1997 Jeep XJ Country

[Callelle]

  Flex test, this is with the new shock bottomed out. I'm gonna add another half inch of bump in the back and another inch up front. I also need to bend the hard line for the brakes a bit lower.

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[Callelle]

Everything set for this weekend. Only thing I didn't get done was moving the hard line on the front brakes. Soft lines are at their limit just before the shock is bottomed out. I think my back is going to lift before I max out the front though so I'm hoping I'll be fine this weekend. My only other concern is rubbing when the front is compressed and turning. So far it's only done it at full lock going backwards. Here's hoping I don't have any major issues.

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[Callelle]

The XJ survived the trip this weekend, didn't break anything. Couple of things need to be reworked. Front bump stops completely failed and fell apart due to poor assembly and rushed hack job. Need the front brake lines lowered which will probably mean new hard lines. New BDS 3" leafs are going to happen as well as shackle relocation boxes and forward spring hangers. Front driver's side shock mount on the axle needs to be bent back down and gonna probably do a limiting strap of some sort. All in all I was really impressed with what I could do. The 35 MTRs are amazing, Rock Creek is now one of my favorite trails. Girlfriend had a great time and now she wants to start looking for a rig of her own. Although I didn't get to do much with it, I'm thinking the Cherokee is going to be put up for the winter, I don't really want to put it in salt and save what I can of it. Winter projects, other than what's listed above, are going to include New trac bar, finish plating the frame, replace driver's floor pan, rear bumper with tire carrier, possibly an exo cage, dropping everything other than engine/trans for cleaning/paint, POR15 under body.

[Wingman]

This really worked.  Everything attempted was conquered.  Nice job!

[xjh3]

Nice!! Glad everything worked all weekend without issue.

[Callelle]

Got the next 2 weeks off for Christmas, gonna tear into this thing and at least get started on some things I've been wanting to get done.

[Callelle]

Picked up a Lund sun visor for $35. Gonna do some test fitting and minor repairs in chips before I commit and drill it in.

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[gCracker]

Wait till that catches on a tree branch...

[Callelle]

The way the bottom angles, I think it could be less of an issue than you think. Not saying it will prevent it from happening, I just think it might deflect them around it.

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[MrMindless]

You'd REALLY want to run some brush guide lines from the front fender corners to the outside I the visor to keep branches from catching. Otherwise if give it two trips before noticeable stead cracks and a season before failure.


Tapatalking in traffic

[Wingman]

Exo-cage over it!

[Callelle]

Disassembly has been slow but progressing on this. Got the rear bumper, hitch receiver, gas tank skid, and some of the steering removed. Taking a gas tank skid off is not a one man job when it's 5 feet in the air. Hoping to get the axles off this weekend so I can start on them. Scored some brand new JKS quicker discos for $100, need to put some new axle side mounts in that are about 2" taller so that the passenger side end of the tie rod doesn't contact it from the axle being pushed forward a bit. By the end of next week, I'd like to have everything taken off that I need to so I can start cutting and getting into more trouble than I bargained for.

[Callelle]

Got the front axle out. Would have continued on to the rear but I don't really understand how the e-brake cables separate. There's a little box that attaches to the frame where it combines the one cable from the lever inside to two that go to each axle, I kinda guess that's where it all separates but I don't know how to do it. Once I get the rear axle off, I'm gonna start cutting the shackle buckets so I can order/put in the shackle relocation boxes. After that I want to put in new forward spring hangers and finish plating the frame and put in a new driver's floor pan.

[Callelle]

Small update: Rear axle about ready to come out. Parking brakes are basically going to need new cables all around so I just ended up cutting them. Adjuster on the "splitter box" for the e brake is going to need to be rebuilt also. Started cleaning up some of the metal and other things in PB. Would have liked to have everything pulled by now and reading for more frame stiffeners and rear suspension work, but oh well. Picking up a spot weld cutter tomorrow so that I can start getting ready for new spring hangers and driver's floor pan. I still got 2-3 months before I'd like to have it back on the road so I don't feel any need to rush.., yet.

[Callelle]

Got the rear axle off today as well as the rear seat and carpet removed. Also started removing some of the forward spring hangers. Time to start ordering parts