What was done to your rig this week?

Was way overconfident in how much time it would take....

spark plugs and coils:
View attachment 417247

Didn't start the ball joints until 2pm, I really felt I'd have one side completed within a couple of hours... let me say how much I am now hating aluminum knuckles; the hubs were seized/welded in, took over an hour to break them loose.

Took at least 30 minutes to ring the ball joints loose, getting a ball joint separator for the other side.

Tried the reverse disc as a slide hammer, inserted bolts and using an extra 13mm/12pt socket, beat them with the 5lb sledge and they finally broke loose... an hour!!! :mad:🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
View attachment 417250View attachment 417251

Close up of corrosion and pitting this is all around the where the hub sites

View attachment 417252

I was surprised to see how well the brake pads were holding up with over 111000 miles, the wear indicator is close enough I'll be replacing them all around while apart.
View attachment 417254

So, this is how it sits for now, I'm ordering Synergy knuckles, aluminum knuckles to the recycler.
Already have new Mopar hubs to install; fyi, the hubs Autopart stores have that they state will fit, have smaller lug nut bolts like the JK.

Technically the hubs felt solid and reusable but the amount of rust and beating I gave them to remove them... new ones going on.

Will be installing Revolution axle shafts, waiting on a couple of replacement parts and will wait for the new knuckles.

Will likely do brake pads all around tomorrow and lube the arms.
View attachment 417255
Wow, hell of a lot of work just ahead of Thanksgiving 🤪
 
Was way overconfident in how much time it would take....

spark plugs and coils:
View attachment 417247

Didn't start the ball joints until 2pm, I really felt I'd have one side completed within a couple of hours... let me say how much I am now hating aluminum knuckles; the hubs were seized/welded in, took over an hour to break them loose.

Took at least 30 minutes to ring the ball joints loose, getting a ball joint separator for the other side.

Tried the reverse disc as a slide hammer, inserted bolts and using an extra 13mm/12pt socket, beat them with the 5lb sledge and they finally broke loose... an hour!!! :mad:🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
View attachment 417250View attachment 417251

Close up of corrosion and pitting this is all around the where the hub sites

View attachment 417252

I was surprised to see how well the brake pads were holding up with over 111000 miles, the wear indicator is close enough I'll be replacing them all around while apart.
View attachment 417254

So, this is how it sits for now, I'm ordering Synergy knuckles, aluminum knuckles to the recycler.
Already have new Mopar hubs to install; fyi, the hubs Autopart stores have that they state will fit, have smaller lug nut bolts like the JK.

Technically the hubs felt solid and reusable but the amount of rust and beating I gave them to remove them... new ones going on.

Will be installing Revolution axle shafts, waiting on a couple of replacement parts and will wait for the new knuckles.

Will likely do brake pads all around tomorrow and lube the arms.
View attachment 417255
Yeah, I've been told if/when I replace the hubs to get a big enough puller to use on them.
 
Was way overconfident in how much time it would take....

spark plugs and coils:
View attachment 417247

Didn't start the ball joints until 2pm, I really felt I'd have one side completed within a couple of hours... let me say how much I am now hating aluminum knuckles; the hubs were seized/welded in, took over an hour to break them loose.

Took at least 30 minutes to ring the ball joints loose, getting a ball joint separator for the other side.

Tried the reverse disc as a slide hammer, inserted bolts and using an extra 13mm/12pt socket, beat them with the 5lb sledge and they finally broke loose... an hour!!! :mad:🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
View attachment 417250View attachment 417251

Close up of corrosion and pitting this is all around the where the hub sites

View attachment 417252

I was surprised to see how well the brake pads were holding up with over 111000 miles, the wear indicator is close enough I'll be replacing them all around while apart.
View attachment 417254

So, this is how it sits for now, I'm ordering Synergy knuckles, aluminum knuckles to the recycler.
Already have new Mopar hubs to install; fyi, the hubs Autopart stores have that they state will fit, have smaller lug nut bolts like the JK.

Technically the hubs felt solid and reusable but the amount of rust and beating I gave them to remove them... new ones going on.

Will be installing Revolution axle shafts, waiting on a couple of replacement parts and will wait for the new knuckles.

Will likely do brake pads all around tomorrow and lube the arms.
View attachment 417255
Did your Jeep spend time in a "rust belt" area, or did this level of corrosion happen under more normal conditions?
 
