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Hey Folks - Hope ya'll can help me out. Long time lurker, occasional post'er (looking to change that!):wavey: Posted this on another site, got no love...coming to the experts now.
Warning - Long post...hopefully this will provide the background for the best advice.
Please comment on the Maintenance List (indicate yes/no…or add more items). Help me make this jeep run for another 75k...
Jeep Usage & Description
Driving & Usage Style - Assertive/Sensible, Do not hold back on speed, revs, weight, etc. The vehicle will be modded for me/my family (not for resale). It gets used like a Jeep and overloaded like a pickup.
Trip profile: Mostly soft roads & requisite hwy travel. Moderate off-road (some rocks, some mud) – places you’d go solo w/o a winch and not be the a**hole on the evening news who is 'lost & dead in the wilderness'
Towing & Utility:
(1) Single axle dump trailer (house remodel) – with 2-3x/month it loaded to 4k. 1x/month – 5-7k. Have Pics, will post if requested
(2) Will start towing a 1500# jeep expo trailer for camping purposes. Have the trailer already, Expo Build to start soon.
Routinely make HD runs for building supplies in jeep or in dump trailer.
Current mileage is ~105k w/ ~50k of highway/travel miles.
Lots of interior mods – nets, seat covers, HAM radios, GPS, lighting, interior rack, subwoofer relocated etc
Jeep is mostly stock; JKU Rubicon Manual 4.10s. 285/70/17 Duratracs with 70% life. No lift yet.
Engine Compartment
Engine Condition – typical 3.8 valve noise; idle a little rough (indicative of needing a tuneup); occasional stumble at idle; Some oil seepage around oil pan spacer – no other leaks indicated
Oil – 5W30 every 4-8k, depending on driving conditions (using M1 synthetic – going to switch to PP Synth)
Oil Consumption – ½ qt every 3k miles with M1 Synthetic (can be higher with lots of high, hard revs); ½ qt every 5k miles with Synth Blend
Spark Plugs - OEM, Never Changed – Will Change
PCV Valve – @ 50k Changed to address oil consumption. – Change?
Coolant - @85k
Water Pump @ 85k
Radiator Hoses - OEM, Never Changed – Feels/looks fine – Change?
Heater Hoses - OEM, Never Changed – Feels/Looks Fine – Change?
Power Steering Fluid – OEM, Never Changed
P/S Pump – Some Noise – suspect fluid needs to be changed
P/S Hoses – Feels/looks fine
Air Filter – @90K
Spark Plugs - OEM, Never Changed – Will Change
Throttle Body Cleaned - @ 50k – Will Clean
Serpentine Belt - @ 60k – Change?
Battery – Sears Platinum; 4yrs old – Seems fine – handles fridge & HAM duty just fine
Alternator –OEM, Never Changed, 160Amp – seems fine
Suspension
Front Axle Fluid – Chrysler @ 85k (complete axle rebuild due to failed locker, under warranty) – will change to AMSOIL
Rear Axle Fluid – AMSOIL @ 75k – Change?
Steering is sloppier/mildly more loose than I would like; esp while towing
Swap to HD versions of the following? (Nearly All suspension parts covered by Chrysler Wty)
Upper/Lower Ball Joints – Chrysler @ 75k
Tie Rod, Adjuster & Tie Rod Ends - @95k
Front Track Bar @ 95k
Drag Link & Adjuster – OEM, Never Changed
Steering Stabilizer – Rancho @ 35k, Dent in shock Body, needs replacement
F/R Control Arms – All Stock (how to tell if bushings are bad?)
Am thinking of changing arms to new OEM/takoffs & Swapping in Lower Front Adj CA, Upper Rear Adj CA with a small lift.
Will Add AEV Spring Brackets with lift
Shocks – Rancho RS9000xl @ 75k
Will replace with FOX DSC 2.0 or greater when springs are changed
Springs – Stock, Worn out & need replacement (riding low when empty)
Thinking of ~2" lift - EVO Plush front; Undecided Rears
Rear Bumpstops – SumoSprings @ 60k (great purchase)
Front Bumpstops – OEM, Never Changed, Need Replacement – will use SumoSprings
Brakes
Front – Teraflex Larger Rotor & Caliper Relocation Kit; Napa Premium Pads @ 80k (only brake job)
Rear – Stock, NAPA Rotors & Pads @ 80k (only brake job)
Brake Fluid – OEM, Never Changed (Partial flush w/ Slave Clynder Change) – Flush/Bleed Lines?
