1987Comanche Posted March 6, 2021 Author Posted March 6, 2021 Had all 4 wheels rebalanced tonight with a combination of hammer on and adhesive wheel weights. I watched the tech spin all 4 wheels up as they were removed and the balancer started spitting out errors: excessive runout/replace wheels. It seems all 4 were way out of balance. Of note none of the wheels had any adhesive weights prior to balance but all required adhesive weights when rebalanced. I made it about 1/2 mile down the highway and the LF hammer on wheel weight came off with a loud bang. I turned right around and went back. They pulled the LF wheel and balanced it again. Interestingly they needed more stick on weights this time. We'll see how she drives now.
1987Comanche Posted April 3, 2021 Author Posted April 3, 2021 A correctly performed tire balance job calmed the death wobble significantly but it still isn't gone. I checked all of the steering components for the umpteenth time but tried something different. I used Vise Grips to clamp each ball stud and see if there was any movement between stud and knuckle or other mating component. I found play in 2 of the 4 joints and replaced the center link and tie rod. Also did a garage alignment by taping a ruler to the center of each tire and one to the center of the body. It's close enough to get me to the alignment shop.
1987Comanche Posted April 19, 2021 Author Posted April 19, 2021 Been driving the MJ exclusively as the wife's car was totaled by an uninsured driver (long story, quite a saga, & not yet resolved). I took her on a trip to Rod Run in Pigeon Forge and the center link and tie rod helped a lot. She was a bit unsettled on the largest interstate bumps but didn't go into DW. Here's the totaled Olds. 85K miles:
jdog Posted April 19, 2021 Posted April 19, 2021 27 minutes ago, 1987Comanche said: Been driving the MJ exclusively as the wife's car was totaled by an uninsured driver (long story, quite a saga, & not yet resolved). I took her on a trip to Rod Run in Pigeon Forge and the center link and tie rod helped a lot. She was a bit unsettled on the largest interstate bumps but didn't go into DW. Here's the totaled Olds. 85K miles: that sucks, that olds looks clean, probably rode really nice
1987Comanche Posted April 20, 2021 Author Posted April 20, 2021 Quote that sucks, that olds looks clean, probably rode really nice She was a great ride, powerful and comfortable, neat as a pin inside and out. Finished negotiating with the insurance company and it looks like Copart is picking her up tomorrow or Wednesday. I'd like to find another one.
jdog Posted April 20, 2021 Posted April 20, 2021 1 hour ago, 1987Comanche said: She was a great ride, powerful and comfortable, neat as a pin inside and out. Finished negotiating with the insurance company and it looks like Copart is picking her up tomorrow or Wednesday. I'd like to find another one. I wish you luck on your search.
1987Comanche Posted May 1, 2021 Author Posted May 1, 2021 Tonight's stop at the bank took longer than I thought. Going through the parking lot I heard something odd as I was waiting on drive thru. Pulled into a spot and found large object in my LF tire. Any idea what this is? Got the spare on and, while I check the air pressure every time I change the oil I hadn't looked at it closely in quite some time. Date coded 2007 but it got me home. Hopefully I can get the tire fixed. In total I drove about 200' with that in the tire.
1987Comanche Posted October 17, 2021 Author Posted October 17, 2021 Georgia got a major shot of TLC in the past 2 weeks -4 new Phantom A/P tires (Discount Tire and slim pickings in a 225/75 R15). That alone made a huge improvement in how she rides on the highway. -Also chased the fuel smell back to a rotted evap hose from the rollover valves at the tank. Changed all the rubber evap hoses from the rollover valves to the steel line on the body. -Finally removed the window tint from the rear window. She had subpar window tint when I got her and I removed it from the side windows right out of the gate. The rear got so bad I couldn't see anything except blobs. Much easier to drive her now. -Replaced her headlights (pass had water inside). -Plugs/wires/cap/rotor. Old plugs weren't terrible but it was definitely time -Fresh synthetic 10W-30 in my AX-15. Minimal fines on the magnetic drain plug -Fresh Dexron in the 231J -Changed gear oil, inspected diff stock and gear/pinion & cleaned the magnets. Did both the D35 and the D30. I think she's ready for winter now....
1987Comanche Posted February 27, 2022 Author Posted February 27, 2022 Been a while since I've updated but I've been both keeping Georgia busy and giving her some TLC. She brought the new engine home for the '69. That was installed, cam broken in, and is running
1987Comanche Posted February 27, 2022 Author Posted February 27, 2022 Muffler rotted out so she got a new one & tail pipe (surprisingly difficult to find). Also had a coolant leak that I traced back to the water pump, power steering fluid leak that I traced to both the pitman shaft seal and the power steering pump.
