Off Road Evolution EVO Enhanced Mopar Jeep JK Dana 44 Front Axle

For more information about the Off Road Evolution EVO Enhanced Mopar Jeep JK Wrangler Dana 44 Front Axles, please visit their website at: www.offroadevolution.com

To see these sneak peek pics now, simply click on the link below:

Off Road Evolution Long Arm Sneak Peek Photo Gallery

Be sure to check back soon for more updates or visit www.offroadevolution.com for more information.

     

 

Over the past two and a half years, I have gone through a total of three factory tie rods. One was bent up and back from a heavy hit to a rock but the other two were bent out and forward from the torque of my front wheels. And, at about $180 a piece, I decided that after the 3rd one was toast, enough was enough and I finally did what I should have done right from the beginning and upgraded my tie rod to a Rock Krawler Heavy Duty replacement unit.

At 36 lbs., the new Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod is way beefier than factory. Also, this new tie rod requires you to use factory draglink tie rod ends and believe me, they are considerably larger than than the standard units. After testing this tie rod hard in Moab, I can tell you that this will definitely be the last tie rod that I will ever need to get.

What You Will Need • 13,18,19,21mm Socket & Wrench • Ratchet • Torque Wrench • Large Crescent Wrench • 3 lb. Hammer • Pry Bar • Channel Locks • Floor Jack • (2) Jack Stands • Dremel • Cutoff Wheel • Anti-Seize        What You Will Get (1) HD Tie Rod (2) Jam Nuts (2) Washers (2) U-Bolt Kits        Additional Parts You Will Need       (2) JK Factory Draglink Tie Rod Ends Part#: 52060049-AE        Where You Can Get Yours You can buy your Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod from:      Northridge4×4

Instructions Unfortunately, the new Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod does not come with new tie rod ends. Before you can install anything, you will need to make a trip to your dealership and order up 2 factory draglink tie rod ends. Here’s a shot of everything you will need to complete the installation of your Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod including the new draglink tie rod ends. BEFORE YOU GET STARTED Double check and make sure your factory tie rod is set correctly to give your Jeep JK Wrangler the appropriate amount of toe. As you will use your factory tie rod to measure the length of your new Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod, it is important that this is set correctly. If adjustments are needed, click on the link below to see a write-up on how to do this:      SETTING YOUR TOE-IN WRITE-UP 1. Park on level ground and jack up your Jeep JK Wrangler’s front axle and set it on a pair of jack stands so that your tires are just off the ground. 2. Using a 19mm socket, remove the lug nuts and front wheels off your Jeep JK Wrangler. 3. Using an 18mm socket, remove the bolt securing your factory steering stabilizer to the axle mount as shown. 4. Using a 13mm wrench, remove the 4 nuts securing the factory steering stabilizer mount on to your Jeep JK Wrangler’s tie rod. Remove the U-Bolts and mounting plate. 5. Using a 21mm socket, loosen but do not remove the nuts securing the passenger and driver side tie rod ends to your Jeep JK Wrangler’s steering knuckles. 6. As you can see in this pic, you want to leave the tie rod end nut attached to the stud but with enough of a gap to allow it to fall free. 7. Using a 3 lb. hammer, give the front of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s steering knuckle a good whack or two. This will cause the tapered stud to “ring” itself out and fall free of the knuckle. The nut you left in place will prevent it from falling to the floor. 8. In an effort to make the installation and future adjustments to the Rock Krawler tie rod easier, I would suggest that you apply some Anti-Seize to the threads of your new draglink tie rod ends as shown. 9. Install the jam nuts included with your Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod onto the ends of your new draglink tie rod ends. Thread the jam nuts all the way until they reach the end. 10. Install both draglink tie rod ends into your new Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod as shown in this pic. 11. Here is a shot of both the factory Jeep JK Wrangler tie rod (above) and assembled Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod sitting side by side. You will need to set your new tie rod to be the same length. 12. As you can see in this pic, I am measuring from the base of the tie rod ends as this is the only way to get an accurate measurement. For my initial setting, I came up with 58-1/2″ center to center but I do need to note that minor adjustments were needed to get my toe-in set perfectly afterwards. 13. Install your new Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod onto your Jeep JK Wrangler’s steering knuckles and secure them in place using the washer provided with the kit and factory nut. Secure these nuts to 63 ft. lbs. of torque. A 21mm socket will be needed for this job. 14. Reinstall your wheels and check your toe-in measurement. If it’s within the acceptable range, you are good to finish things up. If not, calculate the amount of adjustment you need to make and if it’s minor, simply remove one wheel, ring out the tie rod end and make the adjustment needed. 15. After reinstalling your wheel and double checking your toe-in measurement, verifying that it’s on, secure the draglink tie rod end jam nuts up against the Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod and in a way that the tie rod is pointing forward and not drooping. You will need a large crescent wrench to do this and a pry bar will help you to keep things in place. 16. Slip the 2 U-Bolts that come with your Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod on to the tie rod and then, using a pair of channel locks, bend the ends closer together as shown in this pic. 17. Install your Jeep JK Wrangler’s factory steering stabilizer mount onto the 2 new U-Bolts as shown. If required, make additional adjustments to the bolts with your channel locks. 18. Install the 2 flat cap plates over the U-Bolts as shown in this pic. 19. Using the nylock nuts provided with your Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod kit, secure the U-Bolts in place. A 13mm or 1/2″ wrench will be needed for this job. 20. Rotate the U-Bolts into a position on your Rock Krawler Heavy Duty Tie Rod that will allow you easier access and then cut off the excess threads using a Dremel and rotary cutoff wheel. 21. Rotate the steering stabilizer mount and position it approximately where it was before on your factory tie rod and then slip on your Jeep JK Wrangler’s steering stabilizer on to the mounting stud. Have a friend turn your steering wheel all the way left and then all the way right to make sure that the stabilizer can fully extend and compress without bottoming out or getting hung up. 22. Pull your steering stabilizer back off and then secure the mount in place tightening them up to 15-20 ft. lbs. of torque. You will need a 13mm or 1/2″ wrench for this job. 23. Reinstall your Jeep JK Wrangler’s steering stabilizer and secure it in place using the factory nut. An 18mm wrench will be needed for this job. That’s it! Put your Jeep JK Wrangler back on the ground, double check your lug nuts to make sure they are tightened to 95 ft. lbs. of torque and you’re ready to go. You now have the very last tie-rod your JK will ever need and, you may even find that your front end feels noticeably tighter as well.        Installed Photos

