New Seals
I picked up a couple new seals today and assembled the differential on the production bearings. I'm done with the front diff. I still need to find a brake caliper bracket. I'm also considering a tie rod and drag link flip kit to flip the tie rod to the top of the knuckle. I'd like to avoid a drop pitman arm if I can and maintain the stock turning radius (to the extent possible). I'm putting on a 4.5" Rubicon Express lift kit when I get to that point.
I hope I don't end up feeling like the 4.5" lift is too tall. My jeep has always seemed heavy. It has a V8 and probably some extra body panels welded, and a lot of bondo from the previous owner. So it might not sit as tall as other CJ's with the 4.5. The Rubicon Express also came with some pretty long shackles. I'm typically not a fan of really long shackles. I have some Currie greasable shackles I'd been using before and I may just get new front bolts (because the new front springs are YJ width) and continue to use the Curries. That may take a half inch out of the lift.
The seals I picked up today were different than what came in the kit. I felt like they had a better spring and a stiffer feel. I'm hoping they will seal better than the kit seals. I went ahead and bought two and replaced the other one from the kit as well.
New seal on the right. The one from the kit is on the left.
I like to drive them in with a dowel rod through the opposite end axle tube like this.
Tomorrow I'll post a list and some pics of the tools I used so lovemachine will know what he needs when he does his own axles.
It really shouldn't take as long as I've been taking. My usual work period on the axles looks something like this: I get off work, go home, dick around for awhile, then make it over to my parent's place by 6:30 or 7:00. They usually have something cooking for dinner. So I BS with them, eat some, talk to Mom, etc. Then I go out in the garage and do a setup, clean stuff, piddle, dad comes out and we talk, etc. Then I take notes, take it apart, and start again. Then I go inside, get a drink, talk to Mom, piddle. So I don't get a lot done. lovemachine could do his in a weekend if he were feeling industrious. Or he could do a practice run on the front in one weekend and hit the rear in the next weekend.
[--- I sent lovemachine a PM when I first started and told him if he didn't have the tools it was a bit of a pain to do the axles, and $150/axle is pretty reasonable if he can find someone he trusted. So it's kind of a conflict to keep goading him in to it in these threads. In all seriousness though, he could tackle it and do a fine job if he were feeling saucy. I would even offer to come over and supervise.---]
I picked up a couple new seals today and assembled the differential on the production bearings. I'm done with the front diff. I still need to find a brake caliper bracket. I'm also considering a tie rod and drag link flip kit to flip the tie rod to the top of the knuckle. I'd like to avoid a drop pitman arm if I can and maintain the stock turning radius (to the extent possible). I'm putting on a 4.5" Rubicon Express lift kit when I get to that point.
I hope I don't end up feeling like the 4.5" lift is too tall. My jeep has always seemed heavy. It has a V8 and probably some extra body panels welded, and a lot of bondo from the previous owner. So it might not sit as tall as other CJ's with the 4.5. The Rubicon Express also came with some pretty long shackles. I'm typically not a fan of really long shackles. I have some Currie greasable shackles I'd been using before and I may just get new front bolts (because the new front springs are YJ width) and continue to use the Curries. That may take a half inch out of the lift.
The seals I picked up today were different than what came in the kit. I felt like they had a better spring and a stiffer feel. I'm hoping they will seal better than the kit seals. I went ahead and bought two and replaced the other one from the kit as well.
New seal on the right. The one from the kit is on the left.
I like to drive them in with a dowel rod through the opposite end axle tube like this.
Tomorrow I'll post a list and some pics of the tools I used so lovemachine will know what he needs when he does his own axles.
It really shouldn't take as long as I've been taking. My usual work period on the axles looks something like this: I get off work, go home, dick around for awhile, then make it over to my parent's place by 6:30 or 7:00. They usually have something cooking for dinner. So I BS with them, eat some, talk to Mom, etc. Then I go out in the garage and do a setup, clean stuff, piddle, dad comes out and we talk, etc. Then I take notes, take it apart, and start again. Then I go inside, get a drink, talk to Mom, piddle. So I don't get a lot done. lovemachine could do his in a weekend if he were feeling industrious. Or he could do a practice run on the front in one weekend and hit the rear in the next weekend. [--- I sent lovemachine a PM when I first started and told him if he didn't have the tools it was a bit of a pain to do the axles, and $150/axle is pretty reasonable if he can find someone he trusted. So it's kind of a conflict to keep goading him in to it in these threads. In all seriousness though, he could tackle it and do a fine job if he were feeling saucy. I would even offer to come over and supervise.---]
