Power wash wand in the side holes to flush out as much as you can, and move the large debris to an area by a hole so you can fish it out with a magnet. An air compressor with a nozzle helps as well.
TerryD's 2006 LJ Rubicon
- Thread starter TerryD
- Start date
Power wash wand in the side holes to flush out as much as you can, and move the large debris to an area by a hole so you can fish it out with a magnet. An air compressor with a nozzle helps as well.
I recently blew compressed air in one end while a shop vac was hooked up to the other end, kept moving around to different holes back and forth. Got a surprising amount of crap out. Won't do anything about rust, but it might be a good thing to start with.
I'm planning on plugging the holes and pouring some Ospho in mine at some point, it converts rust to something inert.
These Quadratec Hydro shocks are beating me to death. I'm considering a couple hundred invested in some KYB 2.5" lift shocks from RockAuto to get me by till I decide on a final lift kit. I have KYB on my Camaro and ran them on our Suburban and was happy with them.
I've run the Ranchos before so I'll look into them. I'll also check my tire pressure and do a chalk test this evening to see about that as well.
I picked up a set of OE bumpers to run till I can get something else. I'm not happy that the SB bumper interferes with my spare so I'm gonna sell it and go another route.
The OEs came with fogs. I've got a set of pigtails inbound to fix their wiring.
The OEs came with fogs. I've got a set of pigtails inbound to fix their wiring.
The Smittybilt is headed back tomorrow.
I'm looking at the GenRight Stubby front bumper.
https://genright.com/products/tj-lj-stubby-front-bumper-steel.html
And the DirtWorx tire carrier rear bumper.
https://www.thedirtworx.com/product-page/tire-carrier-with-single-can-mount
These look like they'll bridge the gap of affordable and quality nicely while being stylish and giving me the features I want.
I've got to begin the part out of my Xterra soon to help fund the Jeep parts.
My buddy picked up a set of color matched 1/2 doors for me today and I'm hoping to get them from him this weekend!
I'm looking at the GenRight Stubby front bumper.
https://genright.com/products/tj-lj-stubby-front-bumper-steel.html
And the DirtWorx tire carrier rear bumper.
https://www.thedirtworx.com/product-page/tire-carrier-with-single-can-mount
These look like they'll bridge the gap of affordable and quality nicely while being stylish and giving me the features I want.
I've got to begin the part out of my Xterra soon to help fund the Jeep parts.
My buddy picked up a set of color matched 1/2 doors for me today and I'm hoping to get them from him this weekend!
Checked the blower motor resistor and replaced it. I now have all the blower speeds!
Then I replaced the fog light pig tails and they finally work.
Tomorrow I'm supposed to go get my half doors!
She's coming along nicely.
Then I replaced the fog light pig tails and they finally work.
Tomorrow I'm supposed to go get my half doors!
She's coming along nicely.
295 miles round trip in a relatively unproven vehicle today.
Picked up my doors and a transmission skid plate...
Drivers door needed adjusted but fits good now. Uppers are brown (spice?) and usable but I'll be on the lookout for ones to match my top.
I had some wobble around 57mph. It looks like the new heim is already getting loose. I'm really disappointed in that. It hasn't even been offroad yet. Everything else looked nice and tight.
Picked up my doors and a transmission skid plate...
Drivers door needed adjusted but fits good now. Uppers are brown (spice?) and usable but I'll be on the lookout for ones to match my top.
I had some wobble around 57mph. It looks like the new heim is already getting loose. I'm really disappointed in that. It hasn't even been offroad yet. Everything else looked nice and tight.
Just ordered the RockJock front track bar.
Had some wobble on the highway Saturday and upon looking more closely today the RE track bar is flexing at the bend near the heim, the heim is already getting loose and the small contact patch of the misalignment spacer against the bracket is allowing some deflection of the bolt.
Had some wobble on the highway Saturday and upon looking more closely today the RE track bar is flexing at the bend near the heim, the heim is already getting loose and the small contact patch of the misalignment spacer against the bracket is allowing some deflection of the bolt.
Picked up a set of black 1/2 door uppers Friday.
The spacers from @matkal showed up as well as the JKS disconnects I found on marketplace. They are the short set but I think they will work well enough till I can decide what direction I'm going.