EVO Direct Bolt-In shocks Features Include:
• 100% Made in the USA
• No Fabrication Required
• Easy Bolt-On Installation
• Balanced Front & Rear Valving
• Improves Ride On & Off Road
• External Reservoir
• Big 2.5″ Shock Bodies
• 25% Increased Front Travel
• 15% Increased Rear Travel
• Increased Articulation

To learn more about the Off Road Evolution JK Custom Valved King Shocks and how they work, click on the screen or link below to watch a short YouTube video that talks all about them:

Off Road Evolution JK Custom Valved King Shocks Video

For more information about the all new Off Road Evolution JK Custom Valved King Shocks or any of the product or services they offer, be sure to check out their website at: www.offroadevolution.com or call them by phone at: (714) 870-5515

Working its way through and around a well known outcrop of boulders called the Cougar Buttes, Bullfrog offers a myriad of challenges throughout the length of the trail and they come one right after the other.  The rocks and ledges are formidable and the more flex you have, the easier it will be to negotiate this trail.  Of course, a locker or two wouldn’t hurt to have and aside from tow hooks front and rear, I’d have to say that rocker guards are a must here.  When we ran this trail, one of the guys in our group showed up in a stock 2-Door Jeep JK Wranger X and with stock street tires.  Although he did need some help getting up and over some of the biggest obstacles, he made his way through the trail just fine.  Granted, he did have heavy duty aftermarket front and rear bumpers and a set of good rocker guards and all did their job well.

If you would like to see a short video that Cindy made highlighting our adventures on the Bullfrog Trail, simply click on the screen or link below:

Project-JK Bullfrog Trail YouTube Video

If you would like to see photos from our Bullfrog run, click on the link below:

Project-JK Bullfrog Trail Photo Gallery

Thanks again to everyone who joined us on this trip.  I look forward to hitting the trails with you again soon!!

For a Mile Marker dealer near you, please call 1-800-866-8647 or visit their website at: http://www.milemarker.com/index_projectjk.html

Truth be told, we originally went in looking for another Rubicon but after giving it some thought, we figured that most of what makes a Rubicon what it is were things that we were just going to pull off and so, we decided to save the 10 grand and use it for upgrades.  So, we started looking for a Unlimited X with no frills and no thrills - just the basics.  Initially, we found a real nice one with half doors at a dealership in Cerritos and were all set to buy it but the guys there were complete jerks determined to make me pull teeth just to get a reasonable price.  Their attitude was essentially that I needed to be doing them a favor if I hoped to buy this Jeep and it just wasn’t going to happen.  I’m all for a guy needing to make a buck but the obnoxious attitude I was getting from them alone was enough to make me get up and leave.  I would have given them the finger as I walked out but I knew they would be calling on me and that put a smile on my face.

