woah woah woah.... roll it back now for newbies! when putting in NEW control arms that run bushings, always put the vehicle on the ground under its own weight before you tighten the bolts!
It's like watching Mr. Rogers build a jeep. I have been watching you for years now. I rebuilt my XJ with your great vids. Just passed 360,000 miles and it's running better than ever. Thanks.
cheap jeep is my intro to your channel. got my first 'Jeep' recently and doing a cheap jeep of my own. your channel is awesome and informative. keep shoveling the info. you got my jeep looking awesome!
Bought a Kayak......so the next logical thing to get was a Jeep. then of course the jeep was too low and the tires were too small...... and the spiral began. so.... here I am. student at Jeep-U.
When seperating tierods you should wack the side of the knuckle. When you hit the stud. You wear the cup of the ballsocket. And thats usualy where tierods crap out at.
Wrench life 604 i dissagree. its beeing held in the taper of the knuckle. so the force of the hammer hit on the nut is not pounding the ball into the socket
At the shop i work at we arnt aloud to hammer on stud. We hit the side of the knuckle. I personally would never hit the stud. Could wear out joint faster.
this could be true but I could also see it being one of those old wives tales taken as fact... I'd like to see some evidence or testing on this subject.
hahahaha OMG the seized bushing thing! I just went through it with a Subaru changing the rear knuckles out. I had to use a pack of cutoff wheels in the end.
Hey Matt. That was a great video! This is exactly why doing the cheap jeep project is so great! When we have a small budget it's amazing how creative things can get! Also thanks for the Tie Rod tip! You just saved me the cost of that fork tool! 😬
I have done the castle nut thing and found that using a two jaw puller works better. I have on more than one occasion run into some tough studs and drove the nut on over the threads.
Tip: to remove the tie-rod bolt hit the spindle with the sledge (do not use the method where you hit down on the castle nut) ...again...hit the side of the spindle where the tie-rod enters the spindle...
Trim the bumper on the ZJ! I was having the same thoughts as you before but ended up trimming the corners basically where the lines are to the middle slots, then just zip tieing the bottom part where the slots are to the radiator support (I eventually swapped my radiator support witha Kevins Off Road Support, protects the radiator better and gives you front tow points for pretty cheap!)
I just purchased my first lifted truck 1995 Nissan Pathfinder. the front axle is from a 85 Wagoneer the rear coils are from a bronco sway bar has been removed the panhard bar has been removed and the front differential has a severe downward droop to it, therefore the front drive shaft is disconnected. What would be the proper and safe angle for me to reconnect the drive shaft and for it to drive stable
I would invest in a good air hammer! Rusted in bolts don't stand a chance against one. It's helped me on more than one occasion of a stuck bolt. Don't you just love living in the snowy, salty, Northeast?!
Just a suggestion for anyone who wants to up grade suspension on a old truck. 1 Before you start spray pb blaster on every part you need to remove ,bolts nuts Everything. 2 drive the truck for a day or 2. 3 repeat 2 4 repeat 2 and 3 5 repeat again. 6 have torches and cut off wheels in plenty Normally doing 1 to 5 will work and everything will come free. 7 Don't start any suspension work until you do this.
just bought a 98 zj. been reading alot about issues with the cv front driveshaft and how it destroys itself once you lift it. was wondering if you've found anything to fix that. coolly videos btw. 😆
i'm not gonna lie, I'm a little depressed that this is the last video so far on the Cheap Jeep series. I just noticed you posted it yesterday so I will wait for the next one! Oh and I have heard the Just Empty Every Pocket before but in my 3+ years of Jeep ownership (3yrs of a ZJ and 2 weeks of XJ) I haven't found that true. Although I have replaced many MANY parts they are extremely cheap and/or could be found in the junk yard. Try the BMW or Subaru world and youll see how pricey stuff gets haha
i know this video is older but i have a question. if you have the double cardan shaft and you tip the dif upwards pointing at the tcase, wouldnt that cause your castor to change and be steering into the ground?
