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I can't help but laugh at the amount of money we spend on our Jeeps.
Mine was just supposed to be a simple little refresh.
Somewhere along the line it got out of control.
I justify it by telling myself that my Jeep is my hobby in retirement.
Laugh even more when new people come here with a Jeep they just bought.
Indicating what they would like to do to it and saying they have a budget of "X" amount of dollars.
My advice is usually to take the budget you set and throw it right out the window right now. LOL.
If you had told me three years ago the amount of money I'd put into my Jeep... All in all, it's been a great experience. It's kinda amazing if you think about it, everyone thinks we're crazing for spending so much on these 20+ year old hunks of metal but here we all are.
If you had told me three years ago the amount of money I'd put into my Jeep... All in all, it's been a great experience. It's kinda amazing if you think about it, everyone thinks we're crazing for spending so much on these 20+ year old hunks of metal but here we all are.
I know that the budget for my Jeep is relatively modest (3-4 thousand, not including vehicle), however one thing that we all know is that these Jeep's will last a real long time. When you compare what we put into our Jeep's vs what a decent used car would cost us, it probably balances out. I would honestly rather spend 15-20 thousand on fixing an older vehicle up that will be pretty much problem free, vs buying a new rolling compu... i mean car.
I can't help but laugh at the amount of money we spend on our Jeeps.
Mine was just supposed to be a simple little refresh.
Somewhere along the line it got out of control.
I justify it by telling myself that my Jeep is my hobby in retirement.
Laugh even more when new people come here with a Jeep they just bought.
Indicating what they would like to do to it and saying they have a budget of "X" amount of dollars.
My advice is usually to take the budget you set and throw it right out the window right now. LOL.
Yeah... I had a budget, and blew right past it. BUT my last XJ I hardly could ever enjoy it because every time I drove it something would break. So I'm really taking my time to go through this one and make sure that what I do I do right, and get it on the road right. I know stuff will break still off road, it always does. BUT at least I know what I've done will make it far more reliable than my last one ever was.
Originally Posted by Spencer_P
If you had told me three years ago the amount of money I'd put into my Jeep... All in all, it's been a great experience. It's kinda amazing if you think about it, everyone thinks we're crazing for spending so much on these 20+ year old hunks of metal but here we all are.
well, it's a hobby/tool/lifestyle. And there really isn't any way you can do it cheaper...
Originally Posted by Red1992XJ
I know that the budget for my Jeep is relatively modest (3-4 thousand, not including vehicle), however one thing that we all know is that these Jeep's will last a real long time. When you compare what we put into our Jeep's vs what a decent used car would cost us, it probably balances out. I would honestly rather spend 15-20 thousand on fixing an older vehicle up that will be pretty much problem free, vs buying a new rolling compu... i mean car.
Well a decent used car would just be the price of the car and maintenance, and not "accessories". My wife's car is a 2018 ford flex ecoboost... Let me tell you, I LIKE driving that car. But it has a very different purpose than my XJ. Same with my truck, when you go to spend the money, it's important to spend it on the correct tool for the job. if I was back to commuting 35 miles one way (like I was before covid) to work. My truck and the XJ just don't make sense. The cost of gas, maintenance, excessive wear and tear, etc easily covers the cost of a cheap commuter car. then you take into account safety and it's a no brainer.
I would honestly rather spend 15-20 thousand on fixing an older vehicle up that will be pretty much problem free, vs buying a new rolling compu... i mean car.
Yeah... I had a budget, and blew right past it. BUT my last XJ I hardly could ever enjoy it because every time I drove it something would break. So I'm really taking my time to go through this one and make sure that what I do I do right, and get it on the road right. I know stuff will break still off road, it always does. BUT at least I know what I've done will make it far more reliable than my last one ever was.
well, it's a hobby/tool/lifestyle. And there really isn't any way you can do it cheaper...