Brake Lines – OEM, Never Changed – Appear fine – Change?
Parking Brake – Needs Adjustment
Drivetrain
Transfer Case Fluid - AMSOIL @ 60k (40k since last change). Change?
Transmission Fluid - AMSOIL @60k (40k since last change). Change?
Transmission Condition – Synchros & shifting seems fine
TransferCase – Linkage moded with e-clip, shifts fine
Clutch – Stock, some chatter during engagement, esp when cold; feels ‘weak’
Leaning towards using Stock clutch & replace when it starts to slip/prior to next >3k road trip
Throwout Bearing – Typical Noise, remains unchanged since purchased @30k
Clutch Linkage – groins/creaks – remains unchanged since purchased @ 30k.
Slave Cylinder – replaced ~70k
Clutch Master Cylinder – Condition Unk – nothing indicates a change is necessary
Body
Overall good shape. No accidents (save for the deer that bounced off the windshield):smiley_drive:
Items that need paint:
Rubicon Rock Rails
Door Hinges (and area under the hinges)
Areas behind the plastic fenders showing some surface rust
Typical Undercarriage Rust (CA vehicle, with 5x cross country roadtrips in winter/salt)
Additional Mod List
Front Alum Bumper - see deer comment above
Winch w/ Synth line - thinking inexpensive Warn, or equiv.
HD Tailgate/Reinforcement Kit - MoRyde/J Scherb
Some sort of jerry can/fuel storage arrangment
(Really like this: Titan Fuel Tank)
Enlarge rear storage tub
Our last trip:
we just completed an 11k mile 7 week trip with my wife, a 90# St Bernard Mix...and my new baby (now 4 months old). Overall the jeep did really well, except for the lack of power, crappy OEM suspension, pathetic windshield defroster coverage. We started in San Francisco and went to Maine, then dropped down to Georgia...and then back to San Francisco. We hit every major storm the US experienced from mid-December through Feb 1st -> and hit most of the major parks along the route (Arches, Bryce Canyon, etc). Working on a trip report...
We were ~160# over GVWR, with a total weight of 5660# with all passengers and associated road trip gear (this was a hotel/motel trip – and we packed light). The jeep is stock except for an interior rack and other small items. (Pretty unreal we were over capacity)...so the stock suspension needs to be upgraded.
Warning - Long post...hopefully this will provide the background for the best advice.
Please comment on the Maintenance List (indicate yes/no…or add more items). Help me make this jeep run for another 75k...
Jeep Usage & Description
Driving & Usage Style - Assertive/Sensible, Do not hold back on speed, revs, weight, etc. The vehicle will be modded for me/my family (not for resale). It gets used like a Jeep and overloaded like a pickup.
Trip profile: Mostly soft roads & requisite hwy travel. Moderate off-road (some rocks, some mud) – places you’d go solo w/o a winch and not be the a**hole on the evening news who is 'lost & dead in the wilderness'
Towing & Utility:
(1) Single axle dump trailer (house remodel) – with 2-3x/month it loaded to 4k. 1x/month – 5-7k. Have Pics, will post if requested
(2) Will start towing a 1500# jeep expo trailer for camping purposes. Have the trailer already, Expo Build to start soon.
Routinely make HD runs for building supplies in jeep or in dump trailer.
Current mileage is ~105k w/ ~50k of highway/travel miles.
Lots of interior mods – nets, seat covers, HAM radios, GPS, lighting, interior rack, subwoofer relocated etc
Jeep is mostly stock; JKU Rubicon Manual 4.10s. 285/70/17 Duratracs with 70% life. No lift yet.
Engine Compartment
Engine Condition – typical 3.8 valve noise; idle a little rough (indicative of needing a tuneup); occasional stumble at idle; Some oil seepage around oil pan spacer – no other leaks indicated
Oil – 5W30 every 4-8k, depending on driving conditions (using M1 synthetic – going to switch to PP Synth)
Oil Consumption – ½ qt every 3k miles with M1 Synthetic (can be higher with lots of high, hard revs); ½ qt every 5k miles with Synth Blend
Spark Plugs - OEM, Never Changed – Will Change
PCV Valve – @ 50k Changed to address oil consumption. – Change?
Coolant - @85k
Water Pump @ 85k
Radiator Hoses - OEM, Never Changed – Feels/looks fine – Change?
Heater Hoses - OEM, Never Changed – Feels/Looks Fine – Change?
