Jeep JK Write-Ups
| BUMPERS |
CB & ELECTRONICS |
|
|
| INTERIOR |
SKIDPLATES & ARMOR |
|
|
| SUSPENSION |
OPERATION & MAINTENANCE |
|
|
| PERFORMANCE |
WHEELS & TIRES |
|
|
| WINCHES & RECOVERY GEAR |
TROUBLESHOOTING |
|
|
| OTHER ACCESSORIES |
JK-FORUM USER MODS |
|
|
Recent Write-Ups
May 04th, 2008
 |
I have always been a fan of the factory scissor jack that comes standard with a Jeep JK Wrangler as it is compact, easy to use, much more practical and safer to use than a Hi-Lift Jack for changing tires and, as if it needs to be mentioned, stores away nicely and out of sight when not in use. Of course, the biggest drawback to the factory scissor jack is that they are only designed to lift a stock height to a mildly lifted Jeep just high enough to allow you to change your tire. Unfortunately, once you get your Jeep sitting on a 3"-4" lift and on 35"-37" tires, the factory scissor jack essentially becomes useless. Needless to say, that's why I bought me an AEV JK Jack Base.
|
May 01st, 2008
 |
Although the application of vinyl decals is pretty straight forward and easy to do, getting them on right, positioned correctly and without any wrinkles or bubbles the first time around can be somewhat tricky. That is, unless you know how to do it right. Granted, I have no doubts that there are a plethora of different ways to apply decals, but this method has always worked for me and the easy to follow step by step instructions below should help you get yours on without any fuss. Of course, this write-up is for the application of the Project-JK logo decal, it will also work for any decal that you apply on your Jeep JK Wrangler.
|
April 09th, 2008
 |
Without a doubt, one of the easiest mods that just about anyone can do to their Jeep JK Wrangler, even those without ANY mechanical experience, is upgrade their factory air cleaner box with a cold air intake system. And, by far, one of the best cold air intake systems available on the market today is the AEM Brute Force.
|
March 05th, 2008
 |
Changing the fluid in your Jeep JK Wrangler's differentials is an important part of routine maintenance. New gear oil will insure your differentials will be properly lubricated and functioning properly. And, unlike previous Jeep Wranglers, you will not need to pop open the differential cover in order to perform this maintenance. Granted, I do recommend that you do so anyway from time to time (every other fluid change) as it will give you a chance to inspect the gears within it for any damage or unsual wear.
|
February 14th, 2008
 |
If you're looking for a way to armor up your Jeep JK Wrangler's front and/or rear differentials, look no further than SOLID Axle Industries. Designed as a heavy duty replacement, the SOLID differential cover is extremely well built, super beefy, affordable, has a machined mating surface for a flat fit, comes complete with new bolts and RTV and best of all, it looks awesome!
Installing a set of SOLID heavy duty replacement differential covers is extremely easy to do and can be done in about 15-30 minutes an axle. All you need to do is make sure that you have everything listed in the column to the left and follow the instructions below.
|
February 04th, 2008
 |
Disconnecting your front sway bar links is something that Jeep owners have been doing for years as it allows your axle to have significantly more articulation. And, more articulation means you will be able to keep all four of your tires on the ground more often than not and this will ultimately provide greater stability and traction on the trail.
|
January 25th, 2008
 |
If you're looking to give your Jeep JK Wrangler a 2" lift and have no plans of ever going taller in the future, there's only one true suspension lift kit you should consider and that is the one made by Old Man Emu. Being that the tallest lift that they make is a 2" lift, you can be sure that they do all that they can to make it the very best and have actually made a reputation for themselves for doing just that.
|
January 16th, 2008
 |
Just like the very popular Shrockworks Stubby Front Bumper, the new Mid-Width Front Bumper is laser cut and CNC formed out of 3/16" steel plate, comes complete with a winch plate that can accept most 9500 lbs. winches including the new WARN PowerPlant, a skid plate which will effectively protect the Rubicon electronic disconnect, (2) D-Ring mounts, (2) off-road light mounts, a winch hoop and it will allow you to keep your factory fog lights.
