What was done to your rig this week?

[Slaphitter]

Calibrated my speedometer with ECRI. I relied upon Wayalife’s fantastic review/instructional video. The hardest part (by far) was getting the wiring plugs unplugged so they could go into the bypass unit. Those suckers are tucked WAY up there for big fat fingers like mine! But with some patience and some bodily contortion to get into the footwell, I managed it. The software itself worked flawlessly.

That 31.68 tire size is the actual size, when mounted, of nominally 33-inch 285/70r17 Falken Wildpeaks. Which, themselves, are visibly larger than the stock “32 inch” 275/55r20 tires.

Oh, and first thing this morning, I sold off the 20“ wheels and tires that came stock on my Sahara 4xe. Buh-bye.

 

[Mike Pierson]

Installed Rancho 3.5” springs front/back, replacing my AEV 2.5” nasty springseses (read as Golem) and Synergy front/rear track bars and their e-brake reloc bracket. Will redo paint marks after 100 miles. One thing I found cool about the AEV lift is that the front geometry correcting brackets can be adjusted to account for a 3.5” lift. I measured a 2” gain in lift so that’s cool. I feel this setup will work fine for awhile, until at least I’m ready for a higher quality EVO lift of my dreams.

Unfortunately I found one of my brand new Rancho 9000 shocks had blown a seal. They we’re supposed to be good for a 2.5” to 3.5” lift so will need to call Rancho and see what I should do now.

Can’t go wheeling yet as I still need to make some brackets to extend the brake line/abs wire harnesses, and taller front and rear bump stops. Oh, and new front/rear drive shafts.

Test drove it with the shocks set at 4 and it was an absolute dream! I had forgotten what a comfortable ride felt like!

 

[WJCO]

Can’t go wheeling yet as I still need to make some brackets to extend the brake line/abs wire harnesses, and taller front and rear bump stops. Oh, and new front/rear drive shafts.

Are drive shafts required for 3.5 inches of lift?

 

[Mike Pierson]

Are drive shafts required for 3.5 inches of lift?

Not sure yet TBH. I need to check them after I get new bump stops installed. These springs are really tall, same ones Eddie installed on Jet Li.

 

[TrailHunter]

Looks Good!

 

[WJCO]

Not sure yet TBH. I need to check them after I get new bump stops installed. These springs are really tall, same ones Eddie installed on Jet Li.

I've been considering the Rancho 3.5 for both of ours for 37s. Didn't plan on drive shafts though. It is what it is though. With that being said, we get about as much off-road time these days as a Manhattan taxi driver, so it may be a non-issue.

 

[jeeeep]

I've been considering the Rancho 3.5 for both of ours for 37s. Didn't plan on drive shafts though. It is what it is though. With that being said, we get about as much off-road time these days as a Manhattan taxi driver, so it may be a non-issue.

I get the same amount of off-road time as you do and ran stock shafts with the AEV 3" for a couple of years, driveshafts seemed to hold up better than the JK's. The DS didn't fail, I changed up to EVO LA/CO

 

[Mike Pierson]

Looks Good!

Thanks!

 

[Mike Pierson]

I've been considering the Rancho 3.5 for both of ours for 37s. Didn't plan on drive shafts though. It is what it is though. With that being said, we get about as much off-road time these days as a Manhattan taxi driver, so it may be a non-issue.

I think you’re going to like it! It’s a tad tall but that’ll settle in awhile I’m sure. I can’t get over how comfortable the ride is compared to the AEV.

 

[wayoflife]

Are drive shafts required for 3.5 inches of lift?

Not on a 4-door JL or JT or at least, if you don't spend a lot of time in 4WD. The FAD will keep the front shaft from spinning and the rear shaft is long enough to not have the CV boots be in a bind.

 

[wayoflife]

I think you’re going to like it! It’s a tad tall but that’ll settle in awhile I’m sure. I can’t get over how comfortable the ride is compared to the AEV.

As I always say, most of ride quality comes from the springs. For better or for worse, AEV makes theirs to carry a heavy load and with out too much sag and the only way to do that is to make them with a heavier spring rate - firmer. Thing is, there are ways to address sag but there isn't a way to soften up stiff coils.

 

[wayoflife]

Yes. It’s nothing fancy since it’s not a long term thing. It’s just two drawer slides mounted to the plywood.

Why not a long term thing? Looks great.

 

[OverlanderJK]

Why not a long term thing? Looks great.

It’s just some standard drawer slides I had from building cabinets for my garage. They are a little weak for long term. Maybe I’ll get some stronger ones. My other thought was building a tray out of some angle iron to mount the fridge and put the slides on that. We’ll see how this holds up.

 

[wayoflife]

It’s just some standard drawer slides I had from building cabinets for my garage. They are a little weak for long term. Maybe I’ll get some stronger ones. My other thought was building a tray out of some angle iron to mount the fridge and put the slides on that. We’ll see how this holds up.

Oooo, I would be eager to see that

 

[GP NOIR]

My new bumper. Some assembly required-


$30 worth of steel, a cutting wheel, a rattlecan and you’ve got a custom bumper


Old School, like the bumper on dad’s old ‘48 Willys. It’s not sexy, it’s not fancy. But it’s trail worthy and a huge improvement over the factory POS.

 

[WJCO]

My new bumper. Some assembly required-
View attachment 385168

$30 worth of steel, a cutting wheel, a rattlecan and you’ve got a custom bumper
View attachment 385169

Old School, like the bumper on dad’s old ‘48 Willys. It’s not sexy, it’s not fancy. But it’s trail worthy and a huge improvement over the factory POS.

Kinda matches the grill.

 

[TrailHunter]

It’s not sexy.

Nailed it.

 

[GP NOIR]

Nailed it.

But it is functional- and looks way better than the bloated thing the factory used.

 

[OverlanderJK]

My new bumper. Some assembly required-
View attachment 385168

$30 worth of steel, a cutting wheel, a rattlecan and you’ve got a custom bumper
View attachment 385169

Old School, like the bumper on dad’s old ‘48 Willys. It’s not sexy, it’s not fancy. But it’s trail worthy and a huge improvement over the factory POS.

 

[GP NOIR]

Kinda matches the grill.

You guys keep hating on the grill. It’s because it’s black, isn’t it?