These simple and functional builds are underrated. I've gone a similar route and have been super satisfied with the results.

 

Rugged Ridge 17606.70 axle-back muffler/exhaust Review


The old muffler was only 5 years old, but something came loose inside that made a tinging noise at certain RPM's that was acoustical torture. The new muffler has a lot deeper base sound to it, and sits a little higher too.

 

Driver: 0.027 up/down (lower joint) 0.00 lateral (upper joint)
Passenger: 0.028 up/down (lower joint) 0.00 lateral (upper joint)

The up/down play was using the full vehicle weight on tire vs jacked with tire hanging. There's a few thou less using a crow bar while jacked.

Going by what's often written on the forums, it's pleasantly surprising how well these factory ball joints are doing.

 

Installed the new Raybestos ceramic-metallic hybrid brake pads (EHT1273H & EHT1274H) about 500 miles ago. The DOT friction code rating is GG for all pads, factory is FF -- A higher coefficient of friction should translate into more braking force for the same pedal effort. The shims on the back of the pads are thin steel bonded to resilient material that's bonded to the back of the pad.

Can't quantitatively say how much better the braking might be, but it feels like an improvement.

 

These skids are made by PureJeep (PJ5153), and are 3/16 thick. The end result after some grinding prep (angling where the skid meets the shock mount) is a flat-bottom skid that is only a little more than 1/16" lower than the stock shock mount, which is the factory low point.

Compared to other skids, it's a minimalist concept. It adds very little that could end up being a rock-magnet.

Except for the rear of the shock mount, it's all fillet welds. Nothing was removed before welding. One drain hole was drilled in the bottom. Access was a little tight using just jack stands and welding while laying down, but not too bad even for a quasi old-guy like me.



Side Note: 285 wide tires with stock wheels and no spacers affords some protection for the LCA mount, the outboard half in particular. Before welding, there were a couple dings on the inboard side to clean up, the outboard side was like new.

 

Those shock skids are something that should have come factory. I did the rear shock relocation on mine so welded up my own skids back there after cutting off a couple inches. It's amazing how much nicer it is running through rocky patches without those damn mounts catching every.single.rock.

I like that yours make use of the factory mounts but mine were too mangled to even try and save.


Keep it up!

 

Thanks, good post -- Keeping re-location as a backup plan. From memory, the shocks I'm using actually have a shorter compressed length than stock (and a 1" longer extended length). Jeep really should have raised that shock mount a bit...

 

Being a builder of my own boring but functional Jeep I have really enjoyed this thread. Keeping a Jeep that is a good daily driver while still having the ability to go places that the bigger jeeps can go (and some places they can not) is a definite challenge. I will be using the ideas about using the stronger Teraflex track bar and the T-case skid plate in the near future.

This is how my boring build turned out. I don't think is does too bad considering.

 

Thanks -- Nice looking Jeep there! I like your ramp, it sure pays to check clearance and such ahead of time.

 

This really is a great build thread. Very informative... as your posts always are!