Potatowalker

I finally found a set of extended front brake lines for a price I was willing to pay - I think it was about $52 for the front set shipped. They're stainless braided and ended up being a little longer than I expected, but I don't mind. I'll probably be adding another inch or so of lift on the front springs, and I'd rather have a little too much than not quite enough brake line now that I can disconnect the front swaybar. Yes, I zip tied them loosely to the shock body to make sure they don't rub on the tire in turns. I'm pumped to go see how it rides on a gnarly trail with the front swaybar detached now!

oh, and I've replaced the power steering fluid in the reservoir twice now with royal purple synthetic fluid which it definitely seems to like.

Potatowalker

Did the window lock-out switch bypass today and it worked like a charm. Cherokee Forum rules!

The pic's a little blurry cuz my phone sucks but you can see the blue splice-connector where I jumped the yellow and tan wires.

Potatowalker

Finally got around to rebuilding the front drive shaft the other day. The u-joints were all pretty decent, but I replaced them anyway since they were definitely old. The centering yoke and dust seal were pretty much toast though. The dust seal was half-disintegrated and there was no grease to be found. I was glad I got the new centering yoke kit.

I also got motivated to put the eye-bolts in my fender wells to hang the sway bar from when it's disconnected. I'll be sure to get some pics next time I'm under there.

Potatowalker

Well the skiing was good this winter so I spent most of my time doing that and working on the jeep in my spare moments. I did have more spare moments than I would have thought, so here's the list of things I've done since I last updated this thread:

-Installed new Gatorback drive belt.
-Installed Tomken gas tank skid plate (had to remove tow hitch).
-Installed 62mm throttle body.
-Installed weathertech side window deflectors (vent visors). These are the nice kind that mount inside the window channels, not double-sided tape!
-Replaced IAC and TPS with new Mopar sensors.
-Ran two changes of fluid through the AW4 drained from the bolt on the pan.
-Installed new cap/rotor from Accel.
-Changed spark plugs to Autolite single platinum (AP985).
-Installed Blue Sea 12-circuit fuse box running on a 100amp breaker for accessories soon to be installed.

I'm currently prepping and painting a JCR rear bumper with tire carrier which can only be described as crazy impressive. Or maybe just heavy. The test fit blew my mind with how well they manufactured everything to fit and line up with the body lines. I made a switch box that I'm going to mount between the sun visors on the headliner that will control some lights I'm adding with the bumper, and some rock lights I'm going to make. More details will follow on those when I get into them a little deeper. Gotta get that bumper done and mounted though - it's gonna look sick, plus it'll be nice to have towing and recovery options back there again!!!

Here's a pic of the throttle body after I painted it, and one of the JCR bumper getting test-fitted before painting. I'll be sure to take more pics for the next post, now that it's warm out again and the XJ has emerged from its snow and ice cocoon.

Potatowalker

Time for the next update!

I've finished the secondary PDC and ran wires to a new switch box I made and mounted in the cab with relays on the firewall "shelf" under the hood.


I also installed LED light strips under the rockers and bumpers, which are controlled by the yellow switch.



Finally got the JCR rear bumper and tire carrier finished and installed just in time to splash mud and sand all over it in Moab!





The backup lights in the rear bumper are wired to both the red switch on the new switch box and the reverse light circuit. The bumper has done really well so far. I'm extremely satisfied with how well it was made and how straight-forward the installation was. Now I have a lot more room in the back, AND I can pull people again!


Oh, and I put new u-joints in the rear drive shaft cuz it was gettin all riled up. It's settled down again now.

Potatowalker

oops, fixed the pics. apologies to anyone who opened that before I fixed it!

Jds12

Nice build, looks good! How'd the wing nuts for the sway bar links work out in the long run?

Potatowalker

Thanks! I still have them on there and they are a lot easier to remove than a bolt with a nut. I still use a ratchet to take them off just because it's fastest, and if you're not parked level it can be a wrestling match to put them back on, but for under $20 I'm happy with them. Eventually I will be getting some of the newer style disconnects but this setup has done well and never come loose or even rattled much. I did removed the factory stud that's pressed into the axle-side bracket and replace it with a bolt that I can just pull out sideways which makes the removal process a lot easier at the TH. I'm actually surprised they don't vibrate loose on all the washboard roads I drive, but for some reason a lock washer under the wing nut is all it takes!