Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Arvada, Co
Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance
I would like to hear what all you guys check periodically on your rigs.
I have a 2010 JK Unlimited Rubicon which I bought brand new and have done all modifications myself over the years. These are relatively modest modifications including a 2.5" Rubi Express suspension lift with Bilstein shocks, adjustable control arm, control arm relocation bracket, I fried the elec sway bar disco and replaced with a manual disconnect where the fancy electronics used to be, upgraded steering stabilizer which also came with a relocation bracket, and I have flipped my drag link.
I wheel pretty aggressively a couple times a year and make a handful of family trips on modest terrain overland car camping style in the Rocky Mountains.
My question is what items do you check as fas as an "annual vehicle inspection" and what stuff do you check before/after a wheeling trip? I have read that my local off road shop can do an inspection, but I like to learn about and work on my own Jeep, and since I'm not as mechanically inclined as Id like to be Id like some input from the JK community.
Thanks!
I have a 2010 JK Unlimited Rubicon which I bought brand new and have done all modifications myself over the years. These are relatively modest modifications including a 2.5" Rubi Express suspension lift with Bilstein shocks, adjustable control arm, control arm relocation bracket, I fried the elec sway bar disco and replaced with a manual disconnect where the fancy electronics used to be, upgraded steering stabilizer which also came with a relocation bracket, and I have flipped my drag link.
I wheel pretty aggressively a couple times a year and make a handful of family trips on modest terrain overland car camping style in the Rocky Mountains.
My question is what items do you check as fas as an "annual vehicle inspection" and what stuff do you check before/after a wheeling trip? I have read that my local off road shop can do an inspection, but I like to learn about and work on my own Jeep, and since I'm not as mechanically inclined as Id like to be Id like some input from the JK community.
Thanks!
JK Jedi
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,365
Likes: 2,091
From: Willow Park, TX
From the short description you provided, I have a sense that you are pretty in tune with your jeep. Our JKs have a nice way of letting us know, with plenty of notice, that something isn't right. Clunks, rattles, weird feelings. If you're not experiencing any weird little things like that, you're likely 100% good to go. That said, in regards to checking things:
1) Double checking torque on all suspension components on an annual basis is not bad. You can search up the torque specs, or here is a link to file on my google drive that you can download from – https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wu...qs78G4ZYR2idu0
I have those printed out and laminated, and they stay in my jeep full time. They come in handy, especially for any trail repairs. Anything that you check for torque and don't touch often (like control arm nuts), it's a good idea to use a paint pen to mark a line so you can do a visual inspection in the future and see they have not moved at all.
2) Inspect all steering components for wear. If you're not familiar, Planman's videos on YouTube are a good resource. Pay particular focus to track bar joints/bolts and ball joints.
3) should go without saying to follow suggested fluid change intervals. I think most people ignore gear oil changes and TC ATF fluid changes just cuz they don't think about it.
That's a start at least. Others can pile on.
1) Double checking torque on all suspension components on an annual basis is not bad. You can search up the torque specs, or here is a link to file on my google drive that you can download from – https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wu...qs78G4ZYR2idu0
I have those printed out and laminated, and they stay in my jeep full time. They come in handy, especially for any trail repairs. Anything that you check for torque and don't touch often (like control arm nuts), it's a good idea to use a paint pen to mark a line so you can do a visual inspection in the future and see they have not moved at all.
2) Inspect all steering components for wear. If you're not familiar, Planman's videos on YouTube are a good resource. Pay particular focus to track bar joints/bolts and ball joints.
3) should go without saying to follow suggested fluid change intervals. I think most people ignore gear oil changes and TC ATF fluid changes just cuz they don't think about it.
That's a start at least. Others can pile on.
