2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build

[Flyin6]

Next up, I assembled both front lower control arms. These, too, are much longer than stock length.

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[Flyin6]

After loosely installing the lower arm, bolts loose for now, it's time to get after the more difficult driver's side.
Here is what the long arms look like installed:

 

[Flyin6]

Here's the view from outside and a close-up of that larger, lower bushing assembly

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

You’re going to have a Caddie when that’s all buttoned up!!

 

[Flyin6]

You’re going to have a Caddie when that’s all buttoned up!!

I actually do own a Caddy!

 

[Jteakus]

Nothing better than drinking coffee and catching up on a build thread,
Nice progress sir.

 

[Flyin6]

Time now to get after the driver's side, which is supposed to be more difficult because of the exhaust loop.
Well, I suppose it was a bit tougher, but I am on top of the learning curve, so I'd say this corner went smoother than the passenger.

 

[Flyin6]

You will see zip-ties wrapped around the exhaust. They are my new exhaust hangers!
Or maybe they are securing the brake line bundle away from the grinding/cutting area...
Anyway, there are a bunch more cuts on this side since access is at a premium. I had to cut off bits and pieces to get close to the welds. If I had taken the exhaust loop off, I would not have had to do it this way. Like before, I used the plasma wrench to get the big stuff out of the way, while setting fire to my prized Duluth flannel!

 

[Flyin6]

But after a couple of not-too-difficult hours, I had the area cleared of the unnecessary factory mounts.

 

[Flyin6]

After smoothing it with a coarse scuff pad, I primed the bare metal with self-etching primer...Pretty much the way I do everything.

 

[Flyin6]

I am using my favorite materials once again. The primer was followed by the high-solids MRO Seymour paint.

 

[Flyin6]

That made for an efficient afternoon work session from around 1400 to around 1700. The paint will set up and dry overnight and be ready for the new bracket tomorrow.


I know, crappy pics, but you get the concept...

 

[Flyin6]

The objective for today's work was to complete the front.

I started by removing the Rock Slide Engineering slider so I could get access to drill a single hole. Man, I hated to pull that slider off again!

 

[Flyin6]

Then I drilled, well to be accurate, enlarged an existing hole to 1/2", then fitted the driver's front bracket.

 

[Flyin6]

Then the UCA was fitted. The beauty of doing with the Jeep, essentially immobilized in a fixture, is that you can simply drop the control arms into place without doing any measuring.
The caster and alignment remain, for the most part, untouched.

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