Bare in mind, when I rolled in I had just driven 100 miles and the parts were uber hot. the guys started troubleshooting. Pulling the wheels off, they began to see that maybe the calipers were frozen. New calipers? something else? what's going on here. The driver side also began to bind a bit, but they looked over each part. Pumped the breaks and now the passenger side was definitely not moving. They pulled the passenger side break pads and caliper off and using a C-clamp (thanks Buggin) determined the calipers were ok...so onto the (forgive me if I use the incorrect names) two slider rods? The top rod would not move in and out. It would rotated but that sucker was frozen from moving in either direction...there's the problem. During the week prior I had noticed the breaks were feeling a bit off, and that was the culprit. Chris ran up to the store to pick up 4 new Sliders and Hart went to work on removing the stuck Slider. It was a major PIA but he kept at it. Just as Chris got back he got that thing pulled with tons of hammering, vise grips, ky jelly, and a verbal assault.
What we saw was amazing. This Slider was completely bent like a banana. No lie. What's worse is that we believe it was installed that way. Evidence pointed to this since the other 3 sliders had a normal nominal amount of pink lube on them. whomever did this, must have bent it installing it because it was gushing with pink lube as if someone had tried to hammer and muscle this thing in. the pink lube looked new and was overdone. No way was it Hart's removal that bent it into this banana shape while it was still inside the channel. Nice huh, some fool didnt do their job. So disaster averted, and we solved another problem that would have eventually had me a my shop getting the breaks looked at. 4 new sliders in on the front and we were back in business.
Below is the point where Tom was ready to send me packing back to cleveland on a flatbed troubleshooting the non-spinning front tire.
Hart was troubleshooting so fast he was a blur.
A quick reassemble of pads, calipers and wheels back on, they spin like butter.
The boys lower the front end off the jacks and whoooooaaaaaa Nelly!!!!! This thing is freaking sweet!!!!!! It looks like I have a 4" lift....oh wait, it ISSSSS a 4" lift from where I was sitting upon arrival. 18 or less pulling in, now sitting at 22" all the way around. I'm like a kid on Christmas morning. TTTHIS isn't my jeep!!!!! WOW!!!! Fist punches all arouund...smiles, oohhs, ahhs, and wiping drool off my face.
Time for an alignment right????? DOOOHHHH. We look at our clocks, 2 PM!!!!
Tom calls the shop and so sorry. We missed our 1 pm and they have cars backed up behind my appointment. Hmmmmm, driving 100 miles back to Cleveland without? Not an option. Tom, where's the spare bedroom!!!!?!?!?! Hahaa
Just kidding.
Kicking around different alignment shop options we get a hold of Sears (thanks for the recommendation Hart) I call em, and they say bring it by.
OK, back to the mention of the roof rack. I pulled in that morning no problem right?, well minor snag now, my jeep is now TOO TALL to get out the garage with the rails and basket. That is frickin awesome!!!!! Yes!!! But wait, I cant get out. LOL.
Well being I had a LITTLE rust on the bottom, the roof basket was no exception. HA! the nuts to pull it off where not any prettier. Option 2, air down ALOT, option 3, remove the rails entirely holding the roof basket. we go option 3 for ease being we have to drive immediately. Rails come off, some more bs-ing around the drive while we continue to gawk at my jeep, talk about how 245/70/16s look darn fine on this lift, make fun of my MOAB dent running down the side of the passenger door and rear quarter panel (right Hart?
) and basically take the first break of the day being under the gun the entire time. Seriously, I was exhausted FOR these guys.
Tom gets in his beast and I proceed to follow him to Sears. Talk about needing alignment. My front tires squealed like a stuck pig the entire drive to Sears. It was pretty funny. Sounded like a Starsky and Hutch car chase.
But let me say, even that ride was a pleasure!!!! Sitting that high up in my once low rider jeep was insane!!! I couldn;t believe the difference. I bet I looked like an idiot to Tom in his rearview miror, looking like some fool with a pasted on smile ear to ear. lol
We get there, drop it and they tell me an hour. Drive back to Toms and while we wait, Tom and Chris do a tire rotation to Chris' vehicle....DO these guys ever stop???? awesome!!!! Hart made sure the liquor cabinet was operating correctly.
