- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Not a drop. Some type of virus. House where I've been working, wife of the doctor caught it last Tuesday. Same symptoms as me, basically just a bad headache for about a week. Nothing shows up on any tests. Maybe new Covid
Another Scrambler Purchase/Road Trip - UPDATE- BODY ON FRAME AGAIN
- Thread starter spankrjs
- Start date
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Swapping the shocks was easy enough.
Front shocks:
Rear shocks:
Inside the mind of a madman, notes for hardware store run
In progress. Tire removal not really needed for swapping out the shocks, but enabled checking wheel bearings/drive flanges/brakes/etc.
Three of the four shocks were probably OK. The driver side rear was not. The bottom eyelet was loose again, and it did not feel as hard as the other shocks.
Front shocks:
Rear shocks:
Inside the mind of a madman, notes for hardware store run
In progress. Tire removal not really needed for swapping out the shocks, but enabled checking wheel bearings/drive flanges/brakes/etc.
Three of the four shocks were probably OK. The driver side rear was not. The bottom eyelet was loose again, and it did not feel as hard as the other shocks.
- City
- W-S
- State
- NC
It's like an operating room in there.........
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Now the fun part. The drag link end on the passenger side knuckle was a bit loose. I decided to change all four tie rod ends due to mileage. I bought these Moog TRE'S off Amazon.
Was pleasantly surprised!!
My alignment and assembly notes, before removing the tie rod and drag link.
Quick notes:
1) I installed OK4wd knuckle inserts back in 2010, which enabled me to flip my tie rod and drag link to the top of the knuckles. 94k miles on the little inserts, no issues.
2) I purchased and installed an HD tie rod and drag link back in 2010. These rods use the stock OEM TRE's. No problem with the rods. The TRE'S that came with the rods were crap and got loose after 10k-20k miles. I installed regular NAPA TRE's, they have been good for 74k+ miles. The draglink knuckle TRE had a bit of play, the other 3 were showing their age, but no real complaints.
And drama.
I can not get the passenger side tie rod TRE out of the tube. It is standard thread. I was able to get it to twist out a few turns using a small pipe on the TRE's tapered stud for leverage, until the tapered stud snapped off.
A few more turns, over two hours, using MAP gas torch and two pipe wrenches.
I might just have to keep doing this, but the threaded portion of the original TRE is just shredding apart. The inner part is OK, but outer part with the pipe wrench is just getting mauled. 10 minutes of heat might get me two full turns. Repeat. But, the little nub sticking out is almost gone.
In hind sight, maybe welding a 3/4" ID nut over the 11/16 fine thread stud would have been a better option? Might drop it off at the local 4x4 shop and see what they can do.
If I could find and purchase a new HD tie rod end tube that uses the OEM TRE'S l would just buy a new tie rod and quit wasting time. Problem is, I can't find one.
Rusty's makes one, part #RS-TR101-CJ, but it is out of stock. I might call them and see if they have an ETA on restock.
Rugged Ridge makes a HD tie rod and drag link kit, but I don't like it. The tubes are fine, but they use 7/8 threaded rod TRE'S that have the stock CJ taper. That is all fine and dandy, but one of these TRE'S is proprietary. I had this kit on my tan Scrambler. The RR TRE'S wore out in like 10k miles. I could find one of the TRE'S in an off shelf part, could never find the other. Except from RR. Who would not warranty the TRE'S and charged me like $200 for four new TRE'S.
Anyway, that's where I'm at. Too busy at real job this week to mess with it. I have to go to Ole Miss this weekend to pack up and move a nephews stuff back home. Sand Blast the following weekend.
Might have to take a different Jeep to Michigan this year if I can not find a tie rod or repair my current tie rod.
Was pleasantly surprised!!
My alignment and assembly notes, before removing the tie rod and drag link.
Quick notes:
1) I installed OK4wd knuckle inserts back in 2010, which enabled me to flip my tie rod and drag link to the top of the knuckles. 94k miles on the little inserts, no issues.