The installation of the Shrockworks Jeep JK Wrangler Mid-Width Front Bumper is just as simple to install as the Stubby and can be done by yourself. If you can employ the help of a friend, you should be able to complete the installation in about an hour or two at most by following the write-up below. |
January 15th, 2008
 |
If you just installed a set of bigger tires on your stock wheels or wheels that have too much back spacing, you are most likely experiencing some tire rub on your front sway bar, frame rail and/or lower control arms. Now, the obvious fix for this would be to install a set of wheels that have less back spacing or to install a set of 1.5" wheel spacers but if you're rubbing is very minor, you might want to consider adjusting out your Jeep JK Wrangler's steer stops. Although this will cause you to loose some of your turning radius, it is a very cheap and easy fix that can be done in minutes and with nothing more than a couple washers and a wrench. |
January 11th, 2008
 |
One of the easiest and single best things you can do to improve the performance of your Jeep JK Wrangler on the trail is to disconnect your front sway bar links. By doing this, you free up your front axle to have a significantly greater range of articulation or what Jeepers often refer to as 'flex'. And, when you can maintain all four on the floor, you inherently gain more stability and traction, both of which will improve your Jeep's ability on technical terrain. |
December 22nd, 2007
 |
Utilizing dual rated coils, the Currie Enterprises Jeep JK Wrangler Rock Jock Suspension System comes complete with everything you need to clear 37" tires (with only minor trimming required), provides up to 11" of front and rear wheel travel (with specified shocks) and allows you to dial in your ride with their beefy weld in track bar relocation brackets and adjustable control arms featuring their ever famous Johnny Joints. And, if you're looking for more off-road stability without having to sacrifice your outstanding flex, all you need to do is add on the optional front and rear Rock Jock Anti-Rock Sway Bar Systems to your JK and call it a day. |
December 21st, 2007
 |
Whether you just installed a set of new brake lines or worked on your brake system in a way that required you to disconnect any of your brake lines, it is absolutely necessary that you bleed your brakes before you drive your Jeep JK Wrangler. Failure to do so will result in poor to non-existent braking due to air bubbles that can get trapped inside your brake lines. Symptoms of air bubbles trapped in your braking system include an excessively soft brake pedal or a pedal that goes clear to the floor without any resistance. If you have any of these symptoms even though you have not worked on your brakes, check for leaks, fix where necessary and then proceed to bleed your brakes. |
December 09th, 2007
 |
Thanks to the new steering design on the Jeep JK Wrangler, very little is needed to have the front end aligned after the installation of a small to moderate suspension lift (2" to maybe 3" of lift). In fact, if you're just running 33" tires, all that's really required at this height is for you to re-center your steering wheel to prevent the ESP from thinking you are in a slide and activating unnecessarily.
Having said that, at 3" and up, it is highly recommended that you install an adjustable front track bar so that you can re-center your axle as well as adjustable upper and lower front control arms so that you can dial in your caster. And, if you are running 35"-37" tires, adjusting your toe-in might be something you'll want to consider as well as it will help to compensate for the bigger diameter and footprint. |
December 05th, 2007
 |
Thanks to the advent of technology, just about every single part on your new Jeep JK Wrangler is wired up to a computer. And, if anything goes wrong with any one of these parts, your Jeep's computer will make a note of it and/or even let you know about it by illuminating a Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL for short or 'check engine' light) or icons on your dash. Unfortunately, the MIL or other icons won't tell you a whole lot other than the fact that your Jeep is having some kind of a problem and unless you take your Jeep into the dealership or have a OBDII reader handy, you're pretty much out of luck, right? Wrong. As luck would have it, the JK Wrangler's come with a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) reader built right into the dash and you can access them by following the 3 simple steps below. Once you have the DTC code(s) in hand, check it/them against the list below and you will be able to find out exactly what problems your Jeep is having. |
October 04th, 2007
 |
Unlike previous Jeep Wranglers that had a simple gear in the transfer case that you could change out with ease, the all new JK Wrangler is completely computer controlled now and calibrating it's speedometer and odometer to match any tire taller than 32" or a gear ratio any higher than 4.10 was virtually impossible. That is, at least until now anyway.
