What was done to YOUR rig(XJ/MJ) today MECHANICALY????

Well I started. I must be a sucker for punishment, because, damn, its hot out. Sweated through my shirt in an hour.

I got one side out, no issues with the bolts being seized. However I'm having a hard time getting the leaf down low enough to get the new shackle in. I was trying to use the OEM jack on the leaf spring but it didn't seem to be doing much. Any suggestions?
 
I was just doing a pre-drive check on my recently dead 87 (no spark, which I am not sure is really fixed yet, but I found and fixed the part I screwed up:eek: looking for the gremlins, LOL), and found a leak under the 5-6 year old (rebuilt) steering gear box (Autozone about 2006 IIRC, unless it was my 85 that the rebuilt went on????, Hmmmm, I need go back to keeping a data base, LOL), right at the lower shaft nut/shaft seal area on the bottom. Had an 8" puddle under it on the driveway. No leaks anywhere else or on top side, PSP and hoses are all bone dry :clap: .

Put about 1/4 cup of fresh fluid (with leak stop) in the power steering bottle to bring the level back up.

Then I noticed some wobble in the second, :mad: new water pump in about 3.5 years now (not very old IIRC, less than 2 years, maybe a year on this one, I forget), both Autozone. Only about 1/32" max of wobble play (thrust to be exact) in the system, starting to wonder if the pulley itself is out of round, not flat? Maybe the first pump, I forget now, the 89 may be the one that is on its second pump? Arghhh.

I need to take a week off and fix 4 jeeps in the damn heat :mad:

It's not really hot till you soak the entire shirt in 5 minutes!!!! LOL:wave:
 
IslanderOffRoad said:
Well I started. I must be a sucker for punishment, because, damn, its hot out. Sweated through my shirt in an hour.


Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Get air conditioning!!!!:party:
 
Did a bit more work on it today, got the shackle in, but still having issues getting it bolted back up.

After reading some stuff on here I had tried to do this one side at a time, but logic's telling me that if i do both at the same time, I'm gonna get the right droop/spring angles to get everything buttoned up.

Now I gotta go buy a 21mm deep well socket for the passenger side. I wonder if I'm gonna have to cut the tailpipe for clearance.
 
Swamprat said:
man, your having alot of issues with this. i'ver never had more then seized bolts when i have lifted
Click to expand...

I think the biggest issue was attempting it solo, hung over, in the Texas heat. Plus my tool situation isn't what it used to be.
 
IslanderOffRoad said:
I think the biggest issue was attempting it solo, hung over, in the Texas heat. Plus my tool situation isn't what it used to be.
Click to expand...

Always welcome to use my garage. :)
 
Thanks for the offer.

Got it done today, though I need to go buy a torque wrench to set the preload on the unit bearing. Was too dirty to go get that done, so I can take care of that tomorrow. Doing the unit bearing was cake... that took like 15 minutes. No more rub when turning!

A3745973-5E87-4FC2-AE8D-FE30FE0E3EBA-10422-000009B3AB535886.jpg
 
Replaced the passenger side axle seal. It's been leaking out the end of the tube, so i figured it was time to replace it since the pumpkin had gone bone dry twice...So I got the shift collar housing off to look at the seal...No seal. Well, that explains the leak. At least I didn't have to pry the old one out. LOL.

It took some manuevering and some clever use of a large socket, a cheater pipe and a 2.5 lb sledge and 3 hours later it was in. Thankfully the thunderstorm that had been slowly rolling in held off until the last half hour of the project!
 
As I recall it was a bit of try this and that and 2 to 3 seals later I got one installed undamaged, LOL. I forget the details, or exactly what the tricks were, but your story reminds me of :banghead:

But I got some practice at removal with the old one that was not missing, first, LOL.
 
XJ Eric said:
Replaced the passenger side axle seal. It's been leaking out the end of the tube, so i figured it was time to replace it since the pumpkin had gone bone dry twice...So I got the shift collar housing off to look at the seal...No seal. Well, that explains the leak. At least I didn't have to pry the old one out. LOL.

It took some manuevering and some clever use of a large socket, a cheater pipe and a 2.5 lb sledge and 3 hours later it was in. Thankfully the thunderstorm that had been slowly rolling in held off until the last half hour of the project!
Click to expand...

Shift collar housing? did you swap in an older D30?
 
Drove the Jeep around all day... still feels a bit wobbly on the left front, but everything's tight. Gotta take it in for an alignment, so I'll have em check the balance on that tire... if thats not it... what next? Ball Joints? TRE's? I'd rather not invest too much in this 2wd beam. If it needs ball joints I may just throw a D30 under it sooner rather than later.
 
Well looks like I will be investigating and watching the 87 water pump and pully, and maybe even belt tension closely.

Also starting to plan to swap or reseal the steering gear box bottom shaft seal, it has just developed a real leak out of no where. No slow build up, dry one day, messy leak the next. Not sure the age or history of the box. I replaced one about 6 years ago, but I think it may have been on the 85 jeep. With a little luck the AZ PCs may have a record still.

Tomorrow I finally tackle the fire wall repair to remount the clutch master cylinder on the 85, and try to get it back to DD status. All 4 Renix era jeeps are now in intensive care of some sort, LOL, while I drive a rental. Good news!!! The bloody heat wave and rain has backed off as of today!!!!!! So this old guy may get caught up some on Monday with out passing out, LOL! :)
 
Last edited:
IslanderOffRoad said:
Drove the Jeep around all day... still feels a bit wobbly on the left front, but everything's tight. Gotta take it in for an alignment, so I'll have em check the balance on that tire... if thats not it... what next? Ball Joints? TRE's? I'd rather not invest too much in this 2wd beam. If it needs ball joints I may just throw a D30 under it sooner rather than later.
Click to expand...

i've got a good 2wd beam if it does need ball joints. i'll be tossing my D30 up front once i lift my jeep.
 
Good to know. I'd rather find a d30 if I'm gonna go through the trouble
 
Only finding low pinions on Craigslist.... how are the yards out here?
 
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