Do you have reduced steering lock?

So why do I need a FTE Steering Damper Relocation Bracket ? See photo below!

 
As you can see from the photos above the left hand lock (sitting in the Jeep) is a lot less then the right hand lock! The reason for this is two fold, the Wrangler is fitted with an aftermarket steering damper which is larger in diameter then the stock unit, and the drag link is running at a steeper angle due to a lift kit being fitted. As you can see from the photo below the steering damper is binding against the drag link when on left hand lock.

The FTE Steering Damper Relocation Bracket kit is designed to be a bolt on unit and moves the axle end mount up by 40mm giving clearance.

Check back next week, when there will be a full install.

Technorati Tags: Jeep,Wrangler,TJ,Steering,Drag-link,FTE 4x4 Specialists ltd,steering-damper,axle

Not all hubs are the same

I have just had a customer’s 98 Wrangler in for a squeaking noise.

On stripping down the front hubs a bright wear mark could be seen on the dust shield, on the N/S.  On checking the hub, it was found to be a 2000>2006 hub. In 2000 Jeep changed the hub off-set by approximately 5mm, requiring the disc to have a shallower off-set. There is no reason why you can not run later hubs on a pre 2000 Jeep but you must change the discs to match.

The garage that carried out this work, could not been aware of the change that Jeep introduced. On the O/S the Wrangler was still running the stock 98 hub. So be aware, make sure the garage you use knows about Jeeps, otherwise they can cause more problems then they fix. 

 

Letting The Air Out

So do you air down your tyres when you go off road, a lot of folks don’t! Airing down is the best thing you can do for off-road performance, second only to running lockers in your axles. The difference between aired-up and aired-down on the trail can be staggering. So why does airing down make such a difference, people always think that by airing down you increase the width of the contact patch of the tyre, this is true but it also increases the length of the contact patch, so it puts more rubber in touch with the ground, more rubber in touch with the ground means more traction. The table below shows how the contact patch of the tyre grows as the pressure goes down.

   

 

 

Another advantage to airing down is the way the tyre will deform to follow the contours of the ground, the photo below illustrates this very well. If the tyre can conform to the obstacle it is trying to climb over the rolling resistance will be reduced, which means a lots less effort is required.

 

 

 

 

So now that we have established that airing down tyres is a good thing how low can you go? Here is an extract from JP Magazine
“Keeping-It-Low Cappa
Almost everyone I meet runs too much air pressure in their Jeep's tires both on- and off-road. Like Christian, I cringe when I see beadlocks on a Jeep where the tire barely has a sidewall bulge. The owner generally considers 25 psi aired down since he runs the max sidewall-listed pressure of 35-50 psi on the street. Not only is he prematurely wearing out his tires, but he's rattling his teeth loose and giving up a ton of off-road performance. This is even more widespread now that 16-, 17-, and even 18-inch wheels have become common on small Jeeps, whereas before these wheels and higher-pressure tires were typically only found on 3/4- and 1-ton trucks.

Running the correct tire pressure starts by picking the correct tires. Most Jeeps only need a load range C tire. The D- and E-rated tires are for heavy-hauling trucks. With a C range radial tire most Jeeps can run about 20-25 psi on the street. Most bias-ply tires can hold up a Jeep with about half that. Off-road I consider 10-12 psi a good starting point for a radial tire and I'll often go lower than that if the terrain is really soft and there are few tire hazards. On a bias-ply tire you really don't get a good traction bulge until you hit the single digits, so I'll start at around 5-10 psi and go down from there if need be. To some people these pressures sound unreasonably low, but they increase traction significantly and improve the ride as well. You can either adjust your driving style to keep the tires on the beads or step into beadlock wheels if you decide to run at the lower end of these pressures.”

On my yellow Wrangler TJ with 33x12.50x15’s without beadlocks I normally drop them down to 15psi. Many people have different opinions as to how much to air down when off roading, so find what works for you and your setup. But be sure to be careful, it must be noted that we are only talking about and recommending tyres pressures being lowered while off road and at lower speeds, NOT driving on the road or at higher speeds.

