Brandon's Arles Blue TJ

[bbaldwin237]

Cool...

While not as good as a Anti-Rock or SwayLoc disconnecting the front is better than nothing. Do you still have your rear swaybar? That will make a big difference in how it handles. When I'd bought mine it already had a Pro Comp 4" lift on it and the shocks were stiff as HECK.. and someone had removed the rear swaybar. I ran disconnecting my front for a while but then picked up a used Anti-Rock. Then later on traded for a SwayLoc. Now I have a Anti-Rock front & rear..

Baby steps.

Yes, rear is still there. The PO had done a very basic 3". He had also done a ton of restoration and updating type work so I was glad it was pretty basic so I could change it. Front disconnects will serve my purpose for now even if they can be frustrating and imperfect.

I might try removing the rear down the road. I plan to switch over to 4" springs eventually. Then once I'm on the springs and shocks that I'll be on I'll play with different setups to see what I like. It also sees a lot of road for just family cruising so I still want it to have decent road manners. I haven't had any complaints out of the rear on mild/moderate trails or obstacles so far. A rear AR would be after everything else once I'm just looking for something to spend money on!

I'm dreaming of having most things done to get down to Moab in 2026 (maybe for the forum gathering).

But before then I've got a lot to get done and then will want to get some good trail miles in it to shake things out.

 

[Wildman]

Yes, rear is still there. The PO had done a very basic 3". He had also done a ton of restoration and updating type work so I was glad it was pretty basic so I could change it. Front disconnects will serve my purpose for now even if they can be frustrating and imperfect.

I might try removing the rear down the road. I plan to switch over to 4" springs eventually. Then once I'm on the springs and shocks that I'll be on I'll play with different setups to see what I like. It also sees a lot of road for just family cruising so I still want it to have decent road manners. I haven't had any complaints out of the rear on mild/moderate trails or obstacles so far. A rear AR would be after everything else once I'm just looking for something to spend money on!

I'm dreaming of having most things done to get down to Moab in 2026 (maybe for the forum gathering).

But before then I've got a lot to get done and then will want to get some good trail miles in it to shake things out.

You don't want to remove the rear.. It balances the Jeep better off-road. When you add the Anti-Rock or SwayLoc you can try disconnecting the rear just to see what you think but there have been a TON of discussions on this subject on here & other forums & the general consensus is that you WANT the rear swaybar.

Hope you can make it to Moab in 2026.. Heck I hope I can too. Don't worry about having a totally built rig for it either. If you go back and look more than one member has come to the gathering and done a lot of good trails and had a blast on stock or near stock rigs.

 

[bbaldwin237]

You don't want to remove the rear.. It balances the Jeep better off-road. When you add the Anti-Rock or SwayLoc you can try disconnecting the rear just to see what you think but there have been a TON of discussions on this subject on here & other forums & the general consensus is that you WANT the rear swaybar.

Hope you can make it to Moab in 2026.. Heck I hope I can too. Don't worry about having a totally built rig for it either. If you go back and look more than one member has come to the gathering and done a lot of good trails and had a blast on stock or near stock rigs.

That's what I mean, try disconnecting it and see before I yank things out. I've definitely seen that most prefer to keep it, and many still run the factory rear. I'm not opposed to trying different things to see what each feels like and performs.

There's some things I'm not concerned with having done. But (for me) I've got to have my axles done before that and preferably onto 35's. Axles should be done in the next couple months. And maybe 35's by the end of the year? We'll see. It'll be a huge trip for me so I also want to be able to make the most of it.

 

[bbaldwin237]

I'm losing my mind with a water intrusion problem on the passenger side. It doesn't do it with light rain, only heavy rain. I end up with water in the floor liner, but also under the floor liner.

For under the floor liner, it's not the cowl drain. I added the lid to the cabin air intake. I previously noticed some signs that the lower door hinge on the body seemed to be allowing water in. I pulled that, cleaned it, and used some silicone around the bolt to seal that up.

Today it seems like maybe water is coming in around the plastic plugs from road spray. I didn't check under the mat until after I drove so I can't say for sure. There was also some on the driver side so I threw some silicone around those plugs as well just to see. That would make sense because the tub is raptor lined and maybe those plastic/rubber plugs don't seal perfectly. I never use them (though I don't think any more water would come in without them than with them in!) so I don't care to fully seal them in place. I can always remove silicone and reapply.

Now for inside the floor liner, it doesn't seem the be the top leaking anywhere around the door that I can tell. I know if the window is open at all it drips perfectly into the liner. But I always make sure that window and door are fully shut. I can't seem to figure out if the water is getting inside the door and then dripping into the liner. I've tried a garden hose test but haven't been able to find it. I'm losing my patience with it though.

