I got tired of hauling the kid out of the back of my ext. cab truck, so I bought a jeep. I also figured this would be a good opportunity to knock the rust off my tools. I am somewhat mechanically inclined but worked in construction mostly. Working on jeeps will be a new venture for me.
This is how I brought her home. 2000 Cherokee Sport.
I'm not going to do a big build. There aren't many off road opportunities nearby, just the fire roads where I hunt and fish. Just going to build a reliable DD and hunting rig. Starting off with some maintenance stuff: oil leak, u-joints, rear shock mounts, new leafs and tires. I'll put a modest lift on and few accessories just for fun.
So the first thing I had to do was fix the rear upper shock mounts (because the bolts fell out while I was driving down the high way). When I climbed underneath, this is what I saw
Someone had tried cutting out the nuts (burn marks on the carpet in the back) but failed miserably. The cheap hardware they installed was cockeyed missing a lock washer or loctite. A quick hit with the air hammer and I was able to knock the remnants of the old nuts out and fish new hardware up.
Been working on some maintenance stuff. New oil pan gasket, front wheel u joints, new track bar (only because I snapped the bolt taking the old one off so I could get the oil pan out...). I also have new leafs waiting to go in.
So since the front end is all torn apart and I have a loaner vehicle, I went ahead and ordered Fat Bobs 2" BB and new Rugged Ridge track bar and bracket. Also have new Crown leafs waiting to go in.
I ripped the plastic off of the front bumper today, that's like 15 HP and 2" of flex right?!?!
Got the front end pretty much put back together. Just need to center the axle after the new track bar went in and re connect the sway bar. Coil spacers went in with out an issue. Taking the leafs to a shop to have the bushings pressed in tomorrow. I tried a home brew press using some threaded rod and pipe flanges, but couldn't get them to sit square. I'll try and get some pictures tomorrow.
I have a little rust on the rear quarter panels. I wonder if I should try and cut and fold whats left or just cut and weld some new sheet metal in place of of a cut and fold?
(yes I know my shackle angle is horrible, working on it)
Shackle angle could be better but could be much worse, at least it's pointing toward the rear. I would think that by the time you cut out all of the bad metal you won't have much to "fold", just cut it out and weld in some new stuff if you can.
Shackle angle could be better but could be much worse, at least it's pointing toward the rear. I would think that by the time you cut out all of the bad metal you won't have much to "fold", just cut it out and weld in some new stuff if you can.
When I was poking it with a screwdriver, it was pretty soft above the visible rust. I guess this is an excuse to buy a brake...
(Don't tell my wife)
