So last summer we bought our 2006 LJ Rubicon. Our goals were simple… have fun, meet new people, spend time outdoors, and for me, finally learn to wrench on a vehicle. Since then I’ve read (and learned) TONS here on this forum and though we haven’t been out off road in it yet, we recently signed up to take the Jeep to the Silver Valley Jeep Jamboree this coming June.
With that in mind I’m trying to get the Jeep ready, and as I’ve poked at it the past few months I’ve learned the previous owner really didn’t set it up for off road success (in my mind).
Here’s where it stood…
Issues I’ve found:
Putting all that together, I’m trying to get a list of what I need and or want to do, both long term and for what needs done before June. Items crossed out are done. Right now I’m trying to figure out what to do in what order… what really should be done before June… any suggestions would be appreciated
Current look:
With that in mind I’m trying to get the Jeep ready, and as I’ve poked at it the past few months I’ve learned the previous owner really didn’t set it up for off road success (in my mind).
Here’s where it stood…
- 4” suspension lift (OME Springs/Shocks/Steering stabilizer)
- 1” Body lift
- Stock engine mounts (I think)
- Stock drive lines
- Stock upper control arms
- (I think) OME lower control arms – not adjustable
- Stock track bar
- Stock drag/tie rod
- Stock sway bar with no disconnects
- Dropped pitman arm
- New 35x12 Cooper STT Pros (including spare) on 16” rims which didn’t have enough back spacing to keep the tires from rubbing on lower control arms
- Stock 4:10 gears
- Stock weak assed brakes
- Smittybuilt front bumper
- Smittybuilt rear bumper/tire carrier
- Smittybuilt winch (steel cable)
- Stock or no under armor
Issues I’ve found:
- Frayed front seat belts
- Tires rubbed at full turn on lower control arms. (Fixed by adding washers to steering stops)
- Bump Steer (fixed by installing OEM pitman arm)
- Front axel is off center (will be fixed when I install the Currie Drag link I have purchased)
- Drag/tie rod bushings not the best (have purchased Currie Correctlink to replace this)
- Based on information given to me in another thread, the control arms (lowers at least) need to be replaced as they have no room for flex
- Lacked braking power
- Aftermarket stereo sucks and doesn’t turn off with ignition
- Smittybuilt rear tire carrier rattles like crazy
- I am too short (fixed by adding 1.5” lift to seats)
- My wife is too short (fixed by getting stirrups and grips to help her get in the Jeep)
- Speedometer off
- Exhaust sticks out in a way that it seems it would get crushed dropping off a ledge
Putting all that together, I’m trying to get a list of what I need and or want to do, both long term and for what needs done before June. Items crossed out are done. Right now I’m trying to figure out what to do in what order… what really should be done before June… any suggestions would be appreciated
New front seat beltsOEM pitman armInstall Black Magic BBKInstall new track bar (Currie)Install new drag/tie rod (Purchased)CB Radio (required for Jamboree)Currie AntirockNew Lower (and upper?) control armsRe-gear1” MMLArmor underneath (need to figure out what I should get, and if I need any before June)Tummy TuckNew DC Drive line?Wheel spacers to get steering backSoft top (want to take hard top off for summer but have something to block wind/rain at times)Air compressor- New seats
New stereoHydro Assistreplaced rear brakes
Current look:
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