What do I have here?

[DHunt]

I bought this 2003 TJ last month and used it on my camping trip. I think it rides really nice on road and off. Now I want to get into the jeep thing a little more. I enjoy learning challenges and don't know too much about jeeps. I would have looked at stock jeeps, but never saw one for sale without 200k+ miles on it. So my question is, what do I have here that's not stock, with attention to possible upgrades that should have been done with the lift? From what I read on the forum, this is a 4" lift. It has 31" tires. (265 75 R17)

Is there anything else I need a picture of?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

It's unusual for a TJ with a 4" suspension lift to only be running 31" tires. Where is the top of that tape measure measuring from?

 

[DHunt]

Now that I try to take a better picture, I see it's more likely that I have a 2" lift.

With this amount of lift, I shouldn't have any other suspension modifications required because of work already done? So now, it's just a question of:

Will it do the offroad I want? I don't know, I haven't really tried anything. I hope to make a trip to Anza Borrego and/or Corral Canyon before next summer. Too hot right now.

Do I like the way it looks? I just like the funky beast altogether. I'm sure I'll get the Jeep parts bug, but I think most raised 4x look stupid.

I'll keep reading the forum to educate myself about what I have here.

 

[Rob5589]

From your pics: Aftermarket springs, shocks, sway bar links, and extended bumpstops. The rest looks factory.

 

[DHunt]

Thanks. That qualifies in this group as unmolested? Assuming moderate to fun off roading, next best would be front lockers?

 

[JDS123]

Thanks. That qualifies in this group as unmolested? Assuming moderate to fun off roading, next best would be front lockers?

I'd do a rear locker before I did a front locker. But even before that, I would invest money into making sure everything on the Jeep is rock solid reliable. Do some general maintenance, run some grease through everything, make sure everything is right. No use in lockers if something else fails out in the woods, leaving you stranded!

 

[DHunt]

I had my mechanic go through it, change diff fluids, general lube, replaced the radiator. Gave it his blessing. I'm (was) really more of a motorcycle guy, but I'll do more work on this as time goes by. Not stuff that requires a get it right the first time learning curve. It seems like I did ok buying this.
It has a Dana 44 rear and Dana 30 front. The build sheet says Trac-Lok Differential rear axle. I had the impression from the forum the front locker should go first. Is there a consensus on this?

 

[JDS123]

I had my mechanic go through it, change diff fluids, general lube, replaced the radiator. Gave it his blessing. I'm (was) really more of a motorcycle guy, but I'll do more work on this as time goes by. Not stuff that requires a get it right the first time learning curve. It seems like I did ok buying this.
It has a Dana 44 rear and Dana 30 front. The build sheet says Trac-Lok Differential rear axle. I had the impression from the forum the front locker should go first. Is there a consensus on this?

I'm not sure why someone would do a front locker before a rear locker (but maybe I'm wrong here).

I'd always want a selectable locker in the front. A popular locker combination is a detroit locker in the rear and a selectable locker, like an ARB air locker, in the front. It is damn near impossible to turn when the front axle is locked (though from what I remember, Detroits don't act like a spool. I believe they still leave a bit of "open differential"). Plenty of people run Detroits or something similar in the front, but you just have to learn to drive differently when off-road.

I would much rather have just a rear locker than just a front locker. I have selectable ARB air lockers front and rear. There are many scenarios where I just click the rear locker on and leave the front open. Actually, with the way the ARB's are wired, it isn't possible for me to turn only the front locker on. Either both are unlocked, the rear is on, or both are one.

The trac-lok is simply a limited slip. Not going to help too much when off-road if you lift a tire.

 

[Rob5589]

I had my mechanic go through it, change diff fluids, general lube, replaced the radiator. Gave it his blessing. I'm (was) really more of a motorcycle guy, but I'll do more work on this as time goes by. Not stuff that requires a get it right the first time learning curve. It seems like I did ok buying this.
It has a Dana 44 rear and Dana 30 front. The build sheet says Trac-Lok Differential rear axle. I had the impression from the forum the front locker should go first. Is there a consensus on this?

Many times the person asking has a Dana 35 in the rear which is a no-go with a locker on stock axles. However, you have a 44 which will be fine with a locker and stock axles. So, you can do a front locker like the Aussie or No Slip; or install a Detroit locker in the rear.

 

[Camdenst]

I ran with an Aussie up front and just rebuilt my trac lok for years with great success. Granted the traclok is a clutch posi, I felt it never hurt having it. When wheeling I noticed a distinct advantage having front locked and pull over obstacles while the rear pushed. It’s also a super easy mod with incredible gain for roughly $250.

 

[Nicholas]

Def a 2 inch, I have a 2 inch up front n 31/32s


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mike_H]

I'd go for the front locker first too. Pulling is mostly better than pushing. With a Limited slip (probably need to rebuilt the clutch pack) and something like a spartan up front, you are going to make it further than 99 percent of anything else you can get. I have driven quite a few ehicles set up that way and it just plain works. Yes, selectable lockers rule, but for the cost of a lunchbox and clutch pack rebuilt...its hard to argue with the value proposition.

 

[DHunt]

What's the give away that the clutch pack in the rear needs to be rebuilt?

 

[jjvw]

There is a transmission drop as well.

 

[05 Blue Unlimited]

I personally would slow down a bit. You've had the rig for a month, enjoy it for a while, there is always time to throw cash at it. Take it on some trails...it is more capable than what you might think. Then develope a build plan based on how you plan on wheeling it. For me lockers would be way down on the list of things to install.

 

[KCsTJ]

What's the give away that the clutch pack in the rear needs to be rebuilt?

I cant quote from any stat sheet but it is generally known that the tj rear diff clutch packs are worn out or non operational by the 50k mile mark.
A rear locker takes care of that .

But @jodomcfrodo makes a good point. Enjoy your TJ , get used to it.
Maybe you can do little things like convert over to LEDs for example.
Make dang sure it's reliable as possible by replacing tune up parts.
Then it will be reliable when you want to show it off n stuff