05 Flame Red TJ Build

[JMT]

So...here is my theory. I hope it helps ease your mind. Those marks are put in at the factory, when the diff is assembled. All the parts are new and orientation doesn't matter at that point. Those marks are for the future. When/if that diff is taken apart you need to note orientation because as things wear, you want to keep them with their mates.

Since you most likely had new bearings and races installed, you've effectively "reset" the diff, so orientation of the caps doesn't matter again. Now, because they've already been marked, you'd think they'd install them where they were, but it isn't a huge deal right now. Once you pull the caps for some reason, you'll have to remark them... You want to make sure they stay in the same orientation now.

I might just call them to see if that’s correct. Makes some sense. Only thing is that if there is wear on the bearing caps, you’d think they’d be replaced with a new install.

 

[Mike_H]

I might just call them to see if that’s correct. Makes some sense. Only thing is that if there is wear on the bearing caps, you’d think they’d be replaced with a new install.

Shouldn't be any wear in the caps. The bearings spin and wear into the races. The races don't move... If they do, that's a bigger issue.

 

[JMT]

Shouldn't be any wear in the caps. The bearings spin and wear into the races. The races don't move... If they do, that's a bigger issue.

Then orientation should never matter....ever....logically, since no wear and the fit on the races doesn’t move. It’s ok, but not following how it would make a difference.

 

[Apparition]

Then orientation should never matter....ever....logically, since no wear and the fit on the races doesn’t move. It’s ok, but not following how it would make a difference.

I thought the orientation mattered because the housing was likely line-bored with the caps in place.

 

[JMT]

I thought the orientation mattered because the housing was likely line-bored with the caps in place.

Then I should be able to put them back in their original position

 

[JMT]

I thought the orientation mattered because the housing was likely line-bored with the caps in place.

Seems like it can lead to premature bearing wear. I have a call into the shop to see if I should move them back to their bored location.

 

[JMT]

Anyone ever hear or run this tire?

What's interesting about it is it's only 55lb. That's pretty light for a 33x12.5. Also, $198/tire. I did see that it is made with clamshell molding, which apparently leads to greater tire fatigue, but I haven't taken the time to research that much.

https://www.maxxis.com/catalog/tire-514-104-buckshot-mudder-ii-mt-764

 

[Mike_H]

Then orientation should never matter....ever....logically, since no wear and the fit on the races doesn’t move. It’s ok, but not following how it would make a difference.

Maybe...Unless the caps hold the races at slightly different angles...Nothing that you could see or even measure, but the difference is there. You swap them around and hold the races differently, then the bearings contact the races differently. Now you've created another wear pattern.

 

[Farmergreg]

The caps have some “slop” in them for bolt clearance. The housing 1/2 of the bearing location isn’t going to move but the cap can align itself. If it was mine, I’d leave it alone.

 

[Mudflat]

View attachment 12060 Thanks for the great advice. Hard to not buy stuff for the Jeep. That is the main reason I got in this forum, to get you guys advice before buying some piece of trash mod from some piece of trash company!

Following you guys advice, some alloy 15x8 Dick Cepek's are on the way from Amazon prime. The back spacing is 3 5/8. Should be here Tuesday. Hopefully get my 31x10.5 mounted on them by Thursday. I'll post pics.

I got into looking at tires for 15's and holy camoley, a lot cheaper than going the 17 route! A lot more options too. Actually affordable for a guy with five kids.

P.s. We were riding MTB yesterday at Flat Rock Ranch in Comfort, TX, and they were just finishing up a Jeep promo for the new Compass. They had been out there for two weeks. Funny thing was every time I was out there they were driving the Rubicon's around! LOL Even saw a couple of TJ's! Anyway, they left some Jeep signs and the property owner said I could have them. Great for the garage walls! Here's a pic of one of the Jeep trails they built for the promo.

Is Flat Rock Ranch an off road park or just private property? We volunteer at Pedernales Falls State Park in Johnson City & would love to bring our TJ with us some time if we could find some place to do some wheeling.

 

[JMT]

Is Flat Rock Ranch an off road park or just private property? We volunteer at Pedernales Falls State Park in Johnson City & would love to bring our TJ with us some time if we could find some place to do some wheeling.

Flat Rock Ranch is private property with Mountain Bike trails ($10/day). I was never able to drive my TJ around on the property. That occasion was a Jeep promo and only Jeep employees were permitted to drive around on some of the ranch roads, though they did build a small obstacle area, but it was never opened for Jeep's afterward.

