Mike Strawbridge » Jeep Parts http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog Performance Improvement Ideas Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:03:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Jeep Parts, Supplies and Tools – Recommended sources http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2011/02/jeep-parts-supplies-and-tools-%e2%80%93-recommended-sources/ http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2011/02/jeep-parts-supplies-and-tools-%e2%80%93-recommended-sources/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:14:45 +0000 Mike http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/?p=1415 Jeep Parts, Supplies and Tools – Recommended sources

One of my favorite suppliers of Jeep parts is Crown Automotive. They carry most of the parts you would normally go to the Jeep dealer to get. The parts seem to be excellent in quality and I can get then quickly form the Georgia Warehouse. You can only get Crown parts from a Crown Distributor like me. Most of the stuff that Quadratec sells, I can get from Crown. Hit the contact button to the left and let me know what you need.


Shop Advance Auto Parts

For parts that I need right away or are so cheap that shipping eats up any savings, I buy from my local Advance Auto Parts store. I use the web site to get exactly what I am looking for. I can buy online and pick up the parts at the store to take advantage of internet only specials.

I also shop Ebay for Jeep parts both new and used. Recently I got the exhaust system I was looking for at a substantial discount over the catalog cost. I even ended up purchasing from the same vendor just from their Ebay store instead of their website.


JCWhitney.com

One of the old time standbys for parts and tools is JC Whitney. I have been buying from them for many years. They used to have paper catalogs where you could find all kinds of parts and tools not available anywhere else. Now with the internet, you can find the stuff other places, but JCW.com continues to be a great resource.


Tire Rack- Revolutionizing Tire Buying
For Jeep tires, I buy from Tire Rack. I have tried buying from other suppliers but I always need up back at Tire rack. Their price, shipping and speed of delivery make them my number one choice. They have low cost street tires and high dollar performance and off road tires. For any type tire, I now shop Tire Rack first and last.

For other hand and specialty tools, I have been surprised at what I can find at Amazon. I generally think of them as a book seller, but they also carry a lot of specialty tools at good prices. I have included Amazon links to many of the tools I reference in my articles so you can see what I am talking about.

For performance parts, wheels and exhaust, I like to use Summit Racing. They have lots of stuff that no one else has plus they have great prices. They have fast shipping and a great return policy.

For Diablo 2011 Wheel Styles
Rage | Reflextion X | Chrome Rims w/ paintable inserts
URL: http://www.customwheelzntires.com

]]> http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2011/02/jeep-parts-supplies-and-tools-%e2%80%93-recommended-sources/feed/ 1 Reinforcing XJ control arms http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2010/04/reinforcing-xj-control-arms/ http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2010/04/reinforcing-xj-control-arms/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:56:42 +0000 Mike http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/?p=657 The lower control arms on my off road Jeep have taken quite a beating. I have considered going with after market control arms, but for now with just a three inch lift, I am sticking with the stock control arms.

My first modification to get more droop was to modify the axle above the control arm mounting points. The mounting plate for the shock and spring hits the control arm at full droop limiting the flex. I simply hammered and ground away a lot of the offending material. It adds no strength to the axle and is just in the way.

The other part of the control arm that gives me trouble is where the front axle end bushing is pressed in place. The arm is just folded over here and when hit, it tends to crush and allows slop in the bushing.

When changing the bushing, you have to place a piece of metal in here to keep the arm form crushing while pressing the bushing in or out. To strengthen this area, I cut a length of pipe the size of the inside of the control arm. About 1 1/4 inch. I then cut this in two to make two C shaped pieces. I then hammered these pieces inside the control arm over the bushing. I then welded them in place.

These braces will prevent the control arm form crushing and hopefully prevent some of the bushing damage that occurs when I hit the control arms on rocks.

I also fabricated some guards over the axle mounting points that will further protect the front of the control arms.

After bending one of my control arms at Wooly’s Off Road park, I decided to strengthen them in the bending direction as well. I did this by cutting a piece of 3/4 in ch pipe and placing it inside the U part of the arm. I have seen people plate the bottom but this would keep the arm form twisting. The twist allows the suspension to flex more. To add strength and still allow twist, I drilled three holes int he top of the arm and plug welded the pipe to the arm just at the top.

The pipe should add strength to the bending vector but still allow the arm to twist as designed.

I look forward to seeing how these low buck modifications perform of the trails.