Well a decent used car would just be the price of the car and maintenance, and not "accessories". My wife's car is a 2018 ford flex ecoboost... Let me tell you, I LIKE driving that car. But it has a very different purpose than my XJ. Same with my truck, when you go to spend the money, it's important to spend it on the correct tool for the job. if I was back to commuting 35 miles one way (like I was before covid) to work. My truck and the XJ just don't make sense. The cost of gas, maintenance, excessive wear and tear, etc easily covers the cost of a cheap commuter car. then you take into account safety and it's a no brainer.
Maintenance would not be as big of a concern to me, but wear and tear, plus gas, more than cancels that out. I'm not a big commuter car fan, but you are right, in that they are amazing for that purpose. With the way people drive in my state (NJ), I have to be comfortable knowing that my DD could be totaled in an accident at any time. My feeling is that I have to be comfortable in what I drive, not only in physical comfort, but as far as how I feel driving the car. Some cars allow you better control, better feeling of the road, and better confidence on the road. For instance, my Mercury Grand Marquis is great for long road trips. It's like doing 65mph on your couch. However, if snow or foul weather were to be expected, I would take my Ranger that has 4wd with Torsen diffs front and rear. I have never been stuck with it.
Maintenance would not be as big of a concern to me, but wear and tear, plus gas, more than cancels that out. I'm not a big commuter car fan, but you are right, in that they are amazing for that purpose. With the way people drive in my state (NJ), I have to be comfortable knowing that my DD could be totaled in an accident at any time. My feeling is that I have to be comfortable in what I drive, not only in physical comfort, but as far as how I feel driving the car. Some cars allow you better control, better feeling of the road, and better confidence on the road. For instance, my Mercury Grand Marquis is great for long road trips. It's like doing 65mph on your couch. However, if snow or foul weather were to be expected, I would take my Ranger that has 4wd with Torsen diffs front and rear. I have never been stuck with it.
Yeah, if I ever had to commute to work again, Buying a CPO japanese luxury car is where it's at. My last car was a 2015 infiniti q50 3.7. It was a glorious car, comfortable, fast, roomy, and got decent fuel economy and was $17k, but if it got totaled in accident, I could replace it in a heartbeat. My low mileage 98 B4000 or my Wagoneer? irreplaceable.
so started work on my lunch break. I don't know if it's because I learned so much on my last XJ, bought all the right tools since working on my last XJ, Or I'm building up to a complete disaster... BUT things are going smooth taking apart the front end... Almost too smooth. if I could keep working I could be done by tonight (but I have to at least pretend to get something done this afternoon). Looking forward to being done possibly tomorrow. I need to do something about that rear brake line... I don't have the tools to do it myself. I have somebody I know in the neighborhood who works on cars, I might have him come and take a look at it, if he's available.
All I have left is to install the sway bar disconnects and the front can be dropped on the ground! Then the rear brake line needs to be fixed and all the bolts torqued! 3 freaking months, I know it’s probably a small thing but three freaking months of waiting on parts, and slowly working through repairs.
So my friend came over, and noticed that the brake line actually has a pinhole in it, so need to replace the hardline... any tips?
I would just replace the whole line but.....
Depending on where it is you could splice in a new short piece of line with some compression fittings.
I don't know how much I would trust compression fittings though.
In my state my understanding is that licensed garages are not allowed to use them for repairs.
But us regular folks can. LOL.
Or you could splice in a new piece of line by cutting out the bad part and flaring the ends with this.
You can flare lines right on the Jeep. You can find cheaper versions of this tool out there.
Couple unions, short piece of premade brake line, and be good to go.
Thing I don't know is how well that tool will flare steel line.
Flares Nicopp line like a dream. Used it when I replaced some brake lines on my '00.
Penetrating oil is your friend when you are working on an XJ. When you think you have used enough, use more.
Half the time I find the bolt breaks or you need to cut it off anyways...
Originally Posted by aroundincircles
have to buy it by the case.
sawzall/cutoff wheels end up cheaper I think, lol
Originally Posted by aroundincircles
Before: ...
After: ...
Not done on the back yet, nothing is torqued, I won't do that till the front is done and it is sitting level, and the rear brake line wouldn't come off, I may have to cut it, put a new end on it and then hook it up, the nut stripped the moment I put torque on it, and I was using the correct tool, it is pretty rusted. I hit it with some penetrating oil and will try again tomorrow. I will also start on the front end tomorrow.
cutoff wheel and vise grips/adjustable hammer?
