2011 Mod List for KJ

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 26, 2010 3:12 pm

Okay so I have some mods or upgrades you could say for 2011, that need to be done to my Jeep. But first some background information to explain why...

I've noticed a vibration while driving around 60ish. Asking a few people with KJ's they've said it could be: bad ball-joints, improper tire balance or something else (I can't recall it). This had happened to me 3 times before, which caused my Jeep to go into the shop each time. First two times was these senors on the front right and one of the back wheels. I do not have the metal valve stems so it wasn't that. I was told these senors regulate speed or something? Anyways that was part of the vibration problem and the last time was a bad u-joint. Now that I've went through all that I know it's not either of them and I'm going on a hunch my ball-joints are going bad. My Jeep has almost 60,000 miles and it's about time to upgrade to newer a-arms.
I'm wanting to buy Al's Upper a-arms, but I saw Rocky Road's Insane Arms.

What's the difference between Al's Upper a-arms and the Insane Arms? Al's is pricing there's right at $400 and the Insane Arms are $300 ($100 cheaper). I was leaning towards the Insane Arms cause they were a bit cheaper but looking at the two, Al's A-arms look more "tough" and would last a lot longer. So I'm asking some input on that part.

2011 Mod List (upgrades)
-Upgrade stock upper a-arms
-new brake rotors and brake pads (where needed)
-wheel spacers (because I'm going to keep my stock wheels and with wheel spacers it would put the backspacing to roughly the same if I bought cragars)
-skid plates and tow hooks

Maybe??
-3 235/85/16 Firestone Destination MT's on the cheap 16" steel KJ wheels (my uncle is giving me 1 235/85/16 Firestone MT
-Try to get my tranny fluids and everything else flushed out and new fluids put in (that can cost a lot of $$$)

Hope someone can answer my questions. I'm not that mechanically inclined :oops:

, but otherwise I can tell you anything about a Jeep. :mrgreen:

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Dec 26, 2010 4:50 pm

The biggest issue is probably that RRO has questionable customer service at best and AL's (Marlin) jumps through hoops to make things work.

but you should read through this thread too.
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=51709&hilit=insane+arms

LI_KJ · **Posted:** Sun Dec 26, 2010 5:31 pm

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 26, 2010 6:09 pm

Okay so JBA A-arms it is and since Cragar has the $77 black steel wheel without that ugly red pinstripe, I'll buy a set of those from JeepinByAl and forget about wheel spacers for the stock wheels. It would be the same amount of money to buy the cheap steel KJ wheels and a set of spacers. So JBA upper a-arms, a set of black steel cragar and since the 235 85 16 Goodyear KTM2 tire is $80 cheaper than a set of Firestone MT's ...I'll buy a set of KTM2's...getting ready to compare the two tires if my computer would work :banghead:

may just buy a set of General Grabber AT2's $500 (in the same size) for a full set. I kinda like that tread too...

STINGN · **Posted:** Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:22 am

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

Okay so JBA A-arms it is and since Cragar has the $77 black steel wheel without that ugly red pinstripe, I'll buy a set of those from JeepinByAl and forget about wheel spacers for the stock wheels. It would be the same amount of money to buy the cheap steel KJ wheels and a set of spacers. So JBA upper a-arms, a set of black steel cragar and since the 235 85 16 Goodyear KTM2 tire is $80 cheaper than a set of Firestone MT's ...I'll buy a set of KTM2's...getting ready to compare the two tires if my computer would work :banghead:

may just buy a set of General Grabber AT2's $500 (in the same size) for a full set. I kinda like that tread too...

BFG KM2*

Lancer · **Posted:** Mon Dec 27, 2010 6:54 am

I've had the AT2s on for 2 years now in all weather conditions, and they are an excellent tyre, both on and off road.

tonycrd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:44 am

The KJ has balljoints on the lower control arms too. Swap them for greasable moogs.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:53 am

and no one mentioned regearing since she's going to a 32 inch tire

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 27, 2010 11:01 am

STIGN: Thank you for the correction....

Lancer: Yes, I've heard great things about the AT2. But I'm going to hold off on tires.

tonycrd: Yeah, I tried looking for that stuff but couldn't find it. Do I have to get anything else besides that?

tommudd: I'm holding off on the tires. Figured up a cost sheet and with the Al's a-arms, 4 rear upper isos, a set of cragar's and the wheel caps; I was right at $800. So the cragar's are going to wait and instead I'm going to get greasable moogs. I have to save my money for my Europe trip in March and I plan on doing a run up to Ohio in February (for my bday).

