Never thought about picking up a skid plate for the ol Vee Dub. TDI's are nice, would love to have one.


Thanks, finally getting it done... or at least closer as they never really are done.

Now the Snow is melting here in Buffalo, had a buddy of mine help me pick up my axles at my gear guy.

Axles/ knuckles / truss / stearing:
Attachment 328008

8.25 with 4.56 & ARB air locker installed:
Attachment 328009

D30 with 4.56 & Yukon Air locker installed:
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps54bf6858.jpg

Knuckles with Timken Unit Bearings:
Attachment 328010

New List of things to do:
1) Have buddy weld tubes solid to differential on 8.25 & D30
2) Same buddy weld on Truss
3) Finish D30 (ball joints/ steering/ rotors/ pads/ new bushings)
4) install ARB compressor
5) run all lines for lockers
6) pull old axles out & install new (CAN NOT WAIT)
7) break in gears
8) Shackle Relocation Brackets (have to buy)
9) Buy new tires (33-12.5-15 MT's)
10) Wheel it!

Well, it's been a long cold winter, now it's time to get out & get to workin on the XJ

Figured I'd install the ARB Compressor as that's all I can do till I get my axles over to my buddies shop to do some welding.

Compressor:
Attachment 325804

Where to install it? I figured since our winters are so bad & they use sooo much salt on the roads that it had to be inside the cab. Under the back seat has tons of room.

Attachment 325805

Something like this:
Attachment 325806

After a ton of fighting with the carpet, this is what I ended up with
Attachment 325807

Seat closed:
Attachment 325808

Then, had to figure out what to do with the switches. I wanted an overhead console out of an XJ, but time & money is short so after laying the switches out everywhere & I mean everywhere I decided on the dash. Ok, a ton of layout and changing my mind I measured 10 times and cut once to end up with this:
Attachment 325809

Reinstalled the dash & marked the bracket that holds the gauge cluster:
Attachment 325810

Then reinstall the dash to make sure I cleared everything. Looks good:
Attachment 325811

Install all switches: (couple of shots)
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps2d6589c6.jpg

Attachment 325812

Attachment 325813

Then, since it was still nice out & the sun was out figured I'd mount my SOLID diff covers on my axles to see how they'd look. D30 looks real nice:
Attachment 325814

Chrysler 8.25 not so good, couple holes didn't line up & now I'll have to work on that. No big deal since I still have to do some welding on the axles before I can install them:
Attachment 325815

Also, since my rear exhaust hanger rotted off (along with my 3 year old exhaust), figured I'd prep & paint the hanger and look into a Stainless Steal exhaust. Possibly Borla.
Attachment 325816

Gotta get photo of finished / painted hanger. Next step is to get some heavy gauge wire to finish wiring the compressor to the battery & get the axles over for welding.

This thing will pickup speed now that the weather & my friends YJ are getting closer to being reality.

I'd like to know how that paint holds up on your axles. I'm in limbo on what to use on mine.

Been a while since I've updated my progress.... Just been picking up some misc. parts to get the axles goin...


Loaded up my axles in the XJ to drop them off to my buddies house (2 weeks ago) to get the truss welded up & finishing assembling them..

Loaded up & ready to go (8.25 & D30 fits just right):
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...psc174a6ab.jpg


During the week my buddy welded up the truss for me, not totally the way I wanted it but can't complain since he's not charging me to do it & gonna give me a hand swappin out the old for the new...
Attachment 322546


Saturday (6/28/14), I went over to do some work on the axles. My buddy had a party to go to (drinkin beers & chillin) as I sat in the 85+ degrees to assemble the front axle.


When I got there this how it looked:
Attachment 322547


By the time I left I left 6 1/2 hours later this is how I left it:
Attachment 322548


Attachment 322549


Attachment 322550


Attachment 322551


Axle seals in, new ball joints, axles ground down & cleaned up, new U-joints, new unit bearings, all new hardware, calipers, disks, new bushings (that was a P.I.T.A......)



Sunday (6/29/14) this is next....
Attachment 322552


Chry 8.25:
Brake likes, calipers.


Still to do D30:
1 Ton Stearing, check all bolts, install pads.


By the end of today, hopefully have the axles under the XJ & start the break in period for the gears.

Behind on updating.
 

6/29/14


Started installing the 1 Ton Steering.......
- - Awesome steering, Highly recommend it ---> http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co...49196bdf875fba

Inserts installed (well installed it upside down & made the quick change after taking the picture)
Attachment 322202


http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps2c914a2e.jpg


Did a quick adjustment so the alignment would be close:
Attachment 322203


Attachment 322204


Attachment 322205


As I was working on the axles, I saw her sneeking a peak in to see what was in her future.....
Attachment 322206


Put her up in the air and took the 33's off:
Attachment 322207


Got the LP D30 unbolted & ready to pull..
Attachment 322208


In the air and Axle out.
Attachment 322209


Attachment 322210


Axle bolted in
Attachment 322211


Fighting to line up the control arms..
Attachment 322212


Started getting late fast, didn't get any picts of the 8.25 install. We got it in & brakes all figured out.


Problem we ran into, once we put the tires on, the front tires were getting bound up. Ended up (after a bunch or forum reading and asking questions) when I bought the unit bearings & rotors, I didn't buy them for the same year. I have to buy some new rotors, not sure which ones I have to get yet, but will get into that shortly......


I gotta get some photo's of how she sits right now........ (soon)

Looks like you got some great progress going on! We'll be going up to Canada for some rock crawling and trails if you're interested. July 25-28.

Thanks, almost where I wanna be. Don't know if I'll be ready by then. I'd like to head to wrangler park or PA for a few trial runs in august before going too far though.

We're going to Rausch Creek the end of August as well.

Let me know when (dates) I'd love to tag along. Haven't been there yet.

August 22-25

Fixing Front Brakes
 

Well, finally got to figuring out my front brake issues:


Posted a new thread here & on Jeep Forum:
Cherokee forum:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/d3...d-help-195990/


Jeep forum:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/d...-hepl-2537354/


Both forums sent me to this thread:
Title: Any difference in hubs...?
Link: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/a...e-hubs-360959/


Basically, I had the wrong rotors, I didn't match the Hub Year with the Rotor year. BIG MISTAKE, don't let this happen to you.


Here is a helpful picture:;
Attachment 322023


Went to Autozone, and they were really helpful. The guy that helped me out brought out a bunch of rotors & I started pulling measurements. Ended up with this:
Attachment 322024


Attachment 322025


Wrong Disks:
Attachment 322026


Attachment 322027


Disks off:
Attachment 322028


New Disks on:
Attachment 322029


How cool do the Red Calipers look....
Attachment 322030


Extreme Close up:
Attachment 322031


8.25:
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/s...ps21a22c63.jpg


HP D30:
Attachment 322032


List of things to finish up:
1) Replace Headliner
2) Tint Windows
3) Plum the compressor to front & rear locker
4) Finish wiring up compressor
5) NEW TIRES & Alignment (to go 33's 12.5 BFG KO2's or 35's 12.5 BFG KO2's) - - Decisions - -