A little background to start: I have an auto 08' JKU X, 82K miles, stock. It's turning 7 years old, been through Wisconsin ' s crazy winters with salted roads like no before. There are rusts on the underbody, most seem to be just surface rust.

Now I want to start modding the Jeep! I haven't personally owned this jeep until 2 years ago, so I am modding late. My question is, is my Jeep too old to start modifying it now? As in my parts are already wearing down and mods will just have weak points. I want to throw 35s with a 2.5" lift. If my axle has wore down in the seven years I've had the Jeep, is it safe or smart to run 35s with stock gears? How do you guys feel about modifying a Jeep now after seven years at 82 K miles? Inputs please! Thanks !

 

I think you'll be fine. As long as the drive train and electrical seems fine, modify away.

 

I'm rebuilding an 07 with 115k on it. Way I fugues everything is fixable on the 3.8, probably by me. If it's not, hemi or LS it is. It's a win win.

sent from my work leash

 

You will have the same axle concerns whether it is 7 years old or brand new. If you feel that the front housing is weak and needs to be beefed up, then look at the options and decide which to go with. Gearing is very subjective, some people are ok with 35's and stock gears, others aren't. It depends on which gears you currently have, which engine, which transmission, which model, where you live, how you drive, what your expectations are - and how 'you' feel it performs with the new tires. There are probably two thousand gearing threads to read through for opinions (at a guess, it's probably closer to ten thousand...)

And besides, if your 7 year old parts are wearing out, why would you not want to go ahead and replace them with stronger, beefier aftermarket parts?

 

Thanks for the inputs. I just wanted to get some opinions cause I don't want to put about $4,000 on it if it was going to break down soon. But guess I'll modify away ! Parts aren't replaced to after markets because I don't think they need replacing just yet.

 

The only real disadvantage is dealing with the rust. (Bolts will be more difficult to remove and such.)

The good news is that you can clean up a bunch of it while adding mods and actually prolong the life.

As mentioned. Problem areas are problem areas no matter the age.

 

My 09 didnt have a ton of miles but was through 5 years of winter there before i tore it down here. You will be fine. Hell we took a 89 yj from Wisconsin and swapped frames and such. That whole project sucked major ass with how much rust and fixing we had to do but it was a lot older and always kept outside.

 

Go for it.

Since it's a bit older, you won't worry so much about scratches and bumps while trailing, so instead of being stressed out about those, you'll enjoy getting off road and having fun. :-)

 

I would probably go ahead and gusset the C's change out the ball joints since they are probably close to toast by now.

 

If your Jeep is to old to modify, I'm in deep trouble !