Heavy bumper = bad for joints?
 

A mechanic friend of mine warned me about putting the big bumper that I've got onto my 92 Cherokee, saying it'd be really hard on ball joints & tie rod ends. It's a pretty heavy bumper (not sure how heavy - looks like 3/16 steel with a brush/grill guard on it). Should I sell it to someone else or will the Jeep not be hurt by it? Thanks for your input! I've got a D30 front end and the 4.0 I6. Oh, here's a picture of it:
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/7613/img3000j.jpg

I'd sell it, that thing is hideous!

X2 and find a new mechanic he is a moron. A bumper will not make a difference when it comes to Balljoints or Tierod Ends wearing.

if mounting a bumper hurts all those things, think how messed up all the xjs are that have bumpers and winches and all the extra lights ,if you wanna run it do it aint gonna make a difference

That's an old pic. I ground down all the nasty beads and repainted it last wkd. It looks much nicer now. My question isn't how it looks, tho, as much as whether it'll function okay. I figured that lots of people have heavy bumpers on their xj's and it wouldn't be a big deal, but I wanted to check with Jeep owners & see before I put it on. Thanks for the ideas, everyone. I'll likely put it on.

I could see how he thinks it'll hurt it. But no it wont.

Thanks, Zacks. KOR bumpers weigh about 100lbs. I'll see if I'm close to that http://www.naxja.org/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif If I am, I'll probably put it on.

Sorry to slightly change the subject, but what about mounting it? It looks like it mounts in the stock location. Should I be worried about that? a lot of HD bumpers come with new mounting brackets.

if you're not putting a winch on it, the stock mounting locations will do just fine.

as far as weight goes, my warn is closer to 200lbs with winch and it only drops my height about an inch up front.

as far as i know, it makes no difference on ball joints or tie rod ends, but i replace those every couple seasons whether they really need it or not. they're cheap and easy to do.

i'd throw it on for sure, i've seen more hideous junk guys build on here.

I would get the tie in brackets for it. You will rip out those stock mounts faster than a kid at comi con will get a boner at the sight of tities.

Plus think about it solely weight wise..The stock one is what 5 lbs? I mean I can pick it with two fingers...And your trying to mount a 100lbs bumper in its place. In my person opinion.. Dont do it, Get the tie-in's.

something like this:
http://www.jeep4x4center.com/framera...or-war566.html

Im not saying get this one, its just an example it came up first in my search.

If your XJ couldnt handle the weight, how could someone that buys it from you use it?

x2 that thing look terrible no matter how much paint is on it.

Guys stop knockin' his bumper. Seriously he asked a question just answer it about the ball joints. Who cares if you like it it's his rig.


Don't listen to em man. Its your rig you do it. **** them. :)

You should clean your garage and then weld that bumper to whatever the hell you want.