What should I do about these worn out parts?

[WestKyJeeper]

Hey yall decided to take my jeep in to get a good inspection of the suspension parts and this is what the 4x4 shop guy had to say..
quoted me for new driveshafts and all new tera flex 3inch lift at around $7k all in. Might just have to drive it the way it is or piece together what I can and do the work myself.

According to mechanic
Needs new sway bar and links front and rear
New control arms
New ujoints (axle and driveshaft)
New ball joints
Probably new shocks
What should I do should I sell the damn thing lol

 

[L J]

What should I do

 

[GATORB8]

All of that is what I’d consider reasonable driveway stuff.

If you don’t have experience, find someone in a local Jeep group that can guide you.

 

[bucky]

After a quick goole search and a rough guestimate. New 3” Teraflex 3” lift with shocks runs about $3400. U joints less than $200. That makes your quote for labor at $3000. Teraflex says 8 hrs for installation plus drive shaft work being generous 3 hrs. Round up to 12 hrs total work time comes out to $250 per hour shop rate.
Teraflex says kit won’t work on Unlimited Rubicon. Also says you need extra rim backspacing.
Jump down the YouTube rabbit hole and research how to install yourself.
You’ll need time and the space to do the work. Even if you’ll need to buy some tools to do the job you can save some serious coin. Bonus is that you will gain some skills, learn more about your TJ and have pride that you did it yourself.
As said before we are here to give you help and moral support.

 

[mrblaine]

Teraflex says kit won’t work on Unlimited Rubicon. Also says you need extra rim backspacing.

Probably meant less rim backspacing?? Extra moves the rim the wrong way.

 

[bucky]

Might be I just did some quick research.

 

[mrblaine]

Might be I just did some quick research.

Less backspacing moves the wheel outward, more backspacing moves the wheel inward.

 

[LJBean]

All of that stuff can be done in your driveway, and if you plan to stay in the 20+ year old Jeep world, now is the time to embrace it. You also don't have to stay with a Teraflex lift, or any single brand for that matter. Identify what is worn and look for how you can replace parts toward a target build.

I wouldn't pay anyone to rebuild or replace ujoints. That's a job you will want to learn, since it's pretty simple and it's a common maintenance issue.

 

[inkedrose]

@WestKyJeeper When I got my first TJ I had pretty much zero experience working on vehicles. This group and a lot of YouTube have walked me through most projects. Now I know slightly more than nothing but have done several projects I never would have thought possible a few years ago. Get past the fear of doing it yourself and there's a satisfaction knowing how stuff works. Write a list and start with the small stuff, sway bar links are only 8 bolts total. Then U-joints, couple more bolts. This group is really good about answering questions with knowledgeable answers

 

[GATORB8]

Now that we’ve established that you are getting cold and dirty in the driveway, is there an actual drive ability issue that made you take this in that you want to address first?

 

[WestKyJeeper]

After a quick goole search and a rough guestimate. New 3” Teraflex 3” lift with shocks runs about $3400. U joints less than $200. That makes your quote for labor at $3000. Teraflex says 8 hrs for installation plus drive shaft work being generous 3 hrs. Round up to 12 hrs total work time comes out to $250 per hour shop rate.
Teraflex says kit won’t work on Unlimited Rubicon. Also says you need extra rim backspacing.
Jump down the YouTube rabbit hole and research how to install yourself.
You’ll need time and the space to do the work. Even if you’ll need to buy some tools to do the job you can save some serious coin. Bonus is that you will gain some skills, learn more about your TJ and have pride that you did it yourself.
As said before we are here to give you help and moral support.

Yeah I thought the labor sounded pricey.
On the other hand they are professionals and I would just be winging it lol. I think I can easily do the ball joints and maybe the axle unjoints. Same with the front and rear sway bar and links, I might just upgrade to rockjock on those.
Control arms sound easy but I’m not sure how to adjust them. And the driveshaft Ujoints I have no idea on.
I installed the currectlync steering kit and it was definitely a good feeling once I got it right. Thanks man.