Got a Bulletpoint mount with the cradled wireless phone charger I didn’t want the USB charging cable hanging out the side of the panels so I tapped into the wiring for the key switch 12v cigarette lighter and found an adapter on Amazon


IMG_2171.jpeg
IMG_2172.jpeg
Drilled a hole on the top of the dash for the cable to pass through
IMG_2174.jpeg
Put some RTV on the hole so it won’t get debris in there with the top/doors off
IMG_2175.jpeg
Installed the rest of the mount and zip tied the cable to the mount

IMG_2177.jpeg

Also found some quick disconnect pins for the factory swaybar links which I think I will just install the day before I go out on a trail and run the bolts rest of the time

IMG_2179.jpeg
Will need to get some more washers tho 😅
IMG_2178.jpeg
 
Friday the 13th showed up November 26th, JLUR mileage is at 112,000 and have been hearing noises from the front end for a while but with some family matters and traveling between Tx and Utah, time was not available to deal with it.

Nov 26th, finally got around to inspecting a few things, found worn ball joints, hubs had a tight section then really loose section and a little grinding when hand rotating them so decided to replace them, had the Revolution upgraded axle shafts sitting around for a while so I figured axle shafts, ball joints, hubs, simple enough, I can get it done! ... So I thought...

Figured with everything I needed here; it would be a good day. Driver side apart quickly, ball joints pressed out, decided to assemble the Revolution axle shafts and issue number 1, bearing cap hole for the driver side inner shaft is too big and could easily slip the cap in and out, reached out to Jeremy and was hoping Revolution would send them out right away so I figure I can wait a week -- nope.

Jeremy has been great helping to get a replacement, but Revolution moved their warehouse and guess it's a mess getting orders out, can't wait any longer, so stock shafts back in for now.


While I was waiting for an update from Revolution, Issue #2, the hubs I picked up at O'Rielly technically fit, but the lug studs are the same size as the JK 1/2"x20 and not JL M14x1.5 returned to O'Reilly.

Found hubs online at a local dealer for not much more than O'Rielly's, great! But here's the kick in the ass, went to the dealer because their online price for Mopar JL hub was under $200/hub. Called the dealer parts department, they had them in stock, when I get there, they wanted almost $400 each! and would not honor the online price. :mad:

Ordered the hubs online and got them both delivered for a total of $412, received them about 9 days later, they came from a warehouse in Dallas about an hour away from me, but I had to wait for delivery.

Meanwhile, the Jeep has been sitting in the driveway on a jack stand with one side bare to the axle C - I did not install the ball joints due to rain and did not want the studs to rust.

Fast forward to toady, feeling confident, OEM axle shafts going back, the u-joints felt good, no play no binding; Mopar hubs in hand, Synergy ball joints ready, Synergy knuckles arrived and I'm ready to get it done!

Confident that progress will be made today being it was a nice sunny, warm, no wind day and FedEx has sent yet another email confirming the delivery of the Synergy HD steering kit today between 10am-2pm - great day ahead!

Plan was to get both sides done since one side was already 1/2 way there... with new ball joints, knuckles, hubs and stock axle shafts good, I was sure to get it all done!

So, I thought .... hello Friday the 13th you fuck,,,

The good, driver side done:
SYnKnuckle.jpg

The Bad and the Ugly, my bad for not double checking both ball joints, I pulled one out of the box saw LWR H21 and installed it... GTFO
Grabbed the other ball joint expecting it to be an upper and- LWR A22 🙈 ...

The other ball joint box had A22 LWR and A21 UPR so ... not knowing what H21 was, I pressed it back out, measured the width with calipers, both the same, whew!

Proceeded to install the correctly marked ball joints from the other box, the rest of the install went smooth but only got one side done.

A22-H21_LWR BJ.jpg

Also replacing brake pads since they are close to the wear indicator and the calipers are off.

The Synergy HD steering was supposed to be delivered today, thanks FedEx for those numerous emails about how my shipment was arriving today between 10am- 2pm; but of course, FedEx being FedEx, no delivery within the stated time frame and yay! your shipment is delayed email... Monday.

Will reach out to Synergy on Monday about the ball joints, hoping they can get it them out quickly before the multiple days of rain arrive.
 
