So I had an idea to address my issue of Ole Red feeling so squirrelly whenever I drive on the road and at road speeds. I took a close up look at where my Lower Control Arms were in the slot in the Rough Country drop brackets. As you can see from the first picture they were all the way toward the rear. I figure that the measurements Rough Country gives for you to set the length of your adjustable control arms is based on the frame end of the lower control arms being centerd in that slot. I also figured the best way to get my lower control arms to set centered in that slot would be to get a couple of the factory control arm caster alignment shims and install them. I really worked like a champ. My Jeep is much more stable to drive on the road, now. and the coils are much less bent than they are in this before picture I took. I will take an after picture so you all can see the difference.

 

I put the 2nd set of shims in but I was a little pressed for time so no pictures. I will say this, though. The shims, along with a trac bar, tie rod and drag link adjustment, has Ole Red Driving nicely on the road even at highway speeds.

 

I also drained, cleaned and filled the rear axle with new fresh 140 weight gear oil. I figured after the seals and bearings were destroyed at Elbe and the oil leaked out everywhere that the oil level was probably low. It was not low, in fact when I removed the fill plug, green, nasty watery oil/water sludge came running out. So I just di the do over with fresh clean oil.

 

Next I installed my Rough Country front sway bar quick disco links. It was pretty easy and straight forward just like last time. I did luck out in that the links had a little bit of height adjustment left so I adjusted them out to the proper length for the new 8.5" lift. I didn't test drive the jeep again with the sway bar links hooked up but I bet that will only make it ride better even better on the road.

 

Next I got started on installing my rear tire carrier. I am definitely making it a priority to have this completed and my spare tire securely mounted on it before I go wheeling again. I tried securing the spare to roof of the jeep and I tried carrying it inside the jeep while I was up at Elbe. I hated both ideas. The spare belongs out back on the spare tire carrier. As I have found out in the past. Renix XJs from the 80's donnot come from the factory with all of the holes drilled that are required for any option available like the 90's XJs are. So I will be drilling a few new holes to get the spare tire carrier all mounted up securely to Ole Red.

 

Here is a picture of the rear spare tire carrier installation in progress. More words and pictures to come in this as I am headed over to my shop to continue working on it, right now....

 

Okay so I finished up installing the rear tire carrier today. This installation went much more smoothly than when I first installed the it on my gray 91 XJ. I chose to leave the passenger side plastic/rubber bumper cap off when I installed the tire carrier. I left it on when I put it on my gray jeep and it just ended up getting tore up and ripped off. I also had to remove the passenger side bumper pad thing that was there because this Jeep is a Laredo. I chose to leave the driver's side bumper pad and bumper cap on because while the tire carrier provides some protection to the passenger side rear of the jeep, the driver's side rear is left virtually unprotected. The driver's side rear of my old jeep took a pretty nasty shot one time that broke the tail light, cracked the hatch and dented the bumper. I still need to install the license plate light but, since this jeep rarely gets driven on the road there is no hurry.

 

Next I replaced my driver's side mirror that would not adjust and was completely useless. I had a spare mirror left over from my gray jeep. The replacement mirror is nice and adjusts from inside and is all good.

 

Since I was on a roll and had some daylight left I went ahead and put together my mud flaps and figured out a way to install them for best function and ease of install and removel.

 

So, I didn't get to go wheeling over the long holiday weekend but, I did get a lot of much needed work done on Ole Red. I hope to be getting Chromo shafts for my front D30 soon. Ole Red should be pretty much ready to go after that. I'm really looking forward to getting Ole Red out on the trail soon!!!

 

Looking good man.

 

You're welcome

 

Thanks again for the mounts buddy. Ive the mud flaps laying around since I was still driving tje old gray jeep. The shackle relocators made the perfect place to moumt the brackets for them.

 

So, Saturday morning, I decided to put Ole Red on trailer and head out to Walker Valley. I had never had Ole Red up there and I hadn't been up there in over a year. There were some differences to some of the old trails I remember. One thing still remained the same. Walker is pretty much a walk in the park when it is dry unless you take all of the harder lines. That really is a good thing, though, because guys with less capable rigs won't be building trail because they can't get through the tough spots. Now, they can take the easier lines and leave the tough stuff alone so I can have fun and be challenged when I go there, too. That 3rd picture Ole red is sitting at the top of the Rockface on Expressway. Wow! has the Expressway gotten tougher in these past few months. It is getting back to the way I remember it being years ago...hard as hell! I'm loving it.

 

So, after the Expressway I went on up to the top of Lower Mainline. The rest of these pics are on Timber Tamers and Ron's Run.

On this trip, I really noticed a need for some work on my front bumpstops and maybe even the need to install rear bumpstops. I really like my long travel shocks but they are bottoming out on compression right now. Since I moved my lower control arms forward to straighten out my front axle, now I have rubbing on the front side of the wheel well and bumper ends. A little grinder work will clear that right up.