Wildman's TJ is getting a face lift

[5632]

You got blue balls

All Democrats do.

 

[Apparition]

All Democrats do.

Not all, some willingly remove them.

 

[Wildman]

3 down and one to go.... Arms are tired...

 

[Wildman]

Nice!! Hopefully they survive, I'm sure it'll help at least some to have them not on the bottom side

Well there's nothing hanging down now. So I'd have to really catch something to snag one.

Other than Tig welding tabs on I don't see any other way to do this.

 

[Wildman]

I know I've mentioned it before but I'll say it again.

A good buddy of mine who was killed in Iraq had made me my first windshield banner that said Wildman and it was Blue because it was his favorite color.

So to honor him I've put Blue accents on the Jeep. It's why the dash lights are Blue also.

 

[Wildman]

Last one done... I'll say that one of the biggest things between air tools and battery tools is the weight of the battery hanging off the drill.
Arms are worn out.

But hopefully my height sensors will be happy.

 

[Wildman]

Not sure if I'll get to work on the Jeep tomorrow.
Have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.
Tuesday it's steering day...

Then fix the power point on the console.

Then check the trailer out and start loading the motorhome....

 

[Wildman]

Since we were talking about BJD's in @bbaldwin237 thread I figured I'd touch on them here again since it was almost a year ago that I'd installed mine.

When I'd installed my BJD's I didn't have a fish scale or anything else to test the resistance to turning. This is done at each knuckle and on mine with the Old School version is as follows:

1. Torque sequence: torque each lower nut of top/bottom assemblies to 40 ft/lbs. Continue this torque sequence in 10 ft/lb increments rotating the knuckle between torque sequences. Do not exceed 60 ft/lbs. If resistance is felt at 50 ft/lbs it is acceptable to stop tightening.
2. The knuckle should be able to be rotated with 1 hand and will have some resistance felt. (This is the spherical rotating inside the race of the bearing.)

I've now got a scale to be able to do a pull test with so I can try and get this set correctly now. And for my trip I'd ordered a rebuild kit on their Black Friday Sale in Nov.

 

[Wildman]

Well I'd started this yesterday afternoon when I'd gotten home from my appointment.

First issue I'd ran into was the lock piece for the Stage8 retainer had spun on the spindle and put a grove in the threads.

Not sure how or why. I've got a spare Stage8 kit so I'll replace that part.

Then after making a sacrificial 1 1/16" wrench that would fit around the RCV bell/boot I attempted to tighten the nuts.
And all I managed to do was round off the edges of the nuts.

So after a few hours of frustration and cussing I'd quit for the night.

Came back out this morning and got the boot off the bell..... finally after much aggravation the boot came off.
Got the cage off the axle shaft and was able to get a better grip on the nuts.

Now remember the post just above? I was looking for 40 lbs resistance when pulling the knuckle? And could go up to 60 lbs resistance.

I'll take it as a win ......

This was on the passenger side knuckle.

Now to disconnect the drivers side knuckle and check it out also.

I've got a new spindle for the passenger side coming already...
Hopefully the drivers side spindle isn't damaged.

 

[Wildman]

Well FUCK me running......

Didn't want this right now......

Drivers side spindle was the same.
So called Stage8 and asked if I'd somehow fucked up on the installation.
They were NOPE you didn't.
Seems that there were some spindles made a while ago that weren't heat treated. They said that if properly treated the keyway shouldn't have been able to spin like it did.
But that's neither here or there at this point.

So then called Parts Mike and asked if they'd shipped my order from last night yet? Thankfully no....

So I added a second spindle to my order plus two standard spindle nut kits and two hub seals so I can repack the wheel bearings while I've got it apart.

It's only money right?

Hopefully the parts will be here NLT Friday.

So I'll check the resistance on the drivers knuckle and then move on to the power point since I can't reassemble the front axle until I have these parts.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Well I'd started this yesterday afternoon when I'd gotten home from my appointment.

First issue I'd ran into was the lock piece for the Stage8 retainer had spun on the spindle and put a grove in the threads.

View attachment 672642

View attachment 672643

View attachment 672644

Not sure how or why. I've got a spare Stage8 kit so I'll replace that part.

Then after making a sacrificial 1 1/16" wrench that would fit around the RCV bell/boot I attempted to tighten the nuts.
And all I managed to do was round off the edges of the nuts.

