These were the 1st add on to my jeep. They are 3 part disconnects unlike the popular 2
part models from JKS. I selected a 3 part thinking that if I ever changed my lift height
that I could replace the center section and save some time and money. Let me say this, if
you don't have a set of disconnects then you are really missing out. They make a huge
difference in performance.
Difficulty : 2
Value : 9
These skid plates replace the standard spring mounting plate on the bottom of each leaf
spring. They are solid steel and have a removable shock mount on the front brackets.
Mounting a set of these on the bottom of the jeep allows you to trim the U-Bolts flush
with the skid plate. It will prevent you from getting hung up on the downward pointing
bolts. In addition if you happen to peel off a lower sway bar mount on a large rock then
you can replace it without removing the U-Bolts.
I tried a really rocky trail this weekend. The JKS skid plates proved their worth. I
have one small scratch on a corner after smacking them off several large rocks. Just
incredible !
Difficulty : 2
Value : 6
When I purchased my jeep it had dealer installed 30" tires. They were fine for on
road driving but off road they hit the wheel flares pretty bad. So I decided I
needed to investigate a lift for more clearance and perhaps increased articulation. I
decided on a 2.5" lift kit. This would allow me to clear 31" tires and offer
more load capacity and the potential for better articulation. I installed the lift kit in
a single afternoon with help from a friend. While this job does not require 2 people it
sure makes it easier. The kit was complete with easy to follow directions. It included all
necessary springs, track bar relocation brackets, rear shims, and a transfer case lowering
kit. While the transfer case lowering kit may have not been required for a 2.5" lift
I installed it anyway to eliminate the possibility of rear drive line vibration. After the
lift kit was installed it was off to the shop to have the jeep aligned. The end result
after 2.5 years of driving is that the Jeep works fantastic off road, but it has a very
very stiff ride on the road. It rides much better fully loaded than with just a single
driver.
After replacing the shocks and putting a new bumper and winch on the vehicle the ride
has gone from stiff to smooth. The transformation is incredible. The good news is that the
springs have handled the increased weight on the front end without drooping.
11/23/98 I just got finished replacing the Pro-Comp suspension lift
with one from ARB. The rear Pro-Comp springs had started to sag very badly and no longer
were functional off road. I got about 4.5 years of life out of the springs.
Difficulty : 5
Value : 3 ( they should have lasted longer)
After my Explorer Pro-Comp Springs died I needed a set of replacement springs. I
decided on the Old Man Emu springs from ARB. They installed painlessly and restored my
jeep to the proper ride height. I selected the heavy duty rear springs so my jeep sits
slightly rear high. The front springs seem to be carrying the weight of the winch and ARB
bumper well. The springs have bolt style clamps and are fully greasable. After the
installation I noticed that the right quality felt like I was running fully broken in
springs not a fresh set. The highway ride is very smooth and the springs appear to be a
great match with the Rancho 9000 shocks. The ride off road is also very good. The springs
really flex and to my great delight they make much less noise than my old set.
3/20/99 I just finished adding a extra leaf to the front spring pack
to increase the ride height. I got about 1" of lift back and it has not affected ride
quality.
Difficulty : 5
Value : 6 (time will tell)
These shocks came with the lift kit. I have found through extended research that these
shocks are super super stiff. I am currently in the process of replacing them.
I replaced them with Rancho RS9000 Shocks. On a setting of 1 the Rancho's give a
superior ride. Off road you can feel the tires hugging the ground. Big improvement in ride
quality.
Difficulty : 2
Value : 1
In an effort to increase the strength of the suspension and smooth out the ride I
purchased a new set of Currie Enterprises Shackles. Installation took an afternoon and
required nothing but simple hand tools and a jack. After installing and greasing the
shackles I noticed an immediate improvement in the ride. It was much smoother on the
street. During the 1st off road trip with them I also noticed a smoother ride and the
squeak from the leaf spring bushings was gone.
Difficulty : 3
Value : 8
After taking a few trips off road in my stock jeep I noticed how vulnerable the
steering components are. I had been lucky and sustained no damage to them but decided I
needed to find some additional protection for them. I found just the thing in the form of
a front end skid plate from Con-Ferr. This skid plate is designed to attach to the factory
bumper and requires drilling 3 holes in the front of the bumper. It bolts to the frame
using existing holes and heavy duty hardware. The skid plate is very solid has endured
some rather severe abuse. On a trip to Missouri I hit a deer carcass on the freeway and
sustained no damage to the front end at all. The skid plate took the hit with no damage at
all.
NOTE: this skid plate can be adapted to work with the ARB bumper. Provides great front
end coverage.
Difficulty : 2
Value : 9
After whacking my transfer case skid plate on almost every rock on the trail I decided
to remove the lowering kit that I had installed as part of my suspension lift. I purchased
the Rubicon Express slip yoke eliminator kit to allow me to do this. The kit went in
pretty easy, the real scary part was cutting the existing output shaft. I did that using
an abrasive blade on a circular saw. After installation I raised the transfer case and
have no problems with driveline vibrations.
