[Si1ver03Rubicon]

Originally Posted by Guardian7

Bullet Proof Tie Rod Sleeve for $8 using a piece of pipe from Home Depot or Lowe's.
Many of my Club Members are running this mod which is cheap and easy to do. This mod will bullet proof one of the weakest parts found on a Jeep, the "Tie-Rod" and will increase the strength 100 times over stock. I have rammed huge boulders since installing mine and it literally bounced off the rocks with no damage. You can add the sleeve before or after your stock rod gets bent but most people add the sleeve after they damage their factory tie-rod as a repair by bending the rod straight enough to slide a piece of DOM tubing over it. Simply pop the end joint off the drivers side steering knuckle, it helps to have tie-rod puller, (Harbor Freight) mark the threads on the end joint before unscrewing it, loosen the sleeve clamp, apply some WD40 to the end joint threads and unscrew it. Slide your new Super Sleeve on, install clamp and end joint, re-attach to steering knuckle and re-check the Toe-in for 1/8" toe with front wheels off the ground. If the factory rod is still straight the sleeve may rattle just a bit so to cure this we drill a couple holes about 4-6" from each end and inject some RTV into the space between the tubes curing any rattles. (Specs on the tubing for TJ are as follows: Approx Length=32.5" OD=1.25" Wall=.120" pipe. DOM tubing is nice but not necessary) The trail repair shown below was done by my friend Doug on a 2005 Rubicon which was blocking the John Bull Trail.

Wimpy Stock Tie-rod After Hitting Rock

Bullet Proof Tie-rod After Sleeve Install
The Proof: Here you see me slamming into a boulder on Holcomb with my Bullet Proof Tie-rod Sleeve and zero damage, no I did not plan to hit the rock but I am still amazed!


Thanks to my friend Doug for this mod

Just got my piece cut. Are you sure thats the right size OD/thickness. The inner diameter looks a little to big for the stock tie rod. I read you said throw a lil rtv in there, but it looks like you'd need a whole tube

32 1/2" long
1 1/4" Outer diameter
1/8" wall thickness

and looks like an 1 1/16'' inner diameter.

[SGT Superman]

I have a 3" Rancho lift and the passanger side rear is starting to sag, would replacing the rear springs with the CV springs level my rear back out and be the correct height for the rancho lift?

[dogbluedrummer]

Originally Posted by Si1ver03Rubicon

Just got my piece cut. Are you sure thats the right size OD/thickness. The inner diameter looks a little to big for the stock tie rod. I read you said throw a lil rtv in there, but it looks like you'd need a whole tube

32 1/2" long
1 1/4" Outer diameter
1/8" wall thickness

and looks like an 1 1/16'' inner diameter.

The OD on a stock tie rod is 0.88".
The ID for the tube you bought is 1" (1.25" - .125 - .125 = 1")
You should have a 1/8" (0.12) gap.

That seems like a lot to me. But remember, the OP said he did this after he bent the original tie rod. The bend would probably make up for some of this gap and help keep it snug. Hello, Mr. OP.......is this right???

Options:
Rubber bushings, bend your stock tie rod, lots of silicone......

[bebout]

Originally Posted by FifteenCents

No you do not have to use the isolators, but you will not gain much.

The V8 ZJ springs with one stock spacer will net you 3 inches of lift and will
level your TJ (remove the front lower than the back rake). Not really
worth the effort in my opnion. Running without any isolators will make your
jeep sound a little rough on the road, road noise will travel through the axle to the frame though the springs.

If you put the crown vic springs in the back without any spacers you will get
3.5 inches of lift. The rear upper spring perch has a rubber washer so the
sound is muffled there.

I did the V8 springs in the front and only gained 2.25" so I kept the 2.25" spacer in with it to net 4.5" of lift and used the stock front tj springs in the rear.

