Upgrading Negative Battery Cables...Lots of pics!

Jmila1901 · 08-01-2007, 03:19 PM

This is my step by step guide on how to remove your old small negative battery cables and install larger ones to take their place...

(I forgot to take pictures of me removing the plastic wrap around the cables, just cut the tape and pull the plastic sleeve off the battery cables to reveal them!)

Vice Grip, Ratchet with small adapter, 13mm socket, 1/2, 3/8

Brass Marine Terminals

2 gauge (or better) Battery cables... Factory length is 27in for the long side and 7in for the short side... I bought 33in and 10in, I would NOT recommend buying your cables the same size as factory because it makes it allot harder to route and put into position, the extra long cables gives you room to work with! I also got a copper end just in case i did need to shorten a cable which i didn't.

Here are the tiny old cables i ripped out... They bend with ease!

with the 1/2 remove the battery rerminal, with the 3/8 remove the ground to frame...

Unbolt the ground from the block and pull the pld cables out...

Now all you need to do is reinstall the new cables in reverse order, tighten down the brass battery post, pop the new cables in and tighten up the wing nut...
Here are the results!

Jmila1901 · 08-01-2007, 03:21 PM

Just a note, Once i do my Positive cable upgrade i will merge my Braided engine ground upgrade thread, this thread, and the positive cable thread together

Rasta_Coty · 08-01-2007, 04:09 PM

nice man...i gotta upgrade mine..the terminals barely go on there anymore

Shoobie · 08-01-2007, 06:28 PM

Looks beefy.

This is on my list of things to do.

Cody_00_XJ · 08-01-2007, 08:13 PM

bookmarking this to do later

skylander · 08-02-2007, 12:05 AM

Hey this is timely. I just got done redoing my battery lines using marine terminals. Only, I used the 4 gauge stuff with 6 gauge power and chassis ground connections. Way to go on the write up.

wojtizzlator · 08-02-2007, 12:08 AM

nice job i put new ends on mine but i wanna do the whole cable somtime in my life

Jmila1901 · 08-02-2007, 12:44 AM

Yup its worked out pretty good, Now that i have all the grounding taken care of my volt meter reads higher than it did before!!!!

mrboom · 08-02-2007, 08:10 AM

Nice Job, But next time please wear shoes.

**XJK** · 08-02-2007, 10:33 AM

nice work, i will do this at a later date, saving it

oh and x2 on the shoes.

-Kyle

ButcherJones · 08-02-2007, 01:06 PM

Sweet write up....and pics....
Im looking forward to the posi's as well.
Im going to be doing mine tonight or tomorrow night....
Alternater, optima red top, starter, and new cables.....

rocketman121 · 08-23-2007, 06:28 PM

Bumping this up.

Ive got the negative cable disconnected from the battery but can not get the other end off the engine. Its like welded on or something. I tried using a screwdriver and BAH but no luck.

Could I just cut off the cable as close as possible to the bolt/stud and be done with it?

tangofox007 · 08-23-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketman121

Bumping this up.

Ive got the negative cable disconnected from the battery but can not get the other end off the engine. Its like welded on or something. I tried using a screwdriver and BAH but no luck.

Maybe you should remove the stud.

Jmila1901 · 08-23-2007, 09:29 PM

just cut it and rough up the surface a little bit

BrunoS · 08-23-2007, 09:38 PM

rocket man: use a special nut to get the stud off. it's bolted in place. as an alternative, snip the braided end, leave the lug, and attach your new cable to the stud with a new nut and washer on top of it.

08-01-2007, 04:09 PM	#3
Rasta_Coty Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange Park, Florida Posts: 739 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	nice man...i gotta upgrade mine..the terminals barely go on there anymore __________________ [SIZE="1"]1996 Jeep Cherokee \|\| 4.5 in. RC \|\| 4.0 liter I-6 high output \|\| 33 x 12.50 BFG All Terrain T/A KO, 16x8 American Racing rims \|\| Rusty's Air Tube w/ K&N 9in. Cone Filter \|\| Throttle Body Spacer \|\| Bored TB \|\| Flowmaster Regular 40 \|\| 99+ Intake Manifold Swap \|\| Auto Meter (Trans Temp. \| Water Temp. \| Volt) Gauges \|\| Pioneer 5800 HU \|\| Hifonics 1606 Amp \|\| (2) Kicker Comp Cvr 15's \|\| 1/0ga. wiring \|\| Vented box \|\| Yellow Top \|\| Tranny Cooler \|\| Bushwackers \|\| [/SIZE] [B][SIZE="3"][url]http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2218603[/url] Updated 2/4/07[/SIZE][/B]

08-23-2007, 06:28 PM	#12
rocketman121 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 346 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Bumping this up. Ive got the negative cable disconnected from the battery but can not get the other end off the engine. Its like welded on or something. I tried using a screwdriver and BAH but no luck. Could I just cut off the cable as close as possible to the bolt/stud and be done with it? __________________ -87 XJ 4.0 5spd, 2"BB, 31" BFG ATs on 15x8 Eagle 058s, trimmed and doorless -01 TJ 4cyl auto FT 3" lift 33" Goodyear AT/S & BFG muds herculined tub

08-23-2007, 09:38 PM	#15
BrunoS Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: South Bay Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,538 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	rocket man: use a special nut to get the stud off. it's bolted in place. as an alternative, snip the braided end, leave the lug, and attach your new cable to the stud with a new nut and washer on top of it. __________________ Newly Painted! Emerald Green '96 XJ 4x4 4.0 HO 5-spd 3" Lift + 31" Tires / D35 TracLok / NP231 Drilled out Stock Airbox / Gauge Cluster Upgrade Magnaflow Muffler / High-flo Cat / MSD Coil

08-02-2007, 12:05 AM	#6
skylander Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Farmington NM Posts: 15 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Hey this is timely. I just got done redoing my battery lines using marine terminals. Only, I used the 4 gauge stuff with 6 gauge power and chassis ground connections. Way to go on the write up.