took out the stock JK on it's first ride (pics/opinions)

[2k2wranglerx]

ok, i'll have more "action" pics tomorrow. I was by myself today and couldn't take pics. BUT there are some from my buddy (he'll have them up tomorrow).

ok, the biggest tihng people have been freaking out about is the size and the break over angle. They ARE a factor! no denying that. The breakover isn't THAT bad though. I followed another stock X (TJ) and hit a LOT less than he did!

it is large . . . . . the best way i can describe driving it on the trail is like wheeling a limo. You have to wait what feels like an eternity to turn the wheel in tight trails. normally in a tj you could turn as soon as the tree was past the window, in the JK, you have a whole other set of windows to wait for!!!! but, it's not horrible, you just have to watch your mirrors.

It hooks up well, and is obviously flexy (it's coils after all).

it's heavy . . . . you can tell

ESP would be AWESOME to have in low . . .

for wheeling on mostly bald 265 75 16's it did AWESOME. everyone was impressed. I had a BLAST. it's super stable, climbs great, i loved it!

it did hit off the belly pan a bunch of times . . . but i rode in that stock TJ and it was WAY worse than mine!

here's a few pics of what it looks like right now (from my camera). more coming soon!

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/IMAGE_00018.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/IMAGE_00017.jpg

[ThinkMud]

Nice! So it looks like you have the stripped down X as do I(well I won't have mine until Monday). Do you not have the limited slip rear end? I don't think mine has it, and I was wondering if the ESP stuff helped keep the tires from spinning, like did it break the spinning tire so that power can be transfered to the other? Thanks for the info and pics man! Also does the ESP not work in 4 lo??

[Ge99ne]

The mode that you probably want in 4 lo is still there. The brake assisted differential, (or whatever it is called is stil lactive in all modes). Did you notice the throttle response in 4lo? I only read about the throttle linkage after I had been wheeling, but it did seem less goosey. WhichI thought was nice.

[2k2wranglerx]

The mode that you probably want in 4 lo is still there. The brake assisted differential, (or whatever it is called is stil lactive in all modes). Did you notice the throttle response in 4lo? I only read about the throttle linkage after I had been wheeling, but it did seem less goosey. WhichI thought was nice.


the assist is defenitely not there in low. it even says in the manual that it is turned off in low.

it's hard to tell, but i did notice that the gas pedal was less sensitive in Lo

here's the pics!

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/PA200013.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/PA210016.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/PA210056.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/PA220094.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/PA220095.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/PA220096.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/PA220097.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/PA220098.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/PA220099.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/PA220100.jpg

[2k2wranglerx]

Nice! So it looks like you have the stripped down X as do I(well I won't have mine until Monday). Do you not have the limited slip rear end? I don't think mine has it, and I was wondering if the ESP stuff helped keep the tires from spinning, like did it break the spinning tire so that power can be transfered to the other? Thanks for the info and pics man! Also does the ESP not work in 4 lo??


No LSD for me. what's the point when i'm just going to put selectable lockers in.

[ThinkMud]

No LSD for me. what's the point when i'm just going to put selectable lockers in.

yeah that is what I want to do as well. But that does seem kind of lame that ours do not have any type of limited slip while in 4 lo.

How do you think the gears hold up? you have the 3.21 axle ratio right? does it seem too low to you? I'm gonna be running 33's, so i'll proably see more of a struggle with the gears then you.

Thanks for the pics and info tho!

[ThinkMud]

How did you get stuck? get high centered?

[2k2wranglerx]

yeah that is what I want to do as well. But that does seem kind of lame that ours do not have any type of limited slip while in 4 lo.

How do you think the gears hold up? you have the 3.21 axle ratio right? does it seem too low to you? I'm gonna be running 33's, so i'll proably see more of a struggle with the gears then you.

Thanks for the pics and info tho!

i'm going to 285's (33's) soon. we just had those 265's laying around. they're pretty bald.

it could use a 4:1 or better gears . . . . on the road it's no problem. PLENTY of gear. I've noticed no detrimental effects from going 32" tires. I can't imagine another inch is going to make it THAT much worse.

but eventually i'm going to go 4.56's and 35's. just gotta wait for gears/lockers to come out.

as far as on the trail. it didn't struggle at all. but i'm all about crawling . . . so i always want more gear.