Sounds like all my jeep projects as well haha. I’m always sourcing stuff from different places, waiting for that one last delivery that is always delayed. Driving my wife’s jeep to work…

Synergy knuckles look nice. How do they seem? Clean casting? Are they the same dimensions as the stock aluminum ones?
 
Friday the 13th showed up November 26th, JLUR mileage is at 112,000 and have been hearing noises from the front end for a while but with some family matters and traveling between Tx and Utah, time was not available to deal with it.

Nov 26th, finally got around to inspecting a few things, found worn ball joints, hubs had a tight section then really loose section and a little grinding when hand rotating them so decided to replace them, had the Revolution upgraded axle shafts sitting around for a while so I figured axle shafts, ball joints, hubs, simple enough, I can get it done! ... So I thought...

Figured with everything I needed here; it would be a good day. Driver side apart quickly, ball joints pressed out, decided to assemble the Revolution axle shafts and issue number 1, bearing cap hole for the driver side inner shaft is too big and could easily slip the cap in and out, reached out to Jeremy and was hoping Revolution would send them out right away so I figure I can wait a week -- nope.

Jeremy has been great helping to get a replacement, but Revolution moved their warehouse and guess it's a mess getting orders out, can't wait any longer, so stock shafts back in for now.


While I was waiting for an update from Revolution, Issue #2, the hubs I picked up at O'Rielly technically fit, but the lug studs are the same size as the JK 1/2"x20 and not JL M14x1.5 returned to O'Reilly.

Found hubs online at a local dealer for not much more than O'Rielly's, great! But here's the kick in the ass, went to the dealer because their online price for Mopar JL hub was under $200/hub. Called the dealer parts department, they had them in stock, when I get there, they wanted almost $400 each! and would not honor the online price. :mad:

Ordered the hubs online and got them both delivered for a total of $412, received them about 9 days later, they came from a warehouse in Dallas about an hour away from me, but I had to wait for delivery.

Meanwhile, the Jeep has been sitting in the driveway on a jack stand with one side bare to the axle C - I did not install the ball joints due to rain and did not want the studs to rust.

Fast forward to toady, feeling confident, OEM axle shafts going back, the u-joints felt good, no play no binding; Mopar hubs in hand, Synergy ball joints ready, Synergy knuckles arrived and I'm ready to get it done!

Confident that progress will be made today being it was a nice sunny, warm, no wind day and FedEx has sent yet another email confirming the delivery of the Synergy HD steering kit today between 10am-2pm - great day ahead!

Plan was to get both sides done since one side was already 1/2 way there... with new ball joints, knuckles, hubs and stock axle shafts good, I was sure to get it all done!

So, I thought .... hello Friday the 13th you fuck,,,

The good, driver side done:
View attachment 418030

The Bad and the Ugly, my bad for not double checking both ball joints, I pulled one out of the box saw LWR H21 and installed it... GTFO
Grabbed the other ball joint expecting it to be an upper and- LWR A22 🙈 ...

The other ball joint box had A22 LWR and A21 UPR so ... not knowing what H21 was, I pressed it back out, measured the width with calipers, both the same, whew!

Proceeded to install the correctly marked ball joints from the other box, the rest of the install went smooth but only got one side done.

View attachment 418031

Also replacing brake pads since they are close to the wear indicator and the calipers are off.

The Synergy HD steering was supposed to be delivered today, thanks FedEx for those numerous emails about how my shipment was arriving today between 10am- 2pm; but of course, FedEx being FedEx, no delivery within the stated time frame and yay! your shipment is delayed email... Monday.

Will reach out to Synergy on Monday about the ball joints, hoping they can get it them out quickly before the multiple days of rain arrive.
Damn, that really sucks! 😞
 
After having a mystery driver back into my JT at home depot and cracking my tailgate with what must have been a 2x4 hanging out of their truck the tailgate is finally fixed and ready to go back on. Seeing as the body shop had to remove the Jeep emblems off the gate I decided not to put them back on and badge it with a new Gladiator emblem. I like this look on the JT.
 

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After having a mystery driver back into my JT at home depot and cracking my tailgate with what must have been a 2x4 hanging out of their truck the tailgate is finally fixed and ready to go back on. Seeing as the body shop had to remove the Jeep emblems off the gate I decided not to put them back on and badge it with a new Gladiator emblem. I like this look on the JT.
Looks good!
 
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