I have a 92 XJ, with the HO 4.0, of course.
90% of the time I just use it for commuting, but the other 10% I seem to be testing the limits of the stock componentry.
I recently visited the Michigan sand dunes. I was very impressed with how well my stock XJ handled everything. It gave me oodles of confidence. So much confidence that I may have bent some stuff in the front end.
Even though most of the time I am not doing anything too demanding, I would like to have the strength to do watever I want, when the feeling hits.
This is what I need some advice on:
1. I've been considering an OME suspension kit for a while, to help on and off road.
2. I also have been contemplaring switching out the axles, as everybody seems to think the Dana 30s and 35s are junk.
This is my motovation:
There have been some strange sounds and feelings happening before and after the Michigan trip. There has been a metalic popping sound when I start moving forward or back with the wheels turned. It sounded like a U-joint or a cv-joint to me. The brakes feel like the shoes or pads are loose because at the end of every stop there seems to be a little friction vibration.
After failing to figure it out myself (no big surprise there), I took it to the local Brakes Plus. They couldn't figure it out either. So I thought perhaps this is some unique Jeep thing that nobody else understands (ha-ha). I bit the bullet and took it to the local Jeep dealership. They certainly had ideas as to what was causing these noises and they wanted quite a bit of $$$ to fix them. That's when I started thinking it might be a better idea to just swap out the axles for some Dana 44s or something.
Here is what the dealership thought was wrong and what they wanted to fix it:
Front controll arm bent and bushings $704
Track bar has play in ball joint end $292
Alignment $80
Front knuckles worn where brake pads ride $1,142
Axle seal leaking $535
Knowing what is going on Priceless
What are the knuckles? (Yea, I'm a De-De-De)
Are control arms and track bars replaced in a lift kit like OME?
Are Dana 44s my best option if replacing the axles is the best bet?
Even though most people here don't like the ABS system, I do. Would I be able to retain it in an axle swap?
Thanks
90% of the time I just use it for commuting, but the other 10% I seem to be testing the limits of the stock componentry.
I recently visited the Michigan sand dunes. I was very impressed with how well my stock XJ handled everything. It gave me oodles of confidence. So much confidence that I may have bent some stuff in the front end.
Even though most of the time I am not doing anything too demanding, I would like to have the strength to do watever I want, when the feeling hits.
This is what I need some advice on:
1. I've been considering an OME suspension kit for a while, to help on and off road.
2. I also have been contemplaring switching out the axles, as everybody seems to think the Dana 30s and 35s are junk.
This is my motovation:
There have been some strange sounds and feelings happening before and after the Michigan trip. There has been a metalic popping sound when I start moving forward or back with the wheels turned. It sounded like a U-joint or a cv-joint to me. The brakes feel like the shoes or pads are loose because at the end of every stop there seems to be a little friction vibration.
After failing to figure it out myself (no big surprise there), I took it to the local Brakes Plus. They couldn't figure it out either. So I thought perhaps this is some unique Jeep thing that nobody else understands (ha-ha). I bit the bullet and took it to the local Jeep dealership. They certainly had ideas as to what was causing these noises and they wanted quite a bit of $$$ to fix them. That's when I started thinking it might be a better idea to just swap out the axles for some Dana 44s or something.
Here is what the dealership thought was wrong and what they wanted to fix it:
Front controll arm bent and bushings $704
Track bar has play in ball joint end $292
Alignment $80
Front knuckles worn where brake pads ride $1,142
Axle seal leaking $535
Knowing what is going on Priceless
What are the knuckles? (Yea, I'm a De-De-De)
Are control arms and track bars replaced in a lift kit like OME?
Are Dana 44s my best option if replacing the axles is the best bet?
Even though most people here don't like the ABS system, I do. Would I be able to retain it in an axle swap?
Thanks