MO2500's '97 TJ Build up - Page 7

**MO2500** · 06-14-2010, 03:51 PM

Here's a couple of pics from Greenridge today. Had a few friends that kept bugging me for a jeepin' trip and today was the day. I have a lot better pics that i need to get off my friends camera.

2006_Sport · 06-14-2010, 03:58 PM

Oh damn man, didn't know ya went out. Looks like you had a good time! Jeep looks great as always

**MO2500** · 06-14-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2006sport

Oh damn man, didn't know ya went out. Looks like you had a good time! Jeep looks great as always

Haha, yea we just decided to head up there this morning for a random trip. I needed to get offroad again

2006_Sport · 06-14-2010, 04:04 PM

You and me both. I was so desperate the other day I flexed out my jeep in my ditch to "check for bumpstop clearance"

**MO2500** · 06-14-2010, 04:11 PM

I think i have some really great flex pics on my friends camera. Front tire completely stuffed on the left and rear tire completely stuffed on the right. I was hoping they were taken with mine but i only took about 3 pics

Gotta love driveway flexing though. Those bump stops won't check themselves

**MO2500** · 06-18-2010, 10:24 PM

Some more pics of greenridge from monday off my friends camera

2006_Sport · 06-18-2010, 10:25 PM

Good stuff mike. She flexes nice

SOLIDJP44 · 06-18-2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2006sport

Good stuff mike. She flexes nice

what do mean quite? just curious

**MO2500** · 06-21-2010, 10:35 PM

Okay, so here is what i'v been debating over and over again for quite some time now. Probably since i built the front bumper in december

My question is, do i build a traditional swingout tire carrier/bumper for the rear like every other jeep out there, Or.......

try and build something very similar to the T&T customs replacement rear crossmember and fab a custom tub mounted tire carrier.
Pros: Better departure angle, less added weight possibly, and it doesn't look like every other rear bumper on every jeep going down the road.

Cons: Will definitely be a little harder to fabricate, Have to figure out how to mount the gas tank skid as well as the body mounts since the stock rear crossmember serves both those purposes.

T&T replacement crossmember

**MO2500** · 06-21-2010, 10:54 PM

For the tire carrier i have several ideas in mind. Going off of the design from Or-Fab and Trek tire carriers i would plate the hinge area of the swingout and then sandwich the tub with a bracket inside that would attach to the roll bar, strengthening the hinge area. Same deal for the latch on the other side of the tub.

Here are some pics of the ORF tire carrier. For mine i would not leave space for gerry cans. My goal is to move the spare up and in close to the tub and with a replacement crossmember bumper and have very little overhang in the rear. Better departure angle and a cleaner looking rear end

Let me know what you all think might look best as i just can't make up my mind. One is certainly easier to fabricate but I'm up for a challenge as well

DirtyJeepBoy · 06-21-2010, 11:22 PM

Something similar to the T&T one would look nice, can't wait to see how yours turns out.

Good looking Jeep btw.

**MO2500** · 06-21-2010, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyJeepBoy

Something similar to the T&T one would look nice, can't wait to see how yours turns out.

Good looking Jeep btw.

Thanks

Yea, i'm still throwing ideas around in my head. I wish i knew someone with the T&T so i could really take a look at it and check a few things out. Figuring out the mount for the GTS and body mounts is the only thing i'm worried about.

Other thing I could do is just build a bumper flush to the existing crossmember. That would only hang 2" farther out. I think I might still build the tub mounted carrier regardless

Family vacation next week but I'm hoping to get started on this project in the next couple weeks. We'll see what happens

**MO2500** · 07-05-2010, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO2500

Family vacation next week but I'm hoping to get started on this project in the next couple weeks. We'll see what happens

Well this is what happened.... I apologize for the long story/rant

Some good and some bad. So the day before i leave for vacation all last week, my Silverado starts squealing like crazy on my way back home from work. I suspected brakes but had no time to mess with them until after vacation. Got back yesterday after a relaxing week and then today got to work. Sure enough, rear pads were wearing funny due to bad slides and pads and rotors needed to be replaced.

This is where my bad luck starts

I'v got the rear brakes torn apart on my truck and figure i'll take the jeep out to pick up parts. I get about half way to the auto parts store and come to a stop light. When i leave the stop light my jeep was sluggish and felt like it took a little more pedal to get moving. Now i'm trying to figure out whats up with my jeep. Then i start smelling what smells like burning brakes or clutch as i pull into the store and get out. Check around underneath the jeep but nothing catastrophic or anything. Get the brakes for my truck and head home. On the way as i approach a stop light it turns yellow and i had to brake relatively hard to make the stop, Jeep pulled so hard to the right it looked like i was changing lanes and i had a pretty good oh **** moment. Trying to repair the brakes on my truck and now my jeeps brakes are messed up, WTF

Got home taking it slow and being careful with the brakes, took my temp. gun and checked my brakes. Sure enough, front drivers side rotor maxed out my heat gun at something over 500*

while the rest where a mere 140*. My guess is the caliper piston froze up and started dragging at that first stop light and once it heated up i lost braking performance on the left, causing the scary pull to the right feeling. Pads and rotors are roughly 5,000 miles old as they were new when i purchased the jeep. Anyway, i'll be pulling my brakes apart on the jeep too in the next couple days. Bummed to be dumping money into brakes unexpectedly on BOTH my vehicles.

Time for the Good
I ordered a Currie Anti-rock for the front

also the brake controller and axle straps i needed to tow the jeep on the trailer.

This was ofcoarse hours before i found out my jeep's brakes had a problem too. I'll have to see what it turns out i need for the jeep when i have some time to work on it. Right now it feels like my wallet has been punched in the gut

I also was planning on making some measurements and ordering some steel for my rear bumper/crossmember this weekend but I'll wait till i investigate the jeep's current issue before spending more money.

jeepdog5 · 07-05-2010, 11:37 PM

Hey man, just read through your build. really nice. the aussie install was sweet; definitely learned a lot.
I'm over in Leesburg. If you ever head over this way hit me up. I'm trying to get a Crozet trip planned sometime this summer.

**MO2500** · 07-06-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepdog5

Hey man, just read through your build. really nice. the aussie install was sweet; definitely learned a lot.
I'm over in Leesburg. If you ever head over this way hit me up. I'm trying to get a Crozet trip planned sometime this summer.

Thanks man, I'm glad the aussie install could help someone

This is actually the first i'v heard of Crozet. Just did a quick search and it looks like a pretty nice park. I may be interested to go if you put a trip together so let me know.

As for my Jeep,
about to go out in the garage and start pulling the front brakes apart. I'm hoping it's just a quick (cheap) fix...