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My 2001 Jeep XJ Cherokee I just got on 3-20-07

It's a solid front axle thing you wouldn't understand

Find me on  Jeeps Unlimited  under the user name of Dannymmz

Find me on  NAXJA.org  under the user name of Dannymmz

1986 Tire Carrier Onto 2001 XJ

I was not really found of having my spare tire taking up all my cargo space. And the after market tire carriers run over $200 each. So I figured I go OEM style. At Pick-N-Pull I fond my donor form a 1986 XJ. It toke me about 3 hours to pull it off and $30 to walk out the gate with it.

Apparently it did not fit on my jeep as I hoped. Jeep made same hidden changes to the sheet metal inside the body where the upper mount bolted up.

This thoue the bumper latch all out of whack. Now a welder is needed to make the latch fit in to the bumper lock box. $50 for two plates and some welding

Now the bumper fits and time to primer for panting. Not bad for only $80. Wow how much room I now have in the cargo area

 

Here it is my old/new tire carrier final done. After moving the support bracket into a better place so I can see out my back window. This also helps keeping the tire from vibrating because the tire weight is closer to the main support hinges.

As Done on a 1989 XJ by MadXJ.com

http://www.madxj.com/MADXJ/technical/technicalfiles/ARtireCarrier/RearTireCarrier.htm

LED License Plate Lights  By Pilot Part # CZ-224W $15

After installing my tire carrier. I now have to move the license plate add the plate lights onto the bumper.

I'll surprised, I did not think this will put out so much light for only being LEDs

Re-Attaching Fender Flares

For XJ's 1997 ~ 2001

 

1) Remove old fender flares and the metal brackets

2) Install bolts in existing holes used be the brackets

3) Use a nut to help hold the bolt in the hole on the fender

4) Places the flares against the bolts ends and hit the flares

     with a hammer to imprint the places to drill the new holes.

5) Remove all bolts form the fender and re-install the

    bolts into the flares

6) Use two nuts per each bolt. One inside and one

    outside of the fender well with one lock washer.

Over Head Console

 

Working On

Adding a fishing net to the rear cargo area for

a little storage space for some of my things

Mounting two Pro-Comp 100w Diving lights   The only light you have, Is the light you bring.

Low Beams

Hi Beams

100watt Beams
Design Sheet In PDF Or Download Autocad File

Wiring Design

With the need to see at night I had U&C off road shop make me two light brackets ( $50 for both ) to fit the front bumper on my 2001 XJ. It uses four 5/16 diameter x 1" long bolts. And bolts up to the top side  and front side of the bumper. The only hard part is to tighten the bolts on the inside of the bumper. Skinny arms are a must have tool.

 

This are the same driving light I had on my 99 Isuzu Rodeo. They paid for themselves within weeks of installing them. Some years ago around 5:AM on my way to the Frio River in West Texas. I noticed some thing far up on the road ahead of me, just as the 100w lights started to shine onto it. So I just let my truck coast down form 65 mph. It turned out to be a dead deer some other person was not able to avoid. I'm sure with the Rodeo's good 4wheel disc brakes and all wheel ABS. I would have stopped before hitting the deer too. But with the very far reach of these four 100w diving lights there was no reason to be concerned.

Repainting wheel covers gray

It's not that I dislike chrome,  I just HATE chrome. With one can of dark gray spray paint and 4 chrome rim covers I solved my chrome problem. And later  I will have the rims them self's powder coated the same gray.

U-Joint

Replacement 

New U-Joint In

A Solid Front Axle

And The Tools I Used

For some weeks now I been hearing a constant taping nose as I dive. So this weekend I’ll spend some time finding this nose. I know most likely it was coming form the front dive lines. So I pulled off my front right tire and stated looking for some thing not right. And I find the u-joint at the hub have some play in it. and this must be the problem. Having a solid front axle will make this repair job simple.

Using a 12mm socket with and reachit, a 12mm ranch I removed the two brake cawaper bolts removed the cawaper, brake pads and disk rotor. Than removed the three 12-point bolts holding the hub into the noktal. Now I just have to pull the hub assembly with the u-joint and half dive shaft in one pieces. I toke the assemble over to a tire and auto repair shop. To get new u-joints pressed into the dive shaft. As they worked on the right u-joint, I went back home and pulled out the left shaft assembly and it's u-jount was woster that the right side. So as I dropped off the left side shaft they war already done with the right shaft assembly. Now I can put back the right side assembly back in to the XJ. I Simply slide the dive axle back into the axle tube with the brake dust cover in between the hub and noktal. And titen up the 6 bolts.