1987Comanche Posted February 27, 2022 Author Posted February 27, 2022 I also acquired a new tool to chase down the persistent squeak I've had in the serpentine belt drive. The Gates laser alignment tool is awesome! Turns out the crank pulley bottomed out but not far enough. Pulled the balancer, replaced the crusty TC seal, and got an extra 1/2 turn on the HB installer. Now it's spot on....hopefully that's the end of the squeak.
Pete M Posted February 28, 2022 Posted February 28, 2022 sweet piece of tech! never heard of a laser alignment tool
1987Comanche Posted March 3, 2022 Author Posted March 3, 2022 Quote sweet piece of tech! never heard of a laser alignment tool It's awesome! I've been chasing that squeak for a long time and recently had a squeak start on my Suburban. Finally broke down and bought the tool. Without it I wouldn't have figured out the problem was the balancer. Here's the tool: https://www.gates.com/in/en/power-transmission/power-transmission-tools-and-merchandisers/power-transmission-tools.p.7468-000000-000010.v.IN-7468-0023.html?related=true
1987Comanche Posted March 6, 2022 Author Posted March 6, 2022 No, I didn't know there was a tool thread. I'll look for it now!
1987Comanche Posted March 20, 2022 Author Posted March 20, 2022 Had a surprising, and fairly violent, episode of death wobble on the interstate. Guess that still isn't behind me so the question is what's next? I figured control arm bushings were probably due again (did them in 2013). This time around I decided to go with the boxed WJ LCAs. Trimmed the bushings and upper portion of the arms and got them in today. In the first photo you can see a new, stock WJ LCA on top, WJ LCA with trimmed bushings in the middle, and stock MJ LCA on the bottom. Photos 2 & 3 show what I trimmed off the top edge of the WJ arms vs the stock arm.
1987Comanche Posted April 16, 2022 Author Posted April 16, 2022 The ride does feel different. In addition to no DW the ride is nowhere near as harsh when hitting bumps, etc on the interstate. I don't notice much difference in town but, at highway speeds (60mph) she rides a lot better. The best description I have is that it's comparable to putting 84 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz diesel seats in my old '88 Isuzu P'up. The OE seat had the comfort of a piece of cardboard wrapped in cloth. Those Cadillac seats were plush, tufted leather and made more difference than ball joints & control arm bushings.
Phjoshuy Posted April 18, 2022 Posted April 18, 2022 On 2/26/2022 at 9:53 PM, 1987Comanche said: Muffler rotted out so she got a new one & tail pipe (surprisingly difficult to find). Also had a coolant leak that I traced back to the water pump, power steering fluid leak that I traced to both the pitman shaft seal and the power steering pump. I ordered a tailpipe from JEGs about 3 weeks ago only to find it is on back order. Only reason I ordered from them is that it was supposed to be the only one “available”
1987Comanche Posted June 13, 2022 Author Posted June 13, 2022 Figured it was time for an update. Knock on wood, , DW hasn't reared it's ugly head since the WJ LCAs went in... It was nice out tonight so I took a glamour shot of the Jeeps.
1987Comanche Posted December 24, 2022 Author Posted December 24, 2022 Georgia got a good shot of TLC for Christmas I found the exhaust manifold was cracked so I got her a header. The intake was filthy inside & out and I cleaned the injectors as well. When I pulled the manifolds I found the driver's side motor mount was in terrible shape. Finished everything up this afternoon & she runs/drives a lot better now. 724013596_runningafterheader.MOV
1987Comanche Posted January 1, 2023 Author Posted January 1, 2023 Replaced the driver's door handle, latch, & lubed up the lock. Door was getting hard to open but I didn't realize how hard I'd been working at it until now. Spring on the door handle was broken and the latch went through about 75% of it's travel before doing anything. JY latch cleaned up well and the 4dr XJs use the same handle in front & rear so I grabbed LR handle. All of the haunted fun house noises are gone from the latch now as well. Glad I got to it before it failed completely!
1987Comanche Posted February 28, 2023 Author Posted February 28, 2023 Rebuilt the old/spare Saginaw TC power steering pump. Looked pretty good inside. Was leaking at the shaft seal.
1987Comanche Posted May 27, 2023 Author Posted May 27, 2023 Georgia attended her first Jeep show today. And she was the only MJ there. People seemed to enjoy checking her out. She was also "ducked."
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