Power Steering Fluid – OEM, Never Changed
P/S Pump – Some Noise – suspect fluid needs to be changed
P/S Hoses – Feels/looks fine
Air Filter – @90K
Spark Plugs - OEM, Never Changed – Will Change
Throttle Body Cleaned - @ 50k – Will Clean
Serpentine Belt - @ 60k – Change?
Battery – Sears Platinum; 4yrs old – Seems fine – handles fridge & HAM duty just fine
Alternator –OEM, Never Changed, 160Amp – seems fine
Suspension
Front Axle Fluid – Chrysler @ 85k (complete axle rebuild due to failed locker, under warranty) – will change to AMSOIL
Rear Axle Fluid – AMSOIL @ 75k – Change?
Steering is sloppier/mildly more loose than I would like; esp while towing
Swap to HD versions of the following? (Nearly All suspension parts covered by Chrysler Wty)
Upper/Lower Ball Joints – Chrysler @ 75k
Tie Rod, Adjuster & Tie Rod Ends - @95k
Front Track Bar @ 95k
Drag Link & Adjuster – OEM, Never Changed
Steering Stabilizer – Rancho @ 35k, Dent in shock Body, needs replacement
F/R Control Arms – All Stock (how to tell if bushings are bad?)
Am thinking of changing arms to new OEM/takoffs & Swapping in Lower Front Adj CA, Upper Rear Adj CA with a small lift.
Will Add AEV Spring Brackets with lift
Shocks – Rancho RS9000xl @ 75k
Will replace with FOX DSC 2.0 or greater when springs are changed
Springs – Stock, Worn out & need replacement (riding low when empty)
Thinking of ~2" lift - EVO Plush front; Undecided Rears
Rear Bumpstops – SumoSprings @ 60k (great purchase)
Front Bumpstops – OEM, Never Changed, Need Replacement – will use SumoSprings
Brakes
Front – Teraflex Larger Rotor & Caliper Relocation Kit; Napa Premium Pads @ 80k (only brake job)
Rear – Stock, NAPA Rotors & Pads @ 80k (only brake job)
Brake Fluid – OEM, Never Changed (Partial flush w/ Slave Clynder Change) – Flush/Bleed Lines?
Brake Lines – OEM, Never Changed – Appear fine – Change?
Parking Brake – Needs Adjustment
Drivetrain
Transfer Case Fluid - AMSOIL @ 60k (40k since last change). Change?
Transmission Fluid - AMSOIL @60k (40k since last change). Change?
Transmission Condition – Synchros & shifting seems fine
TransferCase – Linkage moded with e-clip, shifts fine
Clutch – Stock, some chatter during engagement, esp when cold; feels ‘weak’
Leaning towards using Stock clutch & replace when it starts to slip/prior to next >3k road trip
Throwout Bearing – Typical Noise, remains unchanged since purchased @30k
Clutch Linkage – groins/creaks – remains unchanged since purchased @ 30k.
Slave Cylinder – replaced ~70k
Clutch Master Cylinder – Condition Unk – nothing indicates a change is necessary
Body
Overall good shape. No accidents (save for the deer that bounced off the windshield):smiley_drive:
Items that need paint:
Rubicon Rock Rails
Door Hinges (and area under the hinges)
Areas behind the plastic fenders showing some surface rust
Typical Undercarriage Rust (CA vehicle, with 5x cross country roadtrips in winter/salt)
Additional Mod List
Front Alum Bumper - see deer comment above
Winch w/ Synth line - thinking inexpensive Warn, or equiv.
HD Tailgate/Reinforcement Kit - MoRyde/J Scherb
Some sort of jerry can/fuel storage arrangment
(Really like this: Titan Fuel Tank)
Enlarge rear storage tub
Our last trip:
we just completed an 11k mile 7 week trip with my wife, a 90# St Bernard Mix...and my new baby (now 4 months old). Overall the jeep did really well, except for the lack of power, crappy OEM suspension, pathetic windshield defroster coverage. We started in San Francisco and went to Maine, then dropped down to Georgia...and then back to San Francisco. We hit every major storm the US experienced from mid-December through Feb 1st -> and hit most of the major parks along the route (Arches, Bryce Canyon, etc). Working on a trip report...
We were ~160# over GVWR, with a total weight of 5660# with all passengers and associated road trip gear (this was a hotel/motel trip – and we packed light). The jeep is stock except for an interior rack and other small items. (Pretty unreal we were over capacity)...so the stock suspension needs to be upgraded.