Half Shaft

Shaft Removed

Assembly Back In

Titening The Bolts

Wrong Way

The only hard part is putting the dust cover for the disk brakes back on the right way. And of cores I put both side in wrong the first time.

Right Way
The best part is the fact I can fix this myself, One of many resins why I got a jeep. If a had the dealer fix my U-joints I wood have paid about $600 for both side done and  If done by some other auto repair shop it wood be about $400 for both sides done . But I fixed this myself for $32 in parts and $90 for press work by others making my total cost only $122 and 3 hours. 
Fixing my jeep's brake booster with superglue

As I was leaving my house today and before I drive off of my yard and into the street I tired to slow down. And I fond out I had no brakes ! As I push down on the brake paddle not a thing happen. It felt just like I was trying to stop with the engine off. And that is about win I know my brake booster is out. And that I had a vacuum leak somewhere in the lines. After I opened the hood to check the brake booster and hoses I notice the problem right away. The cap on the elbow connecting the buster to holes come off. So I looked for the cap along my drive way and fond the thing laying on the ground. For now I will just superglue the cap back on the elbow giving my presser in my vacuum lines. lintel tomorrow when I can stop by the auto junk yard and get a new one.

Installing Garmin Nuvi 350 Supported by the roof
 

Cleanging the Throbl Body

 The best part is the fact I can fix this myself, One of many resins why I got a jeep. If a had the dealer fix my U-joints I wood have paid about $600 for both side done and  If done by some other auto repair shop it wood be about $400 for both sides done . But I fixed this myself for $32 in parts and $90 for press work by others making my total cost only $122 and 3 hours. 

Changing the tormtset

 The best part is the fact I can fix this myself, One of many resins why I got a jeep. If a had the dealer fix my U-joints I wood have paid about $600 for both side done and  If done by some other auto repair shop it wood be about $400 for both sides done . But I fixed this myself for $32 in parts and $90 for press work by others making my total cost only $122 and 3 hours. 

Disabling auto air compressor

For some resone auto makers like to have the air compressor to turn on automatically win ever  you plasece the a/c mode switch to blow air on to the front window, Even if you wish to blow heated air on to the window.

 

Running both the heater and the a/c compressor at the some time is conert productive. Blowing hot air on to melt any ice off of the window in the winter is always good but I can not see a point in blowing cold air on to the front window in the summer.  So permenley disabling this opchin seam like a good idea.

 

Remove the front plate so you can get to the clips inside it,  Allowing you to be able to remove the back cover plates.
 

 

Manely selet outside air OR recertulat inside air

 
       

 

 
Hidden back behind the glove box I fond form the last owner some rolling paper and a littel

Center Console - You can put your weed in there

So today I decided to move my fog light swithches into some new hole I will be drilling into my center console. And after removing the whole console. I fond the ends of two joint's under there. Not being a pot head so I'm not sure why you would hide your weed bud's here. But anyway. This now makes three joint's and a pack of rolling paper i'v fond hidden inside of my jeep. One of them was under transmission lever cover plate and the other was trapped under the transfer case's Z-gate. And this one, was very hard to get out form under the Z-gate.

Now knowing my jeep was last owned by only one other person. who had a tow bar , remote brake controler and the jeep's tail lights are also remote controled to the RV lights. And most people with RV's are older people so maybe it's medical marijuana

About remote brake controler
http://www.rvtechlibrary.com/towing/towing_mg.htm

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** List of Side XJ Projects **

Headlight Conversion

Wiring in Back-up Lights

Making a Cargo shelf  for the back area

Getting 2WD Low by add Vacuum Switches from an Isuzu Rodeo

Adding ABS Pump to a not ABS Jeep XJ


** Making My XJ More Off Road Capable **
2" Suspension Lift
Steering Gearbox Brace
Steering Reinforcement Plate
Power Slot FT Break Rotors
2" rear tow hitch

4 Alum rims
Bushwacker Fender Flares

 

** Suspension Lift **
$115 1.5" FT/Spacer RR/Shackles no shocks Quadratec
$100 2" FT/spacers RR/add-a-leaf no shocks Rusty's **This One I like**
$250 2" FT/springs RR/add-a-leaf w/ shocks Rusty's
$420 3" FT/springs RR/Leaf-Pack w/ shocks Rusty's
 

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Last Updated 2-30-2008   IIDP