Mid-arm LJ Rubicon

[TJustin]

Nice dude! I’ll have to check it all out when I stop by sometime soon.

I sure love my WJ steering setup.

 

[sunnysideup_lj]

Nice dude! I’ll have to check it all out when I stop by sometime soon.

I sure love my WJ steering setup.

Thanks man!
I was dead set on doing the swap after checking yours out. It turned out so nice

 

[hallelujan37]

Your Jeep has come a long way quickly. Rubicon’s are a perfect starting place!

 

[Terry Tiemeyer]

Thanks man!
I was dead set on doing the swap after checking yours out. It turned out so nice

Great job. I’m on a two year schedule to end up somewhere close to where you are. Wheeled with Dino at tj fest an between his Jeep and a few others saw some ideas and a direction developed. Just waiting on parts.

 

[sunnysideup_lj]

Won the battle getting the pitman arm off! Successfully drilled out and welded in a new tapered insert to accept the Barnes GM 1 ton style tie rod end.

 

[TJustin]

Well done! One step closer to when we can go wheeling!

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Won the battle getting the pitman arm off! Successfully drilled out and welded in a new tapered insert to accept the Barnes GM 1 ton style tie rod end.
View attachment 258638View attachment 258639

Nice weld - TIG?

 

[sunnysideup_lj]

Well done! One step closer to when we can go wheeling!

Right?! I’m dragging my feet..this is the only thing I’ve done since you came by last week.

 

[sunnysideup_lj]

Nice weld - TIG?

Thanks Nashville! Yep I did burn it in with TIG.

 

[Mike_H]

My build has been slow the past couple months. I’ve had a few more wheeling trips to local trails. Everything has been performing great...well besides the stock steering. I knew I was pushing my luck there. I’ve been collecting parts to do a WJ knuckle and brake swap. I thought long and hard about the WJ swap vs. the Currie correct link. I really liked the idea of the WJ swap because of the steering geometry, and the added bonus of bigger brakes. I do like the fact that the Currie link is proven and works, But I’d still be out big brakes (a Vanco BB kit & Currie steering is out of my budget)

The WJ swap won due to the fact I gain bigger brakes. There is a little more fab time in the WJ swap but I’m willing to put in the needed effort to get it right.

Most parts were ordered from Barnes 4WD. I opted to go with the 1ton offset TRE’s. My tie rod and drag link will be 1.5”x .250 DOM. While the track bar is going to be made from 1.25”x .281”. This 1.25”x .281” wall will be perfect for taping a 3/4” heim on the axle side. Then a weld on JJ for the frame side.

I’m very excited to get this project started! View attachment 256675

Following...I want to see this complete. I looked into it at one time...but the steering design scares me. Real interested to see what you come up with.

 

[sunnysideup_lj]

Following...I want to see this complete. I looked into it at one time...but the steering design scares me. Real interested to see what you come up with.

I’ll keep posting when I make more progress. Check out @TJustin build for more. He got me pointed in the right direction and did an awesome job setting up his WJ steering.

 

[sunnysideup_lj]

This weekend was free, a good amount of work got done on the Jeep. Drag link and tie rod are cut to length and threaded inserts are tacked in. New and correct lower ball joints are in. Knuckles, rotors and unit bearing spacers are good to go. I’ve got the axle side track bar mount tacked into place. Only thing left is to dial in the frame side track bar mount. If anyone is wondering, the factory track bar mount is a beast to remove!! I was cutting and grinding for the majority of the week.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Looks clean. How is your clearance at full stuff?

 

[sunnysideup_lj]

Looks clean. How is your clearance at full stuff?

Things start getting pretty tight at full stuff… I’ve ran the axle through some cycles, But I’m waiting until I get the track bar mounts buttoned up before I get too picky.

 

[sunnysideup_lj]

If I wasn’t already excited to get the Jeep back on the road…can’t wait to try out the new shoes!

 

[B00mb00m]

If I wasn’t already excited to get the Jeep back on the road…can’t wait to try out the new shoes!
View attachment 260789

Those have been working nicely for me, I think you'll like em.

 

[kmas0n]

Those have been working nicely for me, I think you'll like em.

I've got them on my Gladiator and I've been very impressed!

 

[Pressurized]

I'm not a big fan of MT/R's, so I suspect you will really like those Baja's...

 

[sunnysideup_lj]

Those have been working nicely for me, I think you'll like em.

Nice! I love the look of them…so that has to count for something

 

[sunnysideup_lj]

Fast forward a few days…I took the Jeep out for the first test drive today. A few first impressions.
Wow! I didn’t realize how bad my stock brakes were. The new brakes are awesome.
everything is much tighter! The steering is responsive, very smooth and controllable.

absolutely zero wobble, shimmy or twitching of the steering wheel. I am beyond happy with the mod.
a few little detail to button up and it’ll be set!