TJ Build Help

chrispej

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Original poster
Joined
Jun 9, 2023
Messages
25
Location
QLD, AUS
I’m building a TJ out to use for work and some wheeling. I’m not looking to build a rock hopper or anything, but I need to be able to cross creeks and do some lighter rock crawling. Any suggestions? Reliability is king for me.

My mods I'm looking to do so far are as follows;

33s on 17s w/1.5” suspension lift, and a 1” body lift, warn locking hubs, warn 4500kg winch, underbody paint/lanolin, breather tube extension/relocation, deflator, arb compressor/pneumatic lockers, a beefy steering upgrade (drag link/tie rod), maybe quick-disconnect sway bar?

I’ve got a TJ sport, dana 30/44, 6spd, I believe with the LSD.
 
I’m building a TJ out to use for work and some wheeling. I’m not looking to build a rock hopper or anything, but I need to be able to cross creeks and do some lighter rock crawling. Any suggestions? Reliability is king for me.

My mods I'm looking to do so far are as follows;

33s on 17s w/1.5” suspension lift, and a 1” body lift, warn locking hubs, warn 4500kg winch, underbody paint/lanolin, breather tube extension/relocation, deflator, arb compressor/pneumatic lockers, a beefy steering upgrade (drag link/tie rod), maybe quick-disconnect sway bar?

I’ve got a TJ sport, dana 30/44, 6spd, I believe with the LSD.

You are going to need more lift to fit those 33s properly.

When you say warn locking hubs how we're you planning on achieving that?

The rest of your upgrades look fine.

Welcome to the forum!! We have a few Aussies here so hopefully you can connect.
 
Like what was already said, 2.5 inch combo lift won't be enough for 33s. This is a 3.5 inch combo lift on 31s for perspective.
20230618_140500.webp
 
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You are going to need more lift to fit those 33s properly.

When you say warn locking hubs how we're you planning on achieving that?

The rest of your upgrades look fine.

Welcome to the forum!! We have a few Aussies here so hopefully you can connect.
Might drop back to 31s then, laws around lifts and tyres are pretty munted here in Aus.

I was just looking to pick up a locking hub kit, accidentally threw warn in there unknowingly my bad.

Good to hear :)

Looking forward to some interactions with the local lot, noticed loads of TJs around Brisbane.
 
Yep. Not a ton of articulation, but good enough for trail riding.

Should be right, not looking for too much more room for up travel and articulation than I’d have stock, can only legally do 150mm of combined wheel and body/suspension lift ontop of the stock setup here in QLD, but cops aren’t too picky if you keep things sensible enough.
 
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Should be right, not looking for too much more room for up travel and articulation than I’d have stock, can only legally do 150mm of combined wheel and body/suspension lift ontop of the stock setup here in QLD, but cops aren’t too picky if you keep things sensible enough.

We can't have any lift kits here in Colorado...

As you can see based off this forum we follow that law very well.
 
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I would leave the factory unit bearing in the front for reliability. Serviceability of a hub kit is nice but more things to go wrong.its easier to just replace unit bearings when they start getting loose or gritty.

For beefy steering look at the v8 zj tie rod swap or currie currectlync. I wouldn't use anything else.

Factory air filter is the best at filtration. If you do a snorkel like some do I'd want to incorporate the factory filter element
 
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2.5” enough for 31s?

At 2.5” of lift you could probably get 32’s on it.

Things to be concerned about with deep water crossings are the electrical system. It’s already 17-18 yrs old and known for having issues.

ZJ Tie Rod for beefier steering.

Quick disconnects.

Appropriate length shocks.

Rear trackbar relocation bracket.
 
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We can't have any lift kits here in Colorado...

As you can see based off this forum we follow that law very well.

Case law would argue otherwise. See People v. Von Tersch, 180 Colo. 295, 505 P.2d 5 (1973) where § 42-4-233, C.R.S., was found to be unconstitutional due to being overly broad in nature. Although the law is still on the books, it is unenforceable due to precedent.

Text of § 42-4-233, C.R.S.:
No person shall operate a motor vehicle of a type required to be registered under the laws of this state upon a public highway with either the rear or front suspension system altered or changed from the manufacturer’s original design except in accordance with specifications permitting such alteration established by the department. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the installation of manufactured heavy-duty equipment to include shock absorbers and overload springs, nor shall anything contained in this section prevent a person from operating a motor vehicle on a public highway with normal wear of the suspension system if normal wear shall not affect the control of the vehicle.
 
Case law would argue otherwise. See People v. Von Tersch, 180 Colo. 295, 505 P.2d 5 (1973) where § 42-4-233, C.R.S., was found to be unconstitutional due to being overly broad in nature. Although the law is still on the books, it is unenforceable due to precedent.

Text of § 42-4-233, C.R.S.:
No person shall operate a motor vehicle of a type required to be registered under the laws of this state upon a public highway with either the rear or front suspension system altered or changed from the manufacturer’s original design except in accordance with specifications permitting such alteration established by the department. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the installation of manufactured heavy-duty equipment to include shock absorbers and overload springs, nor shall anything contained in this section prevent a person from operating a motor vehicle on a public highway with normal wear of the suspension system if normal wear shall not affect the control of the vehicle.

Even a blind pig finds a truffle once in while…

🤔

The court system, not you, Deadbeat.

🙂
 
I would leave the factory unit bearing in the front for reliability. Serviceability of a hub kit is nice but more things to go wrong.its easier to just replace unit bearings when they start getting loose or gritty.

For beefy steering look at the v8 zj tie rod swap or currie currectlync. I wouldn't use anything else.

Factory air filter is the best at filtration. If you do a snorkel like some do I'd want to incorporate the factory filter element

I do not believe the Currectlync can be used with a RHD TJ. V8 ZJ tie rods not that common in UK, so I ended up using a HD Crown steering kit, which I believe gives you something very similar. But I think there may be more options in Australia than we have in the UK, where we have to pretty much rely on getting everything shipped from the US. There is little love on here for Quadratec, but for anyone outside the US they are a God send as they will ship outside the US at a price you can just about swallow, few of the smaller US suppliers will.
 
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Case law would argue otherwise. See People v. Von Tersch, 180 Colo. 295, 505 P.2d 5 (1973) where § 42-4-233, C.R.S., was found to be unconstitutional due to being overly broad in nature. Although the law is still on the books, it is unenforceable due to precedent.

Text of § 42-4-233, C.R.S.:
No person shall operate a motor vehicle of a type required to be registered under the laws of this state upon a public highway with either the rear or front suspension system altered or changed from the manufacturer’s original design except in accordance with specifications permitting such alteration established by the department. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the installation of manufactured heavy-duty equipment to include shock absorbers and overload springs, nor shall anything contained in this section prevent a person from operating a motor vehicle on a public highway with normal wear of the suspension system if normal wear shall not affect the control of the vehicle.

Forgot about that. Not sure what they'd consider illegal then.