hey guys, heres an update. Squeaky has seen quite a few tough trails this year with the rancho kit I added back in January. While I dont off road as much as backcountry I would say I see more trails then the average. I have counted 20 trail days this year ranging from tougher trails to easier stuff and I know I have probably missed a few so I wouldnt be surprised if I had about 25 days this year. hitting just a few hundred miles short of 93K miles its time for some more mods and some TLC.
The steering rack
-I know many think its weak but it has held up well for me. Its the original rack from 7 years/93k miles ago. The bushings are shot (I assume that cause I can hear play), it has seen extreme amounts of play when the sleeve came out and it would be silly of me not to throw in the brand new one sitting on the floor in the garage. I am in no rush to throw it in as I am going to wait for my new hunner sleeve to come in and I will add a 2nd mounting bracket. While I havent seen the rack fail I have heard of it, Bebe has taken her steering rack through the rubicon and fordyce and all tough trails through moab yet it people break them all the time...Either way I would like to put some reenforcement in there just to be safe.
Spring over
-One of the first things I learned while hopping on the forums is that it is easy to get carried away and make a huge list of **** to change but have no real proof to why the change is necessary. For the past few years I have been wheeling my hang up has always been the rear end of the vehicle, either the spring hanger or leaves it self. I threw on the tomp low profile shock mounts and I never had a hang up again on the leaf spring mounts. When I lifted it the deavers greatly reduced my clearance and have been an issue ever since. So instead of going back to the rancho leaves or adding shackles or airbags its time to just go with a spring over. I feel this is the ticket to making the H3 a good wheeler to an ever better wheeler. I am scared but have the parts ordered and am doing it next weekend (4th and 5th)
Diff-
Its held up well, I just keep wheel spin as low as possible. the driver side diff bushing is shot...gonna have to replace that, I replaced the other side before moab and is still in good shape. The rancho crossmember diff bushing has done well but I am starting to feel a clunk. so I may have to order a replacement or get an arizona rancho rig down to dwaine! :wink:
Trans-
I replaced a part in the trans that was pulling the code. After replacing it the trans was still randomly downshifting at freeway speeds, but after a few weeks it stopped and the trans is shifting perfectly again. WOOHOO!
Other then that squeaky is doing good. I wheeled with the doors off yesterday and the visibility increase is insane! dropping some lbs. is a good thing too lol.
