Purchased this 2010 JK Sahara with 98k miles. This is my first just-for-fun truck. Got it as a ski/camp/fish vehicle, and something to build memories in with my son (now 2). Goal is to have a solid rig that can handle more difficult trails (Holy Cross?, no interest in real difficult buggy trails), but will generally be used for camping trips and road miles.


Day 1

OO’s "Upgrades" List on day 1:

• Rubicon Express 3.5" Sport Lift
• ProComp S4 Spot/Flood combo pillar lights
• Smitty Front Bumper
• Procomp 17" wheels + ProComp LT315/70R17 tires
• Poison Spyder Hood Louver
• ProComp LED headlights
• Unknown ball joints (blue boots?) only on passenger side (why?)

Has some driveline vibration at ~40MPH, think it's the front driveshaft. The CV boot is damaged, and there's some play in the joint. Weird clicking noise when turning in 4wd, possibly the driveshaft again, ball joints are suspect. Guy I bought it from lived on a dirt road, so the whole interior was caked in dust.

Thoughts for making it mine:

• Check and replace all fluids, plugs & wires, filters, etc...
• Want to fix the driveline vibes, will probably do the high angle rzeppa replacement as a bandaid until I figure out how best to set it up.
• May lower it to a 2.5" lift, as I'm not going larger than 35's
• Probably just a rear locker, this is more of a camping/fishing/skiing car than a rock crawler
• I'm not a fan of this bumper, interested in aluminum and will be adding a winch
• Rear bumper with backup lights
• Tire carrier, OE put a spacer on the stock carrier to fit these tires
• Onboard air

 

Welcome to JKF.. good looking Rig. Good mods .. ball joint the OO probably replaced only the 1 that was in need.. Not my style the other might not be far behind; keep an eye on them.. Clicking when turning most likely a UJoint not the drive shaft. Good thoughts on making it mine.. definitely the maintenance..

 

Welcome from GA! Agree with the above as well.

 

Welcome to JKF. I'd bet the clicking is that front DS. If the boot is ripped and the grease spewed out, that CV dries out in short order and clicking is a common symptom. Yank that out and I bet the clicking stops. If not, then it's the axle shaft u-joint, but those are a lot less common issue. Certainly can't rule it out on an '10 though. Totally agree with lowering it to 2.5" which would still accommodate your tires, and it would help with pretty much all steering, suspension, and driveline angles.

I bought the ARB dual compressor, gosh...had to be back in 2014. Hated the initial hurdle of the price tag but I have never once regretted that purchase. You spend more, but single units aren't comparable at all IMO.

 

Busy month with the Jeep.

• Oil change with plugs and wires
• Brake fluid flush and fill
• Oil change in both diffs, updated the rear cover to the AEV
• Steering fluid flush and fill
• Metalcloak Adjustable Control Arm install
• Bumpers front and rear, with winch
• Teraflex Tire Carrier with 3rd brake light kit
• SPod install with onboard air
• Teraflex rzeppa high angle CV for the front driveshaft

The old spark plugs were completely shot. Jeep ran a lot smoother after these came out. I accidentally tore out one of the plug wire connections when removing the plug wires, so I also replaced the plug wires and the ignition pack. Bit of a wrestling match to get the new wires in, but glad I got them done.


Must have been the original plugs

Never seen melted plugs like this



New Quadratec mid-width rear bumper with flush mount backup lights, wired into the Spod. Had to get a hitch extension for my bike rack, as it hit the spare tire.


Quadratec Aluminum Brute Strength Winch Bumper with 10k lb Quadratec Stealth winch. I'm a little bit bummed that they decided to do a recessed section where the Quadratec sticker goes. It blew off on the highway, and I'm left with a weird spot. May try to find someone to make a badge or something that I can bolt/glue in there.


Craigslist find AEV diff cover for the rear


Craigslist find Viair OBA with mount. Need to find a good way to do the air hose out of here. I'd like to mount it out where I can get to it easy, maybe by the front bumper.


Craigslist find Spod 6 switch. I have the front pillar lights, the rear lights, the winch interrupt, and the OBA wired up so far.


Winch power interrupt runs through the Spod. I know, I know, the terminal boot went missing during install. Need to grab a new one at the hardware store.


Found some plugs at the hardware store for the holes the PO drilled in the dash panel for the pillar lights


SPod mounted up. Need to get a winch power button for the third button. Eventually plan to run lockers off the far right 2 buttons.


New Metalcloak adjustable control arms and all new bolts.


The new Teraflex high-angle CV joint smoothed out a lot of the driveline vibrations, but they are definitely still present. Only really when I am ~40MPH and barely on the gas. I'm still considering lowering the lift to 2.5" in hopes that it will eliminate the driveline vibes, while leaving me enough room for the 35s. Found an AEV lift here for cheap, so may go that route. Also was looking for a used Rubicon D44 for the front that I can beef up a little bit prior to the regear (Still at 3.73 stock).