I got a late start so I didn't get as far on Ole Red as I had planned. I did get the drop brackets finished up and the Control Arms and front axle bolted up. I got hung up by needing some hardware for the new bump stops and well no hardware stores open at 10pm when I discovered it. So I installed the new Moog Super joints I bought for my front axle shafts and called it a night. I will get the bolts I need for the bumpstops and hopefully get the front suspension finished up tomorrow. it is looking like it will have some pretty good droop.

 

Project looks good all the pics are blurred though

 

Sorry bud, I am and aircraft technician by trade. You are absolutely correct, a professional photographer I am not.

 

Yeah buddy, I will be in school for a couple of weeks but, even after I get on the job as of right now only 8 hour days and no weekends!! Just the longer commute but that's not too bad. Going to be racking up the miles on my little white Jeep. Don't want to run my pretty Duramax to death...LOL.

 

So, I spent this morning researching my latest snag....which really isn't much of a snag at all but, was indeed something else that won't "Bolt Right On" to a Renix Cherokee while it will bolt right on to the later models. So, the difference is in 93 and older Cherokees the front bump stops were a rubber inside a metal cup that has a threaded tip that threads into the end of the coil spring tower, design. While the 94 and newer Cherokee's front bump stops were a rubber bump stop itself twists right onto a threaded tip on the end of the spring tower. The point of all of this is that my Jeep being a 1987 Renix XJ is that it is the older style and the Extended Bump Stops I received when I ordered mine, are the newer style hence the hole through the middle and nothing attached to thread into the hole in the spring tower which is needed on the old style. What I am going to do is burn, cut, dig and scrape all of the old rubber out of the bump stop cups from my OEM bump stops. Then I will add a generous amount of Gorilla Glue or some other similar super adhesive and cram the ends of my new extended bump stops into the cups, clamp it and let it dry. Then just twist the OEM bump stop cups complete with new extended bump stops right back into my spring towers. Done!!! So, a little set back but not much. But still a stinky pile of

 

Hey guys. I was beginning to think I wouldn't get to work on the Jeep at all today it being Easter Sunday and all. But, I managed to sneak down to the shop for a couple of hours after dinner was over. So, I got busy cutting, burning, chipping and drilling all of the old rubber out of the bump stop cups. The propane torch, drill and straight slot were my friends in this endeaver. You can see from the pictures what they looked like before and after. Once all of the rubber was cleaned out of the cups I squirted in a generous amount of an Industrial grade adhesive into each and then shoved the new Daystar extended polyurethane bump stops into the cups. They actually were a perfect fit and fit into them rather snug but I wanted to make they weren't ever coming out again, no matter how many times my hockey pucks come into contact with them. I really never dreamed once I started putting the front suspension together on Ole Red that these stupid extended bump stops would give me the most grief. I should have Ole red sitting on all four tires when I'm finished working to morrow night. It's ready to have the bump stops, spacers, coils and track bar put right in.

 

What adhesive did you use buck? Im in the same boat lol also could you grab a overall measurement of those bumpstops?

 

I will post the type of adhesive and the overall length tonight after I get off work. I am using these bump stops in conjunction with hockey pucks bolted to the spring pad on the axle as well. Do you want the thickness of that too?

 

I don't think I need the puck height im only lifted 4.5in but daystar doesn't give a measurement lol

 

Hey guys so Ole Red is really starting to get that rolling Jeep look again. I got the bump stops, track bar, spacers, coils and knuckles put on last night. I got lucky and eneded up not even having to use a coil spring compressor with the mad droop I have...lol. Sorry about the even crappier than normal picture quality but it was pretty late and I was pretty tired by the time I took the pics. So, knuckle joints install, axles, hubs, brakes and tires tonight.

 

Shocks and quick disco sway bar links too.

 

Well tonight was a complete disaster and wash out. I didn't even get the chance to touch a tool to Ole Red. When I finally got the U-joint pressed out of the long side axle shaft (it came out in about 50 pieces. Anyway, you can't see it very good in my pictures but the entire inside of the ear on one side of tje stub shaft was scored really bad.

Well, I came up with what I thought was an awesome idea at first....I have been commuting 150 miles everyday to Everett and back to Oak Harbor. I have been driving my little white Jeep because I don't want to stack up the miles on my Duramax. The crazy thing is it gets better MPG...lol. Anyway I've been noticing that the passenger side front hub bearing is making all kinds of nasty grinding noises.

So, I figured I would pull the long side shaft and hub assembly out of the old D30 that I removed from Ole Red. it's just been kicking around the shop taking of space anyway. Then I could take remove the long side shaft and hub assembly from the white Jeep to get the bad hub replaced with the one from Ole Red's old axle and i could get that stub shaft to use on Ole Red. Well, I found out the hard way that not only will the hub from an 87 XJ not work in a 96 but, neither will a hub from a 91 or a 94 XJ. 3 attempts at replacing that stupid hub in that white jeep with shop spares later and a night of work on Ole Red completely wasted, I put the old nasty hub back in the white Jeep and just went home completely disgusted with myself.

The third picture is of the axle shaft that I pilled out of the white Jeep. That is the stub shaft that I will use for the long side axle in Ole Red. I will hit it hard again tomorrow. Hopefully with no more snags.

 

We met another important milestone last night, guys. Ole Red is now sitting on his own four tires. The frront axle is all put together. There is still a few things to do on the front, track bar adjust and connect, steering draglink and tierod install, sway bar quick disco install. The drive shafts and brakes need to be hooked up and the brakes bled front and rear....but it is finally a roller. It is way bigger, taller, meaner looking than I ever dreamed it would be. For doing a piece meal lift of parts I came up with on my own, it sits remarkably level, too. If it wheels nearly as good as it looks, I am going to be very happy with it.

 

Looks like it is about time to update my avatar and signature as soon as I get it outside where I can get a clear picture.

 

VERY NICE