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The LPG was a quick fix, then the annual inspection (MOT) came last week.
Oops, bit of a trainwreck compared with previous years. Front Ball Joints are the worst part of it, and rear brakes are imbalanced accross the axle again. Bob the Spanner God has finally retired so I'll have to trust a callow youth to do the drum brakes this time. To be fair, they've lasted well since last time! Thanks Bob
So, off to Rockauto I go - seeing as there's nothing available in the UK. I got all four balljoints, figuring I may as well. They're Moog greasable ones. I could have paid more, could have paid less - but they're not the super cheapies. I also needed a UJ because I think I nipped a seal when I replaced one of the front axle UJs a year or two back. Seeing as shipping is the killer, I got a full set of front Moog UJs and a new door limiter strap. This time I remembered the door pins too! With a bit of luck I'll have a drivers door that doesn't do the CLACK CLACK anymore.
And then, just because I've been far too sensible already, I finally got some new front springs!
Cheap is back from the house of wallet pain with a fresh 12 month ticket! Also a new UJ in the front driveshaft, refurbed drums, and new balljoints on the Right (driver's) side. She still grinds in a full lock turn to the right so I'll probably have to look at the UJ on the axle again - but I did remember to buy a full set from RockAuto this time to get some value out of the shipping AND a new door strap assy for the drivers's door. More news on that later, I guess.
The bad news is that there wasn't time to fit the springs, but hey. I'm sure I need a set of coil compressors.. maybe. It also had an advisory for a rusted rear shock bush- which is something I've never seen before. It does sound like a great excuse to buy a full set of OME Shocks and fit them alongside the new springs in the summer.
The other bad news is that I drove it to Birmingham to see the Crufts dog show and Cheap decided to run only on petrol. This is definitely the expensive option, although it did suprisingly good mileage on cruise control at 70mph. She hit amost 5 miles / litre which is a measure noone else uses, but is very convenient when filling up in the UK because we measure roads in miles but fuel in litres. So I need to get into the LPG system and see why I've still got a full tank of propane after a 300 mile drive :/ My first suspicion was that she was low on coolant (because without a good flow of hot water, the LPG reducer will ice up and stop working) but she's still topped right up, which is fantastic news. It seems that the last couple of core plugs really have solved the coolant leak.
Well, time does fly. Another annual inspection and she failed only on one leaky rear damper. So, the button was pressed and I got four OME shocks to go with the springs.
Won't be this clean for long!
Got to say, I'm pleased. I can use full lock again. The Jeep sits level (these photos are on a slope, sadly) and it rides really well. There's maybe a bit more roll, but the nose is noticeably higher so I guess that's to be expected. The ride is good, there are a lot of poorly maintained asphalt roads near me and everything stays comfortable and in control - without being as squishy as it was before. So now it's a full set of OME suspension apart from the rear leafs.
And now Cheap has a new starter motor!
After a return home on the back of a flatbed, I realised I had left it a bit too long
So, RockAuto sent me a new AC Delco part (made in China?) which I managed to fit OK, I just should have put her up on stands because it turned into one of those jobs where my arms were too long and I needed two left hands at once. Sorted now, though.
Next step is to treat the root cause which is a leaking diaphram in the LPG Reducer. This doesn't stop it running great, but it does mean that LPG leaks into the intake for a few minutes after you shut down. If you leave it overnight, the LPG disperses and she starts first hit. If you do a hot/warm restart, the mixture is off the chart rich because the ECU is pumping petrol on top of the gas and it takes 5-10 seconds of cranking to clear the pipes. Which, of course, wears out the starter. So, the original Chrysler part has finally died.
Got the kids excited about Snow Foaming the vehicles today
Cheap got a wash, for the first time in too long. Looking good from 10 feet! Slightly down at the back, I reckon. She's on Crown HD springs at the rear but they a few years old now. The OME Coils at the front are new... maybe it'll settle, maybe not. Looking "Good Enough"
Took the Jeep down south (by UK standards) on a bit of a road trip doing this and that. About 500miles totaly. I've noticed a vague squeak from the front recently and the front brakes are binding slightly, especially on full lock - which seems weird. There's plenty of meat on that pads and disks, I'm wondering if they're the right parts - or cheap parts - which could be a mm or so off.
I can't remember where I got the brakes from or if they were sourced by the garage.
Also, the LPG reducer is fixed - so hot restarts are no longer an issue which is much more satisfying than I thought it would be.
MOT FAIL!!! but only for the hazard light switch. The brakes needed adjusting at the back, but that's every time.
I now have a new indicator stalk assembly, which feels like it needs 150k miles to wear in. It's definitely crunchy compared to the old one which was fine apart from the hazard light switch. Still, another year.
More worrying, I got advisories for "Suspension arm ball joint slight play" on 3 of the 4. I'm not sure if that's the ball joints or the control arms, I'll have to take it up with the garage. OTOH, this might be a good time to upgrade to stronger, adjustable control arms: https://www.maxpeedingrods.co.uk/pro...eep%20cherokee
or, I might be tempted to go with a full set of Chinesium (presumably) as I also had an advisory for drag link end (I presume that's the Pitman arm) and steering box:
Lower control arms are on. Uppers next. No improvement in the clunk in the steering. This might need a new steering box, and I don't see many great options yet :/
Still, new UJs in the front axles have certainly calmed things down!
Upper control arms are done, I've got a reman steering box waiting as the current one is weeping, but the clonk in the steering has gone now the control arms and new track bar are on so I didn't bother changing the OE one.
She drives well! No clunks, no clonks and no grinding at full lock. With the OME stuff fitted, everything feels very robust. I just need to get the tracking done, as she's a little bit vague and pulls very slightly left. The tyres are good and I don't want to wreck them.
I think the next target is the aircon. It works but it's not exactly freezing cold, probably needs another re-gas as it has been a couple of years since the last one. For those outside the UK,we've had some record breaking weather this year and it has been 30 degrees* round here. That's nothing by Arizona standards, but sweaty for us!
Engine and Front diff oil change. I'm not sure how long it has been for the front diff but there was oil and it was still.. oily...
The fill plug looked quite furry which wasn't ideal but I couldn't see any glitter elsewhere, so there's hope - but there is quite a lot of play if you twist the front drive shaft, even with the wheels on the ground. IDK if I should be looking at a new D30 soon. I guess time will tell.
Cruise Control has finally given up. I should start looking for vacuum leaks I guess
