Seeing as it's 4th July (US Time) I thought It was about time I started a thread on my Jeep...
I purchased about this time last year as a Daily driver / Tow Pig, after the early demise of my trusty $500 Toyota Cressida...
Good thing was I gained a 300% profit on the insurance payout.
I also got a rental car for two weeks from their insurance co. until I found a suitable replacement vehicle..
So I searched the 4WD world for answers.. I wanted something with a classy/ish (lol) interior. I hate cloth.. It drives me mad.. So leather/vinyl seats were compulsory. It is also a daily so has to be comfy!
I also needed it to be a robust truck.. Enough to be able to tow a boat around country also car trailers etc and hit the odd off road spot.
I looked through the Jap motors, Toyota being my main focus, but the price of a Prado/Cruiser's are crazy! I opted to the American truck's, I've always like the XJ Cherokee, Jeeps in general are pretty cool. I drove a couple of XJ's from dealers but they felt more like a workhorse than a daily.. Did some research and came up with a solution. The Grand Cherokee of the same era.
The ZJ Grand Cherokee Retains the similar 'Agricultural' suspension and solid front/rear axle setup but, an interior with all the mod cons of a late 90's model car. The 4.0l motor 242 CID motor has 185 hp (138 kW) and 225 lb·ft (305 N·m) at factory spec.
It is the last time this big 6 was used by Chrysler, it was one of their longest running production motors from 1984-1995. By the time it was refined and put into a 1997 ZJ it became a fairly reliable engine. It is also full time 4wd, and has a rear trac-lock diff (when in low 4x4 ratio) and Heavier duty transfer case than the XJ.
This confirmed my purchase. I Found one that had done 183,000 k's. and as my standard request is Black Paint and Black Interior.. + among other dealer options, it also ticked all the mechanical boxes. I got this for a steal!:
It came with a fairly decent stereo system, an Ipod/USB/everything you can imagine headunit and factory Infinity gold 7 Speaker setup. But I needed more doof' doof'. I managed to save my Alpine V12 770WRMS MonoBlock amp out of the Cressida before it was towed and went and bought my self a new sub../ made box etc. In this went..
I purposely also bought a car withOUT a towbar. I figured the truck would have had only to work as hard as driving a Ponsonby soccer mum to the Nail salon/soccer field and back. Anyway!
..... I promptly had a H/D one installed with removable hitch. (This is for future stuff like this! http://www.etrailer.com/p-6495.html )
Drove it around like this for a while trouble free other than one thing. I took it in for a service/check as per my Warranty.. All good, until the next day i'm driving to work and the steering wheel rips out of my hands.. Crikey I just about sh*t myself!
Pulled over and noted that the Steering stabiliser mount had somehow popped off its bolt. WTF! so I jimmied back on and took it slow home, and then even slower up to the mechanic.
Now i've watched them pry the joints etc in suspension to check for play.. when the do the service, but using long bars and putting huge pressure on the joints.. I wondered if this is what cracked the bush enough to give way? Anyway, I bought a new stabiliser and hardware kit and installed..
The steering has been off ever since, and I have not been back to that garage.
Now basically after one year of ownership I thought I'd give it a Birthday. I did some research on lift kits and what was available. There is a huge Jeep community online www.Jeepforum.com with so many people willing to help and assist in any way they can.
I honed in on a crowd called http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/ , they are Jeep specialist's and win the Poll's on Jeepforum for Best quality parts and service. I preceded to order a Kit which Included:
3.5" Lift Front/rear Coil Springs
4 New Hydro Shocks - Upgraded these to Bilsteins
Heavy Duty Double Shear Track Bar Conversion
Extended Front Sway Bar Links
Extended Rear Sway Bar Links
All Necessary Hardware
Installation Instructions
And also purchased an adjustable rear track bar and a few New Bushes etc
I am yet to install as I am waiting now on some Slotted/Cross drilled rotors and up rated 4x4 pads, I may also need longer braided lines with the lift, but the general consensus is that you don't need them unless higher than 4, Although I don't want to be flexing off road and end up snapping one...
Also a new set of Tyres. Looking at going to a 265/75/16 AT/O's for now on the factory rim. However, I will at some stage be getting some lower offset steel wheels and Muddies for weekend work, In which time it change its guise to something like this
That's all for now, but will update in a couple of weeks once its lifted!