View attachment 672639

View attachment 672640

So after a few hours of frustration and cussing I'd quit for the night.

Came back out this morning and got the boot off the bell..... finally after much aggravation the boot came off.
Got the cage off the axle shaft and was able to get a better grip on the nuts.

Now remember the post just above? I was looking for 40 lbs resistance when pulling the knuckle? And could go up to 60 lbs resistance.

View attachment 672641

I'll take it as a win ......

This was on the passenger side knuckle.

Now to disconnect the drivers side knuckle and check it out also.

I've got a new spindle for the passenger side coming already...
Hopefully the drivers side spindle isn't damaged.

I'm pretty sure it's just a trick on the eyes with angles, but in that first spindle picture, is the outside also flared outward? Surely not or you would've played hell getting the nut off.

 

[Wildman]

I'm pretty sure it's just a trick on the eyes with angles, but in that first spindle picture, is the outside also flared outward? Surely not or you would've played hell getting the nut off.

Nut came off with no issues so it must just be the angle. Need to go out and pull the drivers spindle off so I can have it all ready when the new parts arrive.
Parts Mike is one of my favorite vendors and I've bought a lot of stuff from the over the years. Whish I could remember when I'd gotten these ruined spindles from.

While I like the Stage8 kit going back to traditional spindle nuts just seems to be the better option right now....

I was getting frustrated enough with the RCV shafts yesterday that I was considering putting my stock axle shafts back in....

Hopefully once I get this back together I won't have anymore issues with it.

 

[Wildman]

Drivers side knuckle. Had to tighten down the lower nut some. But managed not to round it off like that passenger side.

Drivers side spindle.

 

[Wildman]

Well front axle is as back together as I'll get until parts arrive.

Doing a dry test of the steering it feels better than it was.
Then with the engine running it again feels better than it was. But won't know completely until it's sitting on the ground.

 

[Wildman]

The guy I talked with at Stage8 said if I wanted to I could send him the bad spindles & he would Rockwell test them to see if they weren't hardened like they were supposed to of been.
So if I have time before I leave I might send them to him just to find out. Be good to know why it happened.

 

[bbaldwin237]

The guy I talked with at Stage8 said if I wanted to I could send him the bad spindles & he would Rockwell test them to see if they weren't hardened like they were supposed to of been.
So if I have time before I leave I might send them to him just to find out. Be good to know why it happened.

If they weren't, you might be able to push for some refund (at least partial) since the failure would ultimately be on them.

 

[Wildman]

If they weren't, you might be able to push for some refund (at least partial) since the failure would ultimately be on them.

Stage8 is the company that makes the spindle locking system. They aren't who I got the spindles through. At this point I can't remember where I'd bought them from. Looked on Amazon to see if I'd bought them there and I hadn't. There are a few other vendors I could of gone through too...
But it'd still be nice to know. If come to find out they were hardened then that might bring up other things..

I don't know what's all required to do Rockwell testing of a metal.

The Rockwell test is a rapid, non-destructive indentation method used to determine the hardness of metals by measuring the depth of penetration of an indenter (diamond cone or steel ball) under a specific, two-stage load. It is widely used for industrial metal, from soft aluminum (Scale B) to hardened steel (Scale C).

Industrial Physics +4
Key Aspects of Rockwell Hardness Testing:

• Process: A minor load (usually 10 kgf) is applied to penetrate the surface, establishing a zero position, followed by a major load (60-150 kgf) that creates the indentation. The difference in depth determines the hardness value.
• Common Scales:
  • HRC (Rockwell C): Used for hard metals like hardened steel, titanium, and tools, utilizing a diamond cone.
  • HRB (Rockwell B): Used for softer metals like brass, aluminum, and soft steel, using a 1/16" steel ball.
• Result: The result is a dimensionless number, with higher numbers indicating harder materials.
• Standards: Tests are conducted to standards such as ASTM E18 or ISO 6508.
• Sample Prep: Surfaces must be clean, smooth, and free from oxide scale to ensure accuracy.
  

 

[Wildman]

Well today didn't go as I'd planned.
Had an appointment with my prosthetist this morning to get the final parts for my last foot that needed the new quick disconnect plus change the pilon on my blade foot. Of course the part for my blade is on backorder.
Then went to get the oil changed on my truck plus check to see if I could get the oil changed on the motorhome. That all went good...