Originally Posted by aroundincircles
Yeah, if I ever had to commute to work again, Buying a CPO japanese luxury car is where it's at. My last car was a 2015 infiniti q50 3.7. It was a glorious car, comfortable, fast, roomy, and got decent fuel economy and was $17k, but if it got totaled in accident, I could replace it in a heartbeat. My low mileage 98 B4000 or my Wagoneer? irreplaceable.
I'm actually considering an electric motorcycle or compact car...the Mi insurance is really what kills the idea though... Also who would service it up here if it had "computer problems" lol https://www.zeromotorcycles.com/model/zero-fx <- would be fun for ripping around the ORV trails too!
so started work on my lunch break. I don't know if it's because I learned so much on my last XJ, bought all the right tools since working on my last XJ, Or I'm building up to a complete disaster... BUT things are going smooth taking apart the front end... Almost too smooth. if I could keep working I could be done by tonight (but I have to at least pretend to get something done this afternoon). Looking forward to being done possibly tomorrow. I need to do something about that rear brake line... I don't have the tools to do it myself. I have somebody I know in the neighborhood who works on cars, I might have him come and take a look at it, if he's available.
Rent them from the auto parts store, they have everything, mini bender, lines, etc. I wasn't a huge fan of the rental bender, it worked but I wanted a tighter radius:
So my friend came over, and noticed that the brake line actually has a pinhole in it, so need to replace the hardline... any tips?
It's not terrible...it's not fun...especially on a mud/salt caked jeep in the garage in January...still better than shelling out hundreds of dollars! You can do it yourself no problem!
Originally Posted by Ralph77
I would just replace the whole line but.....
Depending on where it is you could splice in a new short piece of line with some compression fittings.
I don't know how much I would trust compression fittings though.
In my state my understanding is that licensed garages are not allowed to use them for repairs.
But us regular folks can. LOL.
Or you could splice in a new piece of line by cutting out the bad part and flaring the ends with this.
You can flare lines right on the Jeep. You can find cheaper versions of this tool out there.
Couple unions, short piece of premade brake line, and be good to go.
Thing I don't know is how well that tool will flare steel line.
Flares Nicopp line like a dream. Used it when I replaced some brake lines on my '00.
Don't use compression fittings, it's not legal for brake lines...I have one for emergencies but would rather limp it on the shoulder/in the ditch in 4lo to a place and then tow it... https://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.co...e-line-splice/
I've got one in the engine bay for my passenger front side line, it rusted just through the fender but everything in the engine bay to the distribution block was fine. honestly they should have done that from the factory...
After doing the splice in the engine bay I'm sold on this for next time I have to do brakes, I'm glad I got practice using the rental version in case I'm ever out and about and need to do one myself away from tools but I think this is amazingly engineered, should be foolproof and is so compact and easy that it will be worth it!
Tighten bolts for rear leaf springs
Put clamp back on rear exhaust
Tighten bolts for rear shocks
fix rear brake line
Adjust rear brake shoes
bleed rear brakes
Torque lug nuts
Drop rear spring maybe? (adjustable shackle)
Front axle -
Adjust front Track Bar
adjust front sway bar & tighten
install sway bar disconnect holders
tighten spring retainers
tighten shocks
bleed front brakes
tighten front control arms
I was going to do the oil pan gasket, and rear main, but I'm going to skip for now. It's still on my list, but the leaks have gone down A LOT after doing the oring on the oil filter adapter, so it's not as bad as I was thinking it was.
Alright, Got everything on that list done, EXCEPT the brakes... Just for lol's I went at the connection with vice grips and I CANNOT get it to come loose, so ordered the double flair tool, and a cutter, and some ends, and should have them here tonight to do it first thing in the morning. I'm going to first try to just cut off the very end. I'm sure I'm the one that put the hole in it trying to get it undone, as the rest of the line looks fine/not rusted.