So how do you air down your tyres, if you have every tried doing it will a a match stick pushing the valve down you will know how long it can take. There are a lot of devices out there to make life easy, but the one I favour is the Rugged Ridge adjustable tyre deflators, once you have set them up to the pressure you want, you just screw them on to the valves and go have a cup of tea. Once they have finished hissing unscrew them, and you are god to go. The Rugged Ridge tyre deflators are available from FTE 4x4 Specialists Ltd.

Don’t forget that once you have aired down at the end of the day you need to pump the tyres back up.

Technorati Tags: Jeep,Wrangler,Cherokee,TJ,YJ,JK,XJ,WJ,Tyres,off-road,Rugged-Ridge,FTE 4x4 Specialists ltd,Deflators

DELTA... THE RIGHT LIGHT...

FTE 4x4 Specialists Ltd. is please to announce that they are now a dealer for Delta Tech Industries otherwise known as Delta Lights, they offer a very diverse range of lights covering all aspects of vehicle lighting especially Jeeps. Below is just a sample of what they have on offer specifically for the Wrangler TJ & JK, to check out there full range of lights go to Delta Lights website.

The Delta Quad bar Xenon Hi/Low Headlight Set for Wrangler TJ and JK with city light (side light) has built-in steel armour protecting the element. The series come with an adapter converting H4 system to H13.The headlights feature lead-crystal prismatic glass lens, vacuum metalized steel reflectors and rubber boot to seal from dust and moisture. It will outperform factory headlights 4 to1. They are also “E” Marked which makes them legal for use in the UK.

 

 

 

Delta Windshield T-Bracket Set was designed specifically for Jeep Wrangler both the TJ and JK. They are constructed of machined billet aircraft aluminium and use existing windshield bolt holes and thus requiring NO DRILLING. The brackets were designed for universal application and every brand of lights.

Delta Hood Light Bar was specifically developed for Jeep Wrangler JK & TJ 1997-11. It was designed to complement the Delta SkyBar and vehicle exterior design using the existing factory bolt holes thus requiring NO DRILLING. The Hood Bar is constructed of plasma cut powder coated steel cross bar and machined billet aluminium mounting arms. The Bar offers a vertical swivel for precision aiming and it comes with pre-terminated 3 (ea) Xenon 55 Watt driving lights producing an impressive beam of light for night trail adventures. Total draw 13.75 Amps, also available with 6000K HID driving lights producing an incredible powerful white “daylight” beam of light for night trail adventures. Total draw 8.75 Amps. The lights come equipped with hard plastic covers. The set is also equipped with a complete OEM harness, relay, switch and fuse.

Delta fender Light Set was specifically designed for Jeep Wrangler both TJ and JK. The set is well integrated with headlamp and fender design. It is constructed from 13 ga. powder coated plasma cut steel encasing 3” dia. waterproof xenon driving lights or Delta 6000K HID system, which will produce an impressive long range white, near daylight bright light for any type of night driving. Each light offers a full micro-adjustment for aiming. They mount to existing bolts on each front fender. NO DRILLING required.

 

 

 

 

Delta Bumper Driving Lamp Set for the Wrangler JK is an upgrade to factory low wattage fog lamps. The Xenon 55 Watt driving lamps are configured into the billet aluminium face rings which provide micro adjustment for horizontal and vertical aiming. The Driving Light set comes with its own upgraded stand-alone OEM wire harness, Illuminated switch, relay and fuse. These lights will give you an increased long-range visibility when driving on narrow trails or in any adverse weather condition. Also available with the Delta 6000K HID system 

