Why should I keep my KJ?

Mutt · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 7:54 pm

Why should keep throwing good money after bad? I barely wheeled it this weekend and now my three day old alignment is for crap. The clutch on the A/C compressor is whirring like a whistle. I've got cuts on two brand new tires from stuffing the front of the wheel well. My KJ clanks and clunks since I lifted it. Right now I'm debating spending another $600.00 to fix the problems I've discovered on top of the $3000.00 in aftermarket stuff I've already purchased for it.

I know right now to fix the problems it has it needs, RE adjustble lower control arms, Al's A arms and spacers to get the 1/2" it needs in the rear.

Will it be able to hold an alignment then? Or are all the pundits correct that the KJ can't be offroaded with any seriousness?

Maybe I'll return it stock, sell off the junk and trade it in on nice Toyota FJ Cruiser!

2006KJSPORT4x4 · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 8:02 pm

it'll be alright Mutt, just sit back in your easy chair and have the wife bring you a cold one and realize how much fun your kids had with you being able to go fishing and a little off roading with their dad. Just think if you hadn't done what you've done to it and met all the cool Jeep people you have...just think at how i'm rambling on and your reading this and wondering why this guy is typing to a joke I started....but anyway...my neighbors actually just won a blue/white Fj Cruiser from FootJoy, it looks pretty cool except for that huge blindspot in the rear....

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 8:22 pm

Just keep wheeling it until the 4-door wranglers come out!

desertkj · **Joined:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:24 pm **Posts:** 677

Se7enLC wrote:

Just keep wheeling it until the 4-door wranglers come out!

I agree. At least stick with Jeep.

jpzkj · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 9:02 pm

Mutt wrote:

Why should keep throwing good money after bad? I barely wheeled it this weekend and now my three day old alignment is for crap. The clutch on the A/C compressor is whirring like a whistle. I've got cuts on two brand new tires from stuffing the front of the wheel well. My KJ clanks and clunks since I lifted it. Right now I'm debating spending another $600.00 to fix the problems I've discovered on top of the $3000.00 in aftermarket stuff I've already purchased for it.

I know right now to fix the problems it has it needs, RE adjustble lower control arms, Al's A arms and spacers to get the 1/2" it needs in the rear.

Will it be able to hold an alignment then? Or are all the pundits correct that the KJ can't be offroaded with any seriousness?

Maybe I'll return it stock, sell off the junk and trade it in on nice Toyota FJ Cruiser!

I think you should sell it.....

the1jferg · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 9:08 pm

"I know right now to fix the problems it has it needs, RE adjustble lower control arms, Al's A arms and spacers to get the 1/2" it needs in the rear"

Whats the 1/2" for if a 2" lift, 245/70 tires, and longer rear shocks is the mathmatical flex limit???

And the control arms??

Hey, can't go wrong with a toyota cruzer, The original was part jeep and part chevrolet. Chev straight 6 with the oil filter on the other side.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 9:28 pm

Ahh, now I see why you are selling(see forsale section). If your not happy then I would sale it. Idk why you spent 3k on it though. :shock:

$800 for lift, $400 for locker, and $1k for tires+wheels and your good to go.

I guess your just unlucky with the A/C?

KJ04 · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 9:36 pm

Mutt,
anything you off-road, breaks down, that just the nature of the game.
Build it, wheel it, break it, fix it!.... Just wait till you blow the front housing, that's a pi$$er!

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Mutt,

Two years ago I was at the same point as you. Everything seemed to be going wrong and I sank a bunch of $$$ in to a lift that I eventually removed. Three lifts later, new control arms, shocks, struts...you get the picture. I'm finally VERY happy with my Jeep, but it took a long time.

I will say this...Als arms made a big difference with my alignment. Like you, my KJ couldn't hold an alignment during the 5 mile trip home from the tire shop! That's in the past and I'm much happier now with the new control arms.

I hope you find the right solution. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

kickit_in4wheel · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 10:01 pm

Not sayin the FJ is a bad vehicle, but if it were me, I wouldn't go with another independent front suspension vehicle. Maybe it has a better suspension design and more aftermarket goodies, but it isn't the clear solution to the problems you mentioned.

4wdParakeet · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 10:10 pm

You don't buy a Jeep.... You build one.