 

[WestKyJeeper]

All of that stuff can be done in your driveway, and if you plan to stay in the 20+ year old Jeep world, now is the time to embrace it. You also don't have to stay with a Teraflex lift, or any single brand for that matter. Identify what is worn and look for how you can replace parts toward a target build.

I wouldn't pay anyone to rebuild or replace ujoints. That's a job you will want to learn, since it's pretty simple and it's a common maintenance issue.

Yeah I think I’m going to slowly tackle the easier stuff and then work my way to the harder things.

 

[WestKyJeeper]

Now that we’ve established that you are getting cold and dirty in the driveway, is there an actual drive ability issue that made you take this in that you want to address first?

Well I had some death wobble at 45-55mph then I installed the currectlync steering kit and it basically worked 100%. There is a slight vibration right at 55 from time to time and that was my main concern. Also there is a clicking sound at low speeds and the mechanic said it was a combo of ujoints and control arm bushing being work out.

 

[GATORB8]

Yeah I thought the labor sounded pricey.
On the other hand they are professionals and I would just be winging it lol. I think I can easily do the ball joints and maybe the axle unjoints. Same with the front and rear sway bar and links, I might just upgrade to rockjock on those.
Control arms sound easy but I’m not sure how to adjust them. And the driveshaft Ujoints I have no idea on.
I installed the currectlync steering kit and it was definitely a good feeling once I got it right. Thanks man.

The ball joints are probably the most "difficult" thing on the list.

 

[GATORB8]

Well I had some death wobble at 45-55mph then I installed the currectlync steering kit and it basically worked 100%. There is a slight vibration right at 55 from time to time and that was my main concern. Also there is a clicking sound at low speeds and the mechanic said it was a combo of ujoints and control arm bushing being work out.

If you don't want to wait for the lift, factory replacement control arms are like $10-35 each on Rock Auto.

 

[tr21triton]

The ball joints are probably the most "difficult" thing on the list.

exactly what I was thinking, hell if he can do that the rest is fairly easy !

 

[WestKyJeeper]

If you don't want to wait for the lift, factory replacement control arms are like $10-35 each on Rock Auto.

I plan on getting new adjustable control arms soon and then worry about the lift later. The PO of my LJ said there was a 4 inch lift on it. The guy at the 4x4 shop said it had sagged to factory ride height? That kind of doesn’t make sense to me. I get it if the shocks are worn out, but would the springs still be the height of a 4inch lift? Can they sag too? I’m a little lost in what I need to do there.

I plan to do ujoints and ball joints at the same time since I have to take the axles out anyways.

Should I go ahead and do shocks/springs at the same time I do the control arms?

 

[AOSJ]

Well I had some death wobble at 45-55mph then I installed the currectlync steering kit and it basically worked 100%. There is a slight vibration right at 55 from time to time and that was my main concern. Also there is a clicking sound at low speeds and the mechanic said it was a combo of ujoints and control arm bushing being work out.

Your main concern could be fixed by a simple tire re-balancing if the vibration you're talking about is felt in the steering wheel. This is a ~$50 and 30 minute job at any tire shop

 

[GATORB8]

I plan on getting new adjustable control arms soon and then worry about the lift later. The PO of my LJ said there was a 4 inch lift on it. The guy at the 4x4 shop said it had sagged to factory ride height? That kind of doesn’t make sense to me. I get it if the shocks are worn out, but would the springs still be the height of a 4inch lift? Can they sag too? I’m a little lost in what I need to do there.

I plan to do ujoints and ball joints at the same time since I have to take the axles out anyways.

Should I go ahead and do shocks/springs at the same time I do the control arms?

Look for a thread on here that has coil bucket measurements to confirm sagged equivalent lift height.

I would start with identifying what you currently have installed, look at the parts list in the install sheets https://www.roughcountry.com/suspension-lift-kits/jeep/wrangler-unlimited/2006/dt=8:

 

[WestKyJeeper]

Look for a thread on here that has coil bucket measurements to confirm sagged equivalent lift height.

I would start with identifying what you currently have installed, look at the parts list in the install sheets https://www.roughcountry.com/suspension-lift-kits/jeep/wrangler-unlimited/2006/dt=8:
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okay thank you ill take a look!