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98' XJ - Gettin her trail ready

66K views 487 replies 20 participants last post by  JeepN4KC 
#1 ·
Whats up JF, This is going to be a somewhat slow "build," however Im always working on her trying to get as much preventative maintenance done as I can. This is my second jeep, my first was a 87' YJ that I fixed up and sold for this 98' Cherokee Sport. Spent some time looking before I found this one. 4.0, ax15, np231, chrysler 8.25, 4dr, and Im the 2nd owner! Getting her reliable before I start adding trail goodies. Things Iv done since purchasing the XJ around a month ago.
-New Dist Cap
-New Dist Rotor
-New Spark Plugs (Champions)
-New Spark Plug Wires
-Flushed Radiator
-New Water Pump
-New t-stat w/ gasket
-New Intake/Exhaust Manifold Gasket
-New Throttle Body Gasket (Cut one out of a sheet of gasket material)
-New Air Filter (K/N drop in)
-New Oil Pressure Sending Unit
-New Coolant Temp Sensor
-Changed Oil and Filter (Rotella T 10w30, PureOne Purolator Filter)
-Changed Trans Fluid (Pennzoil Synchromesh)
-Changed t-case fluid (Dex 3)
-Changed Rear Diff Fluid (80-90 weight gear oil)
-Replaced Both U-joints on rear driveshaft
-Replaced Leafs with Crown Heavy Duty Leaf Springs W/ Poly Bushings.
-Rugged Ridge Leaf Shackles
-Fat Bobs Garage U-bolts
-Replaced Trans Mount
-Replaced Rear Shocks (Monroe Sensa Trac)
-Replaced Tires (Bridgestone AT Dueler Revo 2 tires, 235/75/15)
-Replaced OEM rims with 98' Limited Tear Drop Rims
-Wired in a new usb/cd/aux JVC radio
-Rugged Ridge floor mats
-And last but not least, my first mod. Aussie Locker for chrysler 8.25 29 Spline
When I first bought it -

Doing Work -

Aussie -

XJ with friend XJ -

Current -

Mod #2 is in the mail, the d-ring bumper should be here in a few days. Thanks for reading all of this, once I get a paying job and wear these tires down a bit, Il be looking to get a lift and some 32s. Its a DD with the intention to occasionally wheel. We all know that its easy to go extreme with Jeeps. Stay Tuned :wave:
 
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#72 ·
Thank you, I appreciate the compliment. The AW4 would be nice offroad but I really enjoy shifting through the ax15's gears and offroad it crawls nicely in 4lo. The locker helps a lot when it comes to crawling over stuff with momentum instead of constantly having to shift.
 
#79 ·
straightsixjeep said:
Yeah bring basic hand tools and unbolt the front and rears when you get there. You can take some pics on the articulation ramp. Take note that you have no cell phone reception there.
Alright and I will have my bumper on too so a couple recovery points. And cell phone what's that? Hah.
I wonder what kind of articulation a stock Jk has. Haha
 
#84 ·
straightsixjeep said:
Awesome Trent Il see you there. Iv got an oil leak to fix and my rear diff fluid to change but I should have it done with plenty of time to spare. Dont forget to bring $7 worth of toys to donate.
Yep I looked it up see ya there.
 
#85 ·
I managed to get some work done on the Cherokee. I replaced the oil filter adapter o-rings with ones from a HELP kit from the parts store but they didnt seal. The second time around I replaced them with dealer o-rings and so far so good.

Picked up, modified, painted, and installed a 84-96 xj gas tank skid

Modified and installed a Teraflex ax15/4.0 oil pan skid (had to cut a chunk out to clear the exhaust

Picked up a trailer hitch from a fellow Jeeper

Helped install a recovery point in my friends bumper. Bolted a spare u-bolt through the stock bumper :) Hey its better than nothing

I helped a friend install a lift on his white 98', his junkyard T-Bird coils gave him more lift than my 3in pro comp coils

Wheelin





The Aussie started acting up on the way home, it wanted to unlock every time I took my foot off the gas even when going straight. I pulled the diff cover and the gear teeth look fine, going to tear into it tomorrow and check it with a feeler gauge.
 
#86 ·
Aussie told me to remove the locker immediatly and send it in for an inspection. I popped the diff cover and found no shavings, next I pulled the center pin and pushed the axles in one at a time for the c clip removal. After that the aussie locker cam and axle gears came right out but before removing them I checked all specs and they were the same from when I first installed it. The gears looked brand new so I cleaned everything up and reinstalled it, checking tolerances to verify that once again the measurements were exactly the same as before, which was within spec. Topped it off with 80-90w gear oil and took it for a spin. Sounded horrible, before I pulled the locker again I checked my drums and found out one was catching! I popped the inspection plug out and turned the star wheel with a flat head screwdriver until the shoes didnt catch anymore and now the locker is back to normal!
Took the Jeep in the snow for the first time today.




