John D
NAXJA Member # 788
- Location
- Rockford, Mi
37-12.50/17 Cooper STT Pro
John D Super Slo-Mo Rebuild
- Thread starter John D
- Start date
John D
NAXJA Member # 788
- Location
- Rockford, Mi
I got the steering worked out today using a kit from fourwheelsupply. The kit came with arms, studs/bolts, four TRE's, 1.5" DOM and inserts. As I suspected the bow in my coils was due to caster, turns out it was 15* LOL. I still need to adjust it to 6*, but it's at 3* now. I chopped off the trackbar frame mount and brace mount. Getting the trackbar in there is going to be a good trick, there is very little room between the 5.3L oil pan and the D60. I'm thinking at least two bends to make it work.
Happy New Year everyone, be safe.
Happy New Year everyone, be safe.
XJ-ARNIE
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Cary, Illinois
That steering kit looks pretty nice. Good price on it as well, how was the quality as far as machining and materials go? I'd like to use this kit for my 60.
John D
NAXJA Member # 788
- Location
- Rockford, Mi
I didn't find any issues with it, it's a nice kit. He has a thread or two in the vendor section on Pirate and you can always get a 10% off code and a few times a year he does 20%... that knocks the price way down.
XJ-ARNIE
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Cary, Illinois
Thanks for the hint. I'll probably wait it out. If steering was the only thing in my list, I would probably just order it. But I need axle guts, I need a shaft cut/splined, I need a Tom woods shaft, and a bunch of other stuff.
John D
NAXJA Member # 788
- Location
- Rockford, Mi
Have you looked into someone cutting/splining your axle? Who? How much?
I need to get one done for the front too.
I need to get one done for the front too.
XJ-ARNIE
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Cary, Illinois
I spoke with Strange awhile back, they said they would do it for $110 plus shipping. It was awhile ago, but I have to call and ask again because I finally have a little cash to spend on it. Ive been building my parts list for the 60's that I put under my jeep a year ago. both need complete rebuilds and my junk has been sitting parked for who knows how long now. At least its inside. I am sourcing a bunch of parts at oreilly, for a few reasons. One, I have a commercial account and get a decent deal. They can actually get almost anything believe it or not.
anyway, back to the point. How much did you narrow your front end? I cut 5'' IIRC, and all of the cut to fit shafts that are available are a hair long I think.
Im going to call strange again today and get another price. Ill post back up and let you know
anyway, back to the point. How much did you narrow your front end? I cut 5'' IIRC, and all of the cut to fit shafts that are available are a hair long I think.
Im going to call strange again today and get another price. Ill post back up and let you know
John D
NAXJA Member # 788
- Location
- Rockford, Mi
I think Moser also does cut and respline, but I'm trying to get ahold of a local guy that closed his shop and went back to his other job. He still has all the tooling to do it and he told me $75 a couple years ago. Nice thing is it's 10 miles from me so no added shipping.
My front is an '88, originally 69.25" WMS so I took 4.25" off to get to 65" WMS. My rear is a C&C 14B which comes in at 63".
XJ-ARNIE
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Cary, Illinois
Mine was out of an 85...I think I chopped close to 5, and the rest was out of a 70s f250. I'd have to dig up my notes again, but I do remember I need a 1/4" spacer on each side in the back to even it out. Let me know if you can get ahold of him, I'd be happy to ship my parts to him
Those spacers may go up front now that I think about it. I was limited to my size because of my axle truss. You know what, the more I think about it the front should be at 64.25, and the rear at 65, giving me the need for spacers up front. That's it. Thanks John.
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foxwar71
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Foxboro, MA
If you can't find local, go thru Branik. When I ordered my 60 chromos from ECGS, the custom inner came right from Branik at no extra cost. I'd expect to pay $100-150 for a cut/resplined, whereas a new custom chromo isn't gunna be too much more
John D
NAXJA Member # 788
- Location
- Rockford, Mi
I saw on Branik's site $225 for import. If I can't get the local guy to cut mine I will go this way. Like you said, it doesn't make sense to pay 150.
kmanxj5050
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Reed City Michigan
That the rock hard or whatever the name of the place was in cedar springs? I wondered why I hadn't seen much from them lately.
Why tie rod ends for the steering? Why not heim joints?
foxwar71
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Foxboro, MA
I just checked my slip from a local axle shop for a respline for a spare last summer, it was $120
John D
NAXJA Member # 788
- Location
- Rockford, Mi
Rock Solid in Cedar Springs. I don't have a a really good reason for the TREs except I like the idea of them being more steetable and I had good luck with TREs on my D44 with high steer.
Thanks, $120 without shipping seems reasonable to me.
XJ-ARNIE
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Cary, Illinois
Just called Moser yesterday. They want 125. No one around me does it, strange said no. I'm just waiting on one return phone call from an axle guy I've used in the past, but I am not sure if he does this kind of work. Looks like I'm buy ecgs stuff as well
John D
NAXJA Member # 788
- Location
- Rockford, Mi
I meant to post an update yesterday and forgot. Anyway, Branik's website says $75 to cut and re-spline. You would also need to add shipping both ways to the price. They will also do a custom length 4340 with import steel for $225. Thinking long term... If the plan is to go 4340 at some point, it makes sense to spend a few extra bucks now and get the $225 axle.
http://www.branikmotorsports.com/axle.htm
http://www.branikmotorsports.com/axle.htm
XJ-ARNIE
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Cary, Illinois
That seems to make the most sense. I will probably do the same thing.
- Location
- NE Indiana
I personally know the Branik Motorsports folks. I helped them hang the sign at their first building. If you were to need something brought to winterfest or part trained that way, I would be more than willing to bring it down and save you shipping.
mac 'they do good work' gyvr
mac 'they do good work' gyvr
John D
NAXJA Member # 788
- Location
- Rockford, Mi
Thank you for the recommendation and the offer to assist.
Sadly Winterfest isn't looking good for me this year
John D
NAXJA Member # 788
- Location
- Rockford, Mi
I've been going back and forth on what to do with my long side front axle shaft. I shorted the housing 4.25" to make the WMS 65" and I had a local guy that would cut and re-spline my original for $100 but it would take a while before he had time... Or Branik would do it for $75 plus shipping both ways. I called Branik today and decided to order a 4340 axle. They are doing custom lengths with import steel for $225. Long term it makes more sense, I would probably go to all 4340 in the next year anyway.
I finally figured out my track bar. It's shorter than I would like, but when you're fitting between the coils on an XJ...
I still need to finish the axle mount and final weld everything.
More Barnes parts
Having fun with the tubing bender, it's pretty tight between the 5.3L and the D60 but I think it's good. I ended up making my own mounts for frame and axle side. Ignore the booger weld on the corner of the frame mount, I forgot to turn the gas back on before I tacked it, LOL.
I probably won't mess with it again for awhile. Starting some long rotations out to the west coast with short home times
AND IT'S FINALLY SKI SEASON!!!
I finally figured out my track bar. It's shorter than I would like, but when you're fitting between the coils on an XJ...
I still need to finish the axle mount and final weld everything.
More Barnes parts
Having fun with the tubing bender, it's pretty tight between the 5.3L and the D60 but I think it's good. I ended up making my own mounts for frame and axle side. Ignore the booger weld on the corner of the frame mount, I forgot to turn the gas back on before I tacked it, LOL.
I probably won't mess with it again for awhile. Starting some long rotations out to the west coast with short home times
AND IT'S FINALLY SKI SEASON!!!