Lancer · **Posted:** Mon Dec 27, 2010 11:25 am

Where are you going in Europe?

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:36 pm

Lancer wrote:

Where are you going in Europe?

Cardiff, cause that's where my mates live about. I want to go where you are but they do not like England that much. :ROTFL:

Has the new season of Top Gear started yet? I was suppose to go to the last one this past summer. Had my date and amount of tickets picked out but never got them :cry:

I was bummed

Lancer · **Posted:** Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:59 pm

No - they've never forgiven us for Edward II giving them a grade A hammering, even though it was over 700 years ago

Have you been there before?

Not yet - although we have had the Christmas special - driving from Syria to Bethlehem in Israel in inappropriate cars :lol:

Shame you couldn't get to the last one - I believe that they are fun!

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 27, 2010 3:01 pm

Never been to Wales, and never meet my mates from there although I've known them for 13 yrs I believe??? Passport is in hand, just waiting on time and money.

I'm on the Applause Store E-mail list for updates. Hopefully one will be for the next season

I'm on the waiting list for Top Gear, so maybe I'll get lucky and be chosen to go.

Lancer · **Posted:** Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:21 pm

Cardiff itself is quite a nice place - I've had a couple of trials there and an inquest, but the thing to remember about Wales - especially in March, is that it is wet (very) and pretty cold. The scenery is nice especially if you can get out to Cardigan and the Pembroke coast.

Pippobug · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2010 4:26 am

Lancer wrote:

Cardiff itself is quite a nice place - I've had a couple of trials there and an inquest, but the thing to remember about Wales - especially in March, is that it is wet (very) and pretty cold. The scenery is nice especially if you can get out to Cardigan and the Pembroke coast.

See if your baggage allowance allows you to pack to KJ too.. You would have fun with it on the Welsh hills :ROTFL:

Fil

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2010 11:48 am

aye

my mates have a land rover and they say they go off-roading init. wonder what their idea of off-roading is??? :juggle:

tonycrd · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2010 12:02 pm

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

tonycrd: Yeah, I tried looking for that stuff but couldn't find it. Do I have to get anything else besides that?

JBA has everything you need. I hate wheelspacers. Stock up on front wheel bearings if you put them on anyway.

BTW: do you have a lift on your KJ? Otherwise there is not much sense in buying the JBA arms. Yes I know he makes them for the unlifted ones but seems silly.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2010 12:11 pm

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

Okay so JBA A-arms it is and since Cragar has the $77 black steel wheel without that ugly red pinstripe, I'll buy a set of those from JeepinByAl and forget about wheel spacers for the stock wheels. It would be the same amount of money to buy the cheap steel KJ wheels and a set of spacers. So JBA upper a-arms, a set of black steel cragar and since the 235 85 16 Goodyear KTM2 tire is $80 cheaper than a set of Firestone MT's ...I'll buy a set of KTM2's...getting ready to compare the two tires if my computer would work :banghead:

may just buy a set of General Grabber AT2's $500 (in the same size) for a full set. I kinda like that tread too...

Why pay $20 per rim for the Crager name,if you have a discount tires nearby you can get the Unique Steel wheels(who make Crager steel wheels) for a whole lot cheaper then those with the Crager name on them,same wheel.The 16x7 Unique Steel 297 wheels(Crager soft 8's) are about $55 each at Discount Tires.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2010 6:21 pm

tonycrd wrote:

BTW: do you have a lift on your KJ? Otherwise there is not much sense in buying the JBA arms. Yes I know he makes them for the unlifted ones but seems silly.

Yeah??? Otherwise I wouldn't have posted this... :-)r

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 28, 2010 6:22 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Why pay $20 per rim for the Crager name,if you have a discount tires nearby you can get the Unique Steel wheels(who make Crager steel wheels) for a whole lot cheaper then those with the Crager name on them,same wheel.The 16x7 Unique Steel 297 wheels(Crager soft 8's) are about $55 each at Discount Tires.

Nope, sure don't. The Cragar's are going to wait now and I like the wheel. I'm not really worried about price.

2011 Mod List for KJ

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