Another CO KJ here!

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

I've had my 03 KJ for about a year now here in Golden and it seems like I'm the only one with a lift or any mods other than a tin foil grill guard! There are soooooo many KJ's out here, it's ridiculous but I have yet to see any out on the trails. I haven't done that much wheelin' yet because I keep killing the UBJ's but I've made a bunch of day trips up near Central city and Idaho Springs without seeing any other KJ's, not one! I do enjoy the looks I get when I do go out however :wink:

Where are the KJ's in CO???

Rock Lizard · **Posted:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:07 pm

Welcome.

There are quite a few KJ's around, just getting them all together for some decent sized trail runs that gets a little difficult. It seems a lot are in Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, and Denver. I haven't added the last couple of trail run pics, but here are some pictures I have of our trail runs this past season:

http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/trail_rides.htm

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

Looks like fun! I tried spring creek trail, near Dumont right??? With open difs, I didn't get very far...That's the next upgrade, after I find a viable solution to my UBJ problems. I'm about to replace them for the second time this year :evil:

They just don't hold up too well.

Parky · **Posted:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 10:56 pm

I live up in Boulder and have a lifted 05 CRD. I don't do much wheeling unless it is to get to some out of the way camp site.

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

Cool. Have you replaced your upper arms yet??? Do they make a slight knocking noise on bumpy streets? Which lift kit did you use?

KW AV8R · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:31 am

marc9976 wrote:

Looks like fun! I tried spring creek trail, near Dumont right??? With open difs, I didn't get very far...That's the next upgrade, after I find a viable solution to my UBJ problems. I'm about to replace them for the second time this year :evil:

They just don't hold up too well.

I'm not sure if you know about these but JeepinAl sells some aftermarket upper arms with replaceable/serviceable ball joints. This might be the best option for you. Also, these arms help prevent the contact that generally causes the UBJ to go bad. www.jeepinbyal.com

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

I've looked at those and found another option from Rusty's that have uniballs instead of ball joints! They seem to be beefier than the ones from Al's but I'm waiting on feedback from others before I buy either one. The first time I replaced the joints, it was from spring contact. The shop that put my struts together put the spacers in backwards, with the bumpers on the unibody side. Thanks 4Wheel Parts, MORONS!!! This time, they started making noise after a day out on some rocky roads up near Central City. They're not totally done yet but they are making that telltale knocking noise again

Rock Lizard · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:08 am

marc9976 wrote:

I've looked at those and found another option from Rusty's that have uniballs instead of ball joints! They seem to be beefier than the ones from Al's but I'm waiting on feedback from others before I buy either one. (

I personally wouldn't run a uniball in single sheer. I do like the sperical bearings on my control arms on my XJ, but they are bolted in double sheer. I think the ball joints are the best way to go for the IFS application.

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

Can you explain that single sheer and double sheer thing :?:

Rock Lizard · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:06 am

marc9976 wrote:

Can you explain that single sheer and double sheer thing :?:

For double sheer, basically it allows the bolts load to be distributed through two surfaces instead of one, unlike single sheer. To give an example, my control arms have the spherical bushing, but it is mounted between two pieces of metal, and the bolt goes through one piece of metal, through the bushing, then out the other piece of metal, thus sandwiching the bushing between. The forces places on the bolt would have to sheer the bolt in two places (each side of the bushing) for it to fail. Single sheer is the bolt going through the bushing with the bolt head stopping at the bushing, then the end of the bolt goes through one mount plate and this would put the stress between the bushing and one mount, so double sheer would split that force in half, therefore single sheer would cause the bolt to bend/brake/sheer under less extreme circumstances. Tie Rod Ends and Ball Joints are designed for this stress, whereas a standard bolt is not. If you go out and flex and run the trails to the extreme that we have been, which isn't much, but the IFS setup thinks it is, then I would bet a single sheer bolt/spherical bushing setup with fail much faster than a ball joint would.

I don't know what the price is on Rusty's arms, but there is a dealer, right here on this very thread, that sells Al's Arms for a little less than he does himself. :twisted:

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

And who might that be??? I'm definately interested

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Fri Dec 01, 2006 5:42 pm

Welcome to the group marc!

Many of us are on a winter break, nut if you want to come out for a good cause see here:
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=13408 There are meeting places closer to golden as well.
See the link to the flyer on the first page.

As for

Quote:

I don't know what the price is on Rusty's arms, but there is a dealer, right here on this very thread, that sells Al's Arms for a little less than he does himself.

Quote:

And who might that be???

Look above your last post :roll:

As for Al's arms, they work great, I have been running them for a year now including Moab and Spring Creek. The only thing is that yo do need to grease them after every outing as Al tells you himself, and you occassionally need to check to ensure the ball joint has not loosened out of the arm. Not many have had this happen, I have only had it happen on my drivers side, but no big deal.

Kugellager · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:26 am

Welcome Marc,

I live in Lakewood and work on the School of Mines campus in Golden. I usually drive my car to work but occasionally drive my KJ. If you ever see a lifted white KJ with MTRs, 4xHellas lights and an obnoxious CD antenna tooling around Golden - Its me....Or is that obnoxious Hellas lights and CB antenna? :roll:

John
];')

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

Hmm, I've seen only one other lifted KJ aside from mine and it was red and that was in denver. I have a blue KJ with square baja lights and a CB antenna on the drivers side front quarter panel. I've also got a black ammo can mounted where the spare used to be. I had trouble opening the glass with a big tire on there...

Kugellager · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:40 am

There are a couple of shots of mine on page 2 of "Post your L.O.S.T. Rockies RIG" thread - latest near the bottom. Then of course you can see what most of the regulars rigs look like in the same thread and the Trail Run Index if you have not looked already.

John
];')

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:02 pm

What size tires do you have? 245/75/16's will fit on the tail and not affect the rear glass. Anything bigger usually will interfere. There is an add-on extender out there that allows you to fit a spare on the back and open the glass.

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

I have 265/75/16's. I also had problems with the tire dragging on the ground when clibming steep inclines. I had a vision of my tailgate laying on the trail behind me...Besides, an ammo can is much more useful htan a tire! The tire has a nice home up top.

Another CO KJ here!

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