Difficulty : 7
Value : 6
Well after installing the lift and associated brackets a few years back I noticed that
the track bar relocation bracket would not stay tight. Rather than purchase another
bracket I decided to get an adjustable track bar. This would eliminate the bracket and
allow for more articulation when on the trail. When installing the Rubicon Express track
bar you will need a 9/16" drill bit to enlarge the mounting hole on the axle. This is
not required if you have a dropped pitman arm. The Rubicon Express unit uses a bushing on
one end and a heim joint on the other end, it has a single bolt that allows the track bar
to extend when its loose.. Mounting this bar and restoring the factory geometry to the
steering has improved my on road ride. The heim joint allows for much better articulation
off road even when the track bar retaining bolt is tight.
Difficulty : 4
Value : 6
This one was a no brainier. I swapped out the standard factory air filter for the
K&N soon after purchasing the jeep. It was a perfect drop in kit. After 50,000 miles I
decided to clean the air filter and purchased a cleaning kit from NAPA. The cleaning
process took the better part of one afternoon and the filter was as good as new. After
installing the filter I did not notice any additional improvements in performance. However
once I removed the air restrictor from the factory air box I noticed better passing
performance on the freeway and better average MPG at the pump.
Difficulty : 1
Value : 8
I have had a MSD 6A box for a considerable period of time. It used to be installed on
my old Toyota truck. It worked great there and when I sold it I decided to keep it just in
case I need it. After owning the jeep for a while I decided to try installing it. It was a
drop in installation requiring no extra parts or transformers like the Toyota did. However
it does require either cutting some factory wiring or locating the factory style coil wire
connectors. I opted to make my own connectors so that if the MSD failed I could revert
back to the factory setup. I also installed the Jacobs Ultra Coil. This coil has a
variable magnetic core that allows it to change output based on demand. After installation
I noticed right away that low end performance had greatly improved as well as high end
performance, the midrange remained the same. I was able to put the Jeep in 1st gear and
idle up hills without using the gas and with no knocking and pinging. I also noticed an
improvement in MPG when it was time to fill up.
11/1/98 Somehow I managed to break my MSD-6A. I have been using
this unit for about 6 years with no problems. I took this opportunity to change the unit
to a MSD-6AL. The new unit has vibration mounts and extra internal coatings for increased
water and vibration resistance.
Difficulty : 4
Value : 7
When I installed my new MSD computer I also took the opportunity to install a new coil
I chose the MSD HVC-Blaster coil. This is a new design coil from MSD that delivers high
voltage and high current. It is a rather large and heavy unit and uses 4 rubber mounts to
provide vibration resistance. So far results have been very positive both on and off road.
Difficulty : 3
Value : 7
I purchased the Jacobs Ultra Coil to go with my original Jacobs ignition computer. The
coil features a varible magnetic core that allows the output to change based on demand.
This coil was an improvment over stock, however it did not appear to offer quite the punch
I was looking for.
Difficulty : 3
Value : 5
Well after installing the MSD 6A those cheesy factory wires had to go. I went down to
the store and grabbed a set of Accel 8.8 wires. Since there was not a set made for the
Jeep I got the custom fit set for a V8. That would give me more than enough length and
some spare parts as well. The 8.8 wires are very thick and have a bright yellow jacket.
They also have nice thick boots on both ends. I also chose to replace the factory
distributor cap with one from NAPA. While it is a good cap the vent line on it will need
to be relocated to someplace higher. When changing spark plug wires and such don't forget
to use dielectric grease. It will help keep a good connection and make the boots that much
easier to remove when its time to change the plugs.
10/15/98 After using these wires for several months I noticed that the
RFI increased gradually as time passed. Eventually it got so bad that I could not use the
CB. I replaced them with Magnacore wires and the problem went away.
Difficulty : 3 (you gotta make each wire)
Value : 2
After finding that my Accel 8.8 wires were putting out too much RFI I searched the web
for a better supression wire. I came up with Magnacore. They even make a special wire for
vehicles with CB type radios. I picked up a set of their 8mm wires and an extra length
10mm coil wire. After installation they appear to have fixed my radio problem. Everyone
can hear me loud and clear now. The wires appear like they are built to last. They have a
nice heavy red outer jacket and good quality ends.
Difficulty : 1
Value : 6
When you overhaul the ignition system in your Jeep never overlook the spark plugs. I
have tried almost all of the "improved" spark plugs over the years and have
found a few things out. When you use an aftermarket computer like MSD that increases spark
power it tends to chew up the plugs. Plugs like split fire are unnecessary and sometimes
detrimental to performance with a high output ignition system. Most of the aftermarket
computer makers will tell you not to use them. I had settled on Champion Truck Plugs as
the best conventional plug that I could get. They lasted quite a while and worked well.
