LOST JEEPS :: View topic - Rebuild of Front Sustpension & Installer in Chicago

Hi All,

I have a 2002 Jeep Liberty Ltd (3.7 L / automatic / 4WD) with ~160,000 miles. I am the original owner and she has been babied. Vehicle is mainly used for hauling dogs and boat stuff and getting around in deep snow here in Chicago.

It is time for a rebuild of the front suspension. I will be keeping stock suspension height - no lift. Below is a list of what I am considering installing. Am I heading down the right path? Also, any suggestions for reputable installers in Chicago or Chicago suburbs? I live on the northside of Chicago and work in Des Plaines.

New items to be installed:

JPA (Jeepinbyal) Upper Control Arm with new upper control arm bushings
MOOG K3199 Lower Ball Joint (LBJ) to be installed in existing Lower Control Arm <- greaseable ball joint
New Lower Control Arm bushings

The following will be inspected and replaced if needed:

Outer Tie Rod End
Tie Rod
Inner Tie Rod End
Steering Knuckle
Lower Control Arm
Sway Bar
Sway Bar Bushing/Bracket

Front struts and rear shocks were replaced 15,000 miles ago. If they are not OK, I will probably go with BILSTEIN heavy duty struts/shocks. OME (Old Man Emory) struts/shocks from Australia sound great but are probably overkill for my needs.

Thanks,
Doug in Lakeview
2002 Jeep Liberty Ltd | 3.7 L Automatic 4x4

Author:	Doug in Lakeview [ Thu Aug 13, 2015 10:39 pm ]
Post subject:	Rebuild of Front Sustpension & Installer in Chicago
Hi All, I have a 2002 Jeep Liberty Ltd (3.7 L / automatic / 4WD) with ~160,000 miles. I am the original owner and she has been babied. Vehicle is mainly used for hauling dogs and boat stuff and getting around in deep snow here in Chicago. It is time for a rebuild of the front suspension. I will be keeping stock suspension height - no lift. Below is a list of what I am considering installing. Am I heading down the right path? Also, any suggestions for reputable installers in Chicago or Chicago suburbs? I live on the northside of Chicago and work in Des Plaines. New items to be installed: JPA (Jeepinbyal) Upper Control Arm with new upper control arm bushings MOOG K3199 Lower Ball Joint (LBJ) to be installed in existing Lower Control Arm <- greaseable ball joint New Lower Control Arm bushings The following will be inspected and replaced if needed: Outer Tie Rod End Tie Rod Inner Tie Rod End Steering Knuckle Lower Control Arm Sway Bar Sway Bar Bushing/Bracket Front struts and rear shocks were replaced 15,000 miles ago. If they are not OK, I will probably go with BILSTEIN heavy duty struts/shocks. OME (Old Man Emory) struts/shocks from Australia sound great but are probably overkill for my needs. Thanks, Doug in Lakeview 2002 Jeep Liberty Ltd \| 3.7 L Automatic 4x4

Author:	tommudd [ Thu Aug 13, 2015 11:00 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Rebuild of Front Sustpension & Installer in Chicago
Doug in Lakeview wrote: Hi All, I have a 2002 Jeep Liberty Ltd (3.7 L / automatic / 4WD) with ~160,000 miles. I am the original owner and she has been babied. Vehicle is mainly used for hauling dogs and boat stuff and getting around in deep snow here in Chicago. It is time for a rebuild of the front suspension. I will be keeping stock suspension height - no lift. Below is a list of what I am considering installing. Am I heading down the right path? Also, any suggestions for reputable installers in Chicago or Chicago suburbs? I live on the northside of Chicago and work in Des Plaines. New items to be installed: JPA (Jeepinbyal) Upper Control Arm with new upper control arm bushings MOOG K3199 Lower Ball Joint (LBJ) to be installed in existing Lower Control Arm <- greaseable ball joint New Lower Control Arm bushings The following will be inspected and replaced if needed: Outer Tie Rod End Tie Rod Inner Tie Rod End Steering Knuckle Lower Control Arm Sway Bar Sway Bar Bushing/Bracket Front struts and rear shocks were replaced 15,000 miles ago. If they are not OK, I will probably go with BILSTEIN heavy duty struts/shocks. OME (Old Man Emory) struts/shocks from Australia sound great but are probably overkill for my needs. Thanks, Doug in Lakeview 2002 Jeep Liberty Ltd \| 3.7 L Automatic 4x4 OME= Old Man Emu Either OME or Ironman would not be overkill, actually is a step up from stock weak suspension. Would ride and handle way better if you upgraded

Author:	Arkie [ Fri Aug 14, 2015 7:29 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Rebuild of Front Sustpension & Installer in Chicago
After spending all it's life in that salt strewn environment I'd have to wonder if it's worth the investment. And how many frozen/damaged related fasteners and components will be required in addition to the parts you plan to replace. Bob

Author:	pjigar [ Fri Aug 14, 2015 1:38 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Rebuild of Front Sustpension & Installer in Chicago
Yes, be prepared for lots of frozen parts! I just rebuilt front suspension of a car that lived in Texas for it's whole life and I still had to fight with stuck rotor and stuck bearings. If you really want to rebuild then plan for getting some flag bolts.

Author:	tommudd [ Fri Aug 14, 2015 3:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Rebuild of Front Sustpension & Installer in Chicago
All depends on how it was taken care of I've worked on ones that are covered in rust and others from the same area that were washed and taken care of and hardly any issues with rust! Mine has spent every winter ( I bought new 9/2004) in Ohio and doesn't have a bit of rust on it

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Author:	Arkie [ Sat Aug 15, 2015 9:48 am ]
Post subject:	Rebuild of Front Sustpension & Installer in Chicago
All our southern riggs, unless you get a coastal one that's been exposed to the salty sea breezes, are rust free. Guess the ones that migrate down (what's the difference in a Yankee, and a D@mnYankee? The Yankee comes on vacation spends lots of money, then goes back home. The D@mnYankee comes,stays and wants every thing done like it is "back home"!) are alll I've ever been exposed to. Bob Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Author:	Doug in Lakeview [ Sun Aug 16, 2015 12:44 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Rebuild of Front Suspension & Installer in Chicago
Hi All, Thanks for all the suggestions. Any recommendations for a shop in the Chicagoland area? I hear the concerns about salt, rust, and frozen parts. However, when brake pads, rotors, & struts/shocks were replaced about 1.5 years ago there was nothing that a good pre-soak with PB Blaster or Kroil couldn’t handle. Body has no rust whatsoever – except some corrosion around the rear lift glass hinges (under the plastic cover). Of course, there is surface rust on the underside but nothing that makes you question the strength of the components. This is not my daily driver. It’s used mainly for the transporting two 80# Weimaraner dogs and for carrying stuff to/from the boat. Yes – the OME struts/shocks are supposed to be great. Only reservation for not installing them is that the current struts/shocks are just 1.5 year old. However, it may make sense to go ahead and install the OME struts/shocks at this time. Do I need to replace springs too? Or can I use the original springs with the OME struts/shocks? I will be keeping stock height – no lift.

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