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Stan H

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No, not printed. No physical arms at all! (Maxium weight savings), just virtual ones. Not sure how it will work, but worth a try! ;-)
Say Huh ? Mweh , yer axle may fall off. 🤫🤔😅
 
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Flyin6

Flyin6

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Well, first REAL day of this long arm install. Up to this point, things were fairly easy, but no more!
This gives you an idea of the enormity of this current project:


Had to buy overload springs just to stash all that stuff in there! ;-)

Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03490 (Medium)
 
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Flyin6

Flyin6

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This stuff is well built. I think Iron Rock is a little Gem of a company. They manufacture top-tier stuff and sell it at a fraction of the cost of the major manufacturers. This is the sort of company and folks I love to support.

The bracket in my hand is for the right front, the first area I am tackling.

After printing the instruction booklet (Only for the front) it was off to the races.

Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03491 (Medium)


Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03492 (Medium)
 
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Flyin6

Flyin6

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I am using the plasma torch to make the big cuts, then following with a cut-off wheel and finally a flap disc. I covered the expensive stuff with aluminum foil which will convert all the sparks into electricity that I'll use to power my house.

Part of the above statement is true...

Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03493 (Medium)


Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03502 (Medium)
 

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Flyin6

Flyin6

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The blue flame wrench makes for quick removal of things like those factory brackets. But I left plenty of metal so as not to accidentally cut the frame.

Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03494 (Medium)


Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03501 (Medium)
 
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Flyin6

Flyin6

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After A L O T of grinding, as in a couple of hours, I hit it with the flap wheel.

I elected to leave part of the weldment in place to avoid compromising the frame. There is something like 1/16th" of weld remaining. It smoothed out pretty flat, so I'm happy with that.

Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03496 (Medium)


Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03497 (Medium)
 
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Flyin6

Flyin6

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After that, the area was cleaned up with brake cleaner and painted with a durable semi-gloss Seymour enamel. If you haven't checked out Seymour paints, take a look. Their paint is super thick, dries pretty hard, comes in a large can, and is inexpensive. I buy the stuff in six-can cases and order it right from Seymour.

Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03499 (Medium)


Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03500 (Medium)
 

Hootbro

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Well, your committed now. 👍
 
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Flyin6

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Another day and one corner is about finished.

I had to remove this shield, which protects the fuel tank connections. It had a small stud which I had to grind flat. I hit it with paint afterward

Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03504 (Medium)


Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03505 (Medium)
 

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Flyin6

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Here's that bracket that will be bolted to the frame, passenger front corner

Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03503 (Medium)
 
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Flyin6

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Bolting that in required the drilling of one 1/2" hole. Then fishing in the nut plates with a magnet was an exercise in gymnastics, but in the end, everything fell into place.

Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03506 (Medium)


Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03508 (Medium)
 
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Flyin6

Flyin6

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Here are the MetalCloak bushings that replace the stick units and allow for more angular deflection.

I tried as best as I could, and I just could not budge those stock bushings. There must be a special tool for this purpose, so I'll see if I can find it and get those bushings pressed in/out.
For now, the show must go on.

Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03511 (Medium)


Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03512 (Medium)


Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03513 (Medium)
 
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Flyin6

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Next, I assembled the new (much) longer upper front control arms. Just look at the difference in length between the "stocker" and the Iron Rock arm.
One end has a rubber bushing, stock, I think, whereas the other end features a rebuildable spherical joint.

Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03514 (Medium)


Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03515 (Medium)
 
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Flyin6

Flyin6

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The threaded shaft on that end link must be 8"-10" long. I screwed it out to join with the upper axle mount, and there was still thread remaining more than 3" inside the arm!

Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03516 (Medium)


Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03517 (Medium)


Jeep Gladiator 2022 AEV Gladiator Rubicon build DSC03518 (Medium)
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