Then I found out about Torque Master spark plugs. They use a completely different design.
They come in 2 gap configurations, a .090 for standard ignitions and a .120 for high
output ignitions. After talking with one of their techs I opted for the .120. Installation
was a snap and because of the design no indexing was necessary (at least as far as I can
tell). After installation and a few tanks later I noticed improved acceleration and
improved MPG. Overall results including the air filter, exhaust, MSD, Accel wires and
Jacobs coil have improved me from about 230 miles per tank to about 270 miles per tank.
Difficulty : 2
Value : 8
Well after 50,000 miles it was time for new tires. This time instead of taking the
cheapo route I decided to invest in a set of quality tires to see if there is any
difference. My previous tires were all terrain cheapo's. They did not balance well and
needed replacement after only 16,000 miles. I selected the Mud Rovers and had the local
tire shop pop a set on for me. I noticed right away that the tires balanced well, only
requiring a few small weights on each size. With the aggressive tread I expected a loud
ride but was surprised by a quiet hum on the highway. Off road the tires work great. The
grab and bite and it is difficult to spin the tires on a dry dirt road. There is a world
of difference in the mud. Just keep 'em spinning and they keep digging.
After several trail rides I have noticed that these tires have incredible grip on
rocks, mud and loose dirt. They have allowed me to traverse all kinds of terrain with
little or no wheel spin while my friends that have mild all terrain tires have to spin
them a bit to make it through.
Difficulty : 1 (kinda hard to write that check)
Value : 7 (So far so good)
It never fails, you are out in the middle of nowhere and you get a flat. Well instead
of purchasing another one of those cheap $29 air compressors that run from the lighter
socket I purchased the Quick Air 2 hard mount. I mounted it inside the engine compartment
on the drivers side. The wiring was very simple and the supplied wire was more than long
enough to reach across the engine compartment. I also purchased a 25' flexible hose with
quick release fitting. I have used this several times after leaving the trail to air my
tires back up. I have also used it to fill up a tire on a Ford Explorer that was
completely flat. All I can say is wow. This compressor is really fast. The next step is to
add an onboard storage tank for air tools.
I had a problem with the compressor this past weekend. The end of the connecting rod
came off its bearing. It was an easy 15 minute fix back at my apartment. Time will tell if
it happens again.
Difficulty : 3
Value : 8
Again here is another no brainier. After lifting the jeep the standard factory jack
would not cut it. So I headed on over to Pep Boys and picked up the Hi Lift Jack. It has
been a dream to work with. When I take a trip off road I just toss it in the back and off
we go. If you take a look at the trip 2 photos you can see the jack in action as a winch.
So far it has not let me down
Difficulty : 1 (its damn heavy)
Value : 10
If you own a jeep this one is a must. After being ripped off 2 or three times everyone
gets a little smarter. My jeep was getting broken into even though there was nothing in
it. So I installed the Tuffy storage trunk one afternoon. The installation process
requires drilling 4 holes and is much easier with 2 sets of hands. After installation I
can still fold up the rear seat and also put the top down. I have been able to put a huge
amount of stuff in the trunk and so far nothing has been stolen. Don't confuse this with
other products that are made of wood or plastic. This one is all STEEL !
Difficulty : 2
Value : 7
Well after changing my brake pads I noticed that the Pep Boys pads tended to squeak and
had increased my stopping distance. I went out and got a set of Performance Friction
carbon metallic pads. Huge difference. You can feel the pads grab the rotors with very
little pedal effort. They even work well when wet and covered in mud. The best part is no
more noise !
Difficulty : 3
Value : 6
I purchased a set of RS9000 front shocks. They were easy to install (as most shocks
are), the total install time was about 15 minutes. I am currently testing the different
settings to see what effect they have on ride quality. My general impression is that on a
setting of 1 or 2 they offer a much improved ride over my previous shocks. You can feel
the tires following the terrain where the old shocks made the tires hop. I have been off
road twice since installing the shocks. My initial impressions are very good. Its nice
being able to turn up the shocks as the terrain gets worse.
I recently added the matching rear shocks. My initial impressions were right on. With
all 4 shocks the ride matches the quality of a TJ. Its really smooth on the pavement and
just fantastic off road. The ability to set the shocks to match the terrain is just
incredible.
Difficulty : 2
Value : 8
I just finished installing a set of diamond plate corners on my jeep. I did this to
offer some additional protection against the scratches and dents that my rear corners were
picking up. I chose the Warrior products plates with the holes pre cut. The passenger side
plate did not have the holes drilled for the the tailgate stop, and the drivers side had
the holes for the gas filler drilled in the wrong location. This increased the difficulty
due to the extra drilling that was required. The corners look good and I think they offer
a substantial improvement in protection.
Difficulty : 5
Value : 6