[Scioto County]

(pro's please don't critique my novice approach, thanks)

hey,
i've found some car crushers who will sell parts by the pound.
it's crazy, i pulled a few plastic pieces and they just laughed at me.
later, i came back with the torches and toolbox and went to work.
i think the guys working the forklifts were pocketing the cash,
(a reasonable incentive, considering their payscale)
and the bossman told me to take a break for about a month...

basically,
the key is to not interfere with yard production,
and do not raise concerns for your personal safety.

worked for me:
over the course of a month i picked up an
axel $15
knuckle $10
drum brake guts $5
2 lower control arms $15
nerf bars $20

go prepared and limit trips
know EXACTLY what variations will and will not work
the torch will pay for itself in time saved

the bottom line,
stay out of the way,
show'em everything you're hauling out,
and pay in cash w/o expecting change...

(additional insight and constructive comments encouraged)

[Scioto County]

regarding electric fan swaps
i think i read in earlier threads explaining
some ford contour fans are nearly a perfect/direct fit
(however, tarus' seem to be much more available in local yards)

anyone know?

[FifteenCents]

Originally Posted by 06trailrig

Man, who balanced your tires, look at all that lead.
Are there any weights on the inside rim?

[FifteenCents]

Originally Posted by 06trailrig

I did the V8 springs in the front and only gained 2.25" so I kept the 2.25" spacer in with it to net 4.5" of lift and used the stock front tj springs in the rear.

06trailrig, would you take a picture of your rear springs?
And post it. I'd like to see how yours are holding up.

A buddy and I tried it on his TJ and it eventually sagged really bad from
over compression. That is why we went with Ford Crown Vic rear coils.

[BarneyJEEP]

i run the 34x10.50 ltb's also, took ALOT of weight and they still arent balanced...they just dont balance...

[Si1ver03Rubicon]

Originally Posted by dogbluedrummer

The OD on a stock tie rod is 0.88".
The ID for the tube you bought is 1" (1.25" - .125 - .125 = 1")
You should have a 1/8" (0.12) gap.

That seems like a lot to me. But remember, the OP said he did this after he bent the original tie rod. The bend would probably make up for some of this gap and help keep it snug. Hello, Mr. OP.......is this right???

Options:
Rubber bushings, bend your stock tie rod, lots of silicone......

Ah I guess since he said everyone in his club was doing it that it fit ok over a stock. But I guess everyone in the club must have bent tie rods.

I think I'll try for a smaller tube, seems like a great idea! The pipe he gave dimensions for is just to large tho. I wonder how 1 1/8 OD, .12 thickness, and .885 ID would do? To tight?

[FifteenCents]

Originally Posted by BarneyJEEP

i run the 34x10.50 ltb's also, took ALOT of weight and they still arent balanced...they just dont balance...

I run with 1000 20gram air soft pellets in each tire. My tires are always
perfectly balanced.

[dogbluedrummer]

Originally Posted by Si1ver03Rubicon

Ah I guess since he said everyone in his club was doing it that it fit ok over a stock. But I guess everyone in the club must have bent tie rods.

I think I'll try for a smaller tube, seems like a great idea! The pipe he gave dimensions for is just to large tho. I wonder how 1 1/8 OD, .12 thickness, and .885 ID would do? To tight?

Sounds good. Might need a little help with a 3lb sledge.
Let us know how it fits.

[Bottledbird68]

Originally Posted by FifteenCents

I run with 1000 20gram air soft pellets in each tire. My tires are always
perfectly balanced.

I keep hearing about this. How does it work exactly?
How do you know how much to add?
Any other info?
Thank you

[FifteenCents]

Originally Posted by Bottledbird68

I keep hearing about this. How does it work exactly?
How do you know how much to add?
Any other info?
Thank you

I hate to say this but "search for airsoft pellets"

there is a ton of info on this.

Basically the beads balance the tire from the inside as it spins.

It takes about eight ounces for a 33x12.50 that is a little over 900 20gram pellets
I bought two 2000 count bottles and poured half in each, too many is not a problem.

[Si1ver03Rubicon]

I dunno, little skeptical about putting stuff in the tires. If this was such a great method then there would be no need for expensive tire balancing machines and what not. Or is this only good for large side walled tires?