200+K WJ 4.0
 

Just last week, I replaced the rear lower control arms because the bushings were shot. Today, I went to my mechanic to have him install a new steering damper and check it over for the winter. I need the upper rear control arm and ball joint, all 4 front control arms, track bar, and a thermostat housing because it's cracked! Yowza! It's all stock and I want to keep it that way. The total of all the parts from rockauto was $325 including shipping, which wasn't half bad to my way of thinking. I bought Moog and Dorman parts because Mopar was out of my reach. Just the rear control arm was $508 from Mopar without the ball joint!

Now I need to save a bit for installation. I actually thought about a 2" BB, but thought better about it. I use this jeep to make a living and don't want it screwed up.

It's funny how the outer casings of the bushings rot out before the rubber itself. Whoda thunk?

Good luck with that steering damper. I changed mine myself and beat the nut to pieces with a half inch drive impact, even after heating it and soaking it with penetrating oil for a day or two. I finally cut the bolt out with a cutting torch and replaced it with a new one. I don't have any idea what the previous owner used to seal that nut on but it sure as heck worked.

My buddy ran it out with a 3/8 impact! It had only been on a little over a year. I go thru them fast because of my maneuvering around mailboxes. I use good normal ones so they don't hinder my steering too much, but they start leaking in less than a year. I use nothing but Monroe and I can barely pull them out by hand.

2 inch BB
 

IF ur gonna go with a 2 inch budget boost instead get a 2.5 inch spring lift it will make that jeep feel so much better specially in corners my jeep has 200+k on it and I just installed a set of freedom off road spring and shock lift and its nice! Plus simple drive way job!

Dave have you considered looking for a used set of the factory Up Country Pkg. springs they will give you an 1 1/2 -2" of lift and if your lucky it may the shocks to match still there.


Just a thought my stock coils are still good 212,000 mi. on them.

Fred, the only reason I thought about a lift was because of wheelwell snowpack from sticking the driver's front wheel into snowbanks to get near people's mailboxes. I've issued letters to my customers telling them I won't be doing this anymore because of the damage it's done to my vehicle and if the mailbox isn't clear, they'll be getting their paper in a bag and tossed. Most of my good longterm customers make an effort to clear the snow, but there are a few that don't bother at all. A few that get their driveways plowed professionally have told their contractors to make sure it's done, so I've made sure they are told "thank you!"

When the snow is fresh and soft, there is no problem, but after it freezes solid, I've ripped out the liner and broken a foglight already.

This WJ is the best vehicle I've used for this and has almost 80K miles doing this without much problems. Funny, I have a friend with an 08 Ford Explorer that is amazed how much traction I get! She has 2 customers with mailboxes on hills with dropoffs and has nearly slid into ditches doing them. When there's lots of snow, she pays ME to do those 2! I let her drive mine when she was looking for a vehicle, but no, she had to have an Explorer! I rib her about it all the time!

Dodge Caravans seem to be popular for this work, but they don't seem to last long. It seems the transmissions are weaker than the 42re, especially running loaded!

I have yet seen a caravan with the factory trans in it.The wj is really the last good suv jeep has made.Solid axles 4.0 or v8 and the all coil springs they do ride a lot smoother then most 4x4 suvs i have been in.That explorer if she drives it hard the 4.0 is known for breaking the harmonic balancer.

Drive it hard? Nah, We call her Mario Andretti when she pulls into the parking lot! Just stay out of her way!

If it starts sounding like a bag of nickles thrown in a clothes dryer its the balancer.

Good to know. She's already complaining about a rear wheel bearing after just replacing a front hub! She bought one of those maintenance plans and they're giving her the runaround about it. It's an 08 she bought from the biggest Ford dealer in Rochester. Why go 150 miles from home to buy a car? "But they gave me a good deal!" Right, now eat it!