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Great.... I'm pretty sure this is the same location the popping noise in mine is coming from... just what I was worried about. Hopefully my flux welder will be an appropriate tool to fix that though.
Looks good, you plan on putting some clear on the paint or you just gonna leave it?
Flux will be fine, just take your time, stitch it, and then reinforce it will a piece of angle, stitching that in as well.
Yeah I'm gonna clear coat them. Ran outta time this past weekend so it's gotta go a few days without any clear.
So got a couple things done, neither of which was very time consuming, but none the less, very important. The first involved the stupid "popping" noise I was getting every time I turned a corner. If you read back a few posts you'll discover I had already gone through everything to make sure all was good and tight. And then, after spending another 10 minutes under the front of The Jeep, I learned something that I never would have thought would fix a steering "pop" on an XJ.
See that bolt right there? Yeah, that bolt was the culprit. Not because it was loose, but because it was too tight. I LOOSENED that bolt. Not much, only a 1/4 turn, and guess what, no more "popping" sound. It was torqued to spec and all, but that was just a tad too much I guess. My only guess is that it was causing the bolt bushing sleeve to bind and that was what I was hearing "pop". Went for a test drive and The Jeep is smooth as silk. No pops, creaks, or groans...from the steering that is. No wobbles or nothing, even up to 70mph. I'm still a little baffled by it. Who would've thought that loosening a properly torqued track bar bolt would cure a steering ailment on a XJ? Well, even with that issue fixed, I still had the issue of a uni-rail seam separating from the body, and that needed attention, quickly. So, I got out the 'ole ball-peen hammer and went to town getting everything as close to how it should be. Once that was done, a little spritz of weld-through primer went on.
Out came the tiny 90amp flux welder (we're talking some thin metal here, so it was the perfect tool), and after some welding in the dark and being too lazy to pull off the front tire (the top weld really shows it as there are some gaps from not being able to have a good angle due to a 33" tire being in the way), The Jeep got 3 stitches and all is good again.
I've still got to put in the front stiffeners, but that little 90amp isn't enough for the welds I want for that job so I've got to wait 'til a buddy of a buddy can have some open garage time. Once he does, the front will have stiffeners and then it's on to saving up for the next project: a cage.
That 90 amp will do more than you would imagine. Stupid app won't attach my photos, but if you check my build thread, you'll see the hunk of steel I welded to my trailer tongue.
Finally got done reading the entire thread. Man you've done some great work on your XJ. I can't wait to get mine and start tinkering. Suck it'll be a long ways out.
Well, my time with The Jeep is at an end. Sold today. Sad to see it drive off in someone else's hands, but I'm looking forward to getting a different Jeep.
Seems to be the general consensus from XJ owners. But, it's still a Jeep and that's what matters. No worries though, I'll wave at XJ's still Still love 'em, I've just really been wanting a TJ.
Man.... sad to see the XJ go.... nice lookin' TJ. Can't say I blame you too awfully much. I think if I could afford an LJ and found one at the right deal, it'd be hard for me to pass on it.
08-18-2014, 06:17 AM
Still love 'em, I've just really been wanting a TJ.