On our way home from the dealership in Cerritos, we decided to make a stop over at Orange Coast Jeep in Costa Mesa.  Our good friends Jeff and Megan told us that they bought their JK there and got a real good deal.  And, having used them in the past for service work that we needed done on our current white Rubicon, we figured why not give them a try. And, as luck would have it, just as we walked onto the lot, we saw a beautiful Sunburst Orange Rubicon with everything we could want and convinced ourselves that maybe we really do want a Rubicon instead.  Excited once again, we found ourselves a salesman and got the ball rolling.  Based on what we saw on their website, we knew that we could expect to see about $4000 off the sticker price and we were satisfied with that.  Of course, once we were presented with the numbers, we found ourselves looking at $1000 off at most and we would end up paying way more than we were expecting.  Trying my hardest not to get pissed, I explained what I had seen online and he in turn asked when I saw this information.  I told him that I had seen these prices that morning and so he went back to talk to his general manager about it.  When he came back, he informed me that this was not correct and that I must be mistaken.  He continued to say that they had no reason to not be upfront about their prices as if I were to catch them lying to me, I could end up getting the Jeep for free for false advertisement.  Feeling a bit of doubt, I let him know that perhaps I misread the information and just as I let him know that we would be going, my wife Cindy pulls up their website on her iPhone and shows the salesman their website and with the price listed on it WITH $4,000 in incentives!

Backpedaling big time, the salesman goes back, gets his general manager to come out and informs us that they will honor the price we saw on online.  Only problem now is that Cindy and I weren’t really in the mood to spend $30,000 anymore and were just going to leave.  But, just by chance, Cindy still looking on her iPhone, she sees that they also had a basic Unlimited X with full doors and so I ask if we can see it.  The salesman checks and lets me know that they do in fact have this X but, it was taken apart and having aftermarket componets being installed on it.  I ask if we can see it anyways and he agrees to take us to it at another facility.  When we get to this other JK, it was racked up, had its wheels off and already had new bumpers on it.  Giving it closer look, we see that it’s an automatic, has cloth seats but is otherwise a pretty basic Jeep.  After a brief discussion with Cindy, we decide to take it if the price is right and ask them to return it back to its original condition.  Checking their website once again, we see that there is a $4,000 discount on it as well and insist that we get it for the price listed.  When all was said and done, we ended up getting this JK which came with an automatic transmission and way more features than the other one we saw in Cerritos and for about $2,000 less than what they were willing to sell it for.  And, even though our experience buying our JK here may not have been the best in the world, we did get what we wanted and for less than what we were expecting to pay so, it all worked out well.  So, here’s to the newest member of our family, let the modding begin!

Oh, did I mention that I have been getting calls all day long yesterday and today from a certain Jeep dealership in Cerritos?  I wonder what they could want.

Eddie

Manufactured out of alloy steel and zinc plated, the EVO LinXLok is designed to utilize a pinch bolt as well as 4 set screws that are angled inward to bite into any aftermarket adjustable lower control arm using a standard 1-1/4″ - 12 threaded joint.  With the final addition of a rubber O-Ring that helps to keep water and debris out of the control arm, the LinXLok is simply installed onto your control arm joints in place of your existing jam nuts.  After setting your control arms to the desired length you need, all you need to do is hand tighten the LinXLok, secure the pinch bolts and fasten the set screws and you’re pretty much good to go.  No additional tightening of the LinXLok is required and initial tests have shown that with just this minimal amount of tightening alone, an impressive 125 ft. lbs. of torque or more would be required to loosen up the nuts.  Needless to say, with a set of the EVO LinXLok on your adjustable lower control arms, you can pretty much install them and forget about them.

Click on the screen or link below to watch a short demonstration video on how the EVO LinXLoks work:

Off Road Evolution JK LinXLok YouTube Video

To see more photos of the Off Road Evolution LinXLok, click on the link below:

Off Road Evolution LinXLok Photo Gallery

The Off Road Evolution LinXLok can be purchased individually (1 right hand thread, 1 left hand thread) for $30, as a pair (2 rights, 2 lefts) for $50 or as a complete set of 4 (4 rights, 4 lefts, 2 rights, 2 lefts) for only $100 and free shipping. Order yours today!

