IntrepidXJ's Adventure Weblog

If you read this message from last week, you will remember that I had one of my springs break in Arch Canyon. When I got home I contacted Jason at JeepinOutfitters and he contacted Rubicon Express. I’m happy to report that they are standing behind their product and have sent me replacement springs, which showed up today

…guess what I’ll be doing this weekend.

Hopefully Rubicon Express will replace this coil spring under their ‘limited lifetime warranty’ We had a little bit of carnage on Arch Canyon today.

We were able to drive home just fine, except for the fact that my front passenger side sits a little lower now

I spoke with Jason at Jeepin Outfitters (I bought them from him) and he is going to talk to Rubicon Express about a warranty replacement. I’ll update with the status.

The time has come. I have had my Surco roofrack on both of my Cherokee’s for over 5 years now. It has taken a number of beatings over the years and was starting to fall apart pretty good…especially after my little incident at Canyonlands National Park last month:

My biggest issue with removing it, was finding a new location for my front license plate, since Colorado requires one…

I found a company called Roc Dog Fabriactions that makes a hawse fairlead license plate bracket, so I figured I would give it a try.

It has inserts that push securely into the hawse fairlead:

Bracket mounted to fairlead:

…and the license plate mounted up:

When I get off the pavement, I can just pull off the whole bracket and throw it in the back of my Jeep.

…and finally, here’s a picture of my Jeep without the roof rack again

I took some time this afternoon and changed the gear oil in my differentials. I also got to try out the new Lube Locker gaskets I bought last week.

I have been sick and tired of cleaning and using RTV every time I needed to work on my axles, and am hoping these gaskets work better for me.

Here’s the Chrysler 8.25 gasket on my RuffStuff cover:

So far, I really liked how easy and clean these gaskets are to install…..and there are no leaks yet. I’m hoping these gaskets are up to the task in the long run. I’ll be sure to update here in the future with my long term results

I’ve been sick of using RTV to seal up my differentials for a while. I finally decided to give the LubeLocker gaskets a try. They have got some good reviews and seem to be worth it.

I’m hoping to get them installed on Saturday

I spent a few hours today working on my Jeep with some minor repairs and routine maintenance including replacing an axle shaft with a bad ujoint. However, the biggest thing I did today was finally fix a clunk I have had for a while when I drive over bumps. I thought I had found the culprit a few weeks ago when I found a loose bolt on one of my front shocks, but I was wrong.

It actually turned out to be one of the joints on my lower control arms was loose and needed to be tightened up. Glad I finally found that and fixed it, as it was starting to really bother me

Sorry, no pictures this time…

I finally got around to repairing the shock mount that ripped off my rear axle in Moab a few weeks ago. In order to fix it, I had to head to Lowes today and make an extension cable so that I could run my welder from the dryer outlet in my duplex. Once I got that squared away, I got out my welder and got the mount welded up again.

Working on the shock mount

Welded back on

Shock installed again

Hopefully this holds up until it’s time for me to replace the shocks

Fisrt off, I would like to point out that my tires are in sad shape. They all need to be replaced as soon as I can afford to do so. I have put them through a lot, and it shows. Anyways, I need them to last me through 9 days in Moab next week, so I had to put on my good spare tire and buy one new wheel and tire (yes, I finally replaced that wheel I bent in Moab last year).

I got my new tire mounted on the wheel after work, but since I not longer have my bear breaker/tire changer, I had to do it the old fashioned way to get my Airsoft BB’s inside.

Breaking the bead

In goes 8oz of BB’s

Hopefully the other 2 tire will last through one more San Juan Weekend and 9 days in Moab….then I can replace them.

A question I am asked frequently is about the setup of my 2000 XJ, so here’s the detailed specs of my Jeep. Feel free to post any questions in the comments below.

Drivetrain & Performance

• Dana 30 (4.56 Gears, Aussie Locker, Alloy USA Axle Shafts)
  
• Chrysler 8.25 (4.56 Gears, Powertrax No-Slip, ZJ Disc Brakes, Shaved)
  
• NP231 Transfer Case (TeraFlex NP231 2Lo, PORC HD SYE)
  
• Tom Wood’s Heavy Duty Rear Drive Shaft
  
• CSF 3-Core Radiator
  

Suspension & Steering

• T&T Customs Y-Link Suspension
  
• T&T Customs D30 Truss
  
• Rear Swaybar Removed
  
• JKS Bar Pin Eliminators (Rear Upper)
  
• Rubicon Express 1.25″ Greasable Lift Shackles
  
• Rubicon Express 4.5″ Leaf Springs
  
• M.O.R.E. Rear Bumpstops
  
• Rubicon Express 4.5″ Coil Springs
  
• OME XJ Long Travel Front Shocks
  
• OME ZJ Long Travel Rear Shocks
  
• DPG Adjustable Rear Bumpstops
  
• Currie Heavy Duty Steering
  
• JKS Bar Pin Eliminators (Front Bottom)
  
• Rubicon Express Extreme Duty Track Bar/Bracket/Brace
  
• OME Steering Stabilizer
  

Wheels & Tires

• Maxxis Bighorn MT 32×11.5×15 Tires
  
• 15×7 Black Steel Wheels w/ 4.00 Backspacing
  

Armor, Structural Support & Recovery

• Skid Row Gas Tank Skidplate
  
• C-ROK Steering Box Frame Plates System
  
• Protofab 4×4 Front Winch Bumper
  
• C4×4 Rear Bumber with Tire Carrier
  
• ORGS LCA MiniSkids
  
• Warn M8000 Winch
  
• Ruffstuff 8.25 Cover
  
• Warn D30 Differential Guard
  
• T&T Customs Stiffeners
  
• Rock Lizard Fabrications Gila Monster Lower Quarter Guards
  
• HiddenHitch Class III Rear Receiver
  

Electrical Stuff (Batterys, Lighting, CB, etc…)

• Optima Red Top Battery
  
• PIAA 520 Ion Fog Lights
  
• Cobra 19 DX III Compact CB Radio
  

Misc. Stuff

• Hi-Lift 48″ Jack
  
• Formatt Fabrications 10lb CO2 Tank
  

I will update as necessary. Last update: 9/3/08

I got my Currie steering and Rubicon Express trackbar brace installed. After taking my Jeep out for a spin, the steering feels much tighter than before