[Boreal]

Great idea for a thread

I'm a Jeep n00b (had it about 6 months) and I'm taking the mods verrrrrrrrry slowly and researching a ton before pulling the trigger. I have a pretty good idea of what my "finished" (yeah... right!) Jeep will look like and threads like this help me to avoid mistakes that others have made in their buildup.

[rjt36]

Remember when there was the constant debate over whether or not a K&N is worth while? I haven't seen any threads on that in a LONG time. I guess that's because of the scientific proof.

Anyway..the worst mods I've done:

Buying those plastic side steps from the dealer the day after I bought my Jeep stock. Everyone was complaining how hard it was to get in....little did they know

This rear bumper Hi-Lift mount that is totally garbage. My jack fell off twice on the trails and it barely works now since mud and dirt have gotten in everything. I tried greasing it, but it doesn't work the same.

Actually, the Hi-Lift can go on this list as well. Although, I've used it a couple times, I could do without it. I rarely see an opportunity where it's the easiest option to get unstuck. I also think I gave myself a concussion once when the handle whacked me upside the head.

Rockcrusher diff covers that just so happened to be a part of that defective batch where the holes wouldn't line up. It took me so long to get all the bolts in, and moved it around to much to get them to line up, that the RTV didn't set right. I had a small leak that went unnoticed for a long time and ended up running low on oil. Then I burned everything inside the dif up. A couple thousand dollars later, I've got 4.56 gears, a locker, and an 8.8, so I guess I made out okay in the end.

[Cooneys01TJ]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

It's well known as probably the worst air filter you can buy so far as how well it actually filters the air. Even a scientifically conducted (via ISO standards) air filter test confirmed just how bad it is at filtering out fine dust and silica.

Check out a recent post I made at http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/3886876-post21.html for a little more information.

Wow had no idea...its funny how you think you could be doing the right thing for your jeep, but in reality hurting it and my wallet...ESPECIALLY since the filter was 40 bucks!! What do you use now?

Thanks for the enlightenment jeep god

[Wheelin98TJ]

K&N open element filter
Throttle body spacer
Bestop Supertop
Borla header
Hooker Super Comp header
Firepower ignition kit
Regearing and adding a limited slip to a D35

[TJTodd]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

Tera control arms

Jerry,
Can you expound? I have Tera control arms, so I am wondering what I need to look out for .

Thanks,
Todd

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally Posted by cooneyb

Wow had no idea...its funny how you think you could be doing the right thing for your jeep, but in reality hurting it and my wallet...ESPECIALLY since the filter was 40 bucks!! What do you use now?

Thanks for the enlightenment jeep god

If I still had room for the factory air filter box (a belt-driven compressor for on-board air takes up part of that space), I'd be running an AC-Delco paper element air filter. It breathes just fine and provides very good filtration. That would be ideal. Since I can't run that type of filter, I now run a TrueFlow air filter... which while much better than a K&N, is still not as good as a traditional paper element air filter.

[meha11]

smittybilt fender flares

with out a doubt, the worst buit product i have ever purchased. Thankfully the good folks at 4wheel... took em back after 2 weeks of use.

[Mayfair_Jeeper]

Mirror Movers...

[edzakory]

Installing an Aussie in my new factory D44 rear. But it could have been worse:

Originally Posted by Wheelin98TJ

Regearing and adding a limited slip to a D35

Thanks to the Jeep forum members for the early warning on the frailities of the D35.

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally Posted by TJTodd

Jerry,
Can you expound? I have Tera control arms, so I am wondering what I need to look out for .

Thanks,
Todd

There are two generations of Tera arms: The original first-generation control arm with polyurethane bushings at both ends earned a bad reputation among wheelers that wheeled on more difficult trails. It flexes/articulates so poorly that they could literally tear a control arm bracket off the axle... which happened to me.

Tera's latest generation control arms have a much more flexible joint on one end, more like a Super-Joint from Rubicon Express or a Johnnie Joint from Currie. Those are probably ok. I'll go back to clarify my earlier post to say "first-generation Tera control arms".

[jmreagan]

A 3 inch Rusty's suspension kit. The kit was marketed and sold as a "complete lift" which was a total lie! It was missing extended bump stops, an adjustable front trac bar, and extended front sway bar links. After buying all the parts left out of Rusty's kit and paying for shipping for them I spent over $300 more on top of the lift kit. I could have had a quality Full Traction kit for a couple hundred less than that. The rear springs have settled more than I would like too as now I have no rake. I would like to end this post on a positive note though. The lift does ride better than stock and flexes ok.

[freedom5]

AEM brute force intake system. No difference at all.

[masonorion]

Mirror relocation brackets........ $40 piece of crap that is a PITA. Used them
twice and did what I should have done to start with, spent $100 on
a set of American Oulaw's that slide in my door hinge........

[stevegittings]

Canyon Crawler tailgate rack. Rusty piece of poo-poo. Now I have unnecessary holes in the tailgate.

[fish4life]

getting crappy rubicon express (low end) shocks with my REBB ..... if i were to do it again i'd buy the spacers and better shocks

I honestly dont' know why these cheap shocks are all so stiff, there is no advantage to stiff shocks at all. You think if they make them crappy they would've made them too soft

I actually want to beat the designer of these over the head with the shock!