Really? Interesting. And you just torqued them down to like 85-95 ft-lbs?

How did your ball Joints hold up on the front? Sorry for the game of 20 questions but my XJ is in the 200k+ miles club like yours so I figure you've got the best advice.

 

Noooooo. 100 ft-lbs, then again to 120.

I've not had any issues with my ball joints. Never changed them since I got the truck. AFAIK they are original.

 

You can replace the rear studs with front ones for a 00-01 XJ that are longer, fwiw.

 

Okay wow its official. You've got the holy grail of XJs. thanks for the info. I'll try it again when I get the time.

I have a 00 with 8.25 and the rear studs are short as ****. Like .75" if that's supposed to be longer ones I cant imagine 99 & older. Are they like half a thread?

 

He's saying get 10 front studs and press them into your rear shafts, shouldn't have length issues then.

 

Ohhhhh.... I feel like a *******. Thanks for the info. Sorry for the hi-jack Dukie

 

Dukie, I think my jeep is trying to be like yours. I noticed a couple puffs of smoke coming out from underneath the jeep everytime I stop at a traffic light. I automatically suspected it was burning off of the exhaust (was thinking manifold - indicating valve cover gasket - turns out, it's at the down pipe - RMS) so I opened to hood and started inspecting and noticed that my driver side Motor mount is rubber-less above the bolt. I thought it was my exhaust that was rattling due to the broken hanger next to the tranny - guess not.

So time for brown dogs

 

sweet

 

What's next in here?

 

Short Term:
- Finish my floor repair (final layer of seam sealer, sound deadening, and monstaliner
- New shifter parts - bushing, seal, inner boot
- install steering box brace
- replace transmission mount
- Brown Dog engine supermounts
- Rear Disc Brake Conversion, New front pads

Long Term:
- HD Offroad Frame Stiffeners - Full Chassis
- Tube Sliders
- Install my 136A alternator
- APN Exhaust Manifold

 

Frame stiffies are fun. Lots of welding... And new exhaust/ intake tear down is kind of a pita but worth it. Keeping the 27 spline 8.25, or do you have a 29 in there? I just finished the gears in mine.

 

Nah eventually it'll get an 8.8 with the super 88 kit in the rear. till then it's the stock 27 spline 8.25

 

I forgot you were doing that. My 8.25 has taken a beating so far on 33x10.5's. The housing is all kinds of beat up.

 

You ever gonna put those 4.10's in?

 

That's the plan. I gotta wait a bit to afford the install kits