SkyBar™ - Wrangler Light Bar JK &TJ

Delta SkyBar was specifically designed for Jeep Wrangler TJ and JK. It is constructed of machined Billet Aluminium mounting arms and spacers and plasma cut 13 ga. Steel cross bar holding a battery of 6 xenon driving lights. The integrated design of the SkyBar complements the roof-line and the unique lines on Jeep Wrangler. It is designed to allow garage clearance with any lifts. The bar does not interfere with any roof, soft or hard top. The bar features a built-in deflector to eliminate glare. The light bar is wired to allow 3 phases of operation 2, 4 and all 6 lights for your full control in using just the right amount of light power from 110W to 330W with the max. Draw of 27.5Amp. The light bar offers a precision vertical aiming adjustment. The mounting billet arms attach to the side by the windshield to existing bolt holes thus requiring NO DRILLING. The SkyBar comes complete pre-wired with an OEM double harness, two switches, relays, fuses and all necessary hardware.

As I said at the begin of this article this is a very small selection of the lights that Delta have on offer, so please check out there website to see the full range. Once you have seen a light set-up you like make a note of the part numbers and drop me an email at info@fte.co.uk or give me a ring on 07973 198483 for prices and delivery. I have met the guys behind this company and there enthusiasm for there product is great as are there products.

Technorati Tags: Jeep,Wrangler,JK,TJ,Off-Road,Lights,Light-Bars,Spots,Upgrades,Delta-Lights,HID,Xenon,SkyBar,Hood-Mount

Heavy Duty Front Ball Joint Sets For the Dana 30 /44 Axles

Fed up having to replace the knuckle ball joints on your Jeep because they just don’t seem to last, running over size tyres and off-set wheels puts a lot more strain on the knuckle ball joints. When you see what is inside the stock Jeep ball joint you will understand why they wear out so quick. The photo below shows a pair of stock ball joints stripped down.Well Synergy Suspension have the answer with there new heavy duty ball joint sets, available for the Jeep Wrangler JK, TJ/LJ, YJ, Cherokee XJ, and Grand Cherokee ZJ & WJ (Dana 30/44). Fully greasable sintered metal on bushing design.

• Designed to replace the factory ball joint that is prone to premature failure on lifted vehicles with large off-road tires
• Fully greasable sintered metal on bushing design that has high wear resistance
• Outperforms the factory ball joint assembly
• Ball joint boot is made from tear/wear resistant polyurethane
• Includes all necessary hardware for installation
• Single Set includes: (1) upper, (1) lower
• Complete Set includes: (2) upper, (2) lower
• 12 Month Unlimited-Warranty

Available from FTE 4x4 Specialists Ltd 07973 198483, who are now dealers for Synergy Suspension.

Technorati Tags: Jeep,Wrangler,Cherokee,Grand Cherokee,JK,TJ,XJ,YJ,ZJ,WJ,Off-Road,Suspension,Axle,Steering

New Products at the SEMA Show

They say the simple ideas are the best, from Vertically Driven Products comes a rubbish bin & cup holder, this unit fits into the rear existing cup holders. Unlike other products on the market this items will still give you a couple of cup holders as well. Available for Wrangler JK 2007 – 2012.

A new snorkel for the Wrangler JK will soon be available from Wild Boar, at present in the prototype stage but looking good, as soon as more information is available it will be here.
 

Rugged Ridge new aluminium front bumper for the Wrangler JK, weighting in at only 26.9lbs in standard configuration, when fitted  with the hoop over rider, stubby ends & winch mount plate overall weight is 62.6lbs

For more information contact Steve at FTE 4x4 Specialists Ltd, on info@fte.co.uk

Not All Wheel Spacers Are The Same

Recently I had a Cherokee XJ brought into me with some strange noises and even stranger handling, the ability for it to go in a straight line above 20mph was almost none existent without some serious sawing on the steering wheel! At first glance underneath nothing jumped out, the wheels did have a little bit of negative camber, but I have seen a lot worst. First point to check was the wheel hubs, but as soon as I removed the front wheels the true horror was apparent.

To push the stock wheels out to give clearance for the 31x10.50 tyres wheel spacers had been fitted, not normally a problem, if the they are the correct type and fitted correctly. But these particular spaces I have not seen fitted to vehicles since the late 70’s early 80’s. They use a screw on stud extension that is tightened onto the original hub / disc then a hollow cast spacer is slid over the extension studs and the wheels then fitted back on. They work, but are definitely not designed to be used for big tyre set-ups or off-road use.

