Unl1mtds Wj

unl1mtd · Aug 29, 2015

Bought this from another club member in the middle of August. My goal is to make it a reliable DD and get out to the national forest and maybe some greens at Rausch. Feels good to be in a jeep again.

2000 WJ Laredo
V8
QuadraTracII
Tow Package
Leather
Sun roof

Front tow hooks
IRO High Clearance Crossmember
IRO Transfer case skid plate
Old Man Emu Shocks

Lots of maintenance items replaced in the last couple years by the PO (radiator, front axle seals, heater core, wheel bearings).

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unl1mtd · Aug 29, 2015

Did some easy stuff getting it to be a my main vehicle. mounting the ezpass, county dump sticker, bought a 7 to 4 way trailer wiring converter, set the tire pressure and filled it up with gas. Removed the stickers on the back of the jeep.

Also fixed a clunk by spacing down the transfer case skid by a washer. Stopped the Cat from clunking on the skid when going over bumps.

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unl1mtd · Aug 29, 2015

Hooked up the trailer today and went to the dump for the first time. Used a 4" drop. Towed just fine, obviously plenty of power with the V8.

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unl1mtd · Aug 29, 2015

Changed out the oil and filter using conventional 5w30 and a Napa Gold Filter. Jeep made it easy on the V8 owners. About as simple as it possibly could be to change the oil and not make a mess. I had a helper, she was on point to provide towels as needed.

Decided to flush the brake fluid as it was black and the brakes seemed to be really lacking.

Pulled two Prego jars full of the nasty fluid out.

Moved to the front passenger side and on the third pump a hiss was heard and on the fourth pump a steady pour started from the hardline going to the rear axle.

Upon close inspection there is about 10" of line that has some rust on it, the pressure when bleeding just was too much and it gave out. Really glad it was in the garage while bleeding vise while towing or driving the family somewhere.

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unl1mtd · Sep 5, 2015

Well here is the culprit.

It was more like 2 ft of rust on the line. But this tiniest of holes is what has keep the WJ garages for the week.

Glad I went with the prebent line from the dealer. Ended up being $20 with tax, not bad considering i was able to pick it up next day on my way home from work.

I first tried to get the line up from the bottom, this wasn't happening. I was able to put it down through the engine without putting a bend or kink in it.

unl1mtd · Mar 5, 2016

Turned wrenches for the first time in a long time, man am I rusty.

WJ has had underwhelming brakes from the test drive, I have always figured the pads and rotors would be super worn when I got to them. I was wrong. Still hoping that throwing new pads and rotors on will make a big difference.

First, what's the trick in getting the Akenbono calipers off the front without a huge struggle? It's as if the Pistons need to be compressed before they can be removed??? The nub on the pad prevented the piston from just gliding off the pad with a normal amount of force. I had to remove the caliper bracket from the knuckle to get the rotor off to get the wiggle room needed. What a pain. I had to be doing it the hardest way possible.

I was able to get the new rotors and pads on. Went with Gold Wearever pads and Wearever rotors from advanced auto. Everything fit well when reassembled. Lots of wear glides on these calipers.

Rear brakes were removed quickly with no surprises. But got hung up with the divots on the glides. So the jeep stays on jack stands with a dead inspection for a while longer.

Condition of the brakes:
Two pads had chunks missing and two pads had stress cracks down the middle.

Front driver caliper's top piston had a piece of it missing. Little groove cut out. Maybe from past damage from removal previously!!!???

Rear brake caliper bracket glides had big divots.

Pads were barely worn.

After the brakes I cleaned the throttle body. Easy to remove and clean off the vehicle.

More parts inbound and hopefully this thing can be driven to the Chili Cookoff.

Safari Jeep XJ · Mar 6, 2016

Let me know how your break swap helps. I am underwhelmed with mine too and pretty sure I will be doing the same, full swap even though everything looks virtually new.

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unl1mtd · Mar 10, 2016

Off the jack stands and rolling under its own power again. I finished up the brakes and did an oil change. I ended up ordering new rear brake caliper brackets from RockAuto.

Getting the caliper clips back on was the only painful part.

Initial seat of the pants results are positive for the new brakes. But I only did one 40 to 0 stop. I need to bed then in and give it some time.

unl1mtd · Mar 10, 2016

Side note, some type of oil leak in the engine bay. Either from the oil filter or somewhere on the power steering. Hoping oil filter, cleaned it up the best I could and need to check on it.

unl1mtd · Mar 11, 2016

Passed inspection

unl1mtd · Mar 23, 2016

Weather was spot on today, windows down and the sun roof open trying to remember that top down feeling.

overhead · Mar 23, 2016

unl1mtd said:
Weather was spot on today, windows down and the sun roof open trying to remember that top down feeling.

I got a sawsall. We can make that thing a convertible. At least once.

Safari Jeep XJ · Mar 24, 2016

overhead said:
I got a sawsall. We can make that thing a convertible. At least once.

Not convertible. Converted. lol.

Looks good Sean. I should probably take some pictures of mine, might happen this weekend. I think the wife and I are gonna go for a drive through the woods in the two Jeeps. Just washed the WJ before we moved, already needs a bath again. Damn black vehicles. Should I bother doing it now if it's just going to get dirty again? Nothing like fresh mud on a clean Jeep.

BTW, I had those same wheels originally but I switched to the 5 spoke JK wheels. Love the look and they're way easier to clean. Something to look into, they should be a dime a dozen on CL.

Safari Jeep XJ · Mar 24, 2016

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unl1mtd · Mar 26, 2016

Doing work

JEEPDOC TV · Mar 31, 2016

Dose the wj have a lift or just a skid?

unl1mtd · Mar 31, 2016

02tj said:
Dose the wj have a lift or just a skid?

Slightly bigger tires but no lift. And the high clearance crossmember with transfer case skid.

unl1mtd · Apr 18, 2016

Got all geared up to replace the A arm and ball joint in the rear suspension only to realize I didn't have the required 21mm boxed end wrench to do the job. So had to get a set of long handle wrenches from Harbor Freight and ordered a 21mm ratcheting gearwrench to make my life just that much easier. Hopefully my schedule allows this to be replaced before the ride.

In ride prep I did a quick inventory and realized I haven't done my cig lighter/cb mag mount project yet. So more parts to order, getting the Little Wil Mag Mount from Right Channel Radio. More money than I want to spend, but I really trust their opinions and just want it to work without screwing with it. Also in ride prep ordered a Master Flow Tsunami. I figured if it served me for 5-6 years on the LJ pumping up 33/35s it will be more than fine for the WJ and its puny tires.

jwilson2598 · Apr 18, 2016

unl1mtd said:
Got all geared up to replace the A arm and ball joint in the rear suspension only to realize I didn't have the required 21mm boxed end wrench to do the job.

This is how we know you've never worked on a JK before, lol.

unl1mtd · Apr 18, 2016

jwilson2598 said:
unl1mtd said:

Got all geared up to replace the A arm and ball joint in the rear suspension only to realize I didn't have the required 21mm boxed end wrench to do the job.

Click to expand...

This is how we know you've never worked on a JK before, lol.

Its common enough right? I just assumed I had it, nope. Both my standard and ratcheting boxed wrenches stopped at 19mm :?. I guess with the tight access of the balljoint area a standard deepwell 21 just doesn't work.