Maximus Build

[MaximusTX]

After months of waiting on parts, I finally got Maximus back for a couple of weeks to test drive and shake down. After the Rubicon, the steering and suspension were hammered—I found that everywhere the long arm kit connected to the frame and axles, the mounting holes had started wallowing out, causing the axle to shift. The stock steering box was also shot, with about half a turn of play in either direction. On top of that, one shock was leaking oil, another was leaking air, a coilover was bent, and nearly every rubber bushing was toast.

To fix it, we replaced all the bushings with rebuildable ones and installed weld washers at every long arm connection point. The shocks were rebuilt, and we built a custom steering setup using heim joints. For the drag link and tie rod, we used 1.5" OD DOM tubing (with the tie rod sleeved to almost 2 inches). We also fabricated a custom sway bar bracket and added quick disconnects.

The steering box is adjusted for now, but once I'm sure there are no lingering issues, it goes back in for the PSC Big Bore Steering kit and a brake upgrade. This should finally have the steering dialed in.

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[TwoCarGarageYT]

Dang that thing got beat up! I recognize the crossmember as a RK long arm, were those the adventure series joints? What are you using in their place?

The steering looks stout, looks similar to what genright has come up with. How are the heims, noisy?

I've been looking into track bar reinforcement brackets, including metalcloak, but wasn't sure if it would clear the coilover upright. Looks like that's what you went with, did you have to cut it up at all to make it fit?

If also been trying to decide on swaybar choices and steering box. I'm considering antirock for the front (I have a "custom" set up in the rear and like it) and elminate the e-swaybar entirely.
I've run PSC products before and have been happy, though I've had the reservoir burp a few times leading to the smell of burning power steering fluid when it drips onto a manifold. I'm not shilling for genright, but they've put together a package that looks like it can finally compete with PSC: https://genright.com/steering/genright-steering-kit-jeep-wrangler-jl/

 

[MaximusTX]

Dang that thing got beat up! I recognize the crossmember as a RK long arm, were those the adventure series joints? What are you using in their place?

The steering looks stout, looks similar to what genright has come up with. How are the heims, noisy?

I've been looking into track bar reinforcement brackets, including metalcloak, but wasn't sure if it would clear the coilover upright. Looks like that's what you went with, did you have to cut it up at all to make it fit?

If also been trying to decide on swaybar choices and steering box. I'm considering antirock for the front (I have a "custom" set up in the rear and like it) and elminate the e-swaybar entirely.
I've run PSC products before and have been happy, though I've had the reservoir burp a few times leading to the smell of burning power steering fluid when it drips onto a manifold. I'm not shilling for genright, but they've put together a package that looks like it can finally compete with PSC: https://genright.com/steering/genright-steering-kit-jeep-wrangler-jl/

Thanks, the heim joints were a little noisy at first but I oiled them with some Tri-Flow Superior Lubricant and that helped a lot. I don't know much about GenRight Products. The kit does look similar except my bars are all straight and used off center heim joints and they use regular heim joints and curve the bar around the diff. Not sure if either one makes a difference or not. The RK Joints I just got the rebuild kit from RK. Rock Krawler Adventure Series Joint Center Rebuild Kit

For the trackbar reinforcement bracket I did go with MetalCloak for both the sector shaft brace and the Track bar Reinforcement. Both fit without any modifications other than drilling the holes for the rivnuts.

I have the antirock sway bar in the rear and am running the stock rubicon antisway bar in the front but I just added quick release sway bar links. Figured I would run it until it fails and then look at changing it out. For the steering I was running the stock steering gear box and pump with a redneck ram but the stock system just couldn't handle the 42inch tires and the steering box went out on it. I didn't even know GenRight made a kit. Just went with the PSC Big Bore Kit but it doesn't look like the GenRight one will work for a diesel. Hopefully I'll be getting the PSC kit this week. I also relocated the remote reservoirs to a better location.

 

[TwoCarGarageYT]

Thanks, the heim joints were a little noisy at first but I oiled them with some Tri-Flow Superior Lubricant and that helped a lot. I don't know much about GenRight Products. The kit does look similar except my bars are all straight and used off center heim joints and they use regular heim joints and curve the bar around the diff. Not sure if either one makes a difference or not. The RK Joints I just got the rebuild kit from RK. Rock Krawler Adventure Series Joint Center Rebuild Kit

For the trackbar reinforcement bracket I did go with MetalCloak for both the sector shaft brace and the Track bar Reinforcement. Both fit without any modifications other than drilling the holes for the rivnuts.

I have the antirock sway bar in the rear and am running the stock rubicon antisway bar in the front but I just added quick release sway bar links. Figured I would run it until it fails and then look at changing it out. For the steering I was running the stock steering gear box and pump with a redneck ram but the stock system just couldn't handle the 42inch tires and the steering box went out on it. I didn't even know GenRight made a kit. Just went with the PSC Big Bore Kit but it doesn't look like the GenRight one will work for a diesel. Hopefully I'll be getting the PSC kit this week. I also relocated the remote reservoirs to a better location.

Good info, thanks! I have the MC sector shaft brace that I never installed on my last JT (went to PSC) and am considering putting that on with their track bar brace. I wasn't positive the brace would work with the coilover bracket, so thanks for the pics. I'm going to try to make the stock steering box work for a bit since my credit card is still rebounding from the past few months. I do have a mechanical pump running off the V8, but I can tell the set up would benefit from assist. The pump gets hot and tired trying to move aired down 40s on rock.

The only issue I had with the PSC is the fluid in the reservoir would get hot, expand, and then leak out the breather. It would drip and hit the exhaust manifold which would then slightly smoke and stink. I had it filled per PSC recommendation and certainly did want the level too low either. I've seen two other 392s melt the breather hose from the reservoir and that was also a bit stinky. Just something to be aware of when mounting your breather. The big bore box itself was fantastic.

 

[MaximusTX]

Good info, thanks! I have the MC sector shaft brace that I never installed on my last JT (went to PSC) and am considering putting that on with their track bar brace. I wasn't positive the brace would work with the coilover bracket, so thanks for the pics. I'm going to try to make the stock steering box work for a bit since my credit card is still rebounding from the past few months. I do have a mechanical pump running off the V8, but I can tell the set up would benefit from assist. The pump gets hot and tired trying to move aired down 40s on rock.

The only issue I had with the PSC is the fluid in the reservoir would get hot, expand, and then leak out the breather. It would drip and hit the exhaust manifold which would then slightly smoke and stink. I had it filled per PSC recommendation and certainly did want the level too low either. I've seen two other 392s melt the breather hose from the reservoir and that was also a bit stinky. Just something to be aware of when mounting your breather. The big bore box itself was fantastic.

If needed you can get your steering box rebuilt at Redneck Ram for like $280 I think is what I was quoted but I know it wasn't too expensive. I had a couple people tell them that they got theirs rebuilt a couple times but it would just keep failing so I just bit the bullet and get the PSC kit.

Doesn't look like they have an option for just a rebuild if yours is already ported. Their customer service is excellent. When I had a couple issues with mine I would send in an e-mail and the owner would usually call me in under an hour (during business hours) and would walk me through how to fix the issue or diagnose the exact cause then get me the parts I needed to fix it.

Jeep JT 2019-Newer Steering Gear Box

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