Matt I have a question? I have a 1992 yj with leaf springs. do you have a video to convert from leaf to 4 link? what are your thoughts on that. im just wanting more articulation. btw love the videos
one question if you just want some what of a longer control arm (long arm) could i do that on a stock 1993 jeep grand cherokee Laredo i have been planning on this for a while of doing a cheap jeep but i think its allready to late i had to have a front drive shaft custom made because all the ones i was finding are to long do you have a tire size that u r going to put on ur jeep i thought of a 31" or a 33"
I had issues with an upper CA cam bolt when it got pinched between the arm and the sleeve in the bracket and ended up smoking the threads getting it out
Im thinking of doing this to my own grand cherokee. What was the length of the upper control arm from the jk and could I use a coil from a dodge 2500? or a ford super duty?
Hey Matt, where did you hear that the upper rear JK control arms will fit on the Cherokee? I'd love to read a thread on that. Do you know the max lift those control arms will work with?
I was just wondering, do you maybe have a lift for a zj that I could buy from you. I have been watchin your videos for a while now. But just now realized we are from the same area. Figured you would be my best bet for a used lift.
Hey Matt, maybe you can shed some light for me. I have a 97 xj and the odometer and airbag light will not turn off and now will not start. There is always power to the gauges as if the key is turned on and i noticed my injectors are clicking with the nothing on. Cant find any help or direction anywhere.😣
Scott McIntyre . Thanks for the reply but not quite what the problem is. Plenty on non working gauges, not so much about power always being on when battery is connected.
Disconnect the ignition switch, and see if you still have a draw (Lights go out= no draw) if no draw replace ing sw. Edit any cryco switch will work with the same style key
P Kuudsk thanks. Still on. I guess i may have to go through all the wiring in the jeep .😔 replaced the asd relay, replaced the ignition switch, cleaned the neutral safety switch, checked all the fuses.
Nathan Harris truly comes down to pointing it at the Tcase. Having a double cardan front driveshaft is exactly as having an SYE. The aim in regards to caster is to find a balance between too much caster (Might steer like a Grand Marquis but you'll have driveline vibes) and too little caster (Might be 100% directed with the front yoke of the tcase but will drive "squirly" and could even result in death wobble if you've already got even the slightest wear in your steering/suspension components).
As handy as it was too weld those camber bolts it probably weakened the hardening process. I know this is cheap Jeep but I can see that breaking on the trail now.
So I have the same jeep... I was wondering can I get jk lower control arms for the rear and take the stock one's and put them on the front? My Jeep has a 2 inch lift right now but it's not enough and the last owner didn't do anything except bigger shocks and spacers so it rides a little funny right now... also when I lift my zj what parts do I have to replace to keep a smooth ride/ avoid easy breaks, breath wobbles, ect, ect. I'm only 15 but my jeep is my favorite pas time and I want to get her fixed up before the summer months
So does heating up a bolt with a torch but people do it all the time. I think it would be ok since if anything you are annealing the bolt making it softer and more ductile rather than harder and more brittle.
I’m struggling to find an answer on this. Got a TJ lift and am fixing death wobble. Do I need a longer control arm or is it possible to change the caster angle with a replacement control arm?
If the wheels are aligned, and balanced, the rims aren't bent, the tire isn't lumpy.... check for worn out bushings, ball joints, and all steering joints. Adjustable control arms are threaded so they're extendable so you can fine tune your pinion angle/caster.
WHY COULDN'T U JUST BULD THE LONGER PART WHERE U HAD TO GET THE BREAKER BAR OUT..... INSTEAD OF ODERING IT Y NOT BUILD YOUR 2 OWN TO KEEP IT CHEAPER.......
I'm watching you pull apart the axle after you installed the new control arms, but I'm not sure WHY you're doing it. Some commentary while doing it (either voice or text) would be helpful - thanks!
woah woah woah.... roll it back now for newbies!
when putting in NEW control arms that run bushings, always put the vehicle on the ground under its own weight before you tighten the bolts!