[2k2wranglerx]

How did you get stuck? get high centered?


ya, rear diff on a rock. i was moving it, but every time i'd back up and bump over it, i'd kick right. see that tree REAL close to my pass side door? ya :) didn't wanna hit it with a 3 week old jeep . . . so i swallowed the pride and took the tow.

[ThinkMud]

nothing wrong with that. better a quick strap then then a quick dent ;)

at least it looks like I should be ok with 33's on the stipped down X, so now I don't feel so bad.

so let me get this straight one more time... in 4 high, we DO have some sort of brake lock diffs front and back? but NOT in 4 lo? or do we have the brake lock all the time?

[2k2wranglerx]

nothing wrong with that. better a quick strap then then a quick dent ;)

at least it looks like I should be ok with 33's on the stipped down X, so now I don't feel so bad.

so let me get this straight one more time... in 4 high, we DO have some sort of brake lock diffs front and back? but NOT in 4 lo? or do we have the brake lock all the time?


yup, no brake diff in Lo.

in Hi, you better not be trying to crawl. because it sucks up a LOT of power.

[ThinkMud]

yup, no brake diff in Lo.

in Hi, you better not be trying to crawl. because it sucks up a LOT of power.

That part scares me... low is when you need it to NOT slip.... come on ARB or somebody, we need lockers! Did you notice much slippage in Lo? or did you even need Lo that day?

[Ge99ne]

Wow looks like you had a good time. I got to get to some bigger holes with some freinds nearby just in case.
Okay you made me get my manual out. On page 112 my manual says that 4 lo turns off ESP and TCS EXCEPT for the "limited slip" feature.

[ThinkMud]

Wow looks like you had a good time. I got to get to some bigger holes with some freinds nearby just in case.
Okay you made me get my manual out. On page 112 my manual says that 4 lo turns off ESP and TCS EXCEPT for the "limited slip" feature.

Is that only with the Trac-loc Limited Slip Diff? or the "Brake loc" limited slip the stripped down X has?

[Ge99ne]

It's the psuedo limited slip provided by breaking. I will say I made it through some holes I wouldn't have thought possible with street tires, so maybe it does work. Another time I was climbing a hill & was going to do a little spinning for show & could not. At first I thought it was lack of power, but now I think the TCS was to blame.

[ThinkMud]

Awesome! I feel much better now! I can't wait until mine is ready! they gyro thingy that runs the ESP and stuff had to be replaced, it should be today or tomorrow that it's fixed!

[nam6869usmc]

Here's some good reading ........this might explain the Brake Lock Diff on or off suspense...If I'm reading this correctly, you do have it working in 4 LO.
Available for the first time with Jeep Wrangler models are Brake Lock Differentials (BLDs), which are incorporated into the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) algorithm. BLDs apply braking force to an axle's spinning wheel in order to provide an equal amount of torque to each wheel and deliver greater traction for rock-crawling over severe off-road terrain. A separate set of BLD calibrations is designed for off-road operation and automatically activates when driving in 4 Low
Electronic Stability Program For the first time in a Wrangler, the all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited come standard with Chrysler Group's Electronic Stability Program (ESP) – providing significant benefits in accident-avoidance driving situations. ESP helps the driver maintain vehicle directional stability by applying selective braking and engine control, within the limits of available traction, to maintain the vehicle's intended course. Jeep Wrangler's ESP system includes Hydraulic Brake Assist, Traction Control, Brake Lock Differentials and Electronic Roll Mitigation.

The 2007 Jeep Wrangler's ESP system provides three modes: “full on,” “full off” and “partial on,” with the default mode as “full on” with each engine start. The benefits of ESP's three modes are as follows:

ESP MODE BENEFIT

ON Applies selective braking and engine control to maintain the vehicle's intended course. Full-time ERM and Traction Control are available.

PARTIAL Traction Control is deactivated and ESP operates at a highe rthreshold. Full-time ERM and Brake Lock Differentials are available.

FULL OFF ESP and ERM are turned off. Brake Lock Differentials are available. Ideal for off-road activities where wheel lock-up is desirable.

[ThinkMud]

Now that is even better news!! thanks nam6869usmc!