1997 Jeep XJ Country

[MrMindless]

Is that actually two sensors? Not sure if the cluster is just driven by that same reading.

[Callelle]

Early models have 2 sensors, later ones run off of one at the thermostat

[Callelle]

Got the AC condenser out and things finished up today, also drained some coolant to add more water to is, I would guesstimate I'm running 70/30 water/glycol. Also added a bottle of water wetter for shits and giggles since I got it for free. Took it for a quick run and it wouldn't climb over 220 while going slow up a hill (probably more around 218), going flat and level it was barely a hair over 210. Granted it was only a quick run, that's a good improvement over what it was. Hopefully it keeps up like this, starting to put a list together for winter projects.

New driver's seat and mount
Air tank and other stuff for OBA
Chromoly axle shafts
Real drive shafts
New exhaust system from the header back (it's getting pretty beat)
New fuel tank sending units and straps
getting my gears installed

I'm sure there's more that I can't think of, but it's not nearly going to be as extensive as last winter, I want to get it out and wheel asap.

It's already gotten a new set of Falken Wildpeak ATs, but the truck is also gonna get a little TLC this winter.

Full tune up
Finned dif cover and fresh gear oil
some simple power adders (intake/exhaust?)
Full brake job

[Callelle]

Put this pile on the lift today to swap a drive shaft u joint only to discover that the shaft is toast. Have to beat the shit out of it with a hammer to get the slip to move, had to air hammer the slip off the splines. Cleaned, wire wheeled, cleaned again and re-greased it all and it still doesn't want to move. What ever, don't want to deal with it or another stock shaft, time to save up for a new one that's the proper length. It's the end of the year anyway, time to start gathering parts for projects this winter.

[Callelle]

Scored some disc brake stuff, backing plate and newish calipers, from a 97 zj to swap the drums off of my 8.25. Traded 2 rear axle shafts and a factory engine skid that were doing nothing but collecting dust for them.

[Callelle]

Was working under this thing today and noticed something weird. The leaf springs, which have only been installed since June, have an S bend in them. I have them bump stopped right so they don't go into negative arch at compression, and I wouldn't think they'd start sagging like this in less than a year.



I contacted IRO about this and this was their response.
"Some bending like this is actually normal, it doesn’t mean that the springs are no good or sagging. If you look at the springs with no weight on them they are actually really flat at the axle mounting area of the spring, not a perfect arch like most manufacturers springs. "

Am I the only one that thinks this is a BS response or is that actually perfectly normal?

[MrMindless]

That sure looks like a whooped spring to my eye - If they really are very flat I can imagine that potentially being normal though

[Callelle]

That sure looks like a whooped spring to my eye - If they really are very flat I can imagine that potentially being normal though

This is how they looked the day I got them

[MrMindless]

"If you look at the springs with no weight on them they are actually really flat at the axle mounting area of the spring, not a perfect arch like most manufacturers springs. "
that's totally true.

[smichaelR22]

wow, thats weird.  that must be a cluster to deal with people about.  i would have called them shot without that new photo

[Callelle]

wow, thats weird.  that must be a cluster to deal with people about.  i would have called them shot without that new photo

That's essentially how I was when I was looking at that. Talked to the "lead engineer", he also said that's how the springs are supposed to be and that it's fine, also said that other people have called about the same thing in the past. Will still honor the life time warranty on them basically no matter what.

[Callelle]

Been acquiring some goodies for this thing over the past couple months. Not nearly as much as I'd hoped to have had by now but shit happens.

50" Lifetime LED bar


Synthetic line for the winch


Nitro Gear chromoly axle shafts for the front end.

[Callelle]

Got my 50" Light bar mounted this afternoon. Thanks again Ryan.

[Ryan_25]

Looks great.

[Callelle]

Haven't really updated recently, so here's what's happened in the past month. Lightbar wired up, 4.56 gears installed, and swapped the rear drums out for disc brakes. Also got my ORFab rear quarter armor installed.