A lesson learned—keep it light and nimble!

I've torn two sets of front lower mounts, so I'm not taking any chances. The rears are generally not a problem. They will just get mini skids.

View attachment 325132

I have seen this quite a few times without the mini-skids. The skids seem to take care of it most of the time.

I do think those lowers you are doing are cool. Seems like it might be hard to locate them. But sounds like Blaine has a trick for that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: erokj and Irun
Well here's a new one on me. This weekend I had the Jeep out and needed to do a panic stop. I was barely able to stop before rear ending someone, which was highly unusual, because the brakes felt like mush. Pulled off the tire and discovered this.

I'm scratching my head. I've seen the caliper bolts come loose, not fall out completely. Now I'm wondering what I did wrong here?

20220525_121417.jpg
 
Well here's a new one on me. This weekend I had the Jeep out and needed to do a panic stop. I was barely able to stop before rear ending someone, which was highly unusual, because the brakes felt like mush. Pulled off the tire and discovered this.

I'm scratching my head. I've seen the caliper bolts come loose, not fall out completely. Now I'm wondering what I did wrong here?

View attachment 332813
Grease on the threads most likely. Ask me how I know
 
Well here's a new one on me. This weekend I had the Jeep out and needed to do a panic stop. I was barely able to stop before rear ending someone, which was highly unusual, because the brakes felt like mush. Pulled off the tire and discovered this.

I'm scratching my head. I've seen the caliper bolts come loose, not fall out completely. Now I'm wondering what I did wrong here?

View attachment 332813
Anti-seize on the bolts, knuckle side over torqued and stripped or failing to where it won't hold torque, dust boot pinched between guide sleeve and knuckle, or anything that breaks the torque including not getting them tight enough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Irun and pc1p
Grease on the threads most likely. Ask me how I know.
Anti-seize on the bolts, knuckle side over torqued and stripped or failing to where it won't hold torque, dust boot pinched between guide sleeve and knuckle, or anything that breaks the torque including not getting them tight enough.
After doing an inspection of all the caliper bolts. It looks like brake grease was the culprit. Normally, I do a light coat on the bolt shank only. The three remaining front bolts all had grease on the threads and were loose. I cleaned the threads and tightened them up.

The rears were fine. My lesson learned here is no matter how many times you do something, pay attention to what you're doing! 😔
 
While I had the tires of I switched back to the A/T tires that were originally on the Jeep. Something else I learned is daily driving M/T tires sucks big time. The ride went to shit and the noise was unbearable.

I also learned that you don't need to put a bunch of 271 Locktite on the wheel threads. Getting the lug nuts broken loose from the JT adapters was not fun. That crap is serious business! 🤪

20220525_144811.jpg
 
While I had the tires of I switched back to the A/T tires that were originally on the Jeep. Something else I learned is daily driving M/T tires sucks big time. The ride went to shit and the noise was unbearable.

I also learned that you don't need to put a bunch of 271 Locktite on the wheel threads. Getting the lug nuts broken loose from the JT adapters was not fun. That crap is serious business! 🤪
I love the look of proper TJ wheels (with proper TJ backspacing, not JK/JT/JL backspacing + spacers)...

For that Loctite, you're generally supposed to use heat first :)
https://www.henkel-adhesives.com/us...ns/how-to/how-to-remove-red-threadlocker.html
 
  • Like
Reactions: Irun
I love the look of proper TJ wheels (with proper TJ backspacing, not JK/JT/JL backspacing + spacers)...

For that Loctite, you're generally supposed to use heat first :)
https://www.henkel-adhesives.com/us...ns/how-to/how-to-remove-red-threadlocker.html
Very useful information, thanks. I did use heat, but it was from a heat gun on high setting. Couldn't use anything with a flame, so I may have to switch to a medium adhesive. I'll still be using the M/Ts on the JL/JT wheels, but only when I go wheeling. FWIW, I agree with using the TJ wheels. They look much better on the Jeep.
 
Very useful information, thanks. I did use heat, but it was from a heat gun on high setting. Couldn't use anything with a flame, so I may have to switch to a medium adhesive. I'll still be using the M/Ts on the JL/JT wheels, but only when I go wheeling. FWIW, I agree with using the TJ wheels. They look much better on the Jeep.
If you plan on swapping back and forth, I would likely go with one of the blue Loctite formulations, which are removable with torque but can be softened with most heat guns (though no heat gun I'm aware of will get a large bolt hot enough to hit the 500º needed for red Loctite).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Irun
With the price and availability of factory half doors being what they are, I've decided to order a set of aluminum trail doors. Where I wheel, factory half or trail doors are mandatory, if you want to minimize mud in the cabin. Even though I have two sets of factory half doors, I opted to go with the lighter trail doors. The factory half doors will see road use only (the wife won't ride door-less!).

Choices for trail doors were:

- Genright (Didn't like the hinges and they offered no value over the less expensive UCF option)
- JCR (Ridiculously over priced, @ $999)
- Savvy (Out of stock, need I say more)
- UCF (My choice)

I went with the latter due to value, to me, including price, appeal, and past experience with UCF quality. Total was $481 shipped, including the bracket for accepting the soft upper. Even if this Jeep gets sold, these will transfer over to the LJ.

