Been after a set of these for a while, finally got a set for the Grand
All posts by steve@offroading.net
3″ lift on the Grand
Not going bigger than 3″ (said that with the last one!)
IRO 3″ springs fitted with Rough Country shocks & steering damper. The shocks are a bit too underdamped for my liking so swapping them out for a stiffer set. Also Need to fit the IRO adjustable front arms to get the steering caster back to how it should be.
before:
after:
Added a 1000BHP by adding a few stickers to the rear!
Sport lights for the Grand
Swapped off the old Grand, they suit the silver colour better than the chrome lights I think.
Grand Cherokee interior LED lights
The stock bulbs are too dark, so a kit of white LEDs was ordered off ebay
before
after (need to get a better shot without the flash)
Removing grab handles on a facelift KJ
Someone at Jeep decided to go from the torx head screws to a bolt for the facelift. Problem is the recess is too small for your average 1/4″ drive sockect and its an odd 5.5mm bolt. After some searching around I found an old R/C 4 arm combination spanner with a 5.5mm socket end. A few minutes with a saw and I have my mk1 grab handle tool. Opposite to the 5.5mm end was a 7mm end which I attached to an allen key.
New fleet
Both the Cherokee & Grand Cherokee have been replaced with newer models
2007 2.8 CRD limited
2002 v8 Grand Cherokee
Old Cherokee has gone to a new home, Blue Grand is getting parted out 🙁
New bushes in the Grand
So finally go around to fitting new upper control arm bushes to the Grand, been putting it off for ages. 2 top tips, don’t use the cheap moulded bushes, use the ones with the pressed in center tubes, second, leave your new bushes in the freezer for a few days before fitting, they tap straight into the bush housings without the need to heat the housings.
So the Grand is now back on short arms, with an IRO 3″ lift fitted and vibration free 🙂 Pinion angle is set to somewhere I just couldn’t get to on the IRO long arm, there wasn’t enough adjustment. Jeep is taking up commuting duties for now, SAAB will be for sale.
Exhausted
Exhaust replaced on the Cherokee, seems it was the original box, so lasted 12 years / 150k miles! Jeep is MUCH quieter now, supprising how loud it got without us realising. Brakes are adjusted up, now at the garage to get the drop link & track rod replaced (those are also original and too rusted/tight for me to bother replacing myself)
Another years ticket tomorrow 🙂
Cherokee MOT
Didn’t pass, but only some minor fails:
NSF track rod end
OSF anti roll bar link
Back box leaking (is the original one so lasted well)
Hand brake low effort (well it is a jeep!)
Will wind up the brakes & have ordered the bits, £200 all in so not too bad.
KJ Cherokee A arm bushes & ball joint
Quite an easy job, 2 x 15mm bolts on the front & an 18mm nut/bolt for the ball joint. Tried (not too hard) to hammer out the bushes & joint but they were in fast, so went to my local garage & got them to press them out & refit.
Refitting requires the bush bolts to go in first them raise the diff up square to mate up with the balljoint pin. I needed 2 jacks for this as the diff bottom isn’t flat.
Spot the engineering use of a brick to stop the a arm from moving up when the diff was raised on the jack, worked perfectly, Jeep spanering like my old mate PtP used to do.
Not as bad as I was expecting, nothing seized 🙂 Ready for the dreaded MOT tomorrow now.