I even do that with ones that aren’t bushings
It's like watching Mr. Rogers build a jeep. I have been watching you for years now. I rebuilt my XJ with your great vids. Just passed 360,000 miles and it's running better than ever. Thanks.
cheap jeep is my intro to your channel. got my first 'Jeep' recently and doing a cheap jeep of my own. your channel is awesome and informative. keep shoveling the info. you got my jeep looking awesome!
what took you so long bro?
Bought a Kayak......so the next logical thing to get was a Jeep. then of course the jeep was too low and the tires were too small...... and the spiral began. so.... here I am. student at Jeep-U.
I just bought a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Classic 4.0L for $550 runs and drives and 4x4 work great ! Now that's cheap
For the tie rod ends just smack outside of eyelit a few times works like a champ
can't wait too see how this build continues
When seperating tierods you should wack the side of the knuckle. When you hit the stud. You wear the cup of the ballsocket. And thats usualy where tierods crap out at.
Wrench life 604 i dissagree. its beeing held in the taper of the knuckle. so the force of the hammer hit on the nut is not pounding the ball into the socket
everone has there own way. ask 3 techs get 3 different answers
At the shop i work at we arnt aloud to hammer on stud. We hit the side of the knuckle. I personally would never hit the stud. Could wear out joint faster.
this could be true but I could also see it being one of those old wives tales taken as fact... I'd like to see some evidence or testing on this subject.
BleepinJeep hit what it goes through and if it don't work get a bigger hammer. it works and it's faster.
matts killin the cheap jeep game
Dude your little mime act gets me every time. It's sooooo stupid😂
It reminds me of the old westerns where there isn't much dialog.
👍
One trick for lower control arm bolts seized to the sleeve is to press it out with a ball joint press... Worked for me multiple times.
I'll be the first one to say I didn't cross my fingers the first time, but I did the second time haha
lol same
Same here... It's the power of the internet ;-)
ditto haha
Shane Gregory ditto
haha glad I wasn't the only one!
HAHA! I actually crossed my fingers when you called me out for not doing it the first time :)
Tommy Huber ha lol me too..
Tommy Huber ha same
Keep it up Matt. I really like watching you do all this. It makes workin on my rig way easier! Thanks.
You make me (and my family laugh)..."oh, you didn't cross your fingers did you?!" Thanks, Matt!
thanks for watching bro!
the sound effects you makeare half the reason i keep watching your vids.. and I drive an xj.
shewbydoowopbop
hahahaha OMG the seized bushing thing! I just went through it with a Subaru changing the rear knuckles out. I had to use a pack of cutoff wheels in the end.
Good to have great local shops. Jason always has awesome builds coming through the Rock Your 4x4 garage.
he's a good dude!
I love these project Jeeps... where I live a vehicle more than a few years old is virtually solid rust on the underside....
It's good to see someone else make they're own cam bolt too. lol I did mine about 5 years ago and it's still good.
Glad to see you are doing a ZJ
Hey Matt. That was a great video! This is exactly why doing the cheap jeep project is so great! When we have a small budget it's amazing how creative things can get!
Also thanks for the Tie Rod tip! You just saved me the cost of that fork tool! 😬
no prob bob, thanks for watching!
I crossed my fingers the second time. Good job on that cam bolt.
I have done the castle nut thing and found that using a two jaw puller works better. I have on more than one occasion run into some tough studs and drove the nut on over the threads.
I use the pitman arm puller on TRE's.
lol, the good thing about a leaky vehicle is you don't have rusty parts, so awesome lol =)
it is true though!
BleepinJeep yeah I totally agree, I laughed cause it's happened in more than one occasion for me lol
if using air tools on vehicles buy a set of impact sockets standard sockets will not take the abuse..well worth the $$$$$.
That's awesome that the rear lower control arms actually might work for the lift on the front.
front springs to rear, rear arms to front!
