new YJ owner ?/build thread

[ToyCrawler]

so I just picked up a 95 YJ (rio grande). Going to be the daughters rig but i have some time to work on it before she is a licensed driver.

I know nothing about jeeps! been a toyota guy forever.

The rig came with a suspension and body lift. its SUA with some big springs. I would like to tear it all out and start over with SOA and no body lift.
question 1 - what kits are out there for a nice flexy SOA?
[color=#FF0000](EDIT - just found a nice kit from synergy suspension)[/color]
#2 - it has, im guessing some type of axle disconnect on the front axle but the cable is broke. the PO took the front driveline off because he said its in 4wd all the time otherwise. where can i find a replacement cable?
#3 what is a good high steer kit for it?
#4 the stock soft top is shot what is a good replacement for it?

thats all i can think of at the moment but im sure there will be plenty more questions to come.
Thanks for the help

[Beck*A*Poo]

[quote="ToyCrawler"]so I just picked up a 95 YJ. Going to be the daughters rig but i have some time to work on it before she is a licensed driver.

I know nothing about jeeps! been a toyota guy forever.

The rig came with a suspension and body lift. its SUA with some big springs. I would like to tear it all out and start over with SOA and no body lift.
question 1 - what kits are out there for a nice flexy SOA?
#2 - it has, im guessing some type of axle disconnect on the front axle but the cable is broke. the PO took the front driveline off because he said its in 4wd all the time otherwise. where can i find a replacement cable?
#3 what is a good high steer kit for it?
#4 the stock soft top is shot what is a good replacement for it?

thats all i can think of at the moment but im sure there will be plenty more questions to come.
Thanks for the help [/quote]

This would be a whitesnake question....since he has a YJ.... hopefully he will see this and respond...

[ToyCrawler]

another question, when i was about 60 miles in to the drive yesterday i started smelling gas, i pulled over and seen that gas was coming out of the gas cap, i slowly opened it and noticed there was tons of pressure built up, it blew out for a good 30 seconds. anyone know what could be the problem?

[Mickey]

I have found that the vent/breather is pinched or blocked..

[Goatman]

[quote="ToyCrawler"]so I just picked up a 95 YJ (rio grande). Going to be the daughters rig but i have some time to work on it before she is a licensed driver.

I know nothing about jeeps! been a toyota guy forever.

The rig came with a suspension and body lift. its SUA with some big springs. I would like to tear it all out and start over with SOA and no body lift.
question 1 - what kits are out there for a nice flexy SOA?
[color=#FF0000](EDIT - just found a nice kit from synergy suspension)[/color]
#2 - it has, im guessing some type of axle disconnect on the front axle but the cable is broke. the PO took the front driveline off because he said its in 4wd all the time otherwise. where can i find a replacement cable?
#3 what is a good high steer kit for it?
#4 the stock soft top is shot what is a good replacement for it?

thats all i can think of at the moment but im sure there will be plenty more questions to come.
Thanks for the help [/quote]

SOA can be inherently unstable, so be careful how high you go. Will this be your daughters daily driver? Just a wheeling rig? A nice place to start on SOA is with a set of stock springs, and keep the front sway bar with a disconnect for the trail.

Yes, it has a front axle disconnect. They come vacuum operated, but there is a cable kit available for it, or at least there used to be. Don't remember the name of the company. it is not in 4wd all the time, 4wd is in the transfer case, and when you put the t-case in 2wd it's in 2wd. The only thing that happens if the disconnect is engaged is that the front driveline rotates as you drive down the highway, but this is no different from an XJ or TJ that does not have the axle disconnect.

No real high steer kit for a D30, but there are a couple higher steer kits, or over the knuckle kits. Some are good, some are horrible.

Best Top and Smittybuilt both make replacement tops.

[Lake_v2]

If going with 35's would look into spring under before going spring over, spring over is a bit tall for 35's, if properly set up spring under will be same or better flex than soa, plus staying spring under wont need a traction bar in rear.

The axle disconnect cable actuator company is Posi-Lock, another option is to change to a one piece on the passenger side eliminates the disconnect all together.

Like Richard said for highsteer there really isnt such a thing. The over the knuckle kits would raise the tierod some. Another option is to get a wj knuckle or an adapter from bluetorch fab to make the drag link on top of knuckle then put tierod over the knuckle.

I had a besttop replace a top for a while, was a good quality top, another option is the frameless top from Softtopper(but have to use hard doors or tj soft uppers).

[ToyCrawler]

it will be her DD but not for another 2 years or so, in the meen time it will be my project to work on and wheel.

I am getting it from my moms in Bakersfield today so ill snap some pics and show you guys whats going on with the suspension.