NUFF SAID

Parakeet

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 11:18 pm

Sorry for your troubles but we all have had them,it happens when you mod a vehicle(any vehicle).The same will happen if you mod a FJ Cruiser,or even a TJ.None of these vehicles was designed for modification beyond factory specks.I've spent way more money than you and mine rattles(bought 2 10" subs and turn the radio up real loud,cures the rattles),wonders all over the road,and rubs like crazy(my choice of tires though,same as you)but I would not give here up for anything,I'll drive it till the wheels fall off and superglue them back on and keep going.Just remember if you mod and wheel it it's going to break,have wierd noises,and not stay in alighnment,it's a fact of life and part of this hobby/past time.Just kick it a few times to cool off and keep going(hopefully with your KJ).

Bakerkj · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 11:29 pm

I have the same thoughts of cashing out the kj every once in a while. I've had some bad luck with broken kj parts and idiot service guys at the dealership.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep my kj now. I found a lift friendly dealership and I just love to see the dumb look on peoples faces when I pass them on the trails :shock:

Build it, wheel it, Break it, Fix it, repeat!

Everyone does it until they find a new hobby, nomatter what they drive.

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Tue May 30, 2006 11:53 pm

Mutt-If you want a rig to wheel places like Crozet, I'd sell it and get something you could really build as a sick trail rig. <flame suit...check>

If you want a rig that will get you and the family where you need to go comfortably during the week, all while still having some fun on the weekends, suck it up and keep it. Depends what you really want it for.

Not many here will face it. The KJ can be made pretty trail worthy and retain some comfort, but it cannot be built up like a TJ. The aftermarket mods just dont exist because there just isnt a market for it!! (Maybe when all the soccor moms get sick of their gas mileage and start selling them cheap that will change.) KJ owners seem to be the cheapest Jeepers out there, at least from my experience of cruising MANY jeep boards while trying to learn as much as I can. For every one KJ owner bellyaching over the cost of an $800 lift, there are probably 5 in the TJ crowd pays $4G for their lifts and not thinking twice about it! <double check flame suit-I'm not trying to instigate an argument from others>

jpzkj · **Posted:** Wed May 31, 2006 12:26 am

Quote:

For every one KJ owner bellyaching over the cost of an $800 lift, there are probably 5 in the TJ crowd pays $4G for their lifts and not thinking twice about it! <double check flame suit-I'm not trying to instigate an argument from others>

True words right there...

tazer · **Joined:** Wed May 03, 2006 3:35 am **Posts:** 28

The best advice that anyone has ever given to me is never wheel anything if you aren't prepared to fix it after you break it.

the1jferg · **Posted:** Wed May 31, 2006 8:22 am

"True words right there..."

Ain't that the truth!

The good thing about the KJ is its ease of fix. You could carry darn near all the parts you need to fix it on the trail. At least the AWSOME 4x2 version anyway :wink:

o4liberty · **Posted:** Wed May 31, 2006 9:12 am

I had a 2001 tj which I wheeled very often with very little damage until it hit 97000 miles,at which time it needed $3987.00 worth if wiring and a pcm. .Too much deep water and mud caused this damage, so I traded it for my 04 liberty. I will lift my liberty but not wheel it as hard as I did in my tj. The liberty is a very well built rig and will take a beaten . I had only 900 miles on the lib and took it to paragon no skids no damage runs like new. I have 53000 miles on it now and in July it will be two years old run like a dream. Keep your kj and buy a older tj to do extreme off roading that is what I am doing. I have three boys I take off roading I have been to many Jamborees and camp jeep both Jeeps do very well off roading sometimes it's the driver not the Jeep an sometimes it's the Jeep not the driver! Good luck!

KJScott · **Posted:** Wed May 31, 2006 11:21 am

Yep, the 4 door Wrangler will be nice when I can afford one used.

This weekend I took my 8 year old daughter wade fishing. We took our rods two tackle boxes, a cooler and towels with us and parked along the side of a causeway to fish in a river. We did not park down by the water though, up on the side of the sandy, washed out, rutted causeway, much higher than any other vehicle around. Why my daughter asks, I said because we can, that's why.

As for selling it, go ahead but at least get another Jeep. Modifying anything and then going offroad will eventually break something. I don't know about your AC clutch problem but every single Ford I used to own (5) has had AC trouble, clutch or black death.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed May 31, 2006 6:08 pm

Maybe the reason the alignment got off was due to the franken lift settling? Maybe you didnt give it time to settle before getting the alignment?

You can look at any other tie-rods on any other car/truck and I can bet you the tie-rods are bigger on the libbys. They will not bend and break like on hummers/other posers.

Why should I keep my KJ?

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