Lax22’s 03 TJ Rubicon - East Coast Trail Rig

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Mounted my cheap aluminum rims. Letting the thread locker fully cure on the wheel spacers.
 
Working on the Jeep this past weekend, I noticed my rear frame side coil buckets were starting to fail. The frame mounts are good, but the coil bucket itself looks to be rusting from the inside out and swelling up. Anyway, I’m thinking about what I should do when I replace them.

I’m on a 2.5-inch OME coil spring, I could relocate them and remove some arch from the coil, but is there value added in doing so if my shocks are not out-boarded? I Also thought relocating the shocks, but I’ll admit all of that is a bit over my head.

Is it better for me to just weld the replacements back in the stock location? I don’t want to miss the opportunity to upgrade or improve the suspension since I have to cut the mount out anyway. What are your thoughts?
 
You can definitely relocate the perches without doing an outboard and I would recommend doing it if you are installing new perches.
 
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You can definitely relocate the perches without doing an outboard and I would recommend doing it if you are installing new perches.
X2. Easy to do, and if you take careful before and after measurements, your lift will be exactly the same. I bought Dorman replacements from Rock Auto when I replaced my spring perches (same failure mode). You have to cut one side of the perch where it wraps the frame...it will make more sense when you have them in your hand.
 
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X2. Easy to do, and if you take careful before and after measurements, your lift will be exactly the same. I bought Dorman replacements from Rock Auto when I replaced my spring perches (same failure mode). You have to cut one side of the perch where it wraps the frame...it will make more sense when you have them in your hand.
I’ve used that exact replacement on my brother-in-law’s Jeep and another LJ.
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I’ll most likely use them again here. They are actually a pretty good buy and you get new bump stops as well.
 
I guess I will also finally get some adjustable lower control arms and install them while I have the rear axle out.
 
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Haven’t done anything fun with the Jeep really. Washed it and waxed it for shits and giggles.

I did remove the rear wheel liners and cleaned up some areas where dirt was hiding. Cut them up to add some protection to the evap canister and fuel filler lines. Not pretty but works and gives me a warm fuzzy.
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Went to Rausch Creek last weekend with my buddy and had a great time. We went across the street and hit the other side of the property did a few of the red trails over there and the newer “Patriot Trail” then came back to the main side and did a few of the blacks behind the comp course. I know these references mean nothing to those that may have never been there but it was a great weekend all around. Happy to report that the aluminum rims were a great upgrade!
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Went to Rausch Creek last weekend with my buddy and had a great time. We went across the street and hit the other side of the property did a few of the red trails over there and the newer “Patriot Trail” then came back to the main side and did a few of the blacks behind the comp course. I know these references mean nothing to those that may have never been there but it was a great weekend all around. Happy to report that the aluminum rims were a great upgrade!

Nice! I haven't been there in a long time, since AOAA opened up. I always like going across the street too. A spot called Devil's Den was always fun.
 
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Yeah it was my first time across the street. Heading back out the last weekend of July with the club, Going to have to give devils den a try.
I watched some buggies go through there a few weeks ago and there are some no kidding large rocks when you get to the top!
 
Yeah it was my first time across the street. Heading back out the last weekend of July with the club, Going to have to give devils den a try.

Devil's den is a good one. I do enjoy the NE property as it has some great trails and not as much traffic. Only thing I don't like about it is the distance between the trails. Affliction is also a really good one right there by devil's den. I plan to be out there on July 30th. Maybe I'll run into you guys out there.
 
Devil's den is a good one. I do enjoy the NE property as it has some great trails and not as much traffic. Only thing I don't like about it is the distance between the trails. Affliction is also a really good one right there by devil's den. I plan to be out there on July 30th. Maybe I'll run into you guys out there.

Yeah man!
 
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Thanks. Yeah it was inspired by your previous build threads. Sadly these parts have been on the shelf for awhile.
 
Just got back from a weekend at Rausch Creek. Has a Great weekend and we ran a few good trails. Everything was going great until I managed to shear the motor mount bracket off the side of the engine block. I need to take it apart and figure out how to get the broken bolts out of the side of the block but still a fun weekend. Rock creek, trail 19, and the trail up the side of crawldaddy were all accomplished until the motor mount went.

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Attacked the broken bolts last night and had great success! Extracted both broken bolts with a right angle drill and a reverse cut drill bit. Feeling very accomplished. Now just have to put it back together and back in business.

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Just got back from a weekend at Rausch Creek. Has a Great weekend and we ran a few good trails. Everything was going great until I managed to shear the motor mount bracket off the side of the engine block. I need to take it apart and figure out how to get the broken bolts out of the side of the block but still a fun weekend. Rock creek, trail 19, and the trail up the side of crawldaddy were all accomplished until the motor mount went.

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All great trails. We usually run what we call the circuit which is down Beaver Creek, up Deathtrap, to Rock creek, then trail 20. Bummed we missed you guys as we were over in the NE on Saturday. Bummer about your motor mount bolts, but glad to see you got it sorted out.
 
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