[TheBigDogg]

[quote="ToyCrawler"]another question, when i was about 60 miles in to the drive yesterday i started smelling gas, i pulled over and seen that gas was coming out of the gas cap, i slowly opened it and noticed there was tons of pressure built up, it blew out for a good 30 seconds. anyone know what could be the problem?[/quote]
I blew out some gas for like 45 seconds before.....I wonder what the record is?

[bobbed burb]

If you want it built cheap on a budget go with soa, stock springs, ford 8.8 and a slip yoke eliminator. I would definitely lose the d35 for an 8.8 or a full width 9" and hp d44. I know some people that wheel a d35, locker and 35" tires conservatively but that is going to be the weak link. Find your axle(s), spring perches, shock mounts and get to welding. Here's one that is plenty capable hp d44, ford9" soa

[ToyCrawler]

nice rig.

looks like mine allready has a slip yoke eliminator in it. from what ive been reading the 30 does fairly good with a little beefing up. i think the best and cheapest solution for the rear is going to be an 8.8, just need to find one now.
I didnt have time to snap any pics today but will in the morning.

[bobbed burb]

The d30 will work, but I would upgrade to a full width ford hp d44 and 9" instead of investing in the d30.

[Lake_v2]

if you ever plan on going over 35" tire, start with d60/14bolt and never look back.

if you want to be cheap and effect on 35"s go with d30/d44 or d30/8.8.

ive driven my yj hard on 35's with d30/d44, stock axles(tj front shafts for bigger ujoints) and have only broken one set of front axles(which were the smaller ujoints).

soa really in my opinion is way too tall for 35-37" tires, with fender trimming/moving can fit 35-37" tire sua with no problems and be more stable.

If going to 38+ range i see soa as viable option even then would only have stock-1.5" springs soa to run that size tire with cutting fenders/trimming.

check out my post on some of my yj build in readers rides for what im talking about.

the d44/ford9" option is barely an upgrade over the d30/d44or8.8 option, the ujoints/shafts for the front axle are the same strength, the only advantage is the ring gear, and from what i have seen is the d44/d30 shafts will break at ujoint before having ring gear issues.
I had considered the d44/9" option for a while but decided against it.

again this is just my opinion and experience.

[ToyCrawler]

just looking in CL and a guy has a wagoneer 44 front and rear for 200 bucks. i know its a passenger drop but could be a good upgrade, just need to figure out the Tcase after that.

[ToyCrawler]

here is a link to the pics i put up on marlin.

[url]http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=84679.0[/url]

[ToyCrawler]

pulled the rear diff to fix a leak and seen a lockright

then decided to spin it around to make sure everything was good and saw a bunch of broken teeth

[img]http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=84679.0;attach=133188;image[/img]
[img]http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=84679.0;attach=133189;image[/img]

[ToyCrawler]

pulled the front diff and found another lockrite and the ring gear was good so thats a relief.

Also ordered up some black 17" steel rims and new top today.

Im looking for some stock YJ springs if anyone has some or knows where to get them for cheap.

[t_long927]

you should hit up that guy with the Badass sami... His buddy has a stock YJ set up on his Sammi and he said he was going to pull it off and go with a new set up... The guy with the badass sami is Josh.. look for him he is usually on here somewhere.

[ToyCrawler]

got bored the other day and started taking all the crap off.

[img]http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=84679.0;attach=133716;image[/img]

also picked up a 8.8 today

[img]http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=84679.0;attach=133719;image[/img]

[Mickey]

Nice...

[ToyCrawler]

been on the road for work but I did order some stuff while I was gone.
Came home to this.

new stock height springs
[img]http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=84679.0;attach=134639;image[/img]

hardware for the SOA swap
[img]http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=84679.0;attach=134640;image[/img]

smittybuilt fenders
[img]http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=84679.0;attach=134641;image[/img]

also got new hardware for the soft top

[Dirty LJ]

Awesome!!! When are you going to start putting it all in?

[ToyCrawler]

[quote="Dirty LJ"]Awesome!!! When are you going to start putting it all in?[/quote]

Thanks, started on it yesterday but it got to dang cold. I need to get as much done as possible before it decides to snow.

[ToyCrawler]

new sliders came in today

[img]http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=84679.0;attach=134766;image[/img]

[ToyCrawler]

got a little bit done today. cant finish it till the rest of the bushings come in but its under there at least.

[img]http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=84679.0;attach=134844;image[/img]

[ToyCrawler]

test fitting the front fenders, still needs adjusting and inner fender to put in but i think it looks good

[img]http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=84679.0;attach=134854;image[/img]
[img]http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=84679.0;attach=134855;image[/img]