2006-2012-patriot-compass-caliber-both-lwr-control-arms 2006-2012 Patriot Compass Caliber Both Lwr Control Arms
US $325.99
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 4:59:00 PST
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94-95-96-97-98-jeep-grand-cherokee-lower-control-arm-fr 94 95 96 97 98 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LOWER CONTROL ARM FR
US $21.99
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 6:36:50 PST
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94-95-96-97-98-jeep-grand-cherokee-lower-control-arm-fr 94 95 96 97 98 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LOWER CONTROL ARM FR
US $21.99
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 6:36:51 PST
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94-95-96-97-98-jeep-grand-cherokee-lower-control-arm-fr 94 95 96 97 98 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LOWER CONTROL ARM FR
US $21.99
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 6:36:52 PST
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94-95-96-97-98-jeep-grand-cherokee-lower-control-arm-fr 94 95 96 97 98 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LOWER CONTROL ARM FR
US $21.99
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 6:37:45 PST
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99-01-02-03-04-jeep-grand-cherokee-lower-control-arm-fr 99-01 02 03 04 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LOWER CONTROL ARM FR
US $21.99
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 6:41:10 PST
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99-01-02-03-04-jeep-grand-cherokee-lower-control-arm-fr 99-01 02 03 04 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LOWER CONTROL ARM FR
US $21.99
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 6:42:32 PST
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99-01-02-03-04-jeep-grand-cherokee-lower-control-arm-fr 99-01 02 03 04 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LOWER CONTROL ARM FR
US $21.99
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 6:42:42 PST
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99-01-02-03-04-jeep-grand-cherokee-lower-control-arm-fr 99-01 02 03 04 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LOWER CONTROL ARM FR
US $21.99
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 6:44:22 PST
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99-01-02-03-04-jeep-grand-cherokee-lower-control-arm-fr 99-01 02 03 04 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LOWER CONTROL ARM FR
US $21.99
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 6:44:28 PST
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]]> http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2010/04/reinforcing-xj-control-arms/feed/ 0 Loose Pinion Nut http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2010/02/loose-pinion-nut/ http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/2010/02/loose-pinion-nut/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:34:47 +0000 Mike http://mikestrawbridge.com/blog/?p=562 Yesterday Jenny showed up at church saying her Jeep was making a funny noise. It sounded like it was from the drive shaft.

I drove it back to my shop and noticed that it only made noise on deceleration. Even the slightest load from the engine made it quieten down.

I guessed it had something to do with the pinion as that is the only thing that would move around depending on load. Her Jeep Cherokee has the Chrysler 8.25 rear end.

At the shop, her Jeep would hardly back up but went forward just fine. I used 4wd to back up to pull into the shop.

Once on the lift, I inspected the drive shaft first by feeling of the U joints to see if either was hot. Then I felt the differential and noticed it warmer than normal. I suspected a pinion bearing.

I pushed on the rear of the drive shaft ans saw the pinion move. There was a lot of movement so knowing this is a tapered bearing, I suspected it must be loose.

I quickly dropped the drives haft and soon saw the trouble. The pinion nut had backed off. I guess if it had not been for interference with the u joint it would have come completely off.

I remembered that a couple of years ago when I replaced the pinion yoke that I did not use lock tight on the threads. This time I did.

The punch marks I made before were still visible, so I put the nut back to align the marks and the preload felt about right by hand. So I left it there for the lock tight to dry.

A test drive indicated that the noise was completely gone. I guess we caught it in time before th ring gear was damaged.

dana-30-jeep-cherokee-front-4340-cromoly-axle-kit-84-90 DANA 30 JEEP CHEROKEE FRONT 4340 CROMOLY AXLE KIT 84-90
US $535.00
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 3:53:47 PST
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dana-30-jeep-wrangler-front-4340-cromoly-axle-kit-87-06 DANA 30 JEEP WRANGLER FRONT 4340 CROMOLY AXLE KIT 87-06
US $535.00
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 3:55:51 PST
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dana-30-jeep-cj-front-4340-cromoly-axle-kit-1982-1986 DANA 30 JEEP CJ FRONT 4340 CROMOLY AXLE KIT 1982-1986
US $535.00
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 4:06:59 PST
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99-01-02-03-04-jeep-grand-cherokee-front-axle-assembly 99-01 02 03 04 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY
US $500.00
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 4:15:08 PST
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02-03-04-05-06-jeep-liberty-left-axle-shaft 02 03 04 05 06 JEEP LIBERTY LEFT AXLE SHAFT
US $24.99
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 4:19:43 PST
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02-03-04-05-06-jeep-liberty-right-axle-shaft 02 03 04 05 06 JEEP LIBERTY RIGHT AXLE SHAFT
US $24.99
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 4:19:47 PST
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jeep-replacement-axles-97-up-cherokee-xj Jeep Replacement Axles 97-Up Cherokee XJ
US $117.95
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 4:42:15 PST
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jeep-replacement-axles-71-80-scout Jeep Replacement Axles 71-80 Scout
US $117.95
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 4:42:16 PST
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jeep-replacement-axles-91-up-yj-tj-xj-rh-side Jeep Replacement Axles 91-Up YJ/TJ/XJ RH Side
US $117.95
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 4:42:16 PST
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jeep-replacement-axles-85-96-cherokee-xj Jeep Replacement Axles 85-96 Cherokee XJ
US $117.95
Auction Ends: Saturday Feb-04-2012 4:42:16 PST
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