Jeep Wrangler

tsjay

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!

Turkey Bay here you come!

When ya gonna get that tranny fixed? Have you located one yet? Or, are ya just gonna have that one rebuilt????

WHEN WE GOIN' WHEELIN????????

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tsjay

It ain't Jeepitis. It's Wrangler Fever, and you have taken the only remedy... YOU GOT ONE!

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mullins87

I may try next Saturday. But, I haven't checked with the boss to see what the schedule is then. I can drive it like it is. It still has 1-4 and R. The only thing is that the synchronizers are gone and the tranny wants grind when engaging the next gear. With a little right foot fancy work, that can be minimized. Now Tom, you're gonna have to watch out for me. I have no winch, no tow hooks, no tow strap at this point, AT tires(which are in good shape, but they are not MT's), only a CB. And, it's been a long time since I did any off-roading. I probably won't even recognize TB. In fact, I'm sitting here thinking about it, but I can't remember exactly where it is to save my life.

geepers

Someone give me the lowdown on torque wrenches. I was replacing my differential fluid today. I decided to pull out my beam type torque wrench and do it right for once. Gave up almost right away, no room for that crazy thing. It calls for 35#, I'm guessing I get them around 25# or so without the torque wrench but I've never had any problems with leaking.

All the torque wrenches I see are so long and they just don't fit in lots of places. I did spot an interesting digital thing that attaches to a socket wrench, still kind of bulky though. Anyone know of a magical torque wrench?

And I'd pay an extra $300 or so for a drain plug in those diffs.

tsjay

Who needs synchronizers?

Would double clutching help any?

There's not a lot of shifting out on the trails... put her in low range and use second gear for most stuff.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tsjay

I don't think a torque wrench would be necessary for those diff cover bolts, would it? Just snug em up good, but don't twist em off. Would be a good idea to tighten em up like you do lug nuts: tighten one and then go across and tighten another one, but don't tighten them all the way at first.

Mac??? We need ya here!

I did the same thing that you did... bought a nice torque wrench, but the handle is so long that I can't use it in a lot of places.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

geepers

I've done it the way you described in the past and had good luck. I just thought I'd try being a by-the-book mechanic today. I put the torque wrench on one bolt I could get to and found I had only gotten it torqued to about 25#, but hey, it seems to work.

I hate that job, what I wouldn't give for a lift. On the other hand, I just discovered that a full roll of those blue shop towels makes an excellent pillow while lying under the Jeep. I think I might even have dozed off under there today.

mtngal

Thanks for the tips - I don't think about using the sunlight setting and the couple of times I've used the cloudy setting, I've preferred the auto photos (have taken both). The differences are probably a combination of time of day (the times I seem to be in those areas is mid-day) and the polarizing filter. I keep saying I'm going to get one for this camera, but just haven't.

Jim - enjoy that '95 Wrangler - it sounds like it will work out OK for you. Keep us informed as you get it fixed up.

Hopefully I'll take my Noble Black Steed out tomorrow somewhere. Today my wonderful other half and I took a day trip up to Sequoia National Park, did a little hiking, took a couple of photos but too much smoke from some fires in the area.

To everyone hitting the trails tomorrow - have a good time!

tsjay

That drain plug you mentioned wouldn't do ya any good, since you still couldn't get in there and spray the gears down real good with brake cleaner fluid. You do wash down the gears with something when you change your fluid don't ya?

Good mechanic buddy of mine taught me to do that. Spray the guts of the differential and the inside of the housing down real good with liberal amounts of brake cleaner, then sop up the accumulated fluid in the bottom of the housing with something that will not leave lint behind.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mac24

I think from memory that the cover bolts should be to 30 ft.lbs. However, 25 ft.lbs. will be fine. The important thing is that they are all torqued equally, which is virtually impossible to do by hand. If the cover is torqued unequally it's likely to distort, or at least squish the gasket compound out of the overtightened parts.

A 'clicker' type torque wrench is pretty inexpensive, and I recommend you get two. One large half inch drive covering from approximately thirty to two hundred and fifty ft.lbs. It won't be accurate at the extremes of its scale, so the second one should be a smaller three eight drive covering from around ten to sixty ft.lbs.