You probably know just up the road near Marble Falls is the Hidden Falls Off-Road Park and near Mason there is K2 and Wolf Caves, all good places to offroad, but especially Hidden Falls and Wolf Caves.

 

[Mudflat]

Flat Rock Ranch is private property with Mountain Bike trails ($10/day). I was never able to drive my TJ around on the property. That occasion was a Jeep promo and only Jeep employees were permitted to drive around on some of the ranch roads, though they did build a small obstacle area, but it was never opened for Jeep's afterward.

You probably know just up the road near Marble Falls is the Hidden Falls Off-Road Park and near Mason there is K2 and Wolf Caves, all good places to offroad, but especially Hidden Falls and Wolf Caves.

Thanks, JMT. That’s just the info I was looking for.
Way back in the 70s I was on a deer camp between Hondo & Tarpley. We had an old flat fendered Willys that was so much fun on those trails & ranch roads. (I wish I had some pics of that old Jeep to share, but I lost all that in the Harvey flood in ‘17.) ‘Nothing hard core or parts breaking. That’s pretty much what I’m looking for now.

 

[JMT]

Thanks, JMT. That’s just the info I was looking for.
Way back in the 70s I was on a deer camp between Hondo & Tarpley. We had an old flat fendered Willys that was so much fun on those trails & ranch roads. (I wish I had some pics of that old Jeep to share, but I lost all that in the Harvey flood in ‘17.) ‘Nothing hard core or parts breaking. That’s pretty much what I’m looking for now.

Great looking TJ you’ve got! It’s my favorite color. And with half doors! Shocks look great painted black too. I think I’ll do that soon. Hidden Falls is a nice place to drive around with trails of all ratings. At Wolf Caves you might want to just stay on the road. It is quite challenging, even on parts of the road. The landscape there is amazing and hard to imagine in the Hill Country. @b0xcar and @bobintexas are guys I wheeled with a lot when I lived there. They’ll do hardcore stuff though. Great guys though.

 

[Mudflat]

Great looking TJ you’ve got! It’s my favorite color. And with half doors! Shocks look great painted black too. I think I’ll do that soon. Hidden Falls is a nice place to drive around with trails of all ratings. At Wolf Caves you might want to just stay on the road. It is quite challenging, even on parts of the road. The landscape there is amazing and hard to imagine in the Hill Country. @b0xcar and @bobintexas are guys I wheeled with a lot when I lived there. They’ll do hardcore stuff though. Great guys though.

Thanks. The shocks are Rubicon Express & they came painted black. They also didn’t come with dust boots. I wonder if I should worry about that.
I appreciate the info. I think I will regear the Jeep, possibly to 4.56 gears. It currently has 3.07 gears so it’s not even a good mall crawler yet.
Thanks again for the info.

 

[JMT]

Thanks. The shocks are Rubicon Express & they came painted black. They also didn’t come with dust boots. I wonder if I should worry about that.
I appreciate the info. I think I will regear the Jeep, possibly to 4.56 gears. It currently has 3.07 gears so it’s not even a good mall crawler yet.
Thanks again for the info.

Dust boots not necessary. Some say they hold moisture. Mine stay clean without boots.

 

[Wildman]

Dust boots not necessary. Some say they hold moisture. Mine stay clean without boots.

This has been my experiance with them. A lot of rust under the boots and if the rig was parked too long the shafts would rust and ruin the seals.

 

[Beaux1]

Anyone ever hear or run this tire?

What's interesting about it is it's only 55lb. That's pretty light for a 33x12.5. Also, $198/tire. I did see that it is made with clamshell molding, which apparently leads to greater tire fatigue, but I haven't taken the time to research that much.

https://www.maxxis.com/catalog/tire-514-104-buckshot-mudder-ii-mt-764

I am running these on my 06. So far they ride good and pull great in the mud. I’m running 24Psi for the price I think there good.

 

[Mudflat]

Dust boots not necessary. Some say they hold moisture. Mine stay clean without boots.

Thanks.

 

[Mudflat]

This has been my experiance with them. A lot of rust under the boots and if the rig was parked too long the shafts would rust and ruin the seals.

I never thought of that. Thanks.

 

[JMT]

I am running these on my 06. So far they ride good and pull great in the mud. I’m running 24Psi for the price I think there good.

View attachment 196495

Good feedback. Thank you!