Thanks to the guys over at 4 Wheel Drive Hardware who just sent me the Pro Comp ACCU PRO, I was able to accurately calibrate both the speedometer and odometer on my Jeep JK Wrangler that is currently running 315/70R17's (approximately a 35x12.50) Pro Comp Xtreme M/T's and Superior 5.13 gears. And, if I had an automatic, the ACCU PRO would have also instantly corrected the computer controlled shift points as well. |
October 02nd, 2007
 |
As much as I love doing short day trips up hard core trails, I have to say that my real love for Jeeps comes from the fact that they allow me to see and explore all the wonderful places this great country has to offer. And, when you load up your Jeep as much as I do to go on multi-day wheeling/camping trip with the entire family, the rear end of your Jeep JK Wrangler will sag considerably and in some cases, measurably enough to be an issue on and off the trail. Certainly, on the trail, sagging will cause a loss of ground clearance and on pavement, sagging will cause your head light beams to shine high and into the eyes of on coming traffic. So how does one go about solving a problem like this? Install a set of Air Lift 1000 air springs. |
September 29th, 2007
 |
While a decent FRS walkie-talkie style hand held radio will get you by on the trail, there really is nothing that compares to a good old fashion CB radio when it comes to range, audio clarity, reliability and ease of use. And, it's for those reasons that's so many Jeep clubs make having a CB Radio a requirement in order to go on their runs.
Now, I know there are a lot of people who try to argue that a CB radio is too expensive or that they wouldn't know where to install one in the Jeep JK Wrangler and it is for them that I have created this easy to follow write-up. With the very affordable Midland 1001Z CB Radio (can be purchased for about $32 shipped), a few simple tools and an hour of your time, you can have a great CB radio installed on your Jeep that's compact, looks great and comes loaded with features including a PA switch. Need I say, you no longer have any excuses for not having a CB radio in your Jeep. |
August 05th, 2007
 |
Truly, there are few 3" lift kits available on the market today for the Jeep JK Wrangler that are as complete and well made as the Full Traction Suspension 3" Ultimate Lift. Made here in the USA, this lift kit comes with 3" taller coils, adjustable lower and upper control arms, adjustable front and rear track bars, bump stop extensions, brake line relocation brackets, new longer sway bar links for the rear and sway bar link disconnects up front for X and Sahara model JK's. In essence, you get EVERYTHING you need to dial in your ride as these components will allow you to reposition and center your axles under your Jeep, set your rear pinion angle (if you have an aftermarket drive shaft) and set your caster angle to where it needs to be after lifting your Jeep and installing bigger tires. |
August 01st, 2007
 |
The installation of the Shrockworks Jeep JK Wrangler Stubby Front Bumper is very straight forward and by far one of the easiest ones that I've installed to date. Although it can be done by yourself, if you can employ the help of a friend, you should be able to complete the install in about an hour or two at most by following the write-up below.
|
July 02nd, 2007
 |
Above and beyond the fact that the Jeep JK Wrangler is by far one of the most capable off-road vehicles to ever be made, its ability to be driven both topless and doorless truly makes it one of the coolest vehicles ever made as well. And, if you're anything like me, driving my Jeep topless and doorless is the option of choice and something I try to do as often as possible.
Of course, open air entertainment doesn't come without its consequences and left exposed to the elements, your factory seat are in for a real beating. Heck, general wear and tear from continuous use is reason enough for me to recommend some kind of upholstery protection and that's why I would highly recommend that you pick up and install a set of high quality seat covers much like the kind Seatglovers make. |
June 22nd, 2007
 |
With all the improvements and additions that have been designed into the all new Jeep JK Wrangler, I really am surprised that a decent set of overhead grab handles weren't included in the design. For the most part, this is no big deal as there are plenty of good aftermarket solutions for the front passengers like the velcro grab handles that MasterCraft makes but with the sound bar being located where it is, finding a good solution for the rear has been a bit tougher. |
May 11th, 2007
The one question that I get asked time and time again from new Jeepers is, "what's the first mod I should do to my Jeep?" Of course, my answer to them is always the same, "recovery gear". The fact of the matter is, whether you're new to the world of off-roading with a right off the show room floor stock Jeep, or a long time veteran with a highly modified built up trail rig, everyone gets into a jam sooner or later.
May 03rd, 2007
 |
When it comes to frame mounted rocker guard protection for your Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited, few can compare to the high quality construction, strength, function and clean design of the Shrockworks Rock Sliders.
Built with severe punishment in mind, the Shrockworks Rock Sliders are designed with beefy squared tubes that sit just below the body pinch seam of your Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited and features a round tube side bar that extends out and angles up to provide maximum ground clearance and protection for your Jeep. Additional benefits of the tube side bars is its ability to be used as a Hi-Lift Jack point and of course, serve as a viable side step. |
April 30th, 2007
So, how have the Pro Comp Xtreme Mud Terrains been performing? Well, I can tell you that since I got them about a month ago, I have racked up about 3,000 miles on the odometer with a good 1,500 miles of that being put on driving out to Moab, Utah and wheeling the hell of the them there. And, I'd have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised as to how much I really like these tires!
