My intro. New XJ owner in Sacramento

[jrb1449]

Hi guys. I have been kind of trolling the board for a few weeks. i found out about it from Jon (blondejoncherokee) when I met him to pick up some parts for my new toy. Thanks again Jon for all the info!

I have wanted a 4x4 for a while. I am really new to this whole thing so I apologize in advance and will try to keep my stupid questions to a minimum.

I have a lot of work to do and have so far found these forums very helpful!!!

Thanks! I can't wait to meet some of you folks and check out your rigs!

Oh,and by the way....... I am looking for some new tires 35-37s, some 15x10 steel rims, and rock sliders, in-cab controller for the Rancho RS9000 shocks. If you have any of these items for sale or know anyone selling them please pm me!!

Josh

 

[Bryan C.]

Welcome!

 

[Rammin97]

Welcome!! Nice Rig too..

 

[SharkXJ]

WELCOME!!!!

We were all new at some point so don't feel stupid BUT I will warn you ahead of time - if you ask on the forum make sure you have searched - hahaha

Have you wheeled much? What are the specifications of your rig (equipment)?

 

[SeansXJ]

welcome aboard!!

 

[jones95xj]

Welcome to the forum...

 

[blondejoncherokee]

welcome josh!
i hope that steering box helped!
hows that steering these days?

 

[Boatwrench]

Welcome!

Look forward to meeting you at a meet n greet, or on the trail.

 

[jrb1449]

Jon - I didn't even put the box in yet. I have been waiting until i get the external cooler and not to mention the time to install them. I found out that the steering stabilizer shock was bad and was sticking in spots. I got a new one from autozone but apparently I need an aftermarket heavy duty stabilizer shock or may a dual setup as I still have alot of bump steer. I also need all new tie rod ends and control arm bushings. My whole front axle clunks around when I put it in drive and reverse! I have to leave the shocks on the firmest setting (5) which is such a shity ride. I can't wait to get it all fixed so I can change the shock settings and not have a rediculous death wobble!!! I almost shat myself when it first happened. And you guessed it... Those huge shims are still in the rear end! hahaha I don't have tall enough jackstands to hold the body off the rear end. I figure I could get some steel rims and just weld my jackstands on top of them. That should do the trick. Have you taken your Jeep out recently?

I have taken it to Prarie City (pics) and it was fun. My buddys had their CJ's and we just messed around a little. I found that my passenger side axle seal is bad as it was leaking fluid so that too needs to be fixed.

On the bright side the a/c still works great!!! hahaha I have mainly been riding my motorcycle since it has been so cool outside.

I need a lot of parts and i just need to focus and get this thing ready for the summer!!

 

[blondejoncherokee]

taken the jeep out to sonora twice recently, camping 20 miles off the beaten path on the clavey river out there, some wheeling
hopefully going to prairie city fri(tomorrow) and also been working out kinks in the jeep after everytime i take it out, mostly the trackbar rubbing bad on the driver side uca axle mount and some other things like brake shoes seizing up bad...

 

[jrb1449]

I have some rear brake binding goin on too.

How was Prarie City?

I am putting the xj in the garage this weekend and replacing all of my front end bushings. I also am going to get some new tires/wheels and do my brakes. I removed the stock flairs and started trimming my fenders.

I need a new front driveline. Mine is all kinds of jacked up. At the part where it slips together it clunks! I found my vibrations!! Not the rear end!! The front end!!! I pulled the front driveline and now it is as smooth as water down a ducks back! hahaha

I don't know a whole lot about the xj but it appears even though my transfer case shifter says it is in 2wd mode my front driveline still spins!!! I had my friend drive it while I looked underneath and saw the driveline turning!

Any thoughts on this? Is my transfer case not disengaging?? :dunno:

 

[blondejoncherokee]

your front shaft will spin if you have a non disco dana 30, i think they took em outta the xj in either 93 or 95, mine spins. it is because of the fact that the 30 doesnt use locking hubs. anyway dont worry about it. your t case is fine. its normal. mine does it too. id say just buy a junkyard shaft for 30$ and call it done. also if your rear brakes are locking up did you take off the drums and adjust them in and clean them off?

 

[jrb1449]

Havent done anything to the brakes yet. I am going to dig into them Saturday.

Am I able to just buy some manual locking hubs? Or is this something I need to swap front ends for? the reason I ask is because since my jeep was driven so long with the sloppy front driveline I think my front end was damaged it feels like the pinion bearing is jacked up and I have so much backlash in the front gears it doesnt look good. Should I be able to twist the front yoke 1 1/2" - 2" before it starts turning the wheels?

 

[jrb1449]

I have been working on the Jeep each evening after work. I picked up a Confer rack and some new tires.

I got a set of four Pitbull Growlers 35x14.5/15 brand new for $600. The tires on my friends flat fender are 35x12.5/15's.

I replaced all of the tie rod ends and also the LCA bushings.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

with the tie rods and bushings is it handling and steering better? did you do your toe in after that?
manual locking hubs are quite expensive unless you get them used for cheap. thats what some might call polishing the turd since you could prob buy a 44 front and build it up for the same price as just getting the manual hubs for the 30....
what do you need to do now up front? pinion bearing? new ball joints? maybe even a unit bearing or two? axle u joints? track bar bushings or tre's?
just some ideas.

 

[kj139]

I have an extra driveshaft you can have, so don't buy one. As for the backlash, when you pick up the driveshaft, we can tear it down and check it. If there is too much, I have an extra master kit & shims, so we can fix it.

In fact, I have a Dana 44 (rear) along with Detroit Trutrac (for the Dana 44 & 30), as well as gears and master kits. I got them for a friend's MJ; but he hasn't gotten off his ass over the last year to drive it up here and drop it off so I can install them. I can't give those for free though.

PM me and we'll find a time to get you set up.

 

[jrb1449]

I talked to Nick over at S&H and he said he will rebuild my front CV for $100. My friends have been dealing with him for years and recomended him.

More importantly I am having a hell of a time with death wobble around 40+ mph. I have the rancho adjustable shocks and have to leave them on the hardest setting otherwise I can't drive it because of the insane wobble. I replaced all four tie rod ends and set the toe to 0 degrees. I also replaced the LCA bushings and it is still crazy over 40mph.

I am going to get replacement UCA bushings from Rusty's and change those out too. I also found while I was under there that someone used the wrong size bolts in the track bar and this led to premature bushing failure too. I am trying to find a way to make sure my ball joints aren't bad too. I really appreciate all of the help!!!

You guys are great!!! It is nice to know there are still honestly good people around!!!

 

[blondejoncherokee]

the trackbar is it. if you have a bad trackbar bushing. thats it right there. fix that before you do anything. and the right size trackbar.
also get your front tires off the ground and try to pull your tire up and down to figure out if your ball joints are bad.
but DO THE TRACKBAR BUSHINGS AND BOLT FIRST!
i can almost guarantee that will fix it

 

[jrb1449]

Made some progress on the Jeep. Atleast now it is driveable! hahaha Lots of new bushings and tierod ends. Now to fix the frickin ignition tumbler and NSS!! Sh*t!!

Les Schwab aligned the front end and set the toe for $50

Norcal Style (Hella)

 

[NorCalChris]

i swear i saw your rig parked in harbor oaks apartment complex before. do you by any chance live in the natomas area? i live in north natomas right next to UTI the mechanic school. over by arco arena, but im looking for some guys who like to work on their junk on the weekends.