terrawombat

Nah - no WJ swaps for my '88MJ Pioneer or my '01XJ. Those two trucks are strictly daily drivers, people/dog haulers, weekend chore vehicles. I do the occasional offroad excursion, but nothing crazy - just some woods trails. The Moog was probably overkill for me, but I like the peace of mind. Plus, replacing ball joints isn't real fun so I want to do it once and do it right.

In my research I found that TRW and Moog ball joints are VERY similar, if not the exact same component with a different part number. Both companies are owned by Federal-Mogul so it's possible. I may be doing the balljoints on my '01XJ pretty soon before a 1000 mile round-trip so I may pick up the ones at alljeep.com - woulda saved me about 30 bucks or so...not sure what the shipping costs are like there.

I decided to tackle this little project in steps. I'm going to replace the ball joints since I know I've got some slop there. I found a full set of Moog's for a relatively good price: http://www.autopartsexpress.com/item.ww ... G&weight=3 http://www.autopartsexpress.com/item.ww ... G&weight=3 Never ordered from this company before, but I'll give them a shot since they saved me over $55 from the next lowest priced competitor - total was $111. Amazon wanted $169 and Rockauto wanted $183 for the same exact products. Advanceauto wanted an arm and a leg and my firstborn child.

Also, thanks for the information - I now see why certain manufacturers are able to offer a lower ball joint that is compatible for ALL years - looks like they include a threaded insert so it works on the earlier years, but can be omitted for the later years. Edit: I don't know if my above thinking is correct now that I research this further...

It looks to be similar to this kit, but with the addition of the track bar/ball joint: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ball-Joi ... ccessories I know I need to replace the ball joint on the bar that comes from the pitman arm down to the knuckle...the ball joint at the knuckle...it has a ton of slop in it. I'm also able to lift the whole knuckle assembly up a tiny bit on both sides - so I'd like to replace all four ball joints. At this point, I feel like I should just replace everything on the front and be done with it. This was a farm field truck for many years that saw a ton of dirt and bumpy roads at high speeds while my Uncle owned it. I'd bet my life savings that he NEVER greased the front end. Amazingly, this truck does not have the death wobble, but the steering is very loose and I'd like to tighten it up some before I put this truck into daily duty service. I've seen the ball joints on RockAuto, but I've also read a lot of threads on various forums that basically say go with Moog or nothing...that starts to get pricey real quick!

Anyone have any ideas at all? I suppose I could compare the front ends on my '98 and '01XJ's, but I'd rather not touch those if I can avoid. Visually they look the same...

I'm sure you've seen it in your research, but I'll mention it anyway. Soda blasting. Not only does it do an amazing job getting down to bare metal, but you can make it snow any time of the year!

I was looking at replacing just about every component on the front end of my '88MJ Pioneer and my searches for parts have shown me that there are slight differences in a few components between the '86-'90 and '91-'92 years. I was hoping someone else could shed some light on the subject and confirm or deny the following statements: The upper ball joints appear to be interchangeable throughout all of the years. The lower ball joints have two different types - one for the '86-'90 model years and another for the '91-'92 model years. However, there are certain brands names that offer a lower ball joint that is compatible with ALL years, like AC Delco part #45D2117. I'm not quite sure how they're able to do this while other manufacturers are not. I've also seen that any adjustable lower ball joint seems to be compatible with all years. The tierod that goes from the pitman arm to the right front knuckle has two different designs. One for '86-90 and another for '91-'92. What's the difference? I can't tell from the pictures. Is it the size of the ball joint on that arm that makes it incompatible across all years? The tierod ends are also year specific. What's the difference between years? I ask these questions because I'd like to just buy a kit I found on CL that has every front end component I would need to replace a majority of front end components. The price is right, but it's for a Cherokee from the years of '91 to '01. Would one of these kits fit on my '88MJ and if not, what's holding me back? I'm guessing it's the diameter of all the ball joint and tie rod ends?

Ya ya ya I missed it. Next You missed it twice. Although 'shot box' could almost be the Boston equivalent of 'short box.' :D But, to stay somewhat on topic - I've removed a shortbox bed from my MJ by myself in a very peculiar manner, but I've never been able to install one by myself without the assistance of some ratchet straps and eye-hooks screwed in the ceiling rafters.

