KJ Refurbishment

[glend]

With all KJs, even the last of the production run, now at least nearly seven years old, owners (original or otherwise) maybe undertaking a refurbishment of the vehicle, upgrade sagging bits, worn bushes, cracked mounts, etc.

What needs doing on yours? Isn't it better to do it now, then wait until parts are harder to find in the future (assuming you intend to keep it)?

Here's my list:

All the rubber bushings need a look and any replacements would have to be Mopar OEM ones (none of this Crown rubbish). Typcial areas of concern are the rear control arms, and the front clevis bushing, sway bar, and maybe the upper and lower control arm bushes (although if you have gone to JBA Upper Control arms the bushings should be ok and the ball joint is changable). Check the lower ball joint for leaks. I'd also suggest everyone have a good look at the rear upper control arm (aka boomerang) and give the central ball joint a good inspection (you may need to pop the shaft out of the diff bracket to check the play) - again don't put a Crown Ball joint in there use only the Mopar originals. I know my rear upper ball joint has a crack in the boot, I found it early this year just before the Darling River Run and taped it up with silicon tape at the time but now it needs to go.

The Serpentine belt needs replacement again, and it's probably a good idea to put on a new Alt pulley at the same time.

Check the airbox to turbo hose, as these have been known to crack at the bottom where it bends to the turbo inlet - I have a new one in the spares box ready to go in.

Motor mounts, mine are still original but did not have the heat shield on the turbo side, so it will probably need two new ones.

Shocks - they take a beating on my KJ and I'm on my second set of OMEs so they should be ok for another year. What about yours?

Have you measured your springs or lift height recently? Do you know what the height was originally? Springs have been known to develop sag over the years, but I suspect airbag equipped KJs are less likely to have this problem.

Door, window, and rear gate rubber seals - you can still buy these so is it time to replace them?

I am sure there are many other things to check out, those are just the things I need to look at in the next six months - or before my next big trip in 2014.

What about you?

[Lancer]

My front uca bushings are on their way out, but I have a pair of JbAs waiting to go in in spring. The rear boomerang was replaced a few months ago and the rear Lcas last year under the recall. Their bushings are still fine. Good point on the front lca bushings, swaybar bushings and clevis bushings - I'll lay in spares to be ready. The door seals all seem to be fine, but might be a good idea to lay in replacements while they are still out there.

Also good point on the motor mounts - how do you tell if they need replacement?

My Ome stuff has only been on 2 years and is still good, but I do have spare cam and serpentine belt kits with pulleys. I was thinking of getting a new water pump for the spares box. Idparts (on LOST) sell one with a brass impeller - apparently the original is a plastic compound, so I may get that - thoughts?

Airbox - turbo hose is fine, but I'll get a spare, the Samcos are holding up well.

I'd be interested to see the response from others, but I was thinking of getting the Steiger kits in - I've had no problem so far, but I know a lot have, so you have to wonder when luck will run out!

[glend]

Hi Lancer, I agree on the water pump spare. I know George (VM Specialists UK) advised me to consider it the last time I changed the timing belt. My view is that a water pump should be good up to the next timing belt change, so that's a swap out at every second timing belt - which is in theory a water pump replacement every 200,000kms, unless there is evidence of a leak of course. I have heard some horrible stories out of the US concerning the Crown water pumps failing after very short use, so I would stick with original equipment water pumps or whatever George recommends. If your changing the waterpump it's probably a good idea to change the thermostat at the same time as it's attached. Again avoid the Crown thermostats, and go with the original equipment ones. I bought a thermostat from Morris 4x4 in the US and it turned out to be Crown and it was junk - with metal flashings loose inside the housing. I threw it away and got the original for the spares box.

[Lancer]

Hi Glend - the water pump with the brass impeller is by Graf. I agree about Crown - I've read so many horror stories about Crown parts (water pump and bushes etc) that I'd be very reluctant to risk their stuff unless I was desperate and couldn't source an alternative in time - and that would be on the basis that I'd swap out the Crown part as soon as possible.

I'll get the purchasing under way! I'll probably start with the thermostat and motor mounts.

[DarrenR]

Graf (waterpump), Gehl (thermostat) make the "genuine", same as litens (t/belt tensioner), just without VM on the cast. Timing belt kits though I use GATES or SKF, as the genuine VM kit (uses a Goodyear belt) doesnt come with a tensioner, which then needs to be ordered seperately.

But saying that the idparts.com prices arent any better than genuine from the UK, *shrugs* so stick with the devil ya know I guess.

Regards
Daz