Pete M Posted February 22, 2020 Author Posted February 22, 2020 the battle dejour. the shock rusted out and blew. The rust is horrific, but I already owned most all the big stuff to replace rather than try to salvage the rotted crap. Just had to buy upper arms. the struggle is real on those upper arm bolts.
amsuco Posted February 23, 2020 Posted February 23, 2020 On January 31, 2020 at 8:04 PM, Pete M said: I just now noticed the tote labeled "pinewood derby". That brought a smile to my face. I'm certain that my old cars are still stored somewhere at my mom's house..
Pete M Posted February 23, 2020 Author Posted February 23, 2020 the box is from my nephews' pack. Unfortunately I didn't join scouting early enough to do the derbys. But I'm planning on entering the next derby in the adults division. I'm thinking I'll make an MJ On the KJ front... I'm not a violent person, but I'd like to meet whomever designed the upper shock mounts and then punch them in the face repeatedly.
Pete M Posted February 23, 2020 Author Posted February 23, 2020 passenger side is back together again. Had to use my Tetris skills to get a grinder in the engine bay down to where the rusted bolt was. that sucked. but I took the opportunity to install one of my painted Renegade flares.
Drahcir495 Posted February 23, 2020 Posted February 23, 2020 That is looking tuff! Saw a lifted one on larger tires but could not stop to get a picture. I will when I see it again. I looked nice too.
89 MJ Posted February 23, 2020 Posted February 23, 2020 Looks good. Looks like the wheels need a bath though.
Pete M Posted February 24, 2020 Author Posted February 24, 2020 spoke too soon. after a bit of bouncing it up and down the suspension has dropped down firmly on the bumpstops. so tomorrow's plan is to get the old coils swapped on to the new shocks. no end to the fun.
eaglescout526 Posted February 24, 2020 Posted February 24, 2020 Huh odd, just went through that ordeal.
Pete M Posted February 24, 2020 Author Posted February 24, 2020 what were once two, have become one (plus some scrap). now if it would stop raining, i can get to tearing apart the other side.
mjeff87 Posted February 26, 2020 Posted February 26, 2020 On 2/22/2020 at 6:04 PM, Pete M said: the battle dejour. the shock rusted out and blew. The rust is horrific, but I already owned most all the big stuff to replace rather than try to salvage the rotted crap. Just had to buy upper arms. the struggle is real on those upper arm bolts. Just saw this. Yeah, those UCA bolts are a real treat, especially the rear ones, and especially especially the driver side rear one. I had to replace my UCA's due to a bad upper balljoint on the driverside, and I just did both so both sides were new. I can confirm that job was one of the worst ever repairs I've done on any vehicle I've ever worked on, probably only second to the timing belt/water pump on my buddy's VW Golf. Of course, if say......the ENTIRE engine wouldn't be in the way, the job would probably be alot easier
Pete M Posted February 26, 2020 Author Posted February 26, 2020 I've won my battle with the upper bolts. I got lucky and the 2 drivers sides weren't fused to the bushings and so it merely required contortionist levels of tetris-ing to get them out. today's battle is swapping the pass side coil. don't know why the other side was so freaking easy.
Pete M Posted February 26, 2020 Author Posted February 26, 2020 back on all 4 feet. New upper arms and new-to-her knuckles, unitbearings, lower balljoints, and shocks. and for some reason I seem to have gained an inch of height in the front. also finished all of the renegade flares. But I'm beat and running out of temperature and light so her bath will wait until tomorrow.
JMO413 Posted February 27, 2020 Posted February 27, 2020 1 hour ago, Pete M said: back on all 4 feet. New upper arms and new-to-her knuckles, unitbearings, lower balljoints, and shocks. and for some reason I seem to have gained an inch of height in the front. also finished all of the renegade flares. But I'm beat and running out of temperature and light so her bath will wait until tomorrow. Looks good! The flat hood and the new flares are a good combo.
Pete M Posted February 27, 2020 Author Posted February 27, 2020 yeah, she's really coming together. Just need her to stay together. I may go back to raid the rear coils off that junkyard CRD. I've got 2-3" of up travel available up front and 0" out back. I mean, they can't be worse than my current ones, right?
mjeff87 Posted February 27, 2020 Posted February 27, 2020 I think OEM shock travel spec is 0-1", so I'd say you're good to go, bro.
Pete M Posted February 27, 2020 Author Posted February 27, 2020 even still, I'm driving back to Michigan next week and would like to have a bit of suspension under me, so I'm off to the junkyards again. (I really should find us a bouncing Liberty gif like that.)
Pete M Posted February 27, 2020 Author Posted February 27, 2020 swapped in some junkyard coils in the back and gained a whole inch. big whoop. Now the debate to exchange and try another set of coils. But I figured now was as good a time as any to switch to my other rims with the not-cut-to-hell tires on them. 265/70s with just a bit of life left in them.
Jtslick89 Posted February 27, 2020 Posted February 27, 2020 how many miles on this bad boy? I have a KJ as well, 2004 Renegade edition (212k) still going strong. Nice ride
Pete M Posted February 27, 2020 Author Posted February 27, 2020 204k. you should start a build thread for yours.
Jtslick89 Posted February 27, 2020 Posted February 27, 2020 Nice nice! Haven't done as much impressive work as you! Just the usual stuff. The biggest issue has been losing 4x4 mode due to front draft shaft breaking rusting out. Wasn't too bad to replace though. The joys of the Northeast and salt in general
Pete M Posted February 28, 2020 Author Posted February 28, 2020 yeah, I feel your pain. this ol' girl has plenty of the red cancer. Have you done the upper arms yet?
Jtslick89 Posted February 28, 2020 Posted February 28, 2020 I have not. Let's see, went thru an AC condenser, a water pump, 2 radiators, lower arms (recall fix), valve cover gaskets, O2 sensors, idler pulley, overflow bottle, ignition coil pack, radiator hoses, vacuum line coming from airbox, rock rails rusted completely out and removed them, front drive shaft, tailgate and front driver's side door lock actuators, PCV valve
Pete M Posted February 28, 2020 Author Posted February 28, 2020 sounds like plenty to fill up a build thread. The upper control arm bolts are super fun if they get rusted to the steel bushing.
Jtslick89 Posted February 28, 2020 Posted February 28, 2020 Yeah looking back, wouldve been good to take photos! Haha. Oh joy, more rust!
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