I have a chance to get a 2001 WJ with the 4.0 motor for $500 from a friend. He says the rear control arm bushings are shot. Is this a reasonably easy DIY job? The jeep looks decent and the parts needed don't seem expensive.

 

If you have a good vocabulary and perseverance, It should be an easy job! LOL! No, seriously, it's just a bunch of bolts that are sometimes rusted to the bushing sleeves. In my opinion, it's better to buy complete arms than try to change the bushings. The upper one is the most expensive, but the easiest to change. It's triangular with a ball joint on top of the rear diff that mounts on a plate with 4 bolts. Your problem is most likely just the lower arms because the bushing shells tend to rust out.

I replaced all 7 arms and the trackbar on my 2000 WJ and the parts cost me $300 for everything from rockauto.com

I bought all Moog parts.

 

Dave is right on point and the better option as well.

 

Going to look at tonight. Hopefully it works out.

 

I went to look at it. 160,000 miles. Body is in decent shape except for some rust on the rockers. Battery was stone dead so I couldn't start it even after trying to jump it. Turns out it hasn't been started since November. I've never dealt with a car that has sat for so long. Is there anything I should be concerned about?

 

The only thing I can think about is contaminated fuel. Ethanol blended fuel sucks in moisture very quickly and IDK how sealed the system is over a long period of time.

You may have problems with the security system also because I'm sure it's lost it's memory. The SKIM module stores key codes but IDK if they are written on a chip or just held in a powered memory. Worst case scenario, you'll have to have it reprogrammed at a dealer.