tjbliley
10-27-2008, 11:09 PM
Today I started in ernest making the needed repairs to my WJ so it will pass inspection. I have been collecting parts for a while and still have some to come in. To be quite honest this involves some upgrades as well as regular repairs, but who, if given the chance, would just use stock parts when you could upgrade.
My WJ has needed to have the bushings replaced since my last inspection when they were found to be "wearing, but not to worn to pass yet", so I knew that they would need to be done before next year. Guess what, its next year.
This is also compunded by the fact that the WJ has a known issue with front brake rotors warping under normal use after a couple of years and the last time I did brakes, about 2 years ago, I did not replace the rotors, just the pads.
So you take all this and you have the oppurtunity to upgrade the springs and shocks cause, If I have to take them off to do the bushings I might as well put better stuff back on. This goes for the brakles and rotors as well.
You have to realize that I am in this vehicle for alot more years since I replaced the motor back when we went to Wisconsin for Camp Jeep. So I have to make it last.
The changes and repairs are as follows.
1. Repair or replace all control arm bushings. This does not happen easily because they can't be replaced. The control arms must be replaced because Jeep nor any other retailer sells the bushings for a WJ. Just one set but you can't get them. With this in mind I took to diging in my pile-o-parts and found I had some control arms which came off a Jeep. They needed alot of work and they needed bushings but I could replace them and clean them up so then I had the lowers covered.(or so I thought)
I started with this
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/tjbliley/Jeep%20Stuff/WJ%20Stuff/102708_09591.jpg
They definitely needed some work. So I used the shop press which I thought I had wasted money on, and got its cost per use down even lower since I found another project for it and pressed out the old bushings. It my research for this work I had sourced some bushings from Matt up at Independent4x which I wanted to be my plan 'B'. I wanted to put back in the arms the same bushings which came in them. After what seemed like 20 Phone calls and some internet research I found that the Control arms possibly came out of an XJ and they were Black Diamond Susp. brand. they used Daystar bushings and Superlift would not have them in stock until the middle to end of November. Hence I went to plan 'B', Thank God for Matt. I will expand on that later.
After some work on the control arms I ended up with a pile of old bushings.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/tjbliley/Jeep%20Stuff/WJ%20Stuff/102708_14462.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/tjbliley/Jeep%20Stuff/WJ%20Stuff/102708_14463.jpg
And some dirty control arms.
My WJ has needed to have the bushings replaced since my last inspection when they were found to be "wearing, but not to worn to pass yet", so I knew that they would need to be done before next year. Guess what, its next year.
This is also compunded by the fact that the WJ has a known issue with front brake rotors warping under normal use after a couple of years and the last time I did brakes, about 2 years ago, I did not replace the rotors, just the pads.
So you take all this and you have the oppurtunity to upgrade the springs and shocks cause, If I have to take them off to do the bushings I might as well put better stuff back on. This goes for the brakles and rotors as well.
You have to realize that I am in this vehicle for alot more years since I replaced the motor back when we went to Wisconsin for Camp Jeep. So I have to make it last.
The changes and repairs are as follows.
1. Repair or replace all control arm bushings. This does not happen easily because they can't be replaced. The control arms must be replaced because Jeep nor any other retailer sells the bushings for a WJ. Just one set but you can't get them. With this in mind I took to diging in my pile-o-parts and found I had some control arms which came off a Jeep. They needed alot of work and they needed bushings but I could replace them and clean them up so then I had the lowers covered.(or so I thought)
I started with this
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/tjbliley/Jeep%20Stuff/WJ%20Stuff/102708_09591.jpg
They definitely needed some work. So I used the shop press which I thought I had wasted money on, and got its cost per use down even lower since I found another project for it and pressed out the old bushings. It my research for this work I had sourced some bushings from Matt up at Independent4x which I wanted to be my plan 'B'. I wanted to put back in the arms the same bushings which came in them. After what seemed like 20 Phone calls and some internet research I found that the Control arms possibly came out of an XJ and they were Black Diamond Susp. brand. they used Daystar bushings and Superlift would not have them in stock until the middle to end of November. Hence I went to plan 'B', Thank God for Matt. I will expand on that later.
After some work on the control arms I ended up with a pile of old bushings.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/tjbliley/Jeep%20Stuff/WJ%20Stuff/102708_14462.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/tjbliley/Jeep%20Stuff/WJ%20Stuff/102708_14463.jpg
And some dirty control arms.