Yea. I really think it is my wheel is out of balance. My front left had a lot of weights added so I bet I threw some off in the snow. I will go check that. Lower my caster and should have the shakes. I think that's the problem...... I dunno

 

I think the issue is more that Chrysler wants to sell after-market parts that the customers have a proven track record of buying. So, they hold off to see what that is, then come out with their own offerings. Now, that means that WOL's intimation in that exploding transfer case thread that these aftermarket parts must be the best thing because even the OEM is offering them rather misses the point. The OEM is offering them because that's what people are buying. And sometimes people as a group don't make the smartest decisions. I'm not saying that these aftermarket driveshafts are good or bad, but I am saying that there are advantages and disadvantages to each style of DS, and some folks in that thread are giving short shrift to making smart decisions based not on the capabilities of the technology, but on marketing hype. As always, you pays you money and you takes your chances.

As for non-lubed moving parts versus those that can be lubed: Pretty much all of the manufacturers went to non-lubed because, after studying the issue, they realized that the non-lubed last longer. This is because most folks don't ever bother to lube the kind that require it, and they will fail much more quickly when ignored than the non-lubed kind. So, as pretty much always, we're designing for the lowest common denominator.

 

Woot. Picked up my tires yesterday. THANKS TORN!

Was a lot of fun to meet a couple more jeepers. I dropped off some shock extensions to JizNim in oklahoma city. Can't wait to go to a wheelin trip!

Had to take my brother in law's truck. He's going to college up in chickasha so i gotta run his truck back up to him today and bring the jeep back down. Anywhere specific in lawton i should go to get the tires mounted? Only place i can think of that does that stuff specifically is hibtons but they'd probably charge an arm and a leg. Though i think my old high school buddy Korey still works out there and can hook me up. I grew up next door to him and his brothers.

 

Go to Gemini Auto Center (GoodYear Tires) on 11th St/Ft. Sill Blvd, just south of Gore Blvd., and ask for either Mitch or Aaron. Tell them Manoj from Billingsley referred you to them and either of those guys will take care of you . Let me know if you want me to put a call in ahead of time for you.

 

Very well put. The key to remember is that when you start modding a vehicle from it's stock state, there's never going to be a "perfect" option - any stock or aftermarket part you put on will have it's pros and cons. It's up to each individual to research what's right for their situation and go with that option. Regardless, modding a vehicle always involves the risk factor that something could break or give - it's just a chance we all take , some more than others.

 

I know where your talking about. I should be able to get my goodyear discount there as well. I'll probably do it tomorrow as i've still got to go get my jeep after work today. Glad i didn't drive the jeep up. No way in hell i was going to get all 5 of those tires in there. Only problem i can think of is the lock on the spare tire on the back of the jeep. I did not get a key from the dealership for that. Think they would be able to take it off @ gemini or should i swing by the dealership first?

 

They'll be able to get it off for you, but if they take it off, you will not be able to reuse it. If you plan on reusing it, I'd recommend visiting the dealership to get a key for it first .

And sorry for not having been able to join you on the trip to Stillwater; because of the weather, we decided to call off the mod party and move it to a later date.

 

Coo thanks for the answer.

No worries. I had to make the trip to get the deal on the tires. I wish i had the cash on me to buy the wheels as well. I really like the look of the "gun metal gray" that the COD edition has so i want to figure a way to paint or powdercoat mine. I've heard of people hitting theirs with rattle can but i would hate for mine to look like hell. I could probably get them powdercoated pretty cheap locally but not sure if they could replicate the color i'm looking for. Although simple black wouldn't be so bad.

 

Agreed. That's one of my favorite stock wheel colors. You could rattle can it, but I think you just don't get the finish with that and it'd be more prone to chipping if you took it out on the trails. On the plus side, if you do scuff it up, it's easy to fix too. But powder coating would be the way to go to get a good, even finish . I used to know a guy that did that, but not sure if he still does it anymore

 

also gearing up for the spring i've been thinking of ways to get my hardtop off effectively by myself. I have been discussing this in other forums and have seen examples of people using a kind of shelf to slide the hard top off onto.

I had an Idea of a lever system with the base sturdy like a pallet jack. It would slide up underneath the jeep with an arm coming up behind it that would house a pivot point where you could lift the hard top off with a lever and lock it into place with a pin. then roll it to wherever your storing it for the time being. I would be able to keep mine in my garage but unfortunately i do not have the room for a hoist.

I drew up a shitty example of it in MS paint but you'd get the point. Think this would be worth the time to fab up or should i just man up and hope to not get a hernia lifting it off myself?