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

[JCappy]

Bled, bedded and a few hundreds miles on it. These delta bbk works so well. It's more linear slowing down compared to the factory acting like an on/off switch.

Crazy photo. That tire looks way out of round.

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[Vtur]

Crazy photo. That tire looks way out of round.

Recent ios update screwed up my camera. I'm starting to get that fisheye effects.

 

[JCappy]

Recent ios update screwed up my camera. I'm starting to get that fisheye effects.

I see that. That would make for a rough ride having a tire like that.

 

[Pliny]

Drug my son out to help do an oil change and a tire rotation. It went smoothly and he got a face full of wonderful wisdom from his old man. Can anyone identify the bracket in the pic below? Pretty sure it’s aftermarket. Maybe Synergy based on the gray color of it. It on the Driver’s side there. I keep finding parts on this thing I had no idea were there.

Is that an air line for a front locker routed between the coils of the spring???

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Is that an air line for a front locker routed between the coils of the spring???

Ha!!! You caught that too huh? I wondered who would be the first to call it out. There’s no air supply at the moment. Previous owner had the upgrade done and took the compressor. I’m going a totally different route with them. Going to do a single compressor in the engine bay. They will be rerouted correctly where there won’t be risk of squishy. It’s not a concern at the moment because I’ll just redo the entire line for the front and rear. No sense in doing much now since I don’t have the compressor. The termination is under passenger seat and taped off so at least there’s no crap getting in them.

 

[Pliny]

Ha!!! You caught that too huh? I wondered who would be the first to call it out. There’s no air supply at the moment. Previous owner had the upgrade done and took the compressor. I’m going a totally different route with them. Going to do a single compressor in the engine bay. They will be rerouted correctly where there won’t be risk of squishy. It’s not a concern at the moment because I’ll just redo the entire line for the front and rear. No sense in doing much now since I don’t have the compressor. The termination is under passenger seat and taped off so at least there’s no crap getting in them.

Yeah, that was a real WTF moment. "Am I really seeing what I think I'm seeing?"

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Yeah, that was a real WTF moment. "Am I really seeing what I think I'm seeing?"

yep it’s been noted. I’m just happy to have a used SportS at used Sport S price with front/ rear lockers and fairly well built axles/ steering. Even if some of it has to be tweaked and some components replaced it makes my life easier.

 

[Shibbyjeep]

please post a link on your trailer cam install.
thx

Im using the 3rd cam(rear cam) from my @WOLFBOX G900 Tripro. Currently soldering an extension to the extended harness lol.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

I was out of town for a while but I'm back now and I'm still waiting on parts. Decided before I throw these axles back under the Jeep I want to gusset the C's so I'm waiting on those to show up. I'm contemplating a Shift JT Bridge to reinforce the frame in the rear. I think it's probably unnecessary with the way I wheel but I am heavy and you never know when you'll be cruising along some remote desert road and don't hit the brakes hard enough early enough for a washout and the rear takes a wallop. One issue is I'm triangulated in the rear now and don't need the track bar mount on the frame anymore, so I intent to shave it. But the Shift bridge butts up and welds to it. So I emailed them inquiring as to whether they have a mirrored version of the left side that tapers nicely into the frame.

I think the C gussets might have been suggested by a fellow forum member, I was already considering them but thanks for the suggestion. Somebody else reminded me of the locker sensor issues. So I've ordered 50ml of potting compound and the 5 pack kit of sensors with the intention to pot all of them and carry them with me.

Speaking of which, I had a decked drawer system delivered. I know these are controversial and a lot of folks don't like them but with where I am and how I'm set up right now it's going to be a HUGE improvement over what I've been doing, which is strapping stacked tubs down to a seat delete platform in the back of the cab and ratchet strapping supplies down at the back of the bed largely ignoring the front of it. Also, the government employee discount is substantial with those guys, bravo to them. Gov may only give me a 1% raise but at least I've got that.

Anyway tonight I just heated the garage up, drank some of my favorite beers, and finished buttoning up the rear axle:

The Antirock axle side brackets kept loosening up on me and popping when I was in Moab, so I welded them on. The Rock Krawler triangulation truss comes with u bolts that I hated looking at so I added a lot more weld to make it solid enough I've comfortable to remove the bolt-on-ugly straps. I Cut the track bar bracket off the axle neatly enough to be able to weld it back on if I ever need to. (which is a whole cascading rabbit whole of issues) Then I hit it with some sloppy prep rattle can.

So as a summary for the rear axle:
M220
Dana/Spicer Chromoly shafts
Dana/Spicer 4.88 gears
Pinion roller bearing conversion and crush sleeve eliminator
RockJock 2" Bump stop landing pads
Dana/Spicer diff cover
Rock Crawler upper triangulation bridge
Good old Rustoleum

This is the furthest I'm willing to take these axles.

I really should make a build thread.

