Measure Once, Cut Twice: A Story of Excitement and Impatience

I installed my first set of JJ on the TJ. I'm hoping this isn't normal?
From most accounts, this isn't normal. I do hear of issues mostly from Salt Belt states. But, mine stays housed in the garage during winter and doesn't see snow/salt. Not sure what is going on with mine.
 
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Mine don’t make noises and I installed them a year ago. They maybe have 2k miles on them though lol. From what I’ve noticed it’s an issue predominately coming from northern states.
I've been able to get grease pumped into most of mine and it eliminated most of the creaking, but not all of it. They've done it since new though. I would have to agree though northern states with salt in the winter is probably the big issue, though mine haven't seen salt yet.
 
That is thing I've noticed with mine. I can get them cleaned up and as soon as I'm in clay, they start to creak.
Clay pulls the oil out of the binder used to make grease into grease. Not sure why but it does it with a quickness that is astounding. We started noticing this with some folks in OK that wheeled in clay a bunch. They would grease them up and after a day they would start making noise again. Not sure how to fix it, we are just aware of the issue.
 
Clay pulls the oil out of the binder used to make grease into grease. Not sure why but it does it with a quickness that is astounding. We started noticing this with some folks in OK that wheeled in clay a bunch. They would grease them up and after a day they would start making noise again. Not sure how to fix it, we are just aware of the issue.
Well, shit balls.
 
So...I waited too long to install corner armor and rub rails. Widow Maker at Hollerwood in Kentucky made sure to point out I needed it...among many other things like raised rear cross member with a better designed rear bumper that wraps it. The Savvy under armor was a champ. Love it! It started raining and hailing on us while in the creek (Widow Maker). It was like driving through a mine field.
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Also, my front pass nger skid plate bolt worked part of the way out and I bent it climbing a ledge.
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So...I waited too long to install corner armor and run rails. Widow Maker at Hollerwood in Kentucky made sure to point out I needed it...among many other things like raised rear cross member with a better designed rear bumper that wraps it. The Savvy under armor was a champ. Love it! It started raining and hailing on us while in the creek (Widow Maker). It was like driving through a mine field. View attachment 259226View attachment 259227View attachment 259228View attachment 259230View attachment 259231View attachment 259232View attachment 259233

Also, my front pass nger skid plate bolt worked part of the way out and I bent it climbing a ledge. View attachment 259234
There's only one thing to say here...ouch! :oops:
 
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There's only one thing to say here...ouch! :oops:
Yeah. Our trail leader got stuck going up the main entry ledge to Widow Maker. I had to winch him up with a snatch block; couldn't get him down as his rear bumper was pinned under a rock in the water. Everyone else turned around. I then winched myself up and continued with him on Widow Maker rather than leaving him by himself. Everyone else met us at the exit. There were some big rocks and only one way to pass some areas. Water was deep making it impossible to see how big some climbs were.
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I've never tried shit balls to re-lube a JJ. Eagerly awaiting the full report about your experiences in that endeavor.
Shit balls worked well to lube my JJ's, even used one of my wife's makeup brushes to apply it to the exposed part of the centering balls of the joints. No more creaking.
 
I paint the exposed ends with grease so it coats the ball and maybe won't drag to much crap in not sure it does more than comfort me though.