We get the call back at about 6 that the jeep is done..my heart was pounding. We go up there and there she sits, looking amazing...it incredible, it doesn't even look like the same jeep as we pull up, really the first time you see it from a distance. Get in an start the drive home to Toms. 2 minutes into the drive I begin to hear this faint knocking coming from the left front tire. the knock quickens and gets louder!!!
At this point it sounds like something is about to fall off and do some serious damage. I pull up behind Tom at the light, and yell out my window to him somethings wrong!! (thank goodness it was warm out to have windows down. LOL)
Tom pulls into a parking lot and I follow hearing this loud fast pace knock knowing I'm close to something bad because its getting louder by the foot travelled. I pull around him and he walks over....guess what? None of my front lugs are tightened down...some dangerously close to coming off!!!!
I saw Chris tighten everything up in Tom's garage, this was so bizzare. Well tom tightens all the lugs up for good measure and I take a lap around the lot one more time....woot woot!!! smooth as silk, no knock and sitting pretty. whew!!!
I was sure worried. But regardless, I cannot imagine what the heck they did during the alignment. I will say they did a great job on the actual alignment....it rides so nice.
We get back to Tom's and relay the story with a nervous laugh. I'm so stoked at this point, I completely forget to take more photos...we're all just sitting there still taking it all in. 4 inches higher than I was that morning. Threw the rails and basket back on and it was a done deal!! Thankfully Tom took some real photos with his camera, mine are with my cell phone. I promise to go outside and take some more poser shots today and I'll post up in a bit.
We sat around for a couple more hours, ordered some pizza and shot the poop. I had a great time with 3 great dudes. Lots of laughs, lots of hard work (that they did LOL) and a wealth of information. I cannot thank them enough and owe them bigtime.
I have a couple surprises in mind fellas. Chris drove 100 miles to be there and that was way cool of him. Tom busted his butt while feeling like poop, and Hart brought his shot glass.
No seriously, these guys are insanely talented. Hart is so going to lift soon...and all MY parts made it onto MY jeep, despite his attempts to confiscate.
The experience was great, these guys are so generous with their time and energy and it was fun as hell. My jeep was reborn at 140,000 miles. It rode better than when I got it new, it was the greatest drive home (after I got out of the web of Toledo hoods) sitting so high, smooth as silk suspension taking every ripple in the road like it wasnt there. the view from the seat is a thing to behold. It's so different, I had to keep checking I was actually in my ride. Every perspective is different. Stepping UP into the vehicle is sweet...I know I'm going to need a stepstool for my 7 and 8 year old boys...they are going to flip!!! And they already loved my jeep.
Again, thanks Chris and Tom for all your hard work. Thanks for the hospitality, and doing a first rate job. Hart you too for the added set of hands when called for. Great conversation, tools, jeeps, and a lift what more could one ask for except a calendar girl being present!!
Hope you guys enjoyed the novel, sorry if I got some things out of order, it was a frantic day. But ended with a stellar job. I will post some glamour shots of the jeep shortly. Best to all. many thanks.
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Then Tom gets to my passenger side A-Arm removal...oh boy. the nut below the ball joint is a sensored word!!! Chris and Tom go back and forth working on that sucker. They eventually get it backed out enough to be able to get the wheel cutter in there...so having JBAs 4.5s, they make quick work of turning a stock control arm into an oversize keychain. A few minutes of hot sparks and that puppy is cut. Chris pops the remain threads out with a punch and its clear and free. Did I mention the underside was a little rusty? Chris and Tom did!!! 
Right around this point I think Buggin (Hart) showed up...its a lift party. LOL More than once I thought I saw some of my parts making their way into his cargo hold. 
One thing is for sure, I know who will be lifting next eh??? 
Yep mine will be getting done once I can squeeze out the extra funds to do so. 
