brianinca
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
https://aceengineeringandfab.com/products/ace-jt-gladiator-rock-sliders
After consideration, research, and reading around this forum, I ordered a set of the ACE Engineering sliders. It was very attractive to me the design incorporated the stock JTR rock rails. Feedback on this forum that they served as effective steps for those of modest stature was equally attractive.
The video from ACE with Adam gave me the "get a longer breaker bar" data point, cheap Harbor Freight item to the rescue:
I waited for a free shipping offer from ACE and waited again for delivery, well within their promised window. Packaging was solid and it's a damned good thing there is a 20 yard dumpster at work I can do a midnight run to.
Lots of folks posted good installation information here, @Bbannongmu had a great YouTube video posted as well. The horror stories about broken bolts really pushed it down on the install list. Getting down Christmas decorations with an 8' tall shipping box leaned against shelves in the garage reset my priorities yesterday. Once it warmed up to 55 deg today I kicked on the compressor and got to work.
It was shockingly quick to complete this task. I looked at my watch at 945 and though "gee 15 minutes in, two hours to go!" I used the long cheap breaker bar and 18mm socket starting at the driver side forward bolt. Worked my way back, using the breaker bar and then switching to an impact wrench. then felt confident enough to move to the passenger side. Loosening/tightening with the breaker bar that was all that was needed, but the impact wrench needed the help FOR SURE.
I followed Adam's lead and just hucked the rails up to the center body mount, got the thread started from my back, then ran a couple of revolutions up with the impact gun. You DEFINITELY need an extension for the gun, the thick long ears running down (especially from the rear) make a 4" or longer extension mandatory. I swapped it back and forth between the breaker bar and gun, with a bare hand to get the threads started. The rails are so rigid, it only took three shots at each bolt to finish it up. I'd previously bought a Tekton 3/4" torque wrench for suspension work, and 85 ft/lb was trivial. My old shorter torque wrench doesn't get much love any longer.
At 10:31 I hailed my wife from the garage and asked her to try the steps out - BIG SMILE!! At this point, she doesn't feel the need for skateboard tape, even. The downside is I don't get to be handsy helping her get in the truck, but she feels a lot more comfortable hopping in and out. It will make things easier for our passengers as well, my parents as an example (4 x fake knees between them).
The sturdiness and strength are very apparent in these sliders. With my wife in the driver's seat, I hopped up on the rear door space and rocked the whole Jeep hopping up and down. No deflection, and dammit those Rubicon Fox shocks are toooooo SOFT!
The curvature of the factory rails to give a bit of a waist to the truck are apparent when you look at the straight ACE rails, but it's not an issue for me. My wife noticed immediately and dismissed it. Two big thumbs up from me, and two big thumbs up and a big smile from my wife!
Curvature:
Step space:
After consideration, research, and reading around this forum, I ordered a set of the ACE Engineering sliders. It was very attractive to me the design incorporated the stock JTR rock rails. Feedback on this forum that they served as effective steps for those of modest stature was equally attractive.
The video from ACE with Adam gave me the "get a longer breaker bar" data point, cheap Harbor Freight item to the rescue:
I waited for a free shipping offer from ACE and waited again for delivery, well within their promised window. Packaging was solid and it's a damned good thing there is a 20 yard dumpster at work I can do a midnight run to.
Lots of folks posted good installation information here, @Bbannongmu had a great YouTube video posted as well. The horror stories about broken bolts really pushed it down on the install list. Getting down Christmas decorations with an 8' tall shipping box leaned against shelves in the garage reset my priorities yesterday. Once it warmed up to 55 deg today I kicked on the compressor and got to work.
It was shockingly quick to complete this task. I looked at my watch at 945 and though "gee 15 minutes in, two hours to go!" I used the long cheap breaker bar and 18mm socket starting at the driver side forward bolt. Worked my way back, using the breaker bar and then switching to an impact wrench. then felt confident enough to move to the passenger side. Loosening/tightening with the breaker bar that was all that was needed, but the impact wrench needed the help FOR SURE.
I followed Adam's lead and just hucked the rails up to the center body mount, got the thread started from my back, then ran a couple of revolutions up with the impact gun. You DEFINITELY need an extension for the gun, the thick long ears running down (especially from the rear) make a 4" or longer extension mandatory. I swapped it back and forth between the breaker bar and gun, with a bare hand to get the threads started. The rails are so rigid, it only took three shots at each bolt to finish it up. I'd previously bought a Tekton 3/4" torque wrench for suspension work, and 85 ft/lb was trivial. My old shorter torque wrench doesn't get much love any longer.
At 10:31 I hailed my wife from the garage and asked her to try the steps out - BIG SMILE!! At this point, she doesn't feel the need for skateboard tape, even. The downside is I don't get to be handsy helping her get in the truck, but she feels a lot more comfortable hopping in and out. It will make things easier for our passengers as well, my parents as an example (4 x fake knees between them).
The sturdiness and strength are very apparent in these sliders. With my wife in the driver's seat, I hopped up on the rear door space and rocked the whole Jeep hopping up and down. No deflection, and dammit those Rubicon Fox shocks are toooooo SOFT!
The curvature of the factory rails to give a bit of a waist to the truck are apparent when you look at the straight ACE rails, but it's not an issue for me. My wife noticed immediately and dismissed it. Two big thumbs up from me, and two big thumbs up and a big smile from my wife!
Curvature:
Step space:
Sponsored