Even cheap Harbor Freight ones will be ok if finances are tight. Remember it's consistancy that's as important as the actual reading.

It's much harder to be accurate with a 'beam' type. As well as having excellent muscle control, you have to make sure that there's no parallex error when reading the scale. However, they are very useful for reading a torque setting, as when you need to set the pinion preloading when setting up a differential.

It's important that lug nuts are torqued correctly, especially on alloy wheels. Caliper bolts are critical, you do those when changing pads. Always strive to do things "by the book" when working or your vehicle. It's much more satisfying than just slapping it together!

If you want a drain plug in the diff housing it's no problem......... just buy a Rubicon, they have them as standard! However, Tom is correct in saying you can do a much better job cleaning the goop out by removing the cover.

tsjay

Gill got his website restored today!

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mullins87

I brought the Jeep home today. I managed to snap a few pictures before it got too dark. Click on the link below:

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/jmullins87

Steve, there are three pictures of the lifted golf cart in there as well.

tsjay

That link doesn't get me to any pics.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

geepers

Thanks for the torque wrench info. I'll have to investigate the clicker ones more although they still looked like they'd be too long to get to some of the bolts. I take my 1/2" wrench and gradually tighten them down in a pattern until I can't budge them anymore. So far so good. Being a forest service road driver I rarely get into 4-wheel drive so my rear diff is always much blacker than the front. In fact, night and day difference.

I've heard of using brake cleaner but I'm hesitant to spray that stuff into my diff. Just a personal thing. I let them drain overnight and then soak up what doesn't drain from the bottom.

That's a hefty price to pay for drain plugs, getting a Rubicon.

01r1

Tom or Mac-

Good info on the torque wrenches Mac.

Question, will I need new gaskets when I change the oil in my diff's? (D30 & D35)

Thanks,
Pete

tsjay

Using cork gaskets is an option, but they come from the factory with RTV sealant (liquid gasket, I guess you could call it). That's what I used. Permatex brand, and I used the blue stuff.

My mechanic buddy couldn't stand the blue showing (where it squishes out around the cover and can be seen), so we sprayed some black undercoating type paint over the diff covers when the job was done.

The Permatex comes in different colors for different applications. Some of the differences depend on the temperature the stuff will be exposed to.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tsjay

http://www.stu-offroad.com/index.shtml

Steve and Tidester, delete this if it breaks the rules, but it's just a guy's private web site, and he has great write ups on how to do stuff on Jeeps. Mods and maintainence work.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tidester

Just looking at Stu's Moab shot is scary!

tidester, host

tsjay

Those boys out West do some CRAZY stuff, don't they?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mtngal

That's too crazy for me. I'm hoping to get to Moab some day, but not those trails!

Jim - I had problems with your link also. I had problems with another friend's Yahoo album. It seems quite tricky to get them to work right. Good luck with it!

stever

(I get an empty album page too, Jim).

Now that the cold dark winter is coming on - whoopee, y'all can go play in the snow in your Wranglers!

But, since there may be more face time with the computer this winter, is there any interest in reviving our old weekly Jeep chats? The format would be an hour one evening a week (or perhaps every other week?).

Any day or time that's better for most of you? Let us know - thanks!

Steve, Host

tsjay

If the rest of the gang is interested, you can put me down for it.

Fellow Jeepers, please put some thought into this, and don't say you would participate, if you're really not sure you would make an honest effort to be there every week. We had a weekly chat going once before, and people lost interest.

It ain't a lot of fun sitting at the puter waiting for people to show up for the chat, and then have no one actually come to the chat.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

erickpl

I just don't have a consistent schedule. I have learned SO much in here from everybody, especially, mac, trey, and of course Mr. Mayor Tom. I would love to learn about mechanics of Jeeps, how to handle them on the big rocks and off roading, but I just have SO much going on.

If the weekly chats take place, will they be archived somewhere so we can look them up at a later date?