Off Road Evoltion LinXLoks

For more information about the EVO LinXLok or any Off Road Evolution Product, please visit their website at: www.offroadevolution.com 

Located in the Tejon Pass just north of Los Angeles and near the town of Gorman along the Interstate 5 corridor, the 19,000 acre Hungry Valley OHV Area offers over 130 miles of scenic trails for all driver skill levels and has a great 4WD practice area with obstacles ranging from easy to hardcore.

Admission to the Project-JK West Coast Mega Meet 2009 is FREE but, Hungry Valley OHV Area does charge an entrance fee of $5 a day per Jeep. And, if you intend to stay the night and party with us, the fee will be $10 a night. Both the event and camp site will take place at the same location and specific information regarding this will be added soon.

For those of you who will be coming in from out of the area or just prefer to stay in a hotel as opposed to camp, there are restaurants and affordable lodging located in the towns of Lebec, Gorman and Castaic.

To register for the Project-JK West Coast Mega Meet 2009, simply click on the link below and sign up today. Please note, you will need to be a member of JK-Forum.com in order to register for this event:

Project-JK West Coast Mega Meet 2009

Date: Saturday, June 27, 2009
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Hungry Valley OHV Area

To join an online discussion about this event, click on the link below:

Project-JK West Coast Mega Meet 2009 Discussion Forum

Special Thanks: I’d like to give special thanks to the following sponsors for helping us make The Project-JK West Coast Mega Meet 2009 possible. Without their generous support, events like these would be impossible for us to put on:

If you are a sponsor of Project-JK.com and would also like to sponsor the Project-JK West Coast Mega Meet, please contact us by email at: info@project-jk.com

The lid easily hinges open and is secured shut using an innovative latching system (Patent rights reserved). The lid and front can be easily removed without tools so larger items can be transported when required. The unique lid design is constructed from structural welded steel which incorporates a large weight bearing tray for organizing and transporting items on top. There are also two large trays on each side above the wheel well for addition storage and organization.

The entire Tuffy deck enclosure is constructed using welded 16 gauge steel, heavy duty fasteners, and finished with a durable textured powder coating.

It will work in vehicles equipped with or without the subwoofer and functions with the OEM compartment cover or the Tuffy Cubby Cover Part#143. All trays have external drain holes to prevent puddling moisture. Mounts easily without drilling in two and four door models and works with an OEM hard or soft top. Optional Rubber mat part#864 shown in some images is not included but can be ordered separately.

FEATURES:
• Large storage area is secured shut when the rear vehicle door is locked
• Lid easily hinges open for easy access when the rear vehicle door is opened
• Lid and front can be easily removed without tools
• Weight bearing lid incorporates a unique storage tray
• Two side organization trays included on top of the wheel wells
• Mounts in vehicles with or without the OEM subwoofer
• Mounts in vehicles with an OEM hard or soft top
• Works with the OEM storage cover or Tuffy Cubby Cover Part#143
• Includes all mounting hardware required and does not require drilling
• Includes weather seals and all trays have built in external moisture drain holes

SPECIFICATIONS:
Part #173 Color: 01 Black (Rubber mat Part#864 not included)
Exterior Dimensions overall: 36 5/16″ L, 52 5/16″ W, 17 9/16″ H
Interior Dimensions : 33 3/4″ L (Bottom), 41 1/2″ W, 15 1/2″ H
Top Lid Tray Dimensions Inside: 25 1/16″ L, 37 3/8″ W, 1 15/16″ H
Side Tray Dimensions Inside: 15″ L, 5 3/16″ W, 2 9/16″ H

MOUNTING:
No Drilling required. Side panels are fastened to existing mounting points in the vehicle. The front is fastened to
the sides with quick hand operated knob screws. The top then inserts into catches in the sides. The top and front can be easily removed. Fastens with the hardware provided.

FITS:
• Jeep Wrangler JK, 07-Current (With or without OEM subwoofer and OEM hard or soft top) 4-door models
2-door models (with rear seat removed)

Part# 173 Available in (01)Black

For more information, please contact:
Tuffy Security Products
25733 Road H; Cortez, CO 81321
800-348-8339
www.tuffyproducts.com