Garage time has come to a halt the last few weeks as the wife decided that we needed to paint the exterior of the house. Luckily she is an all star and has been doing all the cutting.
Anyhow, I felt some front driveline vibrations and found the front u joint to have considerable play. Made time this week to replace all three front ds u joints. Spicer 5-1310x's. Used the ball joint press I bought for front upper control arm joint axle side bushings and a socket to carefully press them out and in. New Yukon straps went on too. Front vibrations gone! Yeah!
Hoping to find time tomorrow to re-mount this dangling dingle ball.
Dying to get front air locker and on board air going again. This was mounted to the stock shovel by the po. Will re-plumb air lines and make better electrical connections while I'm at it. It's basically just acting as a manifold splitting lines for on board air and front arb. Eventually I'd like to get an arb compressor and dedicate it to lockers only while keeping the existing for inflation/back up. Pretty much the last thing to wrap up savvy tuck and lift.
Then on to the savvy oil pan/tranny skid sitting on the bench!
Spent a gift card on a new air hose (25') . It seems awesome, lays flat, compact and flexible. I got a locking air chuck as well. Much better than the bulky, coily, rubber p.o.s. I have been using on the trail.
Worked on the CB mount today. Added a grounding strap as it was lame before, dremeled off some paint beneath the strap at the screw holes and hope to get tuned in with the swr meter tomorrow.
Finally tracked down a worstening vibration and isolated to the rear ds last week. Installed the new Tom Wood's this afternoon and HALLE- FREAKIN'- LEUEAH!!! DRIVES LIKE ABSOLUTE BUTTER!!! Feels like a new Jeep.
New front ds still sitting on the bench. Bought them both because well, ya know. She said I could.
Finished installing the drive shafts and was able to lower the front pinon a couple more degrees then previous ds mostly due to knowing that the vibe was coming from the rear. Even though the front ended up being fine (it appears) feels like a nice upgrade. Anyone nearby needs a stock front ds with new u joints its in the garage waiting for a new home. The old rear felt and seems tight may have just been too short.
A few shots from a quick trip close to home today. Sangre de Cristos across the valley blanketed. The pics don't do the view justice. As usual.
Gotta have a token flex shot or two.First time I've had a chance since the "improvements "
The trail was moderately tough today with washout from summer rains a slippery mud from recent snow melt. Need to take my photographer along next time for some action shots! Gotta let mom have some alone time occasionally though. Wheeling is great for that as my boys love it!
Spent ROTM gift cards - Amazon toward the rga rear shafts (continuing along to path to 35s) and the tre gift card on a kinetic recovery rope for me and a soft shackle as a gift for a buddy.
In an effort to install something without buying anything the hand throttle that has been resting on the shelf for the last few months got put in. Along with new shifter knob in black and orange.