Tip: to remove the tie-rod bolt hit the spindle with the sledge (do not use the method where you hit down on the castle nut) ...again...hit the side of the spindle where the tie-rod enters the spindle...
Trim the bumper on the ZJ! I was having the same thoughts as you before but ended up trimming the corners basically where the lines are to the middle slots, then just zip tieing the bottom part where the slots are to the radiator support (I eventually swapped my radiator support witha Kevins Off Road Support, protects the radiator better and gives you front tow points for pretty cheap!)
I went to a monster truck show this weekend also. I ran my Chevy in the Tuff truck competition.
I just purchased my first lifted truck 1995 Nissan Pathfinder. the front axle is from a 85 Wagoneer the rear coils are from a bronco sway bar has been removed the panhard bar has been removed and the front differential has a severe downward droop to it, therefore the front drive shaft is disconnected. What would be the proper and safe angle for me to reconnect the drive shaft and for it to drive stable
I would invest in a good air hammer! Rusted in bolts don't stand a chance against one. It's helped me on more than one occasion of a stuck bolt. Don't you just love living in the snowy, salty, Northeast?!
I did the upper rear control arms on my old xj worked perfectly for my front
The amount of things hit with a hammer, love your vids
excellent weld fix on that socket. I wouldn't use it on the impact any more though
Dude, I love this series. Keep up the good work!
yes you are going all the way .broke a socket we got to weld ...haha you are in character
Awesome gotta love Gravedigger....
Awesome insights! I'm rebuilding a ZJ too. Fun too watch too. Thank you!
loving this series
Another great video! Thumbs and well done!
When you hate going to the store lol
I always imagine the store is right next to his house.
Just a suggestion for anyone who wants to up grade suspension on a old truck.
1 Before you start spray pb blaster on every part you need to remove ,bolts nuts Everything.
2 drive the truck for a day or 2.
3 repeat 2
4 repeat 2 and 3
5 repeat again.
6 have torches and cut off wheels in plenty Normally doing 1 to 5 will work and everything will come free.
7 Don't start any suspension work until you do this.
You meant repeat step 1
👍😉
you have awesome very cool toys. big to little. thanks so much for the look.
Had the same problem with the cam bolts if you're not using the bushing heat the crap out of with a torch.
Also, a "too tight" u-joint is a severe problem that can lead to destruction of the slip-yoke and the transmission and torque converter...
Matt, I am not familiar with those cam bolts. What is there purpose? To aid in adjustment of castor angle?
+Mark A. I'll walk you through it in the next video but yes it basically just makes the arm shorter or longer by a small amount
BleepinJeep
Thanks Matt. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to see how the ZJ turns out.
What front axle shafts are those now? With the U joints instead of CV.....
from a cherokee
Thats what I figured. Is there any "cheap" option to swap those end stub shafts to manual locking hubs?
how are those jk control arms working so far?
Flashbacks to the dentists chair @ 8:08
I crossed my fingers the second time!
nice job I love what you did to that jeep keep keep on Jeep and brother
Is that a rhode island plate I see at 11:45?
just bought a 98 zj. been reading alot about issues with the cv front driveshaft and how it destroys itself once you lift it. was wondering if you've found anything to fix that. coolly videos btw. 😆
You make some strange noises. I like it.
That's what she said ♂️
ah that monster truck at the end was at monster jam in toronto on saturday
For those pesky camber bolts I prefer the judicious application of a little dynamite...C4 for those that are REALLY stuck.
hahahaha the intro! Nice!
i'm not gonna lie, I'm a little depressed that this is the last video so far on the Cheap Jeep series. I just noticed you posted it yesterday so I will wait for the next one!