I measured my caster this morning. 3.25° on one side and only 2° on the other. The LCA bolts are seized tight and if I'm going to have to cut them out, might as well go back with something good. Gonna look into the RockJock control arms and see if I can justify them right now.
The spacers from @matkal showed up as well as the JKS disconnects I found on marketplace. They are the short set but I think they will work well enough till I can decide what direction I'm going.
I measured my caster this morning. 3.25° on one side and only 2° on the other. The LCA bolts are seized tight and if I'm going to have to cut them out, might as well go back with something good. Gonna look into the RockJock control arms and see if I can justify them right now.
I installed the RockJock track bar today. That has helped with the death wobble quite a bit. I've got to get in with my tire shop to get the tires balanced and rid of the balance beads.
I swapped most of the tools and recovery gear from the Xterra to an Action Packer in the back of the Jeep. I plan on building a scaled down drawer set for the Jeep in the near future but for now I just need my gear available.
I swapped most of the tools and recovery gear from the Xterra to an Action Packer in the back of the Jeep. I plan on building a scaled down drawer set for the Jeep in the near future but for now I just need my gear available.
Since I can't drive the Jeep because the radiator is blown, I put it on stands and got the front control arm bolts loose in anticipation of the RockJock arms arriving Saturday.
Only the lower axle end bolts are seized so I'll saw them off and install the new arms once they're here and set the alignment.
Only the lower axle end bolts are seized so I'll saw them off and install the new arms once they're here and set the alignment.
I'm sitting here writing this at the kitchen table, shirt off, soaked to the bone.
I went out at about 8am to start replacing the control arms. I wasn't feeling cutting the lower bolts out this morning so I figured I'd start with the uppers and at least get something done.
I opened the packages and started reading the instructions. Step 1 was drill out the sleeves in the axle end bushings for the UCAs. Well I can't do that with the spring in place and I can't remove the spring with the lower control arm on. Damnit.
Out comes the Sawzall and away we go, slicing through the axle end LCA bolts. At this point, the 100% humidity is really starting to show itself.
With the lower control arm bolt cut out and the lower shock mount loose, I was able to get the spring out so I could drill the sleeve on the axle end bushing for the UCA. Knowing I need to put longer bump tops in as well as needing to pull the bump stop cut so I can install my coil spacers, I started loosening the bolt for the bump stop cup. Loosening a little, spray with Kroil, running the bolt back in and back out till it came completely out was successful.
At that point I brought the water hose around and began cleaning out the coil mount. It was full of mud and gravel and even a hand full of nuts and washer. I managed to pick most of it out with a flexible grabbing thing with Blondie holding a mirror and flashlight in place so I could kinda see what I was doing.
At that point, I was soaked and hot and it was only about 10:20am. I cleaned my tools up, only having done the removal for one side and went inside, soaked like it was raining, and ready for a beer and some A/C.
This is going to take a long time at this rate.
I went out at about 8am to start replacing the control arms. I wasn't feeling cutting the lower bolts out this morning so I figured I'd start with the uppers and at least get something done.
I opened the packages and started reading the instructions. Step 1 was drill out the sleeves in the axle end bushings for the UCAs. Well I can't do that with the spring in place and I can't remove the spring with the lower control arm on. Damnit.
Out comes the Sawzall and away we go, slicing through the axle end LCA bolts. At this point, the 100% humidity is really starting to show itself.
With the lower control arm bolt cut out and the lower shock mount loose, I was able to get the spring out so I could drill the sleeve on the axle end bushing for the UCA. Knowing I need to put longer bump tops in as well as needing to pull the bump stop cut so I can install my coil spacers, I started loosening the bolt for the bump stop cup. Loosening a little, spray with Kroil, running the bolt back in and back out till it came completely out was successful.
At that point I brought the water hose around and began cleaning out the coil mount. It was full of mud and gravel and even a hand full of nuts and washer. I managed to pick most of it out with a flexible grabbing thing with Blondie holding a mirror and flashlight in place so I could kinda see what I was doing.
At that point, I was soaked and hot and it was only about 10:20am. I cleaned my tools up, only having done the removal for one side and went inside, soaked like it was raining, and ready for a beer and some A/C.
This is going to take a long time at this rate.
For the tire carrier, if you haven't already ordered (sorry, didn't read closely), look up OR-FAB's carrier. It does what you want and it is built very well. Has cage tie ins, etc. Fits rotopax and has accessory mounts, etc
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