In this instance they were dangerous, as they had not been fitted correctly, (the work had not been carried out by the current owner, he had only just taken possession of the Cherokee) as you can see from the photos the screw on extensions did not have a deep enough bore to allow them to be tighten on to the hub. So when the spacer plate was fitted it was floating, with the wheel fitted it pulled up against the hex section of stud extension so the whole loading was being placed on the five hexes, allowing the wheel to basically flex on the extension studs. This did not only cause the steering to wander, but put a lot of strain on the hubs and brakes as the discs were not clamped tight to the hubs, it caused excessive wear to the brake pads and discs which had to be changed. One hub survived the ordeal the the other was replaced.

New Rugged Ridge billet spacers were fitted. These are constructed of double anodized black extra thick 6061T6 Aluminium for long life and extra corrosion resistance. All hardware is grade 8 for extra strength. They include 10 pre-installed grade 8 wheel studs, 10 lug nuts and thread locker. So as you can see from the photos below not all wheel spacers are the same!

FTE 4x4 Specialists Ltd can supply the Rugged Ridge spacers, for more information send us an email to info@fte.co.uk

Technorati Tags: Jeep,Rugged Ridge,Off-Road,Wheel,Spacers,Handling,Wrangler,Cherokee

More Clearance For Under JK Rear Shock Mounts

If you own a Wrangler JK then you must have seen how low the the shock mounts sit on the rear axle, normally the pumpkin part of the axle is the lowest part but in the case of the Wrangler JK it is also the shock mounts.

Now there are many kits on the market that will raise the lower shock mounts on the axle, a very good example is Synergy Suspension units, it raises lower shock mount 1-3/8" higher than stock. Bolt-on design that strengthens the factory control arm mount and also provides a skid plate for the lower controls arm mount. In all one neat little package.

The only problem with raising the lower shock mounts is now your shock are to long and there is a good chance that the shock will now bottom out. One option would be to fit taller bump stops but this will limit the suspension travel. Well Synergy Suspension have the answer to this, in the form of a new upper shock mount, that is a bolt-in fit and will raise the upper shock mount by 2” (50mm), gain back the travel lost with raising the lower mounts. The brackets come powder-coated with all necessary hardware to install. Modification of stock exhaust will be needed to clear the factory sway bar.

Another option to improve the shock location and to stop the usually problem of the top bar pin is to use a bar-pin eliminator, Synergy Suspension make a neat bracket that works well with there upper shock brackets, although it could be used on the stock mounts just to get rid of the problem that occurs with the top bar pin mount.

FTE 4x4 Specialists Ltd. will soon be offering Synergy Suspension components to the UK, this is only a very small selection of the components they have. They cover most models of Jeep, TJ,JK, YJ,XJ, & ZJ and have some rather interesting parts on offer. As they say “watch this space”.

Synergy Suspension JK Rear Shock Mounts VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Technorati Tags: Jeep,Wrangler,JK,Suspension,Off-Road,Synergy-Suspension,Shocks

Wrangler Resurrection is alive and kicking

 

Back at the beginning of February I wrote a blog about an old Wrangler and a new project called “Wrangler Resurrection” well it has not been forgotten, it is just that work has got extremely busy (no complaints) so my projects get moved onto the back burner. But I have been collecting parts ready to start, the rear suspension is going to be the first item to get a makeover. The Wrangler is already fitted with a Rubicon Express long arm kit, but to upgrade the rear suspension I am going to convert it over to a triangulated upper link, and remove the rear trac-bar. This should free up the suspension giving greater articulation, I am going to use a Rock Krawler weld-on rear axle mount and brace.

 

 

The upper spring mounts are also going to be altered using the
Black Diamond's Coil Correction Kit, this will corrects the curvature of the rear spring. Meaning they can do there job more efficiently, the problem is even evident at 3" of lift height, and becomes more of an issue as lift height increases. This incorrect coil loading results in lost ride height and a diminished "too soft" spring rate.