-Paul

drosketer

I know I wouldn't likely participate in a weekly (or even a biweekly) chat. They can be a great source of information and socializing, but the commitment to be there... It's fun to check in when I have the time rather than feeling obligated to. And let's not analyze that train of thought any further... ;-)

Although I don't have that rubi yet, I know that once I do I will have questions... and this board will be where I plan to turn to. No need to have anyone sitting all lonely in a chat room waiting for someone else to join on in! Just my $0.02 (or less post-conversion) I suppose.

Andrew

mtngal

I probably wouldn't be able to. For a long time it seemed I was the only West Coaster. That's changed recently (hooray!) but still means that the chat would have to be early enough for the East Coasters. It would more than likely be too late by the time I get home, cook dinner and get stuff ready for the next day. That's the main reason I'm never at Gil's. Otherwise, I'd give it a try.

texasjeep

Golden Crack (Stu's pic)
I have never seen someone take that line. That made it look more extreme with the line Stu took. Most people run it close to straight on.

Anyone watch 4x4 TV or Superlift adventures? They have some extreme stuff on those shows. They just showed Daniel Boone Park in KY. That place looks like a lot of fun.

I was wondering about the chat a week or so ago. If there is enough interest I would like to see them again. Was it on wedensday before?

stever

Seems like it was on Wed. nights Tex... and the chats usually aren't archived Erickpl, unless there's a special guest or topic that's being debated.

Steve, Host

tsjay

Was it on Wednesday night? Think it might have been Thursday night, but I'm OLD.

Seems like it was at 8 PM CST, which made it 6 PM for the west coasters and 9 PM for the east coasters.

Hey, no one says ya gotta sign your name in blood... just wondered how many would be willing to TRY to be there every week. Sometimes ya got company, or ya have to go somewhere, or ya gotta do something else.

If even half a dozen people would show up each week, it would be fun.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

01r1

Thanks Tom for the info on the Diff. gaskets and that link to Stu's site. Good info!

-Pete

geepers

I don't want a Jeep falling on me so I practice safe procedures when I'm working underneath. That includes wearing my safety glasses for when the dirt and grease start falling into my face. So it was kind of ironic when I put my tools away yesterday and took off my safety glasses. Went inside to scrub the grease from under my fingernails with a bristle brush.

You might guess it, shot Fast Orange handcleaner into my left eye from off the brush bristles. Try putting a drop of orange juice and a few small grains of sand in your eye. Poured copious amounts of water in my eye from a drinking glass to flush it. Might be a worthwhile investment to find an eye flush kit.

Remember, keep those safety glasses on until you go to bed.

mtngal

Ouch! Not good. I've done a similar thing with water washing dishes. Good point about safety glasses and being careful all the time.

mac24

If there's a next time, try using the spray hose that most sinks have for washing vegetables. Alternately, just rush to the shower. Wet clothes are a small price to pay for preventing an eye injury.

01r1

That doesn't sound fun. Yes, wear those goggles, don't get lazy like me. I had the opportunity to have an eye flushed completely with brake fluid while bleeding the brakes because I got a little lazy. Although, that orange hand cleaner sounds worse than brake fluid - ouch!

-Pete

guy21

Has anyone else seen one of these? Mixed reactions on my part. The body is dark green metallic with an olive drab soft top and camo seat fabric. Blacked out wheels and trim. Army type stars as part of the fender trim.

By the way, D-C came through and bought back my 2003 SE (4 cyl) with 3 bad trannies in 6,000 miles. Kept eating the syncros for 2nd and 3rd even with complete replacements. I'm happy and got to order an X.

mac24

Glad to hear that DC stepped up and did the right thing.

I've only seen pics of the Willys version and it holds even less attraction for me than the Apex did!

tsjay

Good deal! I'm happy for ya, dude. Bet ya can't wait for that X to come in.

What could have caused the synchro's to go bad like that with even a complete replacement of the tranny??? And it was TWO complete replacements, right?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

jefferson1964

It was announced that DC is to lay off 5K workers. Also, check Jeep.com the incentives have really jumped up. $2K off for 03' wranglers and $1,500 off for 04's not to mention large jumps in incentives for both Grand Cherokee and Liberty.

