Sitting stock...




Installing 4.5 Rough Country suspension lift...

Ran into a problem with the drivers side front leaf spring bolt. The nut broke off inside the frame assembly.


fixed by cutting a hole from above in front of the seat.


Got the offending nut out and replaced it with a new one.

Got the rear done.


All done... well, except for some brake line work...


TIRES!!!!

So I went with only 31's. I was going to go with Cooper STT's but after a bit of research I went with Dakota M/T's. They are made by Cooper for Pep Boys as a shop brand. I like the look of them. Let see how they hold up...

Oh, the other major selling point. Cooper STT: $155-$177 a piece. Dakota M/T: $111 a piece with a $111 rebate when you buy four so I get all five for the price of four.








Out at Twisted Trails offroad park in Copemish, MI




So this past weekend was the first real test of the lift, sliders and new tires. Over all I am really impressed with how things preformed. The tires held up real well on slippery hills back in the trails. A a little issues with them getting grip on some of the logs, but that might also be to the rain and how slippery they were. Did all this aired down to 17 or so PSI.

Lift did good, with only one major issue. Heard a lot of popping and groaning when in full flex but that might have more to do with the sway bar, springs, or simply the frame. Going to see about hopping in another XJ for a trail ride or two and see if I hear the same sounds. The only major issue was about halfway through the day I the bolts that hold up the TC drop stripped out the holes on one side and dropped free. Had some slightly larger self tapping bolts in my bag so I took the drop out and got the crossmember back up at stock hight. Going to fix with some square stock welded up for it and tap new holes in it.

The sliders from JCR rocked. Granted they are missing most of the side paint now, but they held up great. The twisting trails and trees lead to quite a few times of make a turn riding the sliders. From the scraps to them I know that if I had not had them that my doors and sides would have been screwed after this weekend. Really, I do not suggest taking an XJ on the yellow or blue trails of Twisted Trails without sliders!

Now the only things left to throw on Bertha:

Upgrade hitch
fab brackets for brushguard with recovery points
Mount brushguard

More to come...

 

Nice project looks like you need to do something about that rust before your jeep folds like a taco. Check out my thread for Rust Ideas.

 

Looking into it... The salt up here is killer...

 

nice, how do those tires work for you,, and what is that on your roof?

 

Love the tires. Have worked really well with no complaints.

Tubes are for carrying fight staff's. I do 6 foot staff fighting demos.

 

ahh okok then there ok..

 

Something that's been bugging me since we lifted the XJ was that piece of plastic trimming under the bumper.


So me and Krysti headed out today to take care of it. After removing some screws and using the sawsall we trimmed it up so that the fenders are even with the bumper. Here she sits now...


I think it looks a lot better now.

 

yeah its looks better, I did that a week ago,, and also the trimming of fenders to bumper height.

 

Is your axle offset to the driver's side as it appears. If it is I would say it is time for an adjustable trac bar.

 

Have one, still working one the "Adjustable" part.

Soon as I get some time this week I plane on work on that and my alignment.

 

Where did u get the skull and crossbones sticker?

 

Did by http://www.jeepsticker.com/. Guys name is Spence. This was a custom order, but I'm sure that he can come up with anything. He does great work and is very reasonable in price. He also did the SWMJ stickers and the Swords of Valour one across the front windshield.

 

Thanks ,thats the sign of my dads company

 

Read post and then did what u did and removed that plastic trim piece, thanks 4 the idea.

 

Bad news....

I just seized up the rear dif yesterday... Looks like the shaft from the drive shaft into the dif (pinion bearing?)

Luckly I have another axle with no spider gears or shafts... So I'm going to try and get one good axle out of the two...

Going to take both of them