What did you do TO your Gladiator today? [ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS, NO GUN TALK]

[WILDHOBO]

Maybe I'll just paint the other side red to see how it looks. I really don't want to waste $100 or more on red bedliner, only to hate it. $25 in paint wouldn't be the end of the world. I could always recoat with red raptor liner if I like it.

It’ll all scrape off eventually anyway. Then you can choose a different color.

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[WILDHOBO]

I love those Next Venture skids. I wish they were in my budget.

They’re very expensive. I don’t think they were in my budget either. But a new transmission, oil pan, gas tank, and transfer case definitely weren’t.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Paint all red, then the black. Make the scuffs easier to spot and patch!

Love that.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Doing not done!
Installing a Armorlite floor for Glady. Thought putting out in sun would help.
Thank you Armorlite for donating this to the recent Tread Lightly auction and helping them out and myself to! Perhaps if things go well I’ll get the Mojave X springs and half inch spacers done up front also…..Jack

Had to add this other then not having the right Torx socket E-14 and spent an hour finding a set , floor went well a tip put the clip in the flooring next to gas peddle first drivers side , and sadly it was not a 10 mm socket lost but one of the seat bolts , yes I spent at least half an hour took out seat bolts ,was thinking it went under carpet …of course I was using my Milwaukee battery light with MAGNET the whole time….Aaarrrannggh!

Truly amaze balls.

 

[Rusty PW]

Radio works. Lights work. Mirror works.

Rear Antirock works, just a bit stiffer than I'd like. Tbf I didn't test the rig fully loaded but it does seem to be limiting my articulation in the rear. Maybe I should have gone with the standard antirock and not the HD. I think the HD Antirock in conjunction with the AEV HD coils are just a bit too much off road.

Had to lose the front track bar brace entirely, coil was still hitting it at stuff. I'm conflicted on it. I know it's because I pushed the axle forward but it's positioned about as well as it can be for lock to lock clearance when stuffed so I'll probably either just run without the brace and if I run into problems cut and replace the track bar bracket entirely, or maybe hack the back side off of a brace and bolt it in but weld the vertical cut. That's the way I'm leaning. It won't be as stiff, but it'll help.

Just drove a couple hundred miles though and this Jeep drives absolutely fantastically for having 40s. Shit, it drives fantastically compared to a stock Jeep. It's going to be a very easy drive 1400 miles to Moab on Thursday.

I had the same issue with the spring hitting the steering bracket. I have a Steersmart bracket. I used a grinder on the part of the bracket that was hitting the spring. I also shorten my arms by one full turn top and bottom.

 

[Hootbro]

What do you think of the JKS quality? Curious about their sway bar links.

I think it depends on the item. I originally had a JKS front track bar that I bought for my 2020 Rubicon JT and carried it through swapping into my 2021 Willys JT and then my 2022 Rubicon JT and was on it when I let it go. Probably had 70K+ miles total on it and no issue. It was a known entity when I bought it again for my 2025 Sport JT and been happy with it also.

That being said, when I have in the past been looking at JKS control arms and seen a mixed bag with some negativity and also came across comments by @WILDHOBO that were in the negative with some private conversations with him that made me rethink it. Main issue seems to be with the rubber bushings they were using were substandard but also JKS supposedly has moved on to better ones but I refrained from getting them in the end because they were not a value proposition when it came to pricing when compared to other brands. They also seem to be difficult to warranty with.

As to their sway bar end links, I had a set of them on my JK back in the day and had no complaints.

 

[Stan H]

They’re very expensive. I don’t think they were in my budget either. But a new transmission, oil pan, gas tank, and transfer case definitely weren’t.

Did you get a new transfer case and Transmission?

 

[Shibbyjeep]

Installed my @Metalcloak Drag Link this evening that I told Metalcloak Mike I had in my garage to install when he interviewed me at SMJI. Finally did it. Wasn't too bad. Now need to find the time to put my MC steering brace on.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think it depends on the item. I originally had a JKS front track bar that I bought for my 2020 Rubicon JT and carried it through swapping into my 2021 Willys JT and then my 2022 Rubicon JT and was on it when I let it go. Probably had 70K+ miles total on it and no issue. It was a known entity when I bought it again for my 2025 Sport JT and been happy with it also.

That being said, when I have in the past been looking at JKS control arms and seen a mixed bag with some negativity and also came across comments by @WILDHOBO that were in the negative with some private conversations with him that made me rethink it. Main issue seems to be with the rubber bushings they were using were substandard but also JKS supposedly has moved on to better ones but I refrained from getting them in the end because they were not a value proposition when it came to pricing when compared to other brands. They also seem to be difficult to warranty with.

As to their sway bar end links, I had a set of them on my JK back in the day and had no complaints.

I was looking at them as a disconnect option. Saw them for the JK at a vendors table yesterday.
I can see where my sway bar was really reaching after some hard hits.

 

[Stan H]

Yup it's an awesome upgrade. Not sure I can drive another vehicle with carpet again.

I know its so hard to keep clean. ,I want armolite flooring too
Would someone like ro sponsor me as this year's Jeep Angel tree recipient or help me start a gofundme page

 

[Stan H]

Way more thorough than my job. I didn’t do the fuel system at all. But I did it in the winter without a garage, so you may have inspired me to take it apart again. What’s the black tool with the power switch.

A really Handy Dandy trouble light.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

I had the same issue with the spring hitting the steering bracket. I have a Steersmart bracket. I used a grinder on the part of the bracket that was hitting the spring. I also shorten my arms by one full turn top and bottom.

Yeah so you replied to me when I initially trimmed it and I was confused by how you cut so much metal off but I think you have the track bar only brace and not the one with the sector shaft as well? I just ordered the brace without the sector shaft brace section because it's definitely lower profile but I really don't want to pull the axle back either. I'll think about it. I'm not opposed to moving perches either.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I think it depends on the item. I originally had a JKS front track bar that I bought for my 2020 Rubicon JT and carried it through swapping into my 2021 Willys JT and then my 2022 Rubicon JT and was on it when I let it go. Probably had 70K+ miles total on it and no issue. It was a known entity when I bought it again for my 2025 Sport JT and been happy with it also.

That being said, when I have in the past been looking at JKS control arms and seen a mixed bag with some negativity and also came across comments by @WILDHOBO that were in the negative with some private conversations with him that made me rethink it. Main issue seems to be with the rubber bushings they were using were substandard but also JKS supposedly has moved on to better ones but I refrained from getting them in the end because they were not a value proposition when it came to pricing when compared to other brands. They also seem to be difficult to warranty with.

As to their sway bar end links, I had a set of them on my JK back in the day and had no complaints.

I think that’s fair. I used to have their disconnecting swaybar links. They technically survived, but needed one full rebuild in 50k+, and the threads were starting to get weak. I think that dom is too thin. But I also ask too much of my parts. So maybe my opinion of them is too harsh. But they are a nightmare for warranty. Weird how Fox is the same company and they’re a pleasure to work with from a warranty standpoint.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I was looking at them as a disconnect option. Saw them for the JK at a vendors table yesterday.
I can see where my sway bar was really reaching after some hard hits.

Any disconnect option is game changing on the trail. But bring your rubber hammer with you to get them back connected unless you’re on a leveled slab. And some astroglide.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Did you get a new transfer case and Transmission?

No. I was joking that without the expensive skids I’d have needed to.

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