Stockton is a pretty neat area. Actually, any one of those little towns along the Delaware River are cool. A lot of historic value and you're right on the water in a wooded/hilly area. I think Stockton is about 30 minutes from me, but could be about 10 if there was actually direct route...the roads around there are few and far between. I remember there being a fellow parting out an MJ in Stockton that I was going to buy a tailgate off of. Perhaps your friend? If you ever are in that area again, you should get a tube, lots of beers and float down the Delaware. Oh, and give me a buzz as I'll join ya :D

You're letting your emotions get in the way and that's completely understandable as my Dad would certainly go to bat for me in the same scenario. Let me briefly describe an accident that I had in January of 2005 (that FINALLY got expunged from my record this year). I was driving approx. 45MPH on a congested highway heading south following a buddy of mine I had just dropped off at a shop to pick up his car. We are in the fast lane on a 55MPH highway when, for WHATEVER reason, a minivan two cars in front of my buddy SLAMS on his breaks to the point where he/she nearly came to a dead stop. This caused the person that my buddy was following to also slam on his brakes, but my friend didn't react quick enough and slammed into the back of that car. In a knee-jerk reaction, I slammed on my brakes, but knew I wasn't going to stop quickly enough so I swerved to the right in an attempt to avoid the accident ahead of me. Unfortunately, the man to the right of me saw the accident as well and in a panic slammed on his brakes even though his lane was clear and was in no immediate danger. He could have driven right on by and he would have been fine. Because he braked and I swerved into his lane, I clipped his rear bumper which sent my car into a spin and I wound up smashing into the concrete median and my car was facing north. So, I've got two people I can potentially blame for this accident, right? The idiot who slammed on his brakes for whatever reason (and as soon as the cars behind him started getting smashed up took off never to be seen again) and the old man in the Lincoln in the lane next to me who panicked and slammed on his brakes. Truth of the matter is, it was MY fault and I take full responsibility for it. I was following my buddy a little bit too close (probably about 3 car lengths...should have been 4 or more) and I made a poor split second decision in an attempt to avoid it all causing my own accident in the process. I was cited for careless AND wreckless driving, although I was able to get the careless driving ticket dropped. So, yes, in the eyes of the law, your son was driving carelessly and wrecklessly. You can't blame the idiot traveling over the center line because, well, nobody cares about him...he doesn't exist at this point. People are going to be skeptical on any internet forum. The people that have posted in this forum have been incredibly tame and forgiving of your son's situation in my opinion. Had you posted this same story with the same information on some of the other car enthusiast forums I belong to, you and your son would gotten the book thrown at you. As soon as you mention speeding in a residential area and alcohol - it's all over. Yea, he had two beers six hours prior to the incident. I think I've used that same story with my father once or twice. Point I'm trying to make is that people will remain skeptical. Count your blessings that your son is okay and no one else was hurt in the incident. Sorry about the loss of your Jeep, but be thankful he was driving that instead of some import econobox where the roof would have completely caved in and it likely wouldn't be drivable after the incident and then the police would most likely have to be involved at that point. P.S. - Didn't mean to rub you the wrong way with the 'tha' thing. Do what you wish...I just mentioned it because someone else had and I was seriously very confused when I read it because I thought you couldn't spell the word. Lay on the southern slang thick, if you wish...I like being culturally diversified :D

I frequent Facebook. Tim Kerr Pennington, NJ http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=ho ... d=31500118 Dunno if that'll work...

I'm having a similar issue since replacing my idiot light gauges with a full set out of an '88XJ. I filled the fuel tank up the other day and the gauge reads a little over 3/4 full. Also, my temperature gauge also seems to be reading lower than it should (verified with a laser thermometer around the sender unit) and the oil pressure gauge seems low too (verified with a mechanical gauge). Both the temperature and oil pressure sender are brand new and are the proper ones for the full set of gauges. The tachometer seems to work fine, as does the voltmeter. Additionally, the fuel gauge on the idiot light cluster worked perfectly.

Gee, I wonder where you saw this photoshop... :rotf: Hint: Check the first post.

I've gone both routes. I tried to tint the windows on the hard top of my old YJ. I thought I followed the instructions to a T, but it was bubble city as soon as the sun came out. Had my Mitsubishi 3000GT professionally done for $250 at a very reputable shop and it came with a lifetime warranty. Been on that car for 5+ years and not a single problem.