Oh and I have heard the Just Empty Every Pocket before but in my 3+ years of Jeep ownership (3yrs of a ZJ and 2 weeks of XJ) I haven't found that true. Although I have replaced many MANY parts they are extremely cheap and/or could be found in the junk yard. Try the BMW or Subaru world and youll see how pricey stuff gets haha
Stuck control arm bolt? Press it out with a ball joint press. Had to do that on my LJ
Matt you're awsome
you have so many toys in your garage, i would have sold one along time ago to buy a lift.
with 8' ceilings I could only lift the jeep about 12 inches before it would hit the ceiling!
BleepinJeep ur a handy guy and i bet u got handy freinds, make it tall enough for a lift.
Mr. Bear... sir, that would be like selling off your children.
i know this video is older but i have a question. if you have the double cardan shaft and you tip the dif upwards pointing at the tcase, wouldnt that cause your castor to change and be steering into the ground?
Where is this Pull Apart at? They have a nice clean yard
That's my bad- I didn't cross my fingers until the second attempt. I learned (from you) always use heat.....why didn't you try that?
heat on the cam bolt? because its surrounded by rubber, by the time it got hot enough the rubber would be a blazing inferno.
BleepinJeep that's why you're the expert! I'd be torching it all- but not anymore. All the best and thanks again!
Matt I have a question? I have a 1992 yj with leaf springs. do you have a video to convert from leaf to 4 link? what are your thoughts on that. im just wanting more articulation. btw love the videos
Mat great video but you either need to talk louder or have quieter music!
one question if you just want some what of a longer control arm (long arm) could i do that on a stock 1993 jeep grand cherokee Laredo i have been planning on this for a while of doing a cheap jeep but i think its allready to late i had to have a front drive shaft custom made because all the ones i was finding are to long do you have a tire size that u r going to put on ur jeep i thought of a 31" or a 33"
I have a 93 Zj laredo,too. Im thinking of doing this. Really you couldnt find a front driveshaft?
You should put the rough country jeep winch mounting plate for a 93-98 zj for $229 .95
I had to do the same thing to both of my front lowers on my wrangler (cut through the bolt)
I had issues with an upper CA cam bolt when it got pinched between the arm and the sleeve in the bracket and ended up smoking the threads getting it out
What is the length of the upper rear jk control arms center of bushing to center of bushing
reminds me of all the fun times I've had getting rusted bolts out and hurting myself more and more each time :) I love it (sarcasm)
Im thinking of doing this to my own grand cherokee. What was the length of the upper control arm from the jk and could I use a coil from a dodge 2500? or a ford super duty?
Hey Matt, where did you hear that the upper rear JK control arms will fit on the Cherokee? I'd love to read a thread on that. Do you know the max lift those control arms will work with?
I was just wondering, do you maybe have a lift for a zj that I could buy from you. I have been watchin your videos for a while now. But just now realized we are from the same area. Figured you would be my best bet for a used lift.
HOW MANY WASHERS U PUT IN THERE........ N DID U PUT THEM ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ONE PART OR WHAT........
Hey Matt, maybe you can shed some light for me. I have a 97 xj and the odometer and airbag light will not turn off and now will not start. There is always power to the gauges as if the key is turned on and i noticed my injectors are clicking with the nothing on. Cant find any help or direction anywhere.😣
lmgtfy.com/?q=97+xj+and+the+odometer+and+airbag+light+will+not+turn+off+and+now+will+not+start
Scott McIntyre . Thanks for the reply but not quite what the problem is. Plenty on non working gauges, not so much about power always being on when battery is connected.
Disconnect the ignition switch, and see if you still have a draw (Lights go out= no draw) if no draw replace ing sw.
Edit any cryco switch will work with the same style key
P Kuudsk thanks. Still on. I guess i may have to go through all the wiring in the jeep .😔 replaced the asd relay, replaced the ignition switch, cleaned the neutral safety switch, checked all the fuses.
My 95 xj had a parasitic draw under dash drivers side to the right of steering wheel
would the control arms from a jku work also?
a better trick to getting the tierod end out is hammer on the knuckle, that way you dont run any risk of maring up the threads on the ball joint!
