New guy quick with a quick question

N

noisy.ant

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Chicago
Hey everyone. New midwestern XJ owner! I've owned several other Jeeps in the past, but the one I actually wheeled was a 97 TJ. Owned it until 2004 and decided to switch hobbies. That lasted until just recently when I decided I just couldn't stand it anymore and needed a Jeep back in my life. But with a kid now and wanting to stay with a daily driver type of rig, I picked up a sweet little 98 XJ. It has a newly installed RE 3.5" lift with a new CV shaft. But the guy didn't install any shims to reposition the pinion. Just wondering if anybody knows of a place near Chicago to pick some up so I don't have to pay shipping and if anyone has a idear as to what size I might need. Just a temporary fix to smooth out the ride for the time being I'll be looking to swap in a D44 or maybe an 8.8 in the not too distant future.

Thanks everyone

-T.
 
Welcome from Southern IL. I can't answer your question, but I'm sure somebody from up there will chime in soon. JIM.
 
Okie Terry said:
An alignment shop?
Nice double post......:thumbdn:
Click to expand...

Gee OT abit hard on the Newb?

Post should probably be in Mod Tech though.

Front or Rear shims?
Front shims you can use 1/8" sheet stock.
For the Rears, make sure you get steel shims- not aluminum because they pound out.
Rear pinion angle should be 1-2 degrees lower than driveshaft angle for a CV shaft. Most any hardware store has an angle finder.

Sorry, don't know when in Chicago to get shims for the rear. On-line would probably be the best.
 
Mr ant, welcome to the org!
I combined the two posts, because your questions are not exactly the same.

You would probably better off in a "tech" area.


Again welcome to the org.

Read the stickya at the top of the chapets forum.
 
Wow. Aplogies for the double post, don't know what happened there, but flame away - I earned it! I guess I should have saved the technical aspect of that question for a seperate post. I was more concerned with finding supplies locally and less with the technical-ness, that's why I posted here. I was hoping someone near Chicago would just post something along the lines of, "Welcome to NAXJA! When I installed my RE lift, I picked up some shims at (insert a name here) and 2 deg. shims worked out great for me."

Sorry for the hassle. I'll keep quiet for awhile until I get a better feel for the room. Thanks for the info.

-T.
 
noisy.ant said:
Sorry for the hassle. I'll keep quiet for awhile until I get a better feel for the room. Thanks for the info.

-T.
Click to expand...

Hogwash... speak up so we can get to know you.
 
indeedpost up, and if ya can make it out to a run..
They're a bit rough on FNG's, but overall these fellas are pretty good guys, except that Terry guy, he's a tool! ;)
 
Fore Wheeler said:
yea, if 87munchie would have kept his mouth shut, we'd all think he was just some skinny guy with a kick me dog
Click to expand...

LOL... yet he managed to become the epitome of the outspoken n00b.
 
ant...welcome. I deleted your double posts, so worry no more grasshopper.

If it is in Chicago....Phunk knows where, she really gets around. :D (sorry) , so you may want to follow her advice. I do not see any problem with this question being here, he is looking for a local source...more power to him. If anyone has a problem with that, PM me or use the "Report post" button so I can officially ignore you. As Presidente Sean suggested read the sitcky at the top of this forum, it will help you in your quest for knowledge and respect. You will NEVER find a better group of people than you will right here, several of these guys have given blood over the projects of others.

Rev
 
noisy.ant said:
Wow.
Sorry for the hassle. I'll keep quiet for awhile until I get a better feel for the room. Thanks for the info.

-T.
Click to expand...


1. if you think it's a hassle, your wrong.

2. jump on in...it's like swimming in a river...its only cold for a couple of seconds and then its all good.

3. Our bite is worse than our bark.

4. Welcome.

5. if you wait to get a "feel" for the room you'll be here for a couple years.
 
Ant ... an alternative to buying degree shims is just have a local machinist make them for you. It's not hard to determine how much shim you need. Measure how much you need to raise your pinion to get your angle correct. Then measure the distance from the center of your differential to the end of the yoke. Divide the amount you need to raise the pinion by the distance from the center point on your differential to the yoke. This equals how much rise per inch your shim needs to be. If you have a 6" spring perch, you need to have the shim made to rise six times this number.

Example: You need to raise your pinion 1/4 inch to get your angle correct. The distance from the center of your differential to the yoke is 8 inches. You need 1/32" (1/4" divided by 8) rise per inch for your shim. With a 6 inch spring perch, you need 6/32" (3/16") total rise. Have the shims made 1/8" thick on the front and 5/16" thick on the rear. Drill the center pin hole so you can bolt it to your spring pack and install.

Clear as mud? Worked for me ...

Les
 
Fore Wheeler said:
yea, if 87munchie would have kept his mouth shut, we'd all think he was just some skinny guy with a kick me dog
Click to expand...


:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

Yeah, now we know he's a skinny post whore with a kick me dog!
 
Order some 2 or 4 degree (depending on how much you need)steel shims from any one of NAXJA's sponsors...

Also order up some new center pins...

Read up on this site...

Lots of write-ups on how to be able to install them yourself...

If you're on the Northside...

I can kinda guide you thru it..
 
Wow again! Well, if nothing else, I sure got the post count up for the day! Thanks for the kinder words and words of encouragement.

I'll go ahead and take a look at the NAXJA specific vendors. That seems like a good place to start, and the easiest way to smooth out the vibes a little bit, and get it done quickly. Installation shouldn't be a problem. The RE lift is fresh so the U-bolts haven't even had time to rust yet.

Uh, let's see. Ya'll want some more info on me? Yes, as a matter of fact, I do live on the northside of the city. This XJ is my (our - my wife, daugher, and I) 5th Jeep. Had a 94 YJ, a 97, TJ, a 97 XJ, and a 99 WJ. The YJ and TJ were the only ones that were wheeled. The other two were my wifes. The TJ got to be pretty well known around here as it was the infamous metalic citron color. When I sold it, it was on 35's, locked front and rear, 4:56's, winch, bla bla bla. Standard issue trail TJ. It made 4 trips to Moab, several to Telico, and too many trips to the Badlands to count. I did pretty much all the of the work on it myself, so I do know my way around the rigs a little bit.

Anyway, 2 years ago, the wheeling was getting a little stale, and I just couldn't seem to find the time to go any more so I sold the TJ to a friend and bought a little car (VW GTI) and took up autocrossing. Cheaper and closer to home. 2 years later, I haven't made the kind of friends I made Jeeping, GTI's are a huge PITA to work on, and my daughter is old enough that we'd like to take her out west to see CO and UT. And it would also just be nice to have a truck around the house again. So, I started looking and happened onto this XJ on Ebay, made a pretty low bid considering the shape it is in and won. Brought it home for WI last weekend. Here's the auction if ya'll want to see the rig.
http://tinyurl.com/o5rrv (By the way, the big speaker box in the pictures is for sale)

So, this time around I'm not planning to build the type of rig the TJ was. It is already lifted as high as intended to go (and rides a bit firmer than I expected), I'd like to swap in a little more reliable rear end with a selectable locker, pick up or build some rocker protection and swap out the 16" wheels and AT's for some 15's with some 31" mild MT's - probably BFG's or the like. Just want to go explore the moderate trails and spend more time enjoying the views and less time testing the rig.

Well, that's me. Hope this isn't too long of a post for the forum.
If it is, well, bite me. :)

-T. (for Tony, BTW)
 
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