Finally Got My BL & MML On! (Pics)

C2U5H · 09-17-2007, 09:31 PM

Well I finally did it: after a summer's worth of working my fingers to the bone (read: 70 hour weeks and not much time to wrench) I got my Rusty's 1" BL and 1" MML. And boy, I'm happy.

Now, it's not much different than before, but knowing I can now fit 33x12.5" MTs under there is satisfaction enough for me.

My impressions: Working with Rusty's was a great experience. I actually got this lift in exchange for a muffler-back tailpipe that didn't fit when I put my Flowmaster on (my Hidden Hitch got in the way). Everything was packaged enough for my standards (I mean, we're dealing with metal pucks that hold up you TJ body and mounts that deal with a bunch of torque ... nothing short of a bomb going off in the UPS truck could hurt them.

BL kit came with the 11 machined pucks, longer bolts, washers, longer rubber grill support bumpers, and a T-case shifter linkage relocation bracket.
The MML is simply the two motor mounts (driver- and passenger-side mounts are identical) and 4 metal sleeve spacers so the thru-bolts enter the mounts with no slack.

I did both at the same time, so I didn't need the T-case shifter linkage bracket...all selections for the T-case work and stay in-gear flawlessly.
I DID notice the shifter was a little tighter in 2nd, 4th, and reverse gears, but only because of the rubber shifter boot...because I did the MML, the shifter is only a little tighter, but it stays in gear flawlessly.

I have AC and I've read that I'd need to take the driver's side motor mount completely off--I found this unnecessary. I got everything in with no problems just removing the nut on the bottom, the bolt on the top, and the thru-bolt.

With the new mounts, I noticed that the slight vibe I got at 55mph was completely cured (due to the 2" BB with no T-case drop) and, overall, the "feel" of the engine vibration was dampened quite a bit...a nice ride now with absolutely no vibes.

I don't usually have air tools, but I borrowed a compressor and used air tools for these jobs and it took about 2 hours for the BL and about 3.5 hours for the MML. This is just me by myself with plenty of water breaks. I also changed my differential gear oil...and sanded/painted the diff covers with a Hammered grey...much better.

CONTINUED ON NEXT POST...

C2U5H · 09-17-2007, 09:32 PM

All in all, a good day of wrenching!! Looks kinda weird with only 31x10.5" ATs, but once I get my 33's on there it'll look better!!

~J

Knot · 09-17-2007, 10:09 PM

Good job! I have a rusty's 2" basic suspension kit with 1" BL and MML in my garage for my 97 TJ. I'll probably start wrenching this weekend. Do you have any tips or know of good write-ups, especially for the MML?

EG00TJ · 09-17-2007, 10:20 PM

So, how easy was the MML ?.. did u have to jack or hold the motor up while doing the mounts ..

AlTheKillerr · 09-17-2007, 10:22 PM

looks great. cant wait to see it with 33s

yungjeeper22 · 09-17-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knot

Good job! I have a rusty's 2" basic suspension kit with 1" BL and MML in my garage for my 97 TJ. I'll probably start wrenching this weekend. Do you have any tips or know of good write-ups, especially for the MML?

x2 i got my 1''bl/mml today and i will be installing it on sunday after work

**KUK9** · 09-17-2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EG00TJ

So, how easy was the MML ?.. did u have to jack or hold the motor up while doing the mounts ..

I managed to do my MML and BL all said and done in about 3 hours. For the MML, just put a jack under the engine and lift it up a bit. I found it easier to remove the entire mount assembly instead of just the engine side mount, and then putting the new one together and back in.

C2U5H · 09-17-2007, 11:03 PM

If you go into the job thinking it's all complicated and hard...then it will be. If you go into it realizing that it's just a machine that's supposed to be taken apart and put back together, then it's easy.

For the most part I used the 4x4xplor.com write-ups as guidance, but it's pretty straight forward.

For the MML, I jacked up the engine by the front of the transmission bellhousing...I wouldn't jack it up by the oil pan even with e piece of wood under it...too risky.

HONESTLY, the hardest part of the BL install was getting those ****ing rubber grill supports in there. For the MML, getting the thru-bolt out and back in (all while getting the spacers in there, too) was the most time consuming. If you don't have a friend helping you, plan to make plenty of trips to and from the jack to adjust the height of the motor. But otherwise, it's very do-able.

~J

**Erik T.** · 09-18-2007, 07:09 AM

This just reminds me that I've had my BL on for a year now and those F'ing grill supports still aren't in(I'll have to check to see if they worked their way in... or off my rig). I just wedged them in there.

**john NC** · 11-10-2007, 01:12 PM

glad i found your thread, i was just about to order rusty's BL. it's $59 and basically the same thing as other which cost $100+. found a good deal on some brown dog MML and if i get this i'll have both for less than the jks BL

impressions after a couple months?

ImSuck · 11-10-2007, 01:39 PM

what tires are you gonna go with?