Wrenching today...

[DAA]

Spent today helping my buddy Steve do some wrenching on his Jeep. He's building it back up after rolling it in Moab a few months ago...



It was looking pretty sad after the roll...





But, slowly but surely, it's coming back together, bigger and badder and better than ever. Here's a pic with new windshielf frame and Viking top just after he got his new 35" MT/R's put on about a week ago:



We got a set of Alloy USA rear axle shafts installed right after the tires went on. Today, we installed new Alloy USA front shafts, with 30 spline outers (and 30 spline unit bearings) to make sure he doesn't hear that ugly snapping sound climbing a nasty ledge with the big new meats. Plus his Vanco Big Brake kit, so he can stop on a dime again (his brakes have been SUCKING since putting the 35's on!).

The installs went smooth. No major issues. All the new parts are really nice stuff and I'm sure he's going to be really happy with them.

Here's what the new 30 spline outers look like next to the factory junk:



Beefy!

And here's some pics of the new brake parts:









The Vanco brake kit included new dual piston calipers, new beefier rotors and new knuckles that have been machined and heavily reinforced to prevent them from flexing under heavy braking pressure. This is some seriously well thought out stuff. He went from suck-azz brakes, to being able to lock up his 35's on the street with half pedal. Nice!

The Alloy USA 4340 axle shafts look like some really nice stuff too.



We went ahead and put on new axle seals as long as we had everything apart and I think they are a nice touch. I'll put 'em on mine too when I do my Alloy shafts in a couple of weeks.

I like the new Alloy USA X-joints too.



Note that they are greasable. Nice!

Next is Currie heavy duty tie rod and drag link. They were supposed to be here in time for todays wrenchfest, but they didn't make it. I've got Currie steering coming for my Jeep too. We'll probably do his steering, my steering and my axles all at the same time in two weeks (Moab next week!).

Then we are basically just waiting for AEV to ship his new Highline hood and fenders. As soon as they get here, I'll get them painted and then we'll take a weekend to install them. We'll install his Rokmen trail corners at the same time. At that point, Steve's Jeep ought to be pretty much done (for now!). It's going to be a killer LCG build, and no doubt bigger and badder than it was before the roll!

- DAA

[BrainDamage]

Glad to hear that Rubicon is up and running again. Keep us informed on the progress.

[accadacca]

Nice write up, I enjoyed that. Its always good to have upgrades for sure.

[JP]

There was nothing wrong with the way it looked