I Another item on the rear that is going to get modified is the shock mounts, at present I am undecided with which manufacturer to go with, but the intent is to turret the shocks outboard of the chassis. This will allow for greater articulation, and I will be using a Currie Enterprise coil spring retainer kit to make sure I do not pop any springs.

As for the front suspension I would like to convert over to coil overs, as I intend to change the front axle, to a high pinion unit then this will be the time I would do the work. There are many kits on the market to do this, again I am looking at using the Rock Krawler set-up. This involves cutting off the original spring/shock mounts from the chassis and welding in complete new mounts. Part of my reason to convert over to this style of front suspension is with the front diff angled correctly, the springs are bowed a considerable amount with with a 5.5” lift. One option is to cut the spring mounts of the axle and reposition them, but that seems like the ideal time to think of an upgrade!

Another item that is getting a serious makeover is the steering linkage, as once a Wrangler TJ (or a Cherokee XJ and Grand Cherokee ZJ) is lifted more then 4” then the steering is a compromise. There are many kits on the market is you own a LHD Jeep, but for us RHD owners the market is very limited. For the pass 12 months I have been trying different configurations and I am at long last very close to an answer. My main itinerary was it should be a bolt-on set-up, with the minimum of part changes, so it could be done by an owner of a vehicle rather then having to take the vehicle to a specialist workshop. As soon as I have tested the set-up, ( I have plenty of volunteers who want to test it for me) and am happy with the results, I will be publishing it here first. So as they say watch this space.

All parts that I am using in this project are available from FTE 4x4 Specialists Ltd so if you have any questions then feel free to contact me. Also don’t forget to check out our face book page  

Technorati Tags: Jeep,Wrangler,Suspension,FTE 4x4 Specialists,Rock Krawler,Rubicon Express,Steering

Independence Day: Mopar readies the Jeep Wrangler JK8 Independence Kit

So you want a Wrangler Pick-up truck, well as last Mopar are going to launch the JK-8 conversion kit, read more below.

The JK-8 gets a launch date. For those of you that have been patiently awaiting more details concerning Mopar’s Jeep Wrangler JK-8 Independence Kit, since it debuted in April at the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, you can look forward to more than just fireworks July 4th weekend. The JK-8 Kits will be available at select dealerships beginning July 4th weekend.

Jeep and Mopar are pushing hard on suppliers to have 100 of the kits available by July 4th, a source within Mopar’s development team revealed. In all Jeep has 1000 of the kits in production, and is working hard to coincide the JK8 Independence’s launch with our country’s own Independence Day.

No word yet, on product mix of how many kits will be bolt on versus weld on. We assume that all 100 kits available on July 4th will be the less expensive and easier to install bolt on version. The bolt on kit will have a retail of just under $5,000. No word yet on the Mopar part number or which dealership will receive the initial kits. -But we can tell you the kits will come with a Mopar certificate of authenticity and die cast aluminium fender emblems bearing the “JK-8″ ensignia, similar to those used on the 1981-1986 Jeep CJ8 Scrambler.

The name of the pickup truck conversion kit and the July 4th Independence Day launch were apparently planned late last year. The move to name the JK8 Kit “Independence” is a nod to Jeep’s historical significance during World War II and coincides with Jeep’s own 70th Anniversary.

 

 

Watch a time lapsed build of the JK8 performed by the Mopar team at the recent Easter Jeep Safari in Moab:

Technorati Tags: Jeep,Wrangler,JK,JK-8,Mopar

May not contain all you need!