2) I purchased and installed an HD tie rod and drag link back in 2010. These rods use the stock OEM TRE's. No problem with the rods. The TRE'S that came with the rods were crap and got loose after 10k-20k miles. I installed regular NAPA TRE's, they have been good for 74k+ miles. The draglink knuckle TRE had a bit of play, the other 3 were showing their age, but no real complaints.
And drama.
I can not get the passenger side tie rod TRE out of the tube. It is standard thread. I was able to get it to twist out a few turns using a small pipe on the TRE's tapered stud for leverage, until the tapered stud snapped off.
A few more turns, over two hours, using MAP gas torch and two pipe wrenches.
I might just have to keep doing this, but the threaded portion of the original TRE is just shredding apart. The inner part is OK, but outer part with the pipe wrench is just getting mauled. 10 minutes of heat might get me two full turns. Repeat. But, the little nub sticking out is almost gone.
In hind sight, maybe welding a 3/4" ID nut over the 11/16 fine thread stud would have been a better option? Might drop it off at the local 4x4 shop and see what they can do.
If I could find and purchase a new HD tie rod end tube that uses the OEM TRE'S l would just buy a new tie rod and quit wasting time. Problem is, I can't find one.
Rusty's makes one, part #RS-TR101-CJ, but it is out of stock. I might call them and see if they have an ETA on restock.
Rugged Ridge makes a HD tie rod and drag link kit, but I don't like it. The tubes are fine, but they use 7/8 threaded rod TRE'S that have the stock CJ taper. That is all fine and dandy, but one of these TRE'S is proprietary. I had this kit on my tan Scrambler. The RR TRE'S wore out in like 10k miles. I could find one of the TRE'S in an off shelf part, could never find the other. Except from RR. Who would not warranty the TRE'S and charged me like $200 for four new TRE'S.
Anyway, that's where I'm at. Too busy at real job this week to mess with it. I have to go to Ole Miss this weekend to pack up and move a nephews stuff back home. Sand Blast the following weekend.
Might have to take a different Jeep to Michigan this year if I can not find a tie rod or repair my current tie rod.
- City
- Rockville
- State
- VA
Give Eli a call. He said that he was making up tie rods and drag links since nobody else has them.
Belizeit
CJ-8 Member
- City
- River Ridge
- State
- La
When I was looking just a few years ago for a HD TR and DLk. it was getting difficult to find something. Rusty’s was out of stock, and R Ridge there were complaints. I stumbled across Crab Tree Tool and Die. Great product but he has stopped making Jeep parts also. Hopefully Eli is.
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Dropped the tie rod off at the local 4x4 shop this morning. They got the threaded rod out but don't have a tap to chase the threads. I will pick it up this afternoon. The thread on the tie rod end is 11/16-18, ordered a tap off Amazon, just in case.
I am going to try to use the remaining old standard thread tie rod end to chase the threads.
I am going to try to use the remaining old standard thread tie rod end to chase the threads.
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Yep, just seized up. Haven't had originally needed an alignment probably in at least 6 or 7 years so none of these threaded connections have been turned. I reckon??
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Shop welded a nut on broke off threaded rod, used some more heat, got the broken piece out of the tie rod tube. I made a redneck tap with the other old correctly threaded TRE.
With vice grips, and lots of back and forth and lubricant, I was able to thread the old modified TRE all the way in.
That is progress. But, I can only hand twist the new TRE this far in by hand.
Going to wait on the tap to arrive on Wednesday and fix this correctly. Not going to take a shortcut on such a critical part/repair.
Since I'm waiting, went ahead and put a quick coat of Rustoleum on the tie rod and drag link, using my custom paint stand
I did not sand down every imperfection, I just spot prime the damaged end of the tie rod, wiped them both down with acetone, two coats of paint. Considering I originally just rattle canned primed and painted these parts 15 years ago, I was impressed by the durability of the rattle can paint job.
