blackwidowkj06's rebuild of her KJ

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2015 10:03 pm

Hello,

It has been awhile since I've posted on here. Thought I would share my plans for a rebuild of my KJ.

My Jeep Liberty was paid off December 2014 and instead of getting into another car payment, my husband and I decide to rebuild my KJ. My birthday present from my husband was a total suspension overhaul on my KJ. I have been running a spacer lift since 2010 and 5 years of a spacer lift is enough for me!!! I'm not going to tell you about my spacer lift or what I have added/subtracted to it over the past few years, because it's bad information to share. So over the past few months, I have been finalizing what I feel my KJ needs to be a decent daily driver and off-road vehicle. I have already went down in tire size from 33x10.50x15 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/As on 15" Trail Ready Conversion Beadlocks to 255/75/17 BFGoodrich KM's on 17" Jeep Wrangler JK Moabs. This change in tire and wheel has allowed my KJ to gain back power and a full turning radius.

To start making my KJ a nice daily driver, the 33's and beadlocks had to go! Thus is the reason for going to a 255/75/17 tire and 17" wheel. Now the 17" Jeep Wrangler JK Moab wheels are 5x5 bolt pattern, so I did have to go with a wheel adapter spacer. At first I was hesitant about that, but as long as I keep the wheel adapter spacers torqued properly I should have no problems. Plus the 17" Jeep Wrangler JK Moab wheel looks great on a KJ!

The tires that come with the 17" Jeep Wrangler JK Moabs (that I bought from V3 Jeep Shop in Louisville, KY) had some to little life left in them. I knew the tires were only temporary till I found a 255/75/17 tire I liked, which I did with some time. Mind you since owning my KJ, I have went through what will be 12 sets of tires and 6 different types of wheels. All of which I bartered/traded for and only paid for a new set of tires 3 times.

So after extensive research and going back and forth, I ordered a set of 5 255/75/17 Cooper Discover S/T Maxx's from V3 Jeep Shop. They will be going on the KJ before any of the suspension stuff, because the KJ needs decent tires ASAP! I won't drive it on wet/slick roads with the current tires on it. The tires will be going on Friday and I cannot wait!
Here is a picture of the tire I purchased for my KJ:

The quote for the suspension parts from JBA and labor is being put together this week and looking to order those parts SOON! I bought JBA Front Upper Control Arms last summer and they fixed a lot of the problems I was having with the KJ, but the KJ needs a suspension overhaul. Just like I mentioned before.

This is the list of suspension parts I'm looking to get for my KJ:
Suspension Upgrade Parts:
-JBA Adjust-A-Struts http://jeepinbyal.com/jba-adjust-a-struts.html
-Bilstein HD 4” Lift Rear Shocks http://jeepinbyal.com/bilstein-heavy-duty-4-lift-rear-shocks.html
-JBA 4” Rear Coil Spring Set http://jeepinbyal.com/rear-coil-spring-set.html
-JBA Y-Link Extension http://jeepinbyal.com/y-link-extension-fits-2-5-4-lifts.html
-JBA KJ Front Sway Bar Disconnects http://jeepinbyal.com/kj-front-sway-bar-disconnect.html

Wear/Tear Replacement Parts:
-Rear Upper Control Arm
-Moog Lower Front Ball Joints
-Lower Front Left Control Arm
-Lower Front Right Control Arm
-Moog Front Outer Tie Rod End (Driver)
-Moog Front Outer Tie Rod End (Passenger)
-Moog Inner Tie Rod (Driver & Passenger)
-Front Sway Bar Bushings
-Napa Remanned Rack & Pinion

I provided links to the JBA parts in the Suspension Upgrade Parts lists for other members, if they are interested in looking at them. However I did not provided links to the parts in the Wear/Tear Replacement Parts list, because those can be bought at about any auto parts store and can be found on... :google:

After it's all said and done, I will have a nice daily driver. Even though it will cost some money to get all this done, it's stuff that needs to be done in order to have a safe, daily driver. I am really excited to get all this stuff done and look forward to my Jeep "riding like a Cadillac". :ROTFL:

Just an FYI to those looking to lift their KJ/KK:
Do it right the first time! If you don't, you'll regret it later. Spend the money now and you'll be happy later.

Below are pictures of my KJ, from purchase in 2009-current (2015):
(P.S.: Some pictures you'll see the KJ without a rear bumper. I will be building one this spring, when it warms up.)

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 1:10 am

Good to see you're rebuilding it! How high are you sitting now? I know you cut a lot away to fit the 33s. Any plans to finally regear it after it's all said and done?