Recently I was asked if I could check over a Cherokee that had a 3” lift kit fitted, to make sure bolts were torqued correctly, and such like. Once I had the Jeep on the ramp I gave it a good look over and a couple of items came to light very quickly one was serious. As you can see from the photo the suspension is almost on full drop with hardly any steering lock, and the brake line is ready tight and pulling. As you can imagine in an off-road situation with the Jeep articulated up and full lock being put on I doubt very much that the brake line would hold. Resulting in no front brakes not an ideal position to be in. So when fitting a lift kit it is always a good idea to cycle the suspension through its full travel and check. That way the next problem I found would have come to light as well.
The second problem I found was, there were no front bumpstop extensions fitted, now this is not as serious a problem as with the brake lines, but can still end up costing money. The gap between the the axle pad and the bumpstop on the front suspension with the vehicle sitting at rest was 4.75” the length of the shock rod left showing was 4”. So before the bumpstop can do it work at full compression the shock would bottom out and would act as the bumpstop. This would eventually end up damaging the piston rod and valve, resulting in new shocks being needed.
Not all suspension kits have all the parts you require in the box so to say when fitting the lift. Just because the parts are not in the box does not mean that you do not need them. When buying a lift kit if you are not sure ask, if they recommend any other components that may be required, it could end up saving you a lot of money in the long run and giving you a reliable rig as well.
If you have questions regarding your Jeep suspension, then give me a ring at FTE 4x4 Specialists Ltd. We can always advise and point you in the right direction.

C2ZN72Q53WMV Technorati Tags: Jeep,Wrangler,Cherokee,Suspension,Shocks,Brakes,Articulation,Bumpstops,Lifts,FTE 4x4 Specialists

Back to Basic “What is a SYE?”

Recently I have had a couple of guys that are just getting into Jeeping with stock Wrangler TJ’s (Yes there are still a few around) and one of the first questions I get asked is “What is a slip yoke eliminator (SYE) or short shaft conversion).

So here is the one on one on the SYE, there are a few different versions around but basically they are do the same job. They eliminate the sliding yoke joint on the transfer box end of the rear prop shaft, why would you want to do that? Well if you look at the rear prop shaft on the Wrangler TJ and YJ (not so much the YJ) it is very short and once you lift the suspension 2+” (50+mm) the angle the prop will run at will cause problems maybe vibration and at full articulation the yoke could bind.

The stock set-up on a Wrangler TJ.

The shaft that the stock sliding yoke runs on.

The heavy duty slip yoke eliminator fitted.

The SYE installed in the Wrangler and fitted with a new prop shaft, note that the sliding joint is now in the prop shaft tube. Also using a double UJ joint (Americans refer to this as a CV joint) on the transfer box end allows for a lot more articulation so eliminating bind on higher lifts.

Another advantage of fitting a Heavy Duty SYE is the increase in strength of the output shaft, as you can see from the photo below the increase diameter of the shaft.


As I said at the beginning of this article there are many different versions on the SYE, some involve cutting the stock shaft down, drilling and fitting a flange. Another version does away with the speedo drive cog converting to impulse output but also making the short shaft conversion about 1.5” shorter allowing for a longer prop shaft which helps with the higher lifts.

So if you are think of lifting your Wrangler more then a couple of inches then you are probably going to need a SYE so for more information or advice contact FTE 4x4 Specialists Ltd.

Technorati Tags: Jeep,Wrangler,TJ,YJ,off-road,SYE,Short shaft conversion,Slip yoke eliminator,prop shaft

J33P in Normade

For the past few days I have been in France with J33P Off-Road Adventure club on the Friday it was green laning lead by fwdfwd.com some great lanes, with a few water crossing not very deep as they have not had any rain in the region for a couple of months but still entertaining as the photos show.
 

On the Saturday and Sunday it was off to fwdfwd.com site for some more challenging routes. At there site they have a great range of terrain, as based in a valley it has some very steep climbs and descents, along with some rock crawling and of cause water. Below are some photos curtsey of Ivan Morley showing what a great time was had by all. Thanks to everyone involved in organising the event, it ran like clockwork. 
 

Technorati Tags: Jeep,Wrangler,Cherokee,FTE 4x4 Specialists ltd

View Full Album

If you are interested in getting involved off-road then take a look at J33P site which is sponsored by FTE 4x4 Specialists Ltd