Next big trip end of May.

Also my cat's the shit

Welding lower control arm skids and C gussets right now

 

[WILDHOBO]

I measured from the top of my JT's RSE steps to the floor - 20.5" and then her new Rubicon JLU from the top of the power steps to the floor - sure enough - the new Rubicon X JLU sits 2" higher than a non-X Rubicon JLU. So it will mean stepping up 2" higher than before.

Hopefully they still work for her. I don’t know a better option.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yeah, their section is gone. Sometime last week I had replied to someone in a thread in the Wolfbox section, then hobo (I think) replied to me so I was going to reply back and it said I didn't have sufficient priviledges. I thought maybe I was in trouble for something, but then I saw the whole Wolfbox section was gone.

Maybe their sponsorship expired and they didn't renew? Florent was pretty active so that would surprise me, but he also kept trying to promote products that weren't for the Gladi so...

News to me, and I agree. He was great to work with. I wonder what happened.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Nice pile of badges you got there too. Jealous.

We need a zoom in pic.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Well, dear Jeepers, grab a stump and have a seat, ol' Mud Pie is about to ramble....a drink of choice is befitting, be it alcoholic or not. Alcohol will make this go down easier....

When I retired, it's often said that you have time on your hands. You do; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I'm not one to sit on a couch or watch excessive TV when the sun is up. I still wake up before 5am, been doing so since I was 18 slumbering at Parris Island while getting my brain in order. Well, Marine Corps order....

I haven't changed my oil since 2018, but I still have two of those re-sealable 8 quart oil drain containers in my garage; been on the "gotta get rid of" list since before 2018 (hence the reason for TWO containers, both full.). This morning while grabbing a 6' ladder, you guess it, I knocked one of them sumbitches over. That screw tight lid gave up the ghost, dirty black oil flowing FAST down my steeply inclined driveway. I instinctively went to grab it, it was covered in escaping oil, all I accomplished was flipping it TOTALLY over. Oil began running down my driveway like eager shoppers on Black Friday morning running for the crappy 75 buck TV's.

Luck would have it that there was a brand new 30 lb bag of cat litter nearby. First douse was ON the oil; bad move, it made the oil run quicker. Made a little dam of kitty litter to where the oil was heading. Bob's you Uncle !! It worked, Then I began spreading it all over the ever-growing ugly puddle.

We have 3 cats, but they are indoor/outdoor cats. We only put out litter boxes during hurricanes or tropical storms. My wife !! I exclaim. She ALWAYS overbuys !! I run in the house, two 20 lb bags of litter in the spare bathroom !! I shall whine no more !! I make a beeline for the front door and I see.....oily footprints on our nice wooden floors... rut-roh. I stupidly check my soles like it could be someone besides me.... I spread the kitty litter on the puddle, then stand on it to grind it in. I laugh with the thought of my neighbors saying, "Why is that old man standing in his driveway doing The Twist this early in the morning ?".

I told you all this to get to the Jeep part of this ramble (long prelude to get back on topic, but you were warned, go refill your glass, I got more). While the litter was soaking, I broke out my pressure washer. When you don't want to do something, you can rationalize anything. Using the dirty roasting pan logic, I came up with, "Maybe I'll let it soak for a bit !!".

Now here is the unusual part.... I put some Griots Snow Foam in the pressure washer tank and washed the ENTIRE undercarriage of my Gladiator. I mean every freaking inch. Dirt clods falling like turds from overfed laughing seagulls assaulting fishermen. I let it sit for 20 minutes then went back and pressure sprayed it off.

I sat back and looked. Damn, looks nice !! Know what it needs ? A coat of wax. No worries, I stopped myself. Barely.

However, I DID coat an applicator pad with Griots Vinyl and Rubber Protectant and wiped down the wheel wells. Sure do look pretty. The only thing dirty in that Jeep are my thoughts. No mental bleach can clean THAT.

This is what happens when you retire and are unwatched (my wife still works). You have time to come up with things. Did I have other pressing matters ? Sure did. But there is always tomorrow.

BTW - Yep, there is still a massive mound of kitty litter on my driveway....

Ramble over, as you were....

Holy damn. That’s the kind of crap that would happen to me. Glad you kind of won?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Hopefully they still work for her. I don’t know a better option.

I had compared with the Jeeps side-by-side before she signed the papers and told her expect 2". Damn, I was spot-on!
But it will be weeks before it matters to her. If all else fails, I'll trade her Jeeps! No, not really, but I'd be thrilled with her JLU.

 

[Gizmo]

Been getting experience swapping Oil Filter assemblies for a few days. 18000 miles seems a bit early but is what it is. Tried a Dorman first being mine already had the latest MOPAR design. Dorman lasted a day. Ordered another MOPAR which seems to be holding the flood back so far. I wish dealers had a better rep as this was not my idea of fun

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