Get home and walk through the door to find things not as they should be... My dog who is the little guy a Shih Tzu is sitting near the door when I come inside. And I can tell something is off. But I had to pee.... But he didn't follow me into the bathroom like normal. Come out and really get a look at him and he's got blood on his head. So now I'm wondering WTF happened. I'd been gone 4 hours so I let the dogs out to go to the bathroom and my dog can barely climb back into the house so I am thinking he must be sore so give him a pain pill that I have since he's 13 and getting stoved up. This is when I notice the rest of the blood.

At this point it's all a SWAG but here is what we think happened....

My daughter brought home a puppy a couple of months ago and like puppies do it's curious and wants to play all the time but my dog isn't interested in playing anymore. So he'll growl and snap sometimes at the puppy.. Well a few times when I've been gone and just my daughter is home and this has happened her older dog would try to protest the puppy.
So the guess is that something happened to cause the older dog to use mine as a chew toy... I took him to the vet @ 1PM and didn't leave there until after 5PM. He's got stitches in his hind leg and his whole body is badly bruised. He's got a pierced ear now too. And puncture wounds in his front leg.
So right now he's sleeping off his drug cocktail and I'm sure will be sore as heck tomorrow. And now I've got a huge vet bill...

So this changes plans a little bit for me. Instead of leaving next Friday like I'd planned I'm now not going to AZ to go wheeling and will leave for TN after 7 March since he has to have his stitches removed on 6 March. And he'll be coming with me on the trip instead of staying home.

 

[lBasket]

Well today didn't go as I'd planned.
Had an appointment with my prosthetist this morning to get the final parts for my last foot that needed the new quick disconnect plus change the pilon on my blade foot. Of course the part for my blade is on backorder.
Then went to get the oil changed on my truck plus check to see if I could get the oil changed on the motorhome. That all went good...

Get home and walk through the door to find things not as they should be... My dog who is the little guy a Shih Tzu is sitting near the door when I come inside. And I can tell something is off. But I had to pee.... But he didn't follow me into the bathroom like normal. Come out and really get a look at him and he's got blood on his head. So now I'm wondering WTF happened. I'd been gone 4 hours so I let the dogs out to go to the bathroom and my dog can barely climb back into the house so I am thinking he must be sore so give him a pain pill that I have since he's 13 and getting stoved up. This is when I notice the rest of the blood.

View attachment 672916

View attachment 672917

At this point it's all a SWAG but here is what we think happened....

My daughter brought home a puppy a couple of months ago and like puppies do it's curious and wants to play all the time but my dog isn't interested in playing anymore. So he'll growl and snap sometimes at the puppy.. Well a few times when I've been gone and just my daughter is home and this has happened her older dog would try to protest the puppy.
So the guess is that something happened to cause the older dog to use mine as a chew toy... I took him to the vet @ 1PM and didn't leave there until after 5PM. He's got stitches in his hind leg and his whole body is badly bruised. He's got a pierced ear now too. And puncture wounds in his front leg.
So right now he's sleeping off his drug cocktail and I'm sure will be sore as heck tomorrow. And now I've got a huge vet bill...

So this changes plans a little bit for me. Instead of leaving next Friday like I'd planned I'm now not going to AZ to go wheeling and will leave for TN after 7 March since he has to have his stitches removed on 6 March. And he'll be coming with me on the trip instead of staying home.

Sorry about that happening to your pup. That really sucks, I'd be so sad. But glad it isn't too serious and he will be fine with just some stitches. My guy has a notch in his ear from the cat, so it happens...

Sucks to be missing out on some wheeling but hopefully you can still get a lot in this year with the camper setup.

I'd say next year too but you're getting into the 8HP after this season aren't you

 

[Wildman]

Sorry about that happening to your pup. That really sucks, I'd be so sad. But glad it isn't too serious and he will be fine with just some stitches. My guy has a notch in his ear from the cat, so it happens...

Sucks to be missing out on some wheeling but hopefully you can still get a lot in this year with the camper setup.

I'd say next year too but you're getting into the 8HP after this season aren't you

What you doubt that I can do a transmission swap over the winter?? How rude....

Now when I swap to TONS it might take a little longer... But I'd hope I can do a transmission swap in a few months..

My dog has been there when I needed him so it's time to return the same. I'll get to do some wheeling still on my trip. Just no AZ this time.