shocks, current ones are limiting flex.

Future:
1.) gears, would love to find a Rubi case or other 4:1 kit so that I can crawl instead of bang and bounce through the rocks

2.) SYE regain the inch of lost clearance due to t-case drop

3.) OBA

4.) front rollcage

[gCracker]

figured it was time to update this a bit.

installed ZJ tie rod and drag link last year, much improvement, but then found a lot of the play was coming from the nut on the pitman arm being loose, tightened but then found that the threads were boogered so we had to through a large spacer to keep it tight.

replaced rear brake shoes and hardware, much improved

removed winch, but in the process broke off swaybar mount bolt in frame and stripped bumper/tow hook threaded frame hole

found that the front axle drivers side lower link frame end bolt has wallowed out the hole so it slides an inch front to back
 

[gCracker]

Had my first trail beak this past weekend and did a good job while doing it..
broken both front axle shafts at the ears and then blew a ball joint driving with broken shafts.

So my current to do list:
1.) replace driver ball joints
2.) replace shafts(have another set but then need to buy another set of spares)
3.) flush and fill gear oil, sure it was contaminated while driving through puddles with no inner shafts installed
4.) new front pads
5.) possibly r&r front calipers or replace, both sides seem to have sticky pins causing excessive inner pad wear
6.) fix elongated frame side link mount
7.) replace sway bar disconnect storage pin and missing washer & key
8.) inspect unit bearings
9.) replace radio/rewire speakers
10.) brace tire carrier latch

[CoraC143]

3.) Should have stuffed a V8 can in there lol

[Ryan_25]

I have a set of Dana 30 small joint shafts you can have for spares. They need joints, but will work well to get you off the trail or wheel on them for a while.

[Wingman]

Time to go to these?  If I start breaking things, I\'m going that way...