Wildman's TJ is getting a face lift

375 pages, geez, I spend too much time popping on and reading this damn forum. This thread has been a hell of a ride. Now get-er done!

I'm working at it as fast as I can. Anyone who's been here for all 375 pages is a trooper and I do appreciate it. I know this thread gets derailed now and then but I hope that there is some good tech and info in here also.
 
I shortened the links by. 75" on each end.

20230512_181506.jpg


It gave me a lot more room at ride height.

20230512_181920.jpg


20230512_181931.jpg


But then came the next issue. The nut for the upper heim was barely rubbing until it reached the raised lettering on the tire. But I could still rotate it. That is until I went to full flex. Drivers side all the way down and the passenger side stuffed.
Tire is now hitting the shock.

20230512_182819.jpg


So my options are:
1) Run the 1.5" spacers. Makes my width 80" which isn't fully compatible with some trails here in the PNW.

2) Get some 0.5" or 0.75" spacers which I think would get the tire off the shock body.

3) Other options?

Yes if I had either 63" or 65" WMS axles I wouldn't be having these issues. But at the moment this isn't a option.

I'm inclined to go with the narrower spacers so my width isn't quite as wide. But I'm game for other suggestions.
 
I shortened the links by. 75" on each end.

View attachment 424364

It gave me a lot more room at ride height.

View attachment 424365

View attachment 424366

But then came the next issue. The nut for the upper heim was barely rubbing until it reached the raised lettering on the tire. But I could still rotate it. That is until I went to full flex. Drivers side all the way down and the passenger side stuffed.
Tire is now hitting the shock.

View attachment 424367

So my options are:
1) Run the 1.5" spacers. Makes my width 80" which isn't fully compatible with some trails here in the PNW.

2) Get some 0.5" or 0.75" spacers which I think would get the tire off the shock body.

3) Other options?

Yes if I had either 63" or 65" WMS axles I wouldn't be having these issues. But at the moment this isn't a option.

I'm inclined to go with the narrower spacers so my width isn't quite as wide. But I'm game for other suggestions.

My opinion would be to run it with the spacers for now and see how you like it.
 
Plus you'll get real world data on the clearances... It's hard to duplicate actual trail suspension movement.

This is also a very good point. Just flexing it in the garage doesn't show the whole picture.
It's why a RTI ramp is handy. Not for bragging points but to be able to check for issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: reddvltj
I shortened the links by. 75" on each end.

View attachment 424364

It gave me a lot more room at ride height.

View attachment 424365

View attachment 424366

But then came the next issue. The nut for the upper heim was barely rubbing until it reached the raised lettering on the tire. But I could still rotate it. That is until I went to full flex. Drivers side all the way down and the passenger side stuffed.
Tire is now hitting the shock.

View attachment 424367

So my options are:
1) Run the 1.5" spacers. Makes my width 80" which isn't fully compatible with some trails here in the PNW.

2) Get some 0.5" or 0.75" spacers which I think would get the tire off the shock body.

3) Other options?

Yes if I had either 63" or 65" WMS axles I wouldn't be having these issues. But at the moment this isn't a option.

I'm inclined to go with the narrower spacers so my width isn't quite as wide. But I'm game for other suggestions.

Might I suggest Option C:

1C1310C3-F36A-4DC1-A324-EA447BA53207.jpeg



Just kidding, please don’t die.

How important is it to you to have matching track widths front and rear?
 
Might I suggest Option C:

View attachment 424376


Just kidding, please don’t die.

How important is it to you to have matching track widths front and rear?

It's not a huge deal if they are off by 1" or even 2" as some came from the factory with different track widths. But my memory says that the front was always the wider axle.
And currently with my front being Waggy width and the rear TJ width I think it's 1/2" difference already.

As @reddvltj pointed out this gives me a chance to verify clearance with the wider width. If I find I don't like it and everything clears I can always get narrower spacers.
 
It was a good experiment and gives me a better idea what works and what doesn't.
With my last build I cut corners and always had small issues that needed corrected. So this time I'm trying to not cut any corners 🙃. If I have things rubbing it just leads to problems on the trail.

There are plenty of people who run full width axles and make it through the trails.
With my old rims and tires I was 75" wide. So I'm really not that much wider. And before I had 12.5 " wide tires and this time I'm on 13.5" wide tires so that adds some of the width.
I also still have my IRocks on the dual beadlock rims if I need to be narrower.
Once it's all back together I might play with them to just see what the difference is.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PNW_LJ and reddvltj
Started off getting the links for the front Anti-Rock tapped. I did the left hand thread side first.

20230513_095043.jpg


I want to take the threads all the way to the flat area.

20230513_094656.jpg


20230513_094935.jpg


I did both links on the left hand thread side first. Then got out my tap and die set and did the right hand thread side.

20230513_101845.jpg


Once I get the bushings back and I verify how long I want the links I'll trim them to the length needed.
 
Late to the party as non of the notifications for this thread popped up but I’m super interested in how much you cut your bumper for the Swayloc since I have the same one bumper and hope to run the Swayloc. Always wondered if it would have clearance issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: reddvltj
Late to the party as non of the notifications for this thread popped up but I’m super interested in how much you cut your bumper for the Swayloc since I have the same one bumper and hope to run the Swayloc. Always wondered if it would have clearance issues.

I'm not going to use the SwayLoc because I can't get enough clearance. But remember I'm running 12" shocks on the front which means I needed the links to be longer so it wouldn't invert at full droop. You may be able to make it work. If you go back a few pages there's pictures of how @taylormade73 trimmed his for a Anti-Rock. When he got a SwayLoc he switched bumpers also.
You won't know until you try.
 
Got the spacers reinstalled. Also hooked up the Anti-Rock. This is full droop on the rear axle.

20230513_110530.jpg


Also checked the AiRock sensor linkage while I was at it.

And this is at ride height.

20230513_110714.jpg


I've got enough room if I wanted to move the axle back another inch. But I don't think I have the wheelwell clearance for that.

20230513_110817.jpg


20230513_110940.jpg


Here's full stuff on the rear suspension.

20230513_110931.jpg
 
Because I didn't want to get all excited as I get close to being done I also filled the axles with gear oil.

20230513_112630.jpg


I've got 3 quarts of oil in the rear. Broke out my fancy dip stick to check the fluid level.


20230513_113303.jpg

Yep it's just a zip tie bent over.

20230513_113417.jpg


It's barely at the tip of the dipstick. So I'll pick up another quart for it.

20230513_113534.jpg


Then did the front axle also.

20230513_115122.jpg


Put 2 quarts in it. Perfect.

20230513_115147.jpg
 
There's a not so good story about me forgetting to put gear oil into a rear axle once when I work at a shop. I'd done a gear swap on a truck and the results were not pretty.

Next is to work on the exhaust system again so I can get it done. Then I'll take it over to be ceramic coated.
 
Started tacking the exhaust together.

20230513_142652.jpg


Passenger side is kind of a PITA.

20230513_143312.jpg


Drivers side was a lot easier.

20230513_143324.jpg


I'm going to add a flex pipe just for added safety.

20230513_143409.jpg


Then the Y will sit here like this.

20230513_143543.jpg


And just as I'm getting going this happens.

20230513_150048.jpg


Spool of stainless wire is almost empty so I'll have to wait until Monday and go to OxArc and get another spool of wire.

20230513_150052.jpg


Not worth it to untangle with so little left.