Well, you certainly made quick work of that...

NE NJ produces a lot of stellar athletes in every major sport (well, except for hockey). That'll happen when you have the highest population density in the country. :D Still doesn't mean I like it!

There was a time when I was young and naive (wait, I still am!) and I would get a little upset anytime someone put down my home state. That was before I ever really ventured away from the 300-acre farm I live on. I've traveled to NYC and the surrounding NJ suburbs enough times where I can now honestly say "NJ sucks." Perhaps I should say that Northeast NJ around NYC sucks. There are some really lousy towns up there that really don't have anything to bring to the table - Newark, Edison, Jersey City, Secaucus...I'd throw Hoboken on that list if they didn't have the St. Patty's day parade every year. I went to school in South Jersey (Glassboro to be exact) and I'm not sure what is in the water down there, but I usually felt like I was living amongst a bunch of inbred rednecks (no offense to the inbred rednecks on these forums!). I felt as though a lot of the Southern NJ folks thought they were in the deep south or something. I also discovered through college friends that Northwest NJ is a really cool place too. I couldn't believe how nice some of the towns were and how nice the scenery is up there. That was about the time I segregated my NJ hate to NE NJ only :D

If NYC is out of the question, then no - there isn't anything to see or do in Montclair, NJ. It's a run-of-the-mill NJ suburb. I'm up there 1-2 times/week for work and I have a couple of friends that live in that area. Unless you're willing to drive down to the Jersey Shore (Like Manasquan or Point Pleasant), it might be worth checking out the girls...although the guidos are an attraction in their own respect...

Go with Plan A. Look at it this way - at least you got a free corrosion resistant barrier on the underside of the XJ out of the ordeal.

Only tell if they ask... I bought my '01XJ w/154K miles on it, but the engine had rod knock. The PO didn't think it was worth much more than scrap value since he was quoted $3000 for a new engine installed. We settled on $300 and it cost me another $100 to get it back home. I bought a used engine for $500 and have been driving it for 11 months and I just passed 175K miles. The PO e-mailed me a couple months ago and asked how I was doing and what I did with the Jeep. Told him I put an engine in it and have been using it for my daily driver - never mentioned price until he asked me how much it set me back. Told him I was roughly $1000 into it and he couldn't believe it, but was happy it was back on the road and doing well.

It has given me a place to spend countless hours while I am at work.

This contraption worked out pretty well for me this weekend. Went to visit my girlfriend at her parents place in Maryland (about a 3 hour drive) and all was going well until I came upon a 2 car/1 motorcycle accident on the highway. Traffic came to a dead stop and people were getting out of their cars to check to make sure the motorcyclist was alright/still in one piece/alive. He was, but barely. He couldn't be moved and was sprawled out in the middle of the highway. The other two cars in the accident were blocking the other lane and both drivers refused to move until police showed up. So, booted up the netbook, put my iPhone on internet tethering mode and surfed the web. Checked for some MJ's in the immediate area on CL, bought a replacement LCD for one of my laptops, and then Skype'd one of my friends who I haven't seen in a couple months. 20 min. later and traffic started moving again. Nice to have something to pass the time :D

I found it incredibly hard to read that post. I kept focusing in on how many times 'the' was misspelled and sounding it out in my head - I'm a yank so it didn't sound right at all. Once I had finished the paragraph I realized I had no idea what I read. Second time around I used the yankee pronunciation of the word 'the' and it all made sense. You said your son was going 40MPH in a residential neighborhood? What was the posted speed limit? Around here, if it's a neighborhood, it's 25MPH.

I've been looking for Toughbooks for a couple weeks now on e-bay and CL and there is a very specific model I want (CF-18) with the screen that will swivel 180* and turn into a tablet PC. Cheapest I've seen one go for was $200 and change and it was BEAT UP. Ones in semi-decent condition go for well over $300 and that was more than I was willing to pay for a used laptop that has been through god knows what. My boss also didn't like the idea of buying a used machine with no warranty. A new equivalent of the CF-18 is $$$$. I did think about putting some sort of shock mount in and I definitely need to do something since the hard drives in these aren't shockproof. I'll eventually hit enough bumps to rattle the hard drive enough to kill it. I've got a couple ideas and will mess with it more when I go back to this a second time.