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 10:51 am

Probably 2.5" lift? Maybe 2"? I did not cut metal to fit 33's. They rubbed and I lost full turning radius, so they're gone now.

Regear is later this year. My husband and I just regeared our JKU and put 37's on it. As well as ordered a MetalCloak rear bumper for it too. So regear for my KJ has to wait a bit. Although V3 Jeep Shop is working to put a quote together for a regear for my KJ. If I get enough back in taxes, then maybe...

Function > Form · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 12:16 pm

Looks great!! I just sent you a pm about your bumper.

Have fun. Love the look of the 33s and beadlocks, too bad they didn't work for you. Where did they rub?

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 2:42 pm

4.10s? Can't wait to see it done. I bet you're just as excited!

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

4.56s FTW

NAMoulton1 · **Joined:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1054

4x4kayak2112 wrote:

4.56s FTW

^I don't even have mine yet and I agree haha.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 5:32 pm

Here's a picture for you Sarah, throwback Thursday ..............

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 6:05 pm

Function > Form wrote:

Looks great!! I just sent you a pm about your bumper.

Have fun. Love the look of the 33s and beadlocks, too bad they didn't work for you. Where did they rub?

Front wheel well and rear wheel well. They looked nice but didn't work out too well.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 6:09 pm

Bmxer524 wrote:

4.10s? Can't wait to see it done. I bet you're just as excited!

Yeah, I'm excited. I have been running 3.73s since 2010 on tires over stock size. It will be a nice upgrade.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 6:10 pm

4x4kayak2112 wrote:

4.56s FTW

No need for 4.56s :-)r

I wish though because that would mean I'd get a steel diff!!!

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 6:10 pm

NAMoulton1 wrote:

4x4kayak2112 wrote:

4.56s FTW

^I don't even have mine yet and I agree haha.

How about 5.38s??? :juggle:

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 6:11 pm

tommudd wrote:

Here's a picture for you Sarah, throwback Thursday ..............

This is going up on the LOST Facebook page....

Still think your KJ is one of the best out there. Definitely done right!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 6:42 pm

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

NAMoulton1 wrote:

4x4kayak2112 wrote:

4.56s FTW

^I don't even have mine yet and I agree haha.

How about 5.38s??? :juggle:

In your neck of the woods 5.38's would be a bit much,5.13's is good for 35's on a KJ at your very low elevation.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:03 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

In your neck of the woods 5.38's would be a bit much,5.13's is good for 35's on a KJ at your very low elevation.

Ooops! I meant 5.38s on a JKU :-)r

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:04 pm

Totally agree on 5.13s on a KJ with 35's, but that will not happen with mine.

The most I will go is 4.56s

Bmxer524 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:22 pm

After talking to Jeepin_it_real, I'm leaning towards 4.10s with my 31s and eventually 32s. Flat land and sea level doesn't really need 4.56s. He even said they were a little much here.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:35 pm

Bmxer524 wrote:

After talking to Jeepin_it_real, I'm leaning towards 4.10s with my 31s and eventually 32s. Flat land and sea level doesn't really need 4.56s. He even said they were a little much here.

No need for 4.56s on my KJ. I was going to do that gear ratio if I had kept my 33's and beadlocks.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:50 pm

Bmxer524 wrote:

After talking to Jeepin_it_real, I'm leaning towards 4.10s with my 31s and eventually 32s. Flat land and sea level doesn't really need 4.56s. He even said they were a little much here.

With 32s I would disagree that 4.56s aren't needed. To me they ( 4.10s ) are marginal, they work, but need lower.

JeepMorrison · **Joined:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:34 am **Posts:** 1236

tommudd wrote:

Bmxer524 wrote:

After talking to Jeepin_it_real, I'm leaning towards 4.10s with my 31s and eventually 32s. Flat land and sea level doesn't really need 4.56s. He even said they were a little much here.

With 32s I would disagree that 4.56s aren't needed. To me they ( 4.10s ) are marginal, they work, but need lower.

I agree after having KJs with 32s and 3.73s, 4.10s, and 4.56s. The 4.56s are perfect fit for the KJ on 32s. I can climb the Houston ship channel bridge at 70 mph and it never loose speed. And im at sea level (well 16-30 ft) and my KJ has plenty of power. I love it!!!

My wifes 06 is getting 4.56s and OX lockers in the spare steel d30 i have laying around pretty soon.

blackwidowkj06's rebuild of her KJ

Who is online