[99WJ539918]

I figure I'll start a build/maintenance thread for my 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, "Boomer"...

I bought my WJ in July of ’08 with 156,000 miles on it. I got it for $600 because it needed an engine. The owner’s son took it off roading and cracked the oil pan on a rock, drove it home with no oil, put a new oil pan on, and added oil. But the damage was already done. #6 piston and rod were in pieces when I took the oil pan down. I got a shortblock from an '06 manual TJ and swapped it in.



The next couple years I was just daily driving it with not much getting done, just maintenance items.

 

[99WJ539918]

My very early '99 WJ came from the factory with one option - SelecTrac. I didn't even have a button to press on the center console lid to open it. I wanted to upgrade to a nicer interior, so I swapped in a tan Limited interior from an '01 to replace my black standard Laredo interior. I found a donor WJ that had everything but the carpet, steering wheel, steering column bezel, and dash. I hooked up the 10 way power seats, the memory seats, and the heated elements from the new seats as well as swapped in the rear seats, all of the tan seatbelts, all interior trim, the white face gauges, heated and tinted side view mirrors, and the Limited headlights. I also installed the factory foglights, auto headlights, and multifunction switch.

 

[99WJ539918]

I added a Manik brush guard with a set of Warn HID lights.




Here's a picture of just the HID output:

 

[99WJ539918]

Next came the cladding painting. I used Krylon Fusion in satin black. I think it came out pretty good. I also painted the door and hatch handles, grill, wiper arms, cowl, roof rack, and hatch trim pieces.






A dime is the perfect size to cover the keyhole in the driver's door handle.


Broke two of the four bolts while taking the brush guard off to paint the grill and front bumper cover. That was annoying.


That is pretty much how she looks now with 272,000 miles on her:

 

[99WJ539918]

I buffed out my old Laredo headlight housings and put those back on. The clear Limited housings looked weird with that much black on my front end.

Within the last week I picked up a set of JK Rubicon take off shocks and JKS track bar. I also bought a set of the KOR bushings for the track bar. I ordered new spring isolators, a Moog Super Trail Boss steering stabilizer, a 2.5"/2" BB kit, rear upper control arm, and a rear OEM ball joint. I have to order the front four control arms and the rear lower control arms still. I've replaced all of the other suspension parts already. Hopefully next weekend or the following weekend I'll get to work on all of that.

 

[99WJ539918]

Came home to some brown and white boxes. My KOR track bar bushings, all 8 spring isolators, budget boost, JKS bar pin eliminator kit, rear ball joint, and rear A arm all came in today. Still waiting for my steering stabilizer and I have to get some extended rear end links and upper bushings for my rear shocks. Once this is all installed I can decide if I will need front upper and lower and rear lower control arms.

 

[99WJ539918]

Rear links are ordered from Rusty's.

 

[99WJ539918]

Got my Moog Super Trail Boss steering stabilizer today.

 

[99WJ539918]

Took some measurements today for the rear upper shock bushings. I don't want to spend $25 on the Rusty's kit. I'll make a trip up to Home Depot and see if I can find something.

 

[99WJ539918]

Weather isn't cooperating, parts are starting to pile up...

 

[MoonyJohn]

I buffed out my old Laredo headlight housings and put those back on. The clear Limited housings looked weird with that much black on my front end.

Within the last week I picked up a set of JK Rubicon take off shocks and JKS track bar. I also bought a set of the KOR bushings for the track bar. I ordered new spring isolators, a Moog Super Trail Boss steering stabilizer, a 2.5"/2" BB kit, rear upper control arm, and a rear OEM ball joint. I have to order the front four control arms and the rear lower control arms still. I've replaced all of the other suspension parts already. Hopefully next weekend or the following weekend I'll get to work on all of that.

If you were closer id sell you my black laredo headlights I have left over

 

[99WJ539918]

If you were closer id sell you my black laredo headlights I have left over

I already cleaned the lenses up on my Laredo headlights and they came out great with some sandpaper, water, polish, and sealant.

 

[99WJ539918]

Rusty's Off Road extended sway bar end links arrived today.

 

[99WJ539918]

Finally had some decent weather and time to work on her. After I got home from work I installed the front spring isolators, front BB, front shocks, and Moog SS Trail Boss steering stabilizer. Here are a couple pictures...

Before:


After:







My axle only shifted about 0.5", so I'm going to keep my original track bar for now. The Moog steering stabilizer is much beefier than stock. I made my own BPE's because the ones that are in the shocks I'm replacing are kind of beat. I still have to center my steering wheel tomorrow. The front took me about an hour and a half from start to all cleaned up. Tomorrow, or Sunday, I'll finish the back. My spring perches were in pretty good shape, I cleaned them up and painted them with rust inhibitor. My stock height was 17.5" hub to fender and now my front end is sitting at 20.25", so I netted 2.75" with the BB and isolators. I wonder how she'll ride with the JK Rubicon shocks...

 

[Nightmares]

Looks good so far. I got the same year and color as well.

 

[99WJ539918]

Looks good so far. I got the same year and color as well.

Thanks.

 

[99WJ539918]

I swapped out the a-arm and ball joint today, as well as started my rear BB. I read many times that having a 21mm ratchet wrench would've been ideal, but I underestimated the importance of it. I strongly suggest using one. Here are a couple pictures of the A-arm install:








My front shocks went on without an issue, but my rear shocks are giving me a problem. I spent a long time today with the bottom bolt. The shock mount wasn't wide enough for the shock so I persuaded it a little bit with a hammer. I'm able to get the bolt to go in the welded nut straight through without an issue when the shock isn't there, but I can't get the bolt and nut to line up with the shock there. I got frustrated and went inside for a beer, or two, or three, you get the picture. Today ended abruptly for me, I should finish it tomorrow.



Good thing I did the work this weekend. I noticed my rear pads were paper thin on the inside. Just something else added to my list for tomorrow.

 

[99WJ539918]

Done with the rear now. It was sitting at 18" hub to fender in the left rear and 18.5" in the right rear. Now she's at 20.5" in the left rear and 20.75" in the right rear. I'm guessing she'll settle once the springs seat where they want to. All I have left now is to center the steering wheel.

Before:



After:



Now I have to buy some bigger tires once these wear out (shouldn't be much longer). I'm looking at 245/75/16 and I have a spare set of the same rims in my garage that I'll sandblast at work and paint black.

 

[99WJ539918]

First adjustment and the wheel is centered. :thumbsup:

 

[HVACNY]

Any pics of those rims?Lift came out nice..