Once again, the Jeep is parked in the garage with a fan inside to dry it out. The only plus side to this is that while pulling the carpet back on the driver side, the shifter indicator light was under the carpet. I've always just assumed I didn't have it because there was no plug and no wires to be found. Turns out, it's been under the carpet behind the pedals the whole time. But, I re-broke the shifter gate while trying to get it out to put the light in place. Which isn't all bad because I need to fix the orange piece I put in there because the one I did previously is too opaque and doesn't let the light through.

If only I could build a shop and just park the Jeep inside I wouldn't care about the occasional water. But unfortunately, that's not happening!

 

[Wildman]

I'm losing my mind with a water intrusion problem on the passenger side. It doesn't do it with light rain, only heavy rain. I end up with water in the floor liner, but also under the floor liner.

For under the floor liner, it's not the cowl drain. I added the lid to the cabin air intake. I previously noticed some signs that the lower door hinge on the body seemed to be allowing water in. I pulled that, cleaned it, and used some silicone around the bolt to seal that up.

Today it seems like maybe water is coming in around the plastic plugs from road spray. I didn't check under the mat until after I drove so I can't say for sure. There was also some on the driver side so I threw some silicone around those plugs as well just to see. That would make sense because the tub is raptor lined and maybe those plastic/rubber plugs don't seal perfectly. I never use them (though I don't think any more water would come in without them than with them in!) so I don't care to fully seal them in place. I can always remove silicone and reapply.

Now for inside the floor liner, it doesn't seem the be the top leaking anywhere around the door that I can tell. I know if the window is open at all it drips perfectly into the liner. But I always make sure that window and door are fully shut. I can't seem to figure out if the water is getting inside the door and then dripping into the liner. I've tried a garden hose test but haven't been able to find it. I'm losing my patience with it though.

Once again, the Jeep is parked in the garage with a fan inside to dry it out. The only plus side to this is that while pulling the carpet back on the driver side, the shifter indicator light was under the carpet. I've always just assumed I didn't have it because there was no plug and no wires to be found. Turns out, it's been under the carpet behind the pedals the whole time. But, I re-broke the shifter gate while trying to get it out to put the light in place. Which isn't all bad because I need to fix the orange piece I put in there because the one I did previously is too opaque and doesn't let the light through.

If only I could build a shop and just park the Jeep inside I wouldn't care about the occasional water. But unfortunately, that's not happening!

I'm guessing you clean out the cowl drain? I'm positive I cleaned mine & I had water on my passenger side too when left out in the rain... And I added the cover to mine too. It could be the windshield/cowl gasket? That's the next logical place to look. I plan to try checking it out better this summer. It's part of why I don't want to run carpet or anything in mine.

 

[bbaldwin237]

I'm guessing you clean out the cowl drain? I'm positive I cleaned mine & I had water on my passenger side too when left out in the rain... And I added the cover to mine too. It could be the windshield/cowl gasket? That's the next logical place to look. I plan to try checking it out better this summer. It's part of why I don't want to run carpet or anything in mine.

View attachment 590824

When it first happened (I bought it in July so a couple months later) I looked around and found about the cowl drain. I cleaned it out but it wasn't clogged and there was nothing in it. The guy I bought it from kept it inside and had just restored it the year before.

I've checked the windshield seal but there's never any moisture around the windshield so I've kind of ruled it out. Obviously for the windshield cowl gasket that's a little more difficult to check when it's raining. That'll have to be a spring/summer job. It just seems like if it was that, it would run down the firewall and go under the liner? Or is there a way it could run behind the dash and drip?

Honestly, it makes me not want to run the carpet but it's so nice having it for heat and sound. And it's nice BedRug carpet.

I'm just going to have to camp out inside this thing for an hour during a rain storm! lol

 

[Wildman]

When it first happened (I bought it in July so a couple months later) I looked around and found about the cowl drain. I cleaned it out but it wasn't clogged and there was nothing in it. The guy I bought it from kept it inside and had just restored it the year before.

I've checked the windshield seal but there's never any moisture around the windshield so I've kind of ruled it out. Obviously for the windshield cowl gasket that's a little more difficult to check when it's raining. That'll have to be a spring/summer job. It just seems like if it was that, it would run down the firewall and go under the liner? Or is there a way it could run behind the dash and drip?

Honestly, it makes me not want to run the carpet but it's so nice having it for heat and sound. And it's nice BedRug carpet.

I'm just going to have to camp out inside this thing for an hour during a rain storm! lol

The only way to really figure it out is to get some of the ultra-violet dye and you add it to a spray bottle or some other way to get the water/dye onto the windshield/cowl area and start at the bottom. You use a black light and spray a little and check and work your way up until you see it leaking in. I've done it on rigs before & it's a royal PITA .

