- Joined
- Jun 5, 2007
1975 Brutally Simple Daily Driver
- Thread starter neohic
- Start date
cj2atruck
Member
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2020
I bought a 1” torsion bar from the wrecking yard, built arms out of 1/2”x2” flat bar, drilled a hole in one end for the torsion bar and welded things together. Total cost was something like $50. I wasn’t sure how this would work, but it survive the Rubicon trip and apparently had good flex for a 1” torsion bar. Might be an option if you want to save some money on a DIY sway bar.
neohic
Gentleman Jeepist
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2018
So… about that traction issue…
Today started with some other shop stuff and then it dawned on me that I had a set of axles sitting under my carport that one had a 27 spline locker in it.
Those axles have kind of a long history with me. I got them back from the current owner of a Comanche I built around nine years ago. Prior to that, these axles were under an XJ that I daily drove and wheeled the hell out of. PRIOR prior to that, they were from another wheeler XJ in Minnesota. Lots of miles on these things and it’s crazy that I ended up with them again. As for the locker itself, I would’ve put that in the axle when it was under my Cherokee WAY back (11? 12 years ago?) when it was 1000 miles away in another state. These axles are really like the car part equivalent to getting anti seize on your forearm… just keeps coming back around.
As for moving that little Aussie locker to the CJ, I found a bunch of junk along the way. Sure… it had fluid in it… but anytime I’ve ever thought about the front axle it was typically right before heading off somewhere and it was very much, “Yup! Theres fluid on it!” and that was that. I found a near milkshake of very watery fluid and some wasted u-joints. Not completely horrible?… not awesome though. It all came apart easy and right back together with new joints. It even got a fancy 3/8” cover thats been kicking around in my parts pile for years. Had to flip around the steering stabilizer to make everything fit happily.
What I need to do yet is add a way longer vent line. So, anyway… I wasn’t planning on putting a locker in the CJ today… but… here we are.
Today started with some other shop stuff and then it dawned on me that I had a set of axles sitting under my carport that one had a 27 spline locker in it.
Those axles have kind of a long history with me. I got them back from the current owner of a Comanche I built around nine years ago. Prior to that, these axles were under an XJ that I daily drove and wheeled the hell out of. PRIOR prior to that, they were from another wheeler XJ in Minnesota. Lots of miles on these things and it’s crazy that I ended up with them again. As for the locker itself, I would’ve put that in the axle when it was under my Cherokee WAY back (11? 12 years ago?) when it was 1000 miles away in another state. These axles are really like the car part equivalent to getting anti seize on your forearm… just keeps coming back around.
As for moving that little Aussie locker to the CJ, I found a bunch of junk along the way. Sure… it had fluid in it… but anytime I’ve ever thought about the front axle it was typically right before heading off somewhere and it was very much, “Yup! Theres fluid on it!” and that was that. I found a near milkshake of very watery fluid and some wasted u-joints. Not completely horrible?… not awesome though. It all came apart easy and right back together with new joints. It even got a fancy 3/8” cover thats been kicking around in my parts pile for years. Had to flip around the steering stabilizer to make everything fit happily.
What I need to do yet is add a way longer vent line. So, anyway… I wasn’t planning on putting a locker in the CJ today… but… here we are.
Last edited:
neohic
Gentleman Jeepist
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2018
I’ll drive it for a while to see if I want a sway bar. I completely understand how the CJ would benefit from one but I also only have a few miles on it.
Last edited:
neohic
Gentleman Jeepist
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2018
We have liftoff!
On this ramp, the measurements from the bottom to the hub have been 25”, 44”, and now 49” with the front tire being a vertical 30” from the ground. The little CJ kept traction the whole way up before I noticed that it had the left rear off the ground! Very pleased.
On this ramp, the measurements from the bottom to the hub have been 25”, 44”, and now 49” with the front tire being a vertical 30” from the ground. The little CJ kept traction the whole way up before I noticed that it had the left rear off the ground! Very pleased.
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2018
Went for a solo tootle in the woods today. Nothing too crazy, but I found a great lunch spot.
So how do you like the ride quality of the new suspension?
neohic
Gentleman Jeepist
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2018
I love it! I noticed it most on today’s drive over some gnarly washboards that used to shake the shifter out of my hand. Not anymore!
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2018
neohic
Gentleman Jeepist
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2018
While I didn’t fix the leaking front inner axle seal, I did address another issue today. Ever since Moab, the fuel pump hasn’t put up a fit but I still wanted to move it away from the hot box that is the space above the axle.
With the suspension now done, I was waiting to move it until all of the welding around the new spring hanger was complete. I also rerouted the fuel hardline. It was originally run along the top of the frame and was coming in contact with the bottom of the tub from the now collapsed rubber body mounts. The tub is where it’s going to be with how I did my sliders and tied into the cage, so moving the fuel line was to help out future me.
The fuel pump is lower now also so I might consider making a little skid for it. It’s still tucked up higher than the bottom of the frame, and if a rock where to get up in there it’d probably hit the leaf spring first, but it’d just be my luck that a potential rock would find its way all the way up there.
With the suspension now done, I was waiting to move it until all of the welding around the new spring hanger was complete. I also rerouted the fuel hardline. It was originally run along the top of the frame and was coming in contact with the bottom of the tub from the now collapsed rubber body mounts. The tub is where it’s going to be with how I did my sliders and tied into the cage, so moving the fuel line was to help out future me.
The fuel pump is lower now also so I might consider making a little skid for it. It’s still tucked up higher than the bottom of the frame, and if a rock where to get up in there it’d probably hit the leaf spring first, but it’d just be my luck that a potential rock would find its way all the way up there.
