Rust prevention and brake lines

[MoonstoneWild]

Hi all,
I’m new here so apologies if I do this wrong…
Anyway I was looking for some opinions on my situation. I got my Jeep a few years ago from a guy who absolutely trashed it. Since then we’ve take out a 4” lift, angry birds grill, rebuilt all brakes, fixed AC clutch, replaced shocks, and almost all union joints! The car also came with a louvre attach, and after a beating from the sun and engine heat has over the years faded. The guy who put it on did a shoty job at cutting the bonnet. Would would you people suggest doing to prevent rust spreading on these cuts (image attached somewhere). Also there’s some drilled holes that are starting to rust.
Furthermore I recently purchased a 2” lift. Would you recommend extended brake lines. Noting this car is a daily driver but also gonna be built to take out on the trail every now and then. I don’t intend to do hard 4x4ing or flexing. I’m into photography so I want a cat that can get me to places a normal car can’t get to.
Thanks!

[JoergM]

Originally Posted by MoonstoneWild

Hi all,
I’m new here so apologies if I do this wrong…
Anyway I was looking for some opinions on my situation. I got my Jeep a few years ago from a guy who absolutely trashed it. Since then we’ve take out a 4” lift, angry birds grill, rebuilt all brakes, fixed AC clutch, replaced shocks, and almost all union joints! The car also came with a louvre attach, and after a beating from the sun and engine heat has over the years faded. The guy who put it on did a shoty job at cutting the bonnet. Would would you people suggest doing to prevent rust spreading on these cuts (image attached somewhere). Also there’s some drilled holes that are starting to rust.
Furthermore I recently purchased a 2” lift. Would you recommend extended brake lines. Noting this car is a daily driver but also gonna be built to take out on the trail every now and then. I don’t intend to do hard 4x4ing or flexing. I’m into photography so I want a cat that can get me to places a normal car can’t get to.
Thanks!

Welcome to the forum. If you drive a TJ you might want to post your question in the TJ Garage section. However, I can tell you what I did on my WJ (which has a Dana30 and I am not sure if your TJ has the same front axle).

Unless you have quick disconnect sway bar links which you want to take off for better flex on the trail, I would say you are good with what you have. I have a 6.5 inch (but effectively is only a 4 inch) lift and all I did was to unscrew the lines so that they can stretch and I have the sway bar disconnects so my axle can drop a meter if it has to and I had situation where my spring would have popped out if I did not have the retainer installed. BUT it was not the best solution since the brake likes bent around the C section of my axle where the ball joints are located. I had the impression that mine got pinched one way (most likely when I had these super flex situations) or the other but still held the pressure. So I got me metal brake lines which are straight and go directly into the brake caliper from Ironrock Offroad. That assures that nothing can happen and will not lose brake pressure in case it gets a bit sketchy.

Hope this helps.

[JoergM]

Forgot to reply regarding the rust: I would certainly put some rust prevention. All you need is a bit of primer to seal the cutting areas. I would remove the cover (is this called Louvre? Funny name since I only know the one in Paris), then wire brush everything, put a rust converter on, making sure any left over rust is somehow covered and then spray it with 2 or 3 layers.
The cut-out is also really bad and I might would correct that as well to have a better air flow.

I also would remove the screws and get stainless steel ones. This gives you some ease on rust and you dont have to go back every 2 years or so and redo the job.

[MoonstoneWild]

Ahh thanks! Sorry for posting in the wrong chat…
I don’t plan on major flexing but who knows how a trail will turn out!
Thanks for the advice on the rust!