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What I did to my TJ today

4M views 43K replies 4K participants last post by  LowCountryLJ 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Please feel free to add your own vehicle wrenching / adventure stories to this Thread.
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#26,684 ·
I hate it when online stores do not tell you before you check out that a part is not in stock.

I shop at a Volvo specialty shop a lot, and every product page tells the live count of that item. I have actually seen the number drop at busy times. Very helpful. And the order history page gives fairly accurate estimates on when an item will be in, should you go ahead and order something that is out of stock. It tells this this before you check out, too.

I think Quadratec has something like this now. But it is much more limited.

I wonder if such inventory control software is really expensive over the stuff many of the smaller 4x4 shops use. It seems that if they keep tabs on what they have that telling us as we shop would be an upgrade to their system and website that would not cost too much and would end up fostering some good customer relations due to the apparent transparency and honesty in the ordering process.

Otherwise, the way it is on a lot of sites seems like they simply want your money NOW and that they feel like, "Screw you, man. You'll get your parts soon enough. Quit whining!"

Hope you get your water pump soon!
4wd hardware has been TERRIBLE with shipping stuff since it merged with 4wp. I have to wait weeks to get something from them nowadays when back then I would have it within three days or pick it up free that same day. I never deal with 4wd hardware anymore since quadratec usually has the same part IN STOCK ready to ship.

Sad.
 
#26,686 ·
Rocker Guard

I installed my new Smittybilt (I know I know but the price was damn good) Rocker Guard with step. After looking at them sitting next to my faded gray fender flares I just had to rattle can bedliner them and am extremely happy with the out come.
New Rocker Guards old gray flares



New Rocker Guards with newly repainted Flares



I also installed a new stereo deck, Pioneer MVH-X360BT, along with new Kicker dash and sound bar speakers. Hands down the best mod ive done for under $180.00. Love the sounds, I can actually hear them now and my android phone will connect thru Bluetooth/USB/front jack. No CD player on the new deck but don't need one since my phone carries all the tunes I can handle.

Sorry about the pics. Not sure whats gone wrong with photobucket but cant get it to show anything but small or grainy pics.
P.S. Love the Poison Spyder hood! Looks great and you do nice work
 
#26,687 ·
I installed my Poison Spyder Hood Louver. The first of many more mods.
Damn that looks awesome!

I let my TJ make a friend today.
And I fixed my plate/tire carrier interference issue. Pulled the plate holder off and drilled 4 holes in my plate. Added a little double sided tape to the back and stuck/bolted it on..

 
#26,691 · (Edited)
The D30 U-joints kicked my ass. They were so badly stuck and rusted that the ears of the shafts ended up getting bent. The bends are so minor that I cannot see them, but the caps will NOT line up right on two of them (right inner, left outer). I have now destroyed two Spicer 5-760X U-joints trying to get them in on one side each time. Three caps seat perfectly on each side, but one bore has been bent on each axle shaft combo and the caps keep shattering. (No, no bearings fell over. The shaft ears are actually bent according to my micrometer and calipers, but I cannot *see* the bend.)

Damn.

So I just bought a set of alloys off Amazon. I hope they are good. I am deficient in my knowledge of axle shafts. I know I want to beef up my D 30, but the cost had me putting that off, but the OEM Jeep parts are even more expensive! I'll be damned if I drop that sort of coin on parts with a known failure rate like the stock shafts have! So I got this kit:

http://www.amazon.com/Alloy-USA-12148-Axle-Kit/dp/B000FQ08MO

It comes with China-made U-joints that I do not trust. I trust the shafts based on what I have read here, but not those U-joints. So I added in a pair of Spicer 5-760X joints. And I fully expect to have them press in PERFECTLY for that price!

HAHAHA!!! :banghead: :pullinghair:

Anyone here have this kit or at least the Alloy USA 27 spline shafts? Please tell me I didn't just buy a big box of crap...
 
#26,693 ·
The D30 U-joints kicked my ass. They were so badly stuck and rusted that the ears of the shafts ended up getting bent. The bends are so minor that I cannot see them, but the caps will NOT line up right on two of them (right inner, left outer). I have now destroyed two Spicer 5-760X U-joints trying to get them in on one side each time. Three caps seat perfectly on each side, but one bore has been bent on each axle shaft combo and the caps keep shattering. (No, no bearings fell over. The shaft ears are actually bent according to my micrometer and calipers, but I cannot *see* the bend.) Damn. So I just bought a set of alloys off Amazon. I hope they are good. I am deficient in my knowledge of axle shafts. I know I want to beef up my D 30, but the cost had me putting that off, but the OEM Jeep parts are even more expensive! I'll be damned if I drop that sort of coin on parts with a known failure rate like the stock shafts have! So I got this kit: http://www.amazon.com/Alloy-USA-12148-Axle-Kit/dp/B000FQ08MO It comes with China-made U-joints that I do not trust. I trust the shafts based on what I have read here, but not those U-joints. So I added in a pair of Spicer 5-760X joints. And I fully expect to have them press in PERFECTLY for that price! HAHAHA!!! :banghead: :pullinghair: Anyone here have this kit or at least the Alloy USA 27 spline shafts? Please tell me I didn't just buy a big box of crap...
I have the 30 Spline inner with 27 Spline outer version of that kit, & the 30 Spline rear kit as well.. ARB's front & rear, all Timken bearings, Timken hubs, & CTM joints.. Been running this for 2-3 months now on 35's & no issues or complaints... If I somehow twist one? It will be an excuse to get a set of Revolution axels when they come out.
 
#26,694 ·
Installed Rokmen gearbox skid and Novak xfer case cable. Holy smooth as butter!!! Wish id done that ages ago. If you only do one mod to your rig, do the cable. Unbelievable how smooth and easy it is now!!!!!
 
#26,700 ·
Not far off on my to do list. Id love to hear how they line up with everything during install. Keep us updated!
I did a bunch of reading on reviews and everyone who bought their fenders say they fit perfectly so I have high hopes mine will to. They are identical to my stock ones, only no rust. :)

I wonder what I can do about the rust-prone area under the fender? There's like a flat plate welded under it I guess for support and I can see how salt/water/mud gets stuck up inside causing the rust.
 
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