April 29th, 2007
 |
What I like most about the PUREJEEP Jeep JK Wrangler 2-Door Rocker Guards is how clean and deliberate they look once they are installed. In fact, because of the way they have been designed to mount directly to the factory pinch seam (much like the factory Rubicon Rocker Guards) and have been shaped to follow the contours of the new JK body lines, the PUREJEEP Rocker Guards provide a look as if they were designed by Jeep itself and offered on the JK right from the factory. |
March 08th, 2007
 |
Phase one of the official Project-JK build up was to to get our Jeep JK Wrangler lifted high enough to sit on top of 35" tires and do it on a very tight budget. And, after doing some extensive research, we concluded that the best way to accomplish this goal was to start with the installation of a TeraFlex Budget Boost coil spacer suspension lift. With an extremely low retail price of about $225 (when purchased with a set of optional shock absorber extensions), this very complete kit will effectively lift your Jeep JK Wrangler 2.5" and do it without the need of purchasing new longer shocks - need I say more? |
March 06th, 2007
 |
If you're looking for a great heavy duty front bumper that looks great, is made out of 3/16" thick steel, has a narrower width to give you amazing approch angles, allows you to keep your factory fog lights, come with D-Ring mounts, has a winch plate that is recessed between your frame rails and a price tag that won't break the bank, the LoD Jeep JK Wrangler Front Winch Bumper is for you.
The new LoD Jeep JK Wrangler Front Winch Bumper is super easy to install and this write-up should be all that you need to make it happen. Please read through the check list on the left to make sure you have everything you need before you start and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. |
March 02nd, 2007
 |
When you lift a Jeep JK Wrangler 3" or more, you really need to do more than just pop in a set of taller coils if you hope to maintain a good ride quality and handling. At the very least, you really need to address the shift in your axles by adjusting your track bars. And, while a track bar relocation bracket is a great solution for the rear, I would highly recommend the installation of a good replacement heavy duty adjustable unit up front like the kind Full Traction Suspension makes. |
February 22nd, 2007
 |
The PUREJEEP Crawler Stubby Front Bumper was the very first hard core aftermarket front bumper to be released and in my opinion, still one of the very best that is offered in terms of quality and price. It's clean and simple utilitarian design is exceptionally functional, provides extreme approach angles and is proportionately sized to match the JK's new broad look. Essentially, it gives you everything you need and nothing you don't.
Unfortunately, I didn't have a PUREJEEP Crawler Stubby Front Bumper to install myself but thanks to Chris Bader ( piginajeep ) and the on-going build-up project that 4Wheel Drive Hardware is helping him to do on his Jeep JK Wrangler, I think you'll find this installation write-up to be complete and contain everything you need to install one on your JK. |
February 07th, 2007
I did an install on the Hutchinson beadlocks and wanted to give you a look at them. The first thing you notice when you pick one of these wheels is the weight–55 pounds each. The quality of the wheel is impeccable. You can tell they are produced by a company that builds for the military because these wheels look like they could stop a 50 caliber round.
December 30th, 2006
 |
If you're looking to install a true 3" coil suspension lift on your new Jeep JK wrangler and need to do it on a budget, few kits can come close to matching the quality, completeness and affordable price of the Full Traction Suspension Jeep JK Wrangler 3" Economy Lift Kit. This kit is easy to install and can be done in an afternoon with basic SAE and metric tools. |
September 23rd, 2006
I've heard a lot of people say that the new 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler 4-Door Unlimited is unique in that it's the only production SUV in the U.S. market today that is also a convertible. As if being able to drive a Jeep Wrangler topless was some kind of new option - LOL!!
September 19th, 2006
When Jeep first introduced the TJ Wrangler Unlimited back in 2004, it came with the added feature of a Sunrider Soft Top. And, unlike the soft tops of old, the new Sunrider was designed with the ability to open up the front half with ease effectively making it into a sun roof.
September 17th, 2006
 |
By far, one of the best new design features offered on the 2007 Jeep JK Wrangler is the addition of a 3-piece sectional hard top, also known as the Freedom Top.
Unlike hard tops of the past that gave you only two options, on or off, the new Freedom Top gives you no less than seven different ways for you to open up the cab of your Jeep to elements. Remove both front panels or just one at a time to give sun or shade to the driver or front passenger as desired. Or, leave the front panels in place and just remove the rear half to give your Jeep an instant bikini top. |
— Next Page »