That's it for now.
With vice grips, and lots of back and forth and lubricant, I was able to thread the old modified TRE all the way in.
That is progress. But, I can only hand twist the new TRE this far in by hand.
Going to wait on the tap to arrive on Wednesday and fix this correctly. Not going to take a shortcut on such a critical part/repair.
Since I'm waiting, went ahead and put a quick coat of Rustoleum on the tie rod and drag link, using my custom paint stand
I did not sand down every imperfection, I just spot prime the damaged end of the tie rod, wiped them both down with acetone, two coats of paint. Considering I originally just rattle canned primed and painted these parts 15 years ago, I was impressed by the durability of the rattle can paint job.
That's it for now.
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Yes. I did the first time, too, but 15 years is a long time for it to last............
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Tap showed up today.
Lubed it up, the old in and out routine, good as new.
And reassembled and adjusted like it was before I took it apart.
Ran out of time tonight to finish up. Only really need to reinstall the tires, and finish greasing up the rear CV since it is easy to get to right now. Have to go to Ole Miss this weekend to help my sister pack up one of my nephews belongings to bring home. Hope to finish the red Scrambler up on Friday night. Will probably get the alignment checked, too. Short week next week, was planning to head up to Michigan on Friday, we will see........
That's it for now!!
Lubed it up, the old in and out routine, good as new.
And reassembled and adjusted like it was before I took it apart.
Ran out of time tonight to finish up. Only really need to reinstall the tires, and finish greasing up the rear CV since it is easy to get to right now. Have to go to Ole Miss this weekend to help my sister pack up one of my nephews belongings to bring home. Hope to finish the red Scrambler up on Friday night. Will probably get the alignment checked, too. Short week next week, was planning to head up to Michigan on Friday, we will see........
That's it for now!!
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
Drove the Jeep to work today, new shocks and tie rod ends were a definite improvement. Took it to have the alignment checked and adjusted. I don't think I have messed with an alignment since right before the trip out west to Sand Hollow. Anyway, it was still pretty damn close to right, which I expected, due to the beefy steering linkage tubes and the fact I reinstalled all the tie rod ends/tubes just like they came off.
Did a few more odds and ends, calling this one ready for Michigan.
Will drive it to work all next week, plan on leaving here this coming Friday for the long haul up to Michigan.
That's it for now
Did a few more odds and ends, calling this one ready for Michigan.
Will drive it to work all next week, plan on leaving here this coming Friday for the long haul up to Michigan.
That's it for now
Belizeit
CJ-8 Member
- City
- River Ridge
- State
- La
Starting to look like the rain is going to beat you, and maybe clear out pretty much maybe before you leave Friday.
- City
- Cobourg, Ontario, Cana
- State
- da
Gonna need you to swing by and help me on the way. (only a slight detour for you) Tranny is still on the floor. Still waiting on parts.
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
F@#k.Gonna need you to swing by and help me on the way. (only a slight detour for you) Tranny is still on the floor. Still waiting on parts.
- City
- Biloxi
- State
- MS
I've been pretty busy at work, forgot to update my thread. Me and the Jeep.made it up to Michigan, a week of dune driving, and back home just fine. Had a great time as always at Sand Blast. All my repairs held up fine: clutch, rebuilt transmission, rear drive flanges not leaking, oil pan gasket and rear main seal not leaking, timing chain and seals are fine, shocks great, new tires fine, and tie rod ends still tie rod ending fine.
I got back home last Monday, me and Jeep went back to work on Tuesday and it has been non stop. Red Scrambler has a bit over 98k miles on it now since the rebuild!!
I'll try to upload some pictures when I get time.
I got back home last Monday, me and Jeep went back to work on Tuesday and it has been non stop. Red Scrambler has a bit over 98k miles on it now since the rebuild!!
I'll try to upload some pictures when I get time.
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