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another Rubicon...

Author Topic: another Rubicon...  (Read 29318 times)

Offline s0l0ithz

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #30 on: June 16, 2013, 06:26:52 PM »
Sweet

Offline jACeL86

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #31 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
'06 Rubicon, 5.5"RE tri-rear, 37" Trxus, Metal Cloak gear

Offline Wingman

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #32 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%.

Offline Wingman

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #33 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...


Snaked the cable in and around, hopefully finding the best route.  Decided to leave the plug on for safety reasons...


Drilled a new hole in the firewall up high and used some vacuum hose for a grommet...


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...


Checked off the list.

Offline s0l0ithz

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #34 on: August 06, 2013, 02:29:16 PM »
Nice Mark

Offline xjh3

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #35 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
97 XJ on tons
95 2500 Cummins

Offline Wingman

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #36 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.


Tried to reverse the factory bends.


Old bent, straightened, rebent, straightened, etc, now custom-bent installed.  Sure is tolerant of abuse.


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!
« Last Edit: August 27, 2013, 07:40:42 PM by Wingman »

Offline Wingman

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #37 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.  No more drips.  We'll see how long they last...


Offline s0l0ithz

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #38 on: August 18, 2013, 09:16:30 PM »
Mark were your bottom diff bolts half shaved off?

Offline Wingman

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #39 on: August 18, 2013, 09:33:26 PM »
Had to replace the bottom three, front and rear.  Not much left of the heads...

Offline s0l0ithz

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #40 on: August 18, 2013, 11:13:31 PM »
Same covers or new?

Offline Wingman

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #41 on: August 19, 2013, 06:33:58 AM »
Same Riddler covers I put on a couple of years ago.

Offline Callelle

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #42 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.
1997 XJ Country 4.0/AW4 - DD/Weekend Wheeler
  4.5-5" lift, TnT Long arms, IRO/RE springs, Aussies, a bunch of armor
2006 Chevy 2500HD 6.0 - Tow Rig
  Firestone Airbags

Offline smichaelR22

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #43 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
572 single seat race buggy
573 Brolite '97 Ranger, '96 backup ranger
1997 ZJ 35's
2014 Ram 4500 Cummins 6 speed 4x4
48' enclosed trailer

Offline MrMindless

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Re: another Rubicon...
« Reply #44 on: August 19, 2013, 10:04:53 AM »
*caulk.

I don't want to know how you apply RTV....
Michael Maskalans
#571 Last Minute Motorsports
High Miler: 07.5 Ram 6.7 6sp 4x2, ARB, 19.5s
2003 R'Audi Allroad 6sp
Road Block: 98 Dakota 203/205 triple stick, 42" SXs
Dumpbus: 97 Ram 24v P-pumped, RoadRanger 13sp
'87 AMC Eagle Wagon

 

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