I've got an upcoming 4 day wheeling trip and will be looking forward to finally taking the Jeep out to see what it will do. Frankly, with only 8" of rear travel, there are no illusions of grandeur here in terms of suspension flex. I'm just looking for something that will handle a variety of trails with relative ease. I'll be running my little 32" tires with a crowd where everyone else is on 35" -37" tires. The diffs will be my limiting factor, but my belly height is comparable, more in some cases. It should be an interesting time! :)
 
With the price and availability of factory half doors being what they are, I've decided to order a set of aluminum trail doors. Where I wheel, factory half or trail doors are mandatory, if you want to minimize mud in the cabin. Even though I have two sets of factory half doors, I opted to go with the lighter trail doors. The factory half doors will see road use only (the wife won't ride door-less!).

Choices for trail doors were:

- Genright (Didn't like the hinges and they offered no value over the less expensive UCF option)
- JCR (Ridiculously over priced, @ $999)
- Savvy (Out of stock, need I say more)
- UCF (My choice)

I went with the latter due to value, to me, including price, appeal, and past experience with UCF quality. Total was $481 shipped, including the bracket for accepting the soft upper. Even if this Jeep gets sold, these will transfer over to the LJ.

I've got an upcoming 4 day wheeling trip and will be looking forward to finally taking the Jeep out to see what it will do. Frankly, with only 8" of rear travel, there are no illusions of grandeur here in terms of suspension flex. I'm just looking for something that will handle a variety of trails with relative ease. I'll be running my little 32" tires with a crowd where everyone else is on 35" -37" tires. The diffs will be my limiting factor, but my belly height is comparable, and more in some cases, than their rigs. It should be an interesting time! :)
If my last trip is any indication, you will keep up just fine. We had a 4dr Cherokee on 32s and he did everything we did. Scratched his bumper more and had a couple belly drags (wheelbase) but was able to keep up no problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lBasket and Irun
With the price and availability of factory half doors being what they are, I've decided to order a set of aluminum trail doors. Where I wheel, factory half or trail doors are mandatory, if you want to minimize mud in the cabin. Even though I have two sets of factory half doors, I opted to go with the lighter trail doors. The factory half doors will see road use only (the wife won't ride door-less!).

Choices for trail doors were:

- Genright (Didn't like the hinges and they offered no value over the less expensive UCF option)
- JCR (Ridiculously over priced, @ $999)
- Savvy (Out of stock, need I say more)
- UCF (My choice)

I went with the latter due to value, to me, including price, appeal, and past experience with UCF quality. Total was $481 shipped, including the bracket for accepting the soft upper. Even if this Jeep gets sold, these will transfer over to the LJ.

I've got an upcoming 4 day wheeling trip and will be looking forward to finally taking the Jeep out to see what it will do. Frankly, with only 8" of rear travel, there are no illusions of grandeur here in terms of suspension flex. I'm just looking for something that will handle a variety of trails with relative ease. I'll be running my little 32" tires with a crowd where everyone else is on 35" -37" tires. The diffs will be my limiting factor, but my belly height is comparable, more in some cases. It should be an interesting time! :)
I can't believe JCR has increased that much. Good luck to them.
 
  • Like
  • Sad
Reactions: RINC and Irun
With the price and availability of factory half doors being what they are, I've decided to order a set of aluminum trail doors. Where I wheel, factory half or trail doors are mandatory, if you want to minimize mud in the cabin. Even though I have two sets of factory half doors, I opted to go with the lighter trail doors. The factory half doors will see road use only (the wife won't ride door-less!).

Choices for trail doors were:

- Genright (Didn't like the hinges and they offered no value over the less expensive UCF option)
- JCR (Ridiculously over priced, @ $999)
- Savvy (Out of stock, need I say more)
- UCF (My choice)

I went with the latter due to value, to me, including price, appeal, and past experience with UCF quality. Total was $481 shipped, including the bracket for accepting the soft upper. Even if this Jeep gets sold, these will transfer over to the LJ.

I've got an upcoming 4 day wheeling trip and will be looking forward to finally taking the Jeep out to see what it will do. Frankly, with only 8" of rear travel, there are no illusions of grandeur here in terms of suspension flex. I'm just looking for something that will handle a variety of trails with relative ease. I'll be running my little 32" tires with a crowd where everyone else is on 35" -37" tires. The diffs will be my limiting factor, but my belly height is comparable, more in some cases. It should be an interesting time! :)
Let us know how the Jeep does, I’ve been itching to see how it competes with the bigger tire rigs out there. I’m finally where I need to be financially for the next round of upgrades so I could use the motivation 👍🏼
 
  • Like
Reactions: Irun
I traded my full doors for a set of half doors a few years ago and love them. I run the factory doors in the winter and fall and soft doors in the summer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Irun
I can't believe JCR has increased that much. Good luck to them.
Yes, that's stupid for sure. Looked at them long enough to see the price, then moved on rapidly!
I believe that is a "we'll make them if you REALLY want, but we're trying to get away from it," price.