This might be it Tom I might just have to order me a new jeep. I will check my finances and see....

tsjay

DO IT! Bet there'll never be a better time!!!

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tsjay

I have heard people say that dog owners and their dogs begin to look alike after they have been together for years, but I think that is just plain silly! Don't you?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tsjay

I love fall, but it does mean I have to do something that I don't really like, and that is to put the top and doors back on Thelma Jane.

I am on the verge of making that decision. It's an awful cold 68 mile drive to Turkey Bay, when the temperatures are like they have been lately. Once the sun gets up good an high, it ain't too bad, and that's when it would be nice to still be topless and doorless.

The leaves are just beginning to turn color a tiny bit, and when they are in full color, it would sure be nice to be driving around in the woods topless and doorless.

I'm thinking about trying running with the hard top on but the doors still off. Anyone ever done that? Wonder how that would work? Think I would still get cold driving to Turkey Bay like that?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tidester

LOL!

Which one was that ... TJ's driver or the passenger?

tidester, host

mullins87

Sorry I've been away for a few days. You might try cutting and pasting the link.

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/jmullins87

I didn't have any trouble and I know I have the album set to where it is available to everyone. Oh well.

Where do you check the tranny and transfer case fluid? I looked last night, but all I found on the tranny was a large plug with a torx fitting and the words "do no remove". I couldn't find anything on either one that looked like a fill plug.

tsjay

Just tried again on your pics, and this time it says the album is "currently empty."

Not sure on the AX-15 tranny where you check it, Jim. Not real sure about Tcase either, since I had my fluids changed at a dealership. I got a good deal on the labor, and I took my own fluids with me, so it wasn't worth the trouble to change the fluids myself. I coudn't see exactly where the guy was finding the plugs, although I stood close by during the operation. The guy was reaching up into places that I couldn't see.

Email me a pic or two of that Jeep, and I will post em for ya.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

geepers

Tom, you might want to try putting the doors back on and leaving the hard top off for now. That's how I'm getting around now with a bikini top also. Roll up the windows, turn up the heater and it's pretty warm up in the front. Ross Allen will have to ride shotgun with this arrangement to stay warm. The bikini comes off and the windows go down when it warms up and it still gives that open air feeling.

That pic is weird.

Gary

tsjay

Thanks. Guess I might as well bite the bullet and put the doors AND the top back on. Ross Allen can't ride shotgun: he's to big for that. He would have to sit straight up the whole time, and he ain't gonna do that.

Oh well, it was the same way last year. I just hated putting the top and doors back on, but I had to.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

texasjeep

I usually keep a sweatshirt in my Jeep and that usually works for me until it gets cold out.
Sounds like you need a set of full soft doors and a bikini top. You don't get too much wind with this setup.

guy21

Tom,

When the grinding occurred in my first transmission it was replaced at 1,200 miles with a complete new one due to the fact that it went down over Memorial Day weekend. The second trans was torn apart at about 3,500 vehicle miles finding the bottom full of brass grindings. D-C made the determination to install a complete unit, as the cost of parts and labor to rebuild the old one was almost as much as a complete new one. At 6,000 miles, the grinding started again in the third trans. My dealer then requested help from D-C and the buy back offer was made.

As for the cause, the theory that everyone agreed on is some sort of engine/trans/driveline misalignment in my particular vehicle.

Overall I was happy with the SE 2.4L for performance and economy, however reliability obviously became the overriding issue. I am also very pleased with the handling of the matter by D-C and my local dealer, Chrysler World in Abrams, Wisconsin.

tsjay

Thanks for the details. Sounds like DC and your dealer have done allright by you.

I was thinking along the lines that you are saying they think the problem is. What else COULD it be other than misalignment?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mullins87

How do you mount tow hooks on a YJ. I know that one bolt on the front bumper comes out and is replaced with a longer one. Will just one bolt do the job? But what about the back hook? I can't find any way to access the inside of the frame rail to intall a bolt.

tsjay

Jim asked me to post a pic of his Jeep for all of ya to see. We were chatting in Gill's, but he had to go to bed. His new job requires him to get up at 4:00 AM.

Man this Jeep looks brand new! What a find on Jim's part!

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?