New front axle build....

[x2elite]

Started putting my hp44 together. WJ high steer knuckles, WJ Akebono dual piston brake calipers and brackets, '02 explorer sport trac brake rotors, TJ Rubicon alloy shafts, all put together today. My new locker will be here on Monday, and I'll install it then. That is all it is lacking to bolt into my XJ.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b258/Jhamilton_/photo-12.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b258/Jhamilton_/photo-11.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b258/Jhamilton_/photo-10.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b258/Jhamilton_/photo-9.jpg

[Art101]

SWEET!

what gear ratio are you running?

[Exxon Valdez Jeep]

What's the advantage of sport-trac rotors?

[x2elite]

What's the advantage of sport-trac rotors?

The sport trac rotors make it so you don't have to space out the caliper brackets or redrill the WJ rotors to 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern.

[Jeepnube]

Ooooh...shiny! Bet ya can't wait to get it dirty....looks good bro!:cheers:

[x2elite]

Ooooh...shiny! Bet ya can't wait to get it dirty....looks good bro!:cheers:

You know me man, it won't be shiny for long. ;)

[$450JEEPxj]

so is it still clean and shiny?

[xxmidianxx]

Yeah... It's not even installed yet.

[x2elite]

Had it apart to swap gears, and add the locker.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b258/Jhamilton_/photo-13.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b258/Jhamilton_/photo-15.jpg
And back in the housing...
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b258/Jhamilton_/photo-14.jpg

[Twisted_Dakota]

looks good... how long did it take you to do the gears in it?

[xxmidianxx]

Good job there buddy. I will see how well they hold... then we can talk gears on mine. lol

[x2elite]

About 30 minutes or so including adding the locker (then spent about 20 more minutes cleaning the housing and carrier to make sure there was absolutely zero debris in it, as well as got all the old gasket material off of it).... Super easy with the axle out of the rig. Didn't hurt that the axle had 0 miles on it either.

[x2elite]

It is all buttoned up and ready to go in now, and hopefully I will be able to get it swapped in there this weekend.

[x2elite]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b258/Jhamilton_/photo-17.jpg

Tested out the locker today, and it is working great.

[Twisted_Dakota]

That looks mean as hell. I like it.

[Exxon Valdez Jeep]

Flip that tie rod. Are you using the WJ TREs?

[RidgeRunnerXJ]

Flip that tie rod. Are you using the WJ TREs?

X2, I found out the hard way that you are better off using Chevy high misalignment draglink ends (ES2026R & ES2027L) for the drag link. Way more range of motion than the WJ TRE's.

[x2elite]

Flip that tie rod. Are you using the WJ TREs?


I plan on flipping the tie rod to Over the knuckle eventually. I just wanted to get the axle installed. Actually that is the rugged ridge steering setup. I need to put some TREs on in the next week or so anyway cuz the ones that are on there are shot to hell. I tell you, those WJ knuckles that have the drag link to the knuckle vs to the tie rod make the steering feel so much better. I still have to replace my lower control arm bushings, and the TREs (and hopefully flip to OTK) then I should be golden.

[RidgeRunnerXJ]

I tell you, those WJ knuckles that have the drag link to the knuckle vs to the tie rod make the steering feel so much better.

No joke there, my steering is way more solid and responsive with the crossover steering and the WJ brakes are way better than stock.

If you are going to stay with TRE's (rather than going with hiems or somthing) I'd recomend using stock WJ TRE's on the tierod with Goferit flip inserts. For the draglink I'd ream the upper arm on the pass kuckle OTK and the pitman arm for the 1-ton DLE's mentioned above.

Thats a mean lookin rig BTW!

[x2elite]

I would like to use the WJ TREs, but I don't think they would work with my tie rod. It requires whatever TRE I use to have a 7/8's threaded shank.

[RidgeRunnerXJ]

Most of the chevy 1-ton ends are 7/8-18 thread. More info here: http://www.jeepfan.com/tech/tierod-id.php