Im saving up to get 31/10.5/15s and a rear d-ring/hitch bumper. Come spring time Im going to herculine the rear bumper and my rocker panels. At that point Il have decent offroad tires to accompany the 3.5in lift already installed, and with a rear bumper Il have front and rear recovery points. After that it will be smaller things such as armor, fender flares, and possibly a roof rack. Trying not to get carried away, its difficult.
 
#90 ·
Your actually rather close to tuttle creek which I believe is open most days and you dont need to sign a waiver or anything. Heres KS Rocks website - http://www.ksrockspark.com/
You would travel roughly an hour east to KC then its another 1-1.5 hours south outside Fort Scott. They normally have events atleast once a month however I believe they are open most weekends. You show up and pay $15 to get in and sign a waiver. You should come down with us for Frostbite 2013 in February.
 
#89 ·
Kansbiker said:
I'm in Topeka, where is ks rocks and how do I get permission?
Anyone can go to ks rocks it is down on 69 by fort Scott.
I am planning on goin around Christmas you are able to come out if you want.
 
#91 ·
Join their FB page, I believe they said they are closed for the holidays however should be open the last weekend of this year. If it snows Il go.

Remember that I have was gotta build you a rear bumper.
Blame JCR offroad, they make sick diy bumpers that you just need to weld together and install.
 
#92 ·
straightsixjeep said:
Join their FB page, I believe they said they are closed for the holidays however should be open the last weekend of this year. If it snows Il go.

Blame JCR offroad, they make sick diy bumpers that you just need to weld together and install.
I will
Stupid jcr haha it's fine though.
 
#97 ·
straightsixjeep said:
You goin by yourself again? Id bring someone along just to be safe, always helps having more people to help when you get stuck or are about to roll.
Nah I got some buddies goin and was hopin you were goin to tag along. My dad is comin too.
 
#99 ·
straightsixjeep said:
Would you be going on a Saturday? Il ask my buddy who has an xj if he wants to wheel as well. I also ask my friend with the yota, and about a dozen other cherokees hahah
Sure let's get a party goin haha.
 
#100 ·
#101 ·
#102 ·
Good man stock up on recovery equiptment. I want to get a portable winch that hooks into a receiver.
I ordered this strap 2 months ago and I went to use it one night when I was high centered, it lasted almost one tug then SNAP
 
#103 ·
straightsixjeep said:
Good man stock up on recovery equiptment. I want to get a portable winch that hooks into a receiver.
I ordered this strap 2 months ago and I went to use it one night when I was high centered, it lasted almost one tug then SNAP
Don't get the ones with hooks much weaker they are te ones with loops are much stronger.
 
#105 ·
straightsixjeep said:
One hook is already off, Im going to remove the other one and either sew the ends into a loop or tie a knot with a loop. Better than nothing for a backup strap.
Yep much Better.
 
#106 ·
Not a whole lot going on with the XJ right now but I am making progress. I installed a RC 2in lift kit on a 07' Jeep Commander the other day and made a few bucks for the Cherokee.

The front strut spacer-

Rough Country says to grind the unthreaded portion of the stock strut studs in order for the new spacer to clear. I found that this was not needed because there was clearance after fulling tightening the spacer onto the strut.

Also put 2in wheel spacers on the Commander

Back to the Cherokee, I started experimenting with homemade fender flares

I replaced my stock lower control arms with Rough Country fixed arms good for 3-4.5in of lift. In order to get the axle to rotate to where I could get the lower control arms in I took one of the control arm mount bolts and simply slid it through the axle end mount for the driver side control arm, with the bolt in place I slid a cheater bar between the axle and the bolt. When you pull up on the end of the bar, looking at the axle from the driver side you would notice it rotates clockwise. I put a floor jack on the end of the bar, after a minute of prying the bar up it moved the axle to where I was able to slide the passenger side lower control arm into place. Once you bolt that up the other control arm is ready to bolt in as well.

New wheelin pics


Going to align the Jeep myself tomorrow. Going to set toe and center the steering wheel.
 
#109 ·
straightsixjeep said:
Thanks bud you to :D Have fun in the snow :highfive:
Oh I am. Traction control off. Atv tires fixed Saturday and I'm doin donuts erwhere
 
#111 ·
straightsixjeep said:
Thats what I just came back from doing! Rear locker + 2wd = :2thumbsup:
Haha the gravel roads out here don't get plowed so I just take as many as I can:)
 
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