Why did you swap the cv axle to an u joint axle
1/2 inch socket weld! Go with it
Is the drive shaft bent
get an air hammer they are grate tool for stuck parts
CAN U SHOW US ALL THE DIFFERANCE IN THE 2 TYPES OF DRIVE SHAFT'S PLZZ ON THE JEEPS.........
It is so much cheaper in USA!
JK control arms from the junkyard in Sweden will cost me around 150 dollars for 2....
Are you in GA? North GA mountains here.
knoxville
what are the measurements hole to hole?
How to determine if the cam bolts are positioned correctly? I am trying to DIY align my zj, caster too.
My Off-Road Obsession i am trying to figure out the same thing with my zj. Did you ever find any answers?
Nathan Harris truly comes down to pointing it at the Tcase. Having a double cardan front driveshaft is exactly as having an SYE. The aim in regards to caster is to find a balance between too much caster (Might steer like a Grand Marquis but you'll have driveline vibes) and too little caster (Might be 100% directed with the front yoke of the tcase but will drive "squirly" and could even result in death wobble if you've already got even the slightest wear in your steering/suspension components).
As handy as it was too weld those camber bolts it probably weakened the hardening process. I know this is cheap Jeep but I can see that breaking on the trail now.
So I have the same jeep... I was wondering can I get jk lower control arms for the rear and take the stock one's and put them on the front? My Jeep has a 2 inch lift right now but it's not enough and the last owner didn't do anything except bigger shocks and spacers so it rides a little funny right now... also when I lift my zj what parts do I have to replace to keep a smooth ride/ avoid easy breaks, breath wobbles, ect, ect. I'm only 15 but my jeep is my favorite pas time and I want to get her fixed up before the summer months
You should watch the whole build's playlist, I go over everything you'll need: bit.ly/2iaV0sx
won't welding that bolt take the temper out of it and cause it to be weak and possibly break?
So does heating up a bolt with a torch but people do it all the time. I think it would be ok since if anything you are annealing the bolt making it softer and more ductile rather than harder and more brittle.
27dcx that makes sense but if I ever heat a bolt I replace it. It may not be necessary but it give me piece of mind anyway.
I’m struggling to find an answer on this. Got a TJ lift and am fixing death wobble. Do I need a longer control arm or is it possible to change the caster angle with a replacement control arm?
If the wheels are aligned, and balanced, the rims aren't bent, the tire isn't lumpy.... check for worn out bushings, ball joints, and all steering joints.
Adjustable control arms are threaded so they're extendable so you can fine tune your pinion angle/caster.
Wow 143k+ subs. Really enjoy your channel. Maybe trying a longer bushing instead of stacking washers on the control arm. Just a thought.
Shared
Couldn't you heat the cam bolt to relieve some of the stress?
not really, its surrounded by rubber.
WHY COULDN'T U JUST BULD THE LONGER PART WHERE U HAD TO GET THE BREAKER BAR OUT..... INSTEAD OF ODERING IT Y NOT BUILD YOUR 2 OWN TO KEEP IT CHEAPER.......
alright alright alright, I give up, what is the bracket for the rear track bar? I can't find it on RC's site. I have a 97 xj with 3.5" lift btw.
+Steve D you have to call them to get it separate from the lift
I'm watching you pull apart the axle after you installed the new control arms, but I'm not sure WHY you're doing it. Some commentary while doing it (either voice or text) would be helpful - thanks!
In the 1st video he showed the boot was torn. And he replaced the u-joint.
why did you replace CVs with ujoints? are ujoints better?
WILNEL KG5WEN yes. stronger and easier to replace
Also, U-joints are a lot better when you're driving through brush and sticks, since a CV boot will get cut or punctured easily.
i wonder if grave digger at the end uses a Dana 35 rear axle.........................................................
matt sez, Of course! The D35 is the strongest axle ever made! I bet theyd handle top fuel dragster power with 70in tractor tires with ease! lmao
ill bet the space shuttle uses one to!
They had to upgrade to the s35 eventually though