 

[bbaldwin237]

The only way to really figure it out is to get some of the ultra-violet dye and you add it to a spray bottle or some other way to get the water/dye onto the windshield/cowl area and start at the bottom. You use a black light and spray a little and check and work your way up until you see it leaking in. I've done it on rigs before & it's a royal PITA .

That's a real kick in the shorts! lol it's less than $50, maybe I'll inspect the condition of the seal and if I have any doubt just replace it.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Had an extra LED for the shifter now that I have that bulb lol I previously repaired the indicator with an orange slider but hadn't made it translucent because there was no light anyway. So I decided to do a blue indicator (Dawn Power Wash bottle FTW lol). I like it, but it's a bit hard to see when the lights are off. It doesn't really matter though, it's not hard to find the gear you're after. And lastly, the LED is a bit bright, so that might not last in there?

 

[bbaldwin237]

Finally had a chance to get to the hardware store and pick up a few things needed to install my used disconnects.

Still waiting to install my Savvy arms, BMB body lift and MML.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Ordered my Teraflex mega short SYE and Adam's DC driveshaft. Also a speedohealer to fix the speedometer once switching away from the gear. I'll have to order a newer style plug once I get it but want to wait until I can make sure I order the right plug. The one on my t-case seems to look like the newer style so it's possible it was a lucky '97 that got the newer plug, or I'm just wrong!

 

[bbaldwin237]

Just picked up a used SwayLoc for $400. Included extra bushings, new heims, an extra set of arms, and some new replacement hardware. This was a couple months down on my build list but didn't want to pass up a deal like this.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Needs to be cleaned up a bit but has the newer style arms (old ones included) as well as new style replacement links.

 

[Wildman]

Needs to be cleaned up a bit but has the newer style arms (old ones included) as well as new style replacement links.
View attachment 600788

Nice score... It looks like it's the newer style SL too as opposed to the older style. I'm sure once you get it installed you'll like it too.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Nice score... It looks like it's the newer style SL too as opposed to the older style. I'm sure once you get it installed you'll like it too.

Yea, I might have to wait a bit on it though because I'm not sure it will work with my current bumper. I plan to upgrade bumper later in the year, so it'll get on eventually (like the rest of my parts sitting in a corner!) I'm taking some time off work when my wife is out for spring break, so hopefully during that time I can get CA's, BL, MML, and possibly this, installed.

I haven't even had a chance to try my JKS disconnects yet. I just got them on and then now I got this! So looks like I'll be passing on some discos sooner rather than later.

 

[Wildman]

Yea, I might have to wait a bit on it though because I'm not sure it will work with my current bumper. I plan to upgrade bumper later in the year, so it'll get on eventually (like the rest of my parts sitting in a corner!) I'm taking some time off work when my wife is out for spring break, so hopefully during that time I can get CA's, BL, MML, and possibly this, installed.

I haven't even had a chance to try my JKS disconnects yet. I just got them on and then now I got this! So looks like I'll be passing on some discos sooner rather than later.

When you pull the discos off I'll buy them for my daughters Jeep... I've got a pile of parts for hers that I have to install someday.... Once mine is done & driving...

What bum[per do you have now?

 

[bbaldwin237]

When you pull the discos off I'll buy them for my daughters Jeep... I've got a pile of parts for hers that I have to install someday.... Once mine is done & driving...

What bum[per do you have now?

Ok, I'll try to remember to let you know first

It's an old mid-width Pro-Comp bumper that's not made anymore. The PO added a hoop (I honestly think it might be exhaust pipe, seems thin) and I believe the shackle tabs. But I think it would interfere with the SL off-road.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Finally got around to assembling my control arms. Install will be another time. I knew the big JJ's were beefy, but didn't realize quite how beefy until I got the lowers assembled.

 

[Wildman]

Ok, I'll try to remember to let you know first

Appreciate that. Been picking up used parts for it since I hauled it home... Got a 4" Currie springs & Bilstein shocks and other odds & ends... Might get to it this summer I hope.

It's an old mid-width Pro-Comp bumper that's not made anymore. The PO added a hoop (I honestly think it might be exhaust pipe, seems thin) and I believe the shackle tabs. But I think it would interfere with the SL off-road.

Hard to tell in the picture if it will interfere or not with the SL... Currie made a similar style bumper that worked with the AR...

Finally got around to assembling my control arms. Install will be another time. I knew the big JJ's were beefy, but didn't realize quite how beefy until I got the rears assembled.

View attachment 600835

They are beef..

 

[bbaldwin237]

Appreciate that. Been picking up used parts for it since I hauled it home... Got a 4" Currie springs & Bilstein shocks and other odds & ends... Might get to it this summer I hope.



View attachment 600837

Hard to tell in the picture if it will interfere or not with the SL... Currie made a similar style bumper that worked with the AR...



They are beef..

I should have my gears and lockers done by summer. So maybe I can deliver them and we can hit a trail somewhere