Re-venge YJ Tons Swap

ridered3 · Oct 19, 2021

How'd the YJ do at Harlan?

Beerj · Oct 20, 2021

ridered3 said:
How'd the YJ do at Harlan?

Surprisingly well. I half expected a blown tcase at some point but had no failures (with hers) at all. Was also nice to get Bebop in there to confirm that it's most likely her orbital that's causing the steering issues. But she followed us pretty much everywhere and with our group of great spotters, made it through without much issue.

ridered3 · Oct 20, 2021

Beerj said:
Surprisingly well. I half expected a blown tcase at some point but had no failures (with hers) at all. Was also nice to get Bebop in there to confirm that it's most likely her orbital that's causing the steering issues. But she followed us pretty much everywhere and with our group of great spotters, made it through without much issue.

Good deal all around. Other than digging into the orbital, what's next on the agenda?

Beerj · Oct 20, 2021

ridered3 said:
Good deal all around. Other than digging into the orbital, what's next on the agenda?

Not sure really. Obviously, I'd like to upgrade the tcase, axle shafts and slap a new set of tires on it at some point. I was going to build some rockers for it before the trip but only got as far as picking up the materials. Guess we'll see what I get into after the buggy is back together. Currently in the middle of lowering the seats and making the rear firewall.

Diezl · Feb 2, 2022

Nice build, how much uptravel did you end up with in the front?
Were you happy with Accutune's tune/spring rate? If you let them help you with that
Also, curious on the rear wheel tubs, did you end up raising them up? i cut mine up to the seam and they still cut my 43s but im pretty low

Beerj · Feb 2, 2022

Diezl said:
Nice build, how much uptravel did you end up with in the front?
Were you happy with Accutune's tune/spring rate? If you let them help you with that
Also, curious on the rear wheel tubs, did you end up raising them up? i cut mine up to the seam and they still cut my 43s but im pretty low

It's sitting at 6" uptravel right now. That's with the minimum ½" preload on the springs. Their rates were a little off the first time. Better after the swap but I still feel like the front uppers are a touch light. They were very much against me running a 150/150 on the front for some reason and by then, it was too late to swap since it was already wheeled. Valving seems fine though but to be honest, I've barely driven it. It's the wifes rig. Fwiw, accutune set up the shocks on my buggy and rates were spot on, even without weighing it. Just went off of similar buggies they've done in the past.

As far as the wheel wells, I cut them really high. Had to go above the top of the wheel well and that gave me a little more than an inch of clearance but I wanted to account for new tires without needing to redo them.

Diezl · Feb 2, 2022

Beerj said:
It's sitting at 6" uptravel right now. That's with the minimum ½" preload on the springs. Their rates were a little off the first time. Better after the swap but I still feel like the front uppers are a touch light. They were very much against me running a 150/150 on the front for some reason and by then, it was too late to swap since it was already wheeled. Valving seems fine though but to be honest, I've barely driven it. It's the wifes rig. Fwiw, accutune set up the shocks on my buggy and rates were spot on, even without weighing it. Just went off of similar buggies they've done in the past.

As far as the wheel wells, I cut them really high. Had to go above the top of the wheel well and that gave me a little more than an inch of clearance but I wanted to account for new tires without needing to redo them.

Nice, im hoping for 6 too. But did you have to raise the wheel tub higher to meet your cut line on the body? or just cut out the horizontal piece all together?

Beerj · Feb 3, 2022

Diezl said:
Nice, im hoping for 6 too. But did you have to raise the wheel tub higher to meet your cut line on the body? or just cut out the horizontal piece all together?

I cut out the half closest to the outer body. The plan is to just cover that with an angled sheet of aluminum but that hasn't happened just yet. Doesn't hurt anything being open like that, but would just give it a finished look.

Beerj · Feb 3, 2022

Diezl · Feb 3, 2022

Right on, thanks. kind of what i was picturing i didnt really want to get into dove tailing my junk

Beerj · Feb 3, 2022

Diezl said:
Right on, thanks. kind of what i was picturing i didnt really want to get into dove tailing my junk

Yeah, I considered dove tailing it but this way clears and also would allow to still run the factory soft-top if it had a windshield. Could probably add a channel to the cage and run it that way too

ridered3 · May 5, 2022

Got any updates to the YJ or your buggy?

Beerj · May 6, 2022

ridered3 said:
Got any updates to the YJ or your buggy?

Nothing too exciting. Finally got the bugs completely resolved in her steering. But leading up to it, I swapped the orbital, swapped mine and her rams, bypassed the cooler and disassembled the flow control valve. None of which helped. But things got better when I loosened the mounting bolts for the orbital. So I guess if the steering shaft has any radial load on the orbital, it gets weird. Obviously, I couldn't just leave the orbital loose so I was about to add a couple of ujoints to the steering shaft. But instead, I just slightly sanded down the male end of the shaft where it goes into the coupler. Still has a thru-bolt so there's no slop when turning, but that little bit of clearance makes up for any misalignment between the shaft and orbital. All fixed.

On the buggy, I very slowly lowered the seats about 2". Just something I've been meaning to do forever. Also made the rear firewall (not sure if I mentioned that on here or not). Oh, and threw on a set of balljoint eliminators and replaced my carrier bearing bearings.

We went out last weekend for the first time since the harlan ride. Was just the 2 of us which was nice. Gave her a chance to wheel without feeling self conscious about other people watching her. She definitely benefited from the properly working steering.

ridered3 · May 6, 2022

Beerj said:
Nothing too exciting. Finally got the bugs completely resolved in her steering. But leading up to it, I swapped the orbital, swapped mine and her rams, bypassed the cooler and disassembled the flow control valve. None of which helped. But things got better when I loosened the mounting bolts for the orbital. So I guess if the steering shaft has any radial load on the orbital, it gets weird. Obviously, I couldn't just leave the orbital loose so I was about to add a couple of ujoints to the steering shaft. But instead, I just slightly sanded down the male end of the shaft where it goes into the coupler. Still has a thru-bolt so there's no slop when turning, but that little bit of clearance makes up for any misalignment between the shaft and orbital. All fixed.

On the buggy, I very slowly lowered the seats about 2". Just something I've been meaning to do forever. Also made the rear firewall (not sure if I mentioned that on here or not). Oh, and threw on a set of balljoint eliminators and replaced my carrier bearing bearings.

We went out last weekend for the first time since the harlan ride. Was just the 2 of us which was nice. Gave her a chance to wheel without feeling self conscious about other people watching her. She definitely benefited from the properly working steering.
View attachment 161513

Thanks for the detailed updates on both rigs and that's great that she's getting more seat time and more comfortable driving.

Bebop · May 9, 2022

Beerj said:
Was just the 2 of us which was nice. Gave her a chance to wheel without feeling self conscious about other people watching her.

She did awesome at Harlan !
Especially considering the steering woes. After you asked me to drive it I couldn't beleive how hard she must have had to work to ride what she did those days.

Great to see you got it fixed up !

Beerj · May 9, 2022

Bebop said:
She did awesome at Harlan !
Especially considering the steering woes. After you asked me to drive it I couldn't beleive how hard she must have had to work to ride what she did those days.

Great to see you got it fixed up !

You're absolutely right. Now I just need to make the throttle less touchy or else she'll be hotdogging all over the place