Nate's 2002 TJ, Not so simple anymore by gst95dsm

11 minute(s) of a 391 minute read

I'm sure when the JJ was introduced people had these same discussions about them vs. whatever was popular at the time. Well some folks took a chance and now they are the most respected flex joint around. Well here we go again, someone has a new take on it, and it's going to take time to build faith in them. I'm good with being someone taking a chance on them, I see the advantages, I've felt the NVH improvements and I see the value in those things. Do I wish they were cheaper or the same price as a JJ? Of course but they aren't. Now I'm just a poor working class guy but at this point in my jeeps life where I've spent thousands in mods, the extra for these joints really isn't significant.

11-21-2013

Got the steering back together. Tie rods a little rainbow but it's as good as I can get it. Time for a ghetto alignment and thanks to krylon we're looking clean again, haha.

Ghetto alignment done, first time I've done it and actually feel like I can trust my measurements. Took a drive around to center my steering wheel, got that done, then hit the back roads and some freeway to check everything out since I hadn't driven it since JV. Good as it ever was. All that's left is a little touch up of white on the R/R corner armor and Ol' white lightening is back to normal. Looking forward to getting the front 3 link figured out soon, then some more wheeling.  

My buddy with an XJ is raving about the Durango steering box..... I'm gonna do some research but does anyone on here have any experience? If it's a considerable upgrade between stock and Hydro assist..... it's something I'm interested in.

Looks like the Durango box is not worth the effort.... also shopping 3 link stuffs. Clayton 3 link bridge for $75 would do the job. I figure I could sell my Currie JJ kit for the D30. Any takers? Less than a year old. I still can't decide if I want the 3rd link on the driver or passenger side. Driver side has a clear shot but requires a bridge, passenger will need an exhaust modification..... I just think my rig might be to low for the Clayton bridge and I'll run into clearance issues.

11-22-2013

Time for trail research!

Some pretty awesome and big terrain....

11-25-2013

Getting some quotes on Aluminum control arms. If the price is right I might spring for some 2" 7075 arms. Any reason not to, besides they cost a little more than DOM with inserts? Also pulling the front axle tomorrow. Current plan is to run the Clayton bridge, Duroflex joints X6. Barnes frame bracket, and Barnes axle Lower control arm brackets. I'm going to wait for Black Friday to place my orders just incase they have sales. I thought about shortening the lowers down from 29" but I think I'll stick with that length. Should be a fun little project.

11-26-2013

Quote from Branik came in at $115 a link plus shipping. That's to much. Then I found Wide Open Design has a good website set up to give an instant quote.  http://www.wideopendesign.com/Produc...num-Links.aspx

Those came in at $85 each. Not bad. I think I may just do my lowers aluminum and do a DOM upper. And eventually do the rear lowers as well.

Well I did go wheeling 5 times since the rear has been done! Luckily this entire front overhaul will run well under $500 if I don't do the aluminum links. Also if you heard how bad my front sounded on the hammers trip, you'd be surprised it held together. Gotta stay busy....

I hear you guys, but it's not happening right now, I have put this LP30 through some ****. I'm spending a $100 on a bridge and some lower control arm mounts and running this axle for the time being. Building an HP30 isn't really on my radar as long as I'm on 35's. What I will eventually need is a front axle that allows deeper gearing.

Calling it a day, got AngryTJ's currie D30 JJ kit cut off and cleaned up, along with my suck down winch pulley and the rest of the upper link mount. Just have to cut off the lower control arm mounts then were ready for some welding.

11-28-2013

All my 3 link stuff is ordered~! Clayton 3 link bridge, Barnes frame mounts, tube inserts and DOM for the links. Artec for the LCA mounts. Duroflex for the joints. Sadly I'm not going to be able to spring for the Aluminum control arms. I can build 3 DOM links for a $100, and the least expensive I could get the AL was $80 a link, which is good deal but not doable right around X-mas (damn Xbox one). Haha. I'll be happy with this stuff.... and look forward to getting it together. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

11-29-2013

Last two needed Duroflex joints for the front purchased from Imped. Thanks! Came in right at $300 for all this 3 link business with black friday sales, some trades, and some used stuff. Not bad!

11-30-2013

Stock D30 LCA mounts for sale.... lightly used.

Those were sure fun to remove after I had boxed them in. Glad that's done!

12-11-2013

Not taking photos today because time is short…… but the 3rd link is assembled, clearances have been checked, frame and axle mount are burned in, and now it's just time slow down and clean everything up, paint and assemble. I'll be a bit more detailed on several of my hangups today later on. Tate's got a jazz band performance tonight!

Just a few photos of the shenanigans today, The frame mount for the upper link worked out pretty good. In the top hole I have 7" of separation, any higher and I was getting into the motor mount at full hard bump.  

This was my first attempt at setting the link mount on the axle. This is full bump and guess what???? Hitting the fan. It was a simple fix of moving it to the passenger side a 1/2 inch and a little more back. What I lost in doing that was perfect neutrality in the joints on the 3rd link. I don't foresee an issue as it's only a slight adjustment but still annoyed me because I could have avoided the issue altogether if I had been paying better attention to the Clayton 3 link bridge. I didn't realize that it's actually D44 specific in that it's height is set to rest nicely atop the D44 (larger) pumpkin. When used on a D30 it sit's at least an inch higher than the pumpkin. I COULD have cut that amount off the bridge and lowered it. JeremyG brought this to my attention……. only about 2 hours to late. I burned that thing in every which way so it's staying where it's at, and everything is fine, but I wish that thought would have crossed my mind.  

After a couple retacks and double checks I was able to burn in the link mount.

Ok so that's where I'm at…… now it's time to clean everything up,  paint it and carefully re-assemble it.  

The garage was getting a little out of hand so I took an hour after Tate's performance (he killed it!) to CLEAN. It was the highlight of my day.  

White Lightening

Junk ready to be cleaned and painted tomorrow

My favorite place besides wheeling…. 

Wheewww….. been a long day!

12-12-2013

Activating chop mode after dinner. Might as well, I've got no rush, everything else is looking nice. It's a bit of work but nothing I can't handle. I'm going to lower the entire bridge. This way I have more up travel available should I ever change things around.

Chop complete. Wasn't bad at all. Fresh sawzall blades are beasts! Gotta clean it up but even that doesn't look bad.

12-14-2013

Ok so I took a brief test drive just to listen for weird sounds or feel obvious vibrations. Nothing out of the ordinary. Things were nice and smooth and quiet. I didn't get going to fast but noticed no brake pitching, and didn't feel anything strange at all. So I'm pretty happy. I've got one more weld bead to run on the inside frame mount that I forgot about, and need to do some final measurements to make sure the axle is square and the pinion angle is good. Project is coming to a close though and I'm happy with my execution. Now time to plan some wheeling.

Snapped a few photos after tying up some loose ends tonight. I worked damn near all day on re-assembly. I have to say I fought with those stupid *** BM cam bolt inserts fitting into the Artec brackets for WAY to long, but I didn't order any weld washers, and wanted to get it assembled today so I had to work with what I had. I think brand new BM cam bolt washers would fit right in but since mine had some "wear" from my beat up stock brackets they lost their precision fit. Oh well. Nothing else fought me to bad. I didn't do LH / RH links so I had to drop them a couple times to adjust lengths, I was kind of regretting that decision but figure once i get them set I won't think about that much again.
Things definitely went pretty slow today and I'm nice and tired from crawling under the Jeep a zillion times but it was a good day of wrenching.

Overall I'm quite pleased.