98' XJ Sport.. Another XJ Thread

[Steve85]

:thumbup:

[V1GiLaNtE]

Little update:

Friday was sort of a "test and tune" with the XJ. I had JKS swaybar discos and threw them on.


Great! Now we can have some flex... Which in turn will allow me to "tune" the suspension to gain the maximum flex without destroying tires, flares, leaf springs..

Basically by disconnecting and driving up something to find the point where bump-stopping is necessary. Generally, it's about 1" of bump-stopping for every 1" of lift. So as we're at 3" taking a look at the front and rear suspension at full flex on the up-travel side of things I need about 2" front and rear. The extended bump-stops are not even hitting the axle tube in the rear. This is BAD. Very BAD. Inverting the leaf springs from over flexxing is a great way to prematurely wear and eventually destroy the packs.


The front will definitely need 2 hockey pucks thrown onto the spring plates. Ideally by limiting the up-travel with the bump-stopping the other side will start drooping down.

I'm really impressed with the OME leaf packs and Rough Country springs. The Rubicon shocks are pretty much perfect for this setup. SO, with the 2" all around I'll keep these 31's out of the fenders but still have the ability to turn back and forth full lock. At least until my "it's only going 3" 31's" statement goes out the window.. which is already true.. Stay tuned. :wink:

Pics or it didn't happen..

[V1GiLaNtE]

Not much to report.

Did a tune up of plugs, wires, cap, rotor, upstream O2 Sensor. SERIOUSLY need to do an oil change this week. About 155k on clock.

We went down to the river for the 4th. All in all she hauls all of our shit pretty well. Those Old Man Emu HD springs hold their own.

[Steve85]

Saw you two Sunday's ago on Baron Cameron Ave at FFX Cty Parkway - looking good! Looked like the rear flares were off though.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Saw you two Sunday's ago on Baron Cameron Ave at FFX Cty Parkway - looking good! Looked like the rear flares were off though.

Thanks!! So far I had only had the front fenders off and trimmed. I trimmed the rears back when we had the exhaust workshop at Kaans.

So this past weekend I made a trip down to Lorton area to try out Red Cloud Offroad. Basically a local business (10-8 Duty Gear) leases the property from the landowner to provide local offroader's with a safe and legal place to do some trail riding.

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The property is fairly large right off of 95 and the entrance funny enough is at the back of the commuter lot off 95 by Lorton.

Overall, the place is pretty new having only been open since September. It's mostly a lot of mud but has some fun tight and technical aspects and a 75 yard creek which you can drive up and maneuver through!

I went by myself but met some other jeepers and just sorta lined up and ran the trails. I had pretty good time considering it only cost me $40 for the whole day and it was 25 minutes from the house! They are working on bringing in debris and other items to create obstacles and other fun things to plan on the property.

Jeep did really well for what it is. I got stuck once in some pretty nasty slop but for the most part the XJ was outperforming guys on 2/3 more inches of lift and larger "mud" tires. I got a lot of questions throughout the day "How did you get through that part or up that trail?" :thumbup:

[SlimKlim]

Looks like a ton of fun, if you go to that place again let me know. I've never really gone offroading, would be fun to tag along.

[HAULN-SS]

lol..that first picture with what looks like a traffic jam of people behind you..did you feel rushed or pressured?

[V1GiLaNtE]

lol..that first picture with what looks like a traffic jam of people behind you..did you feel rushed or pressured?

Nope. The silver XJ in the 4th picture was the "trail guide" so we were waiting for everyone to drop into the creek. Actually most of the time it was the complete opposite.. I was out of an obstacle and waiting for the group to catch up. :lol:

Looks like a ton of fun, if you go to that place again let me know. I've never really gone offroading, would be fun to tag along.

Sure thing!

[Kaan]

great... more mud to drop on the garage floor the next time you come over for something

[V1GiLaNtE]

great... more mud to drop on the garage floor the next time you come over for something

ACTUALLY..

Part of the $40 is a mandatory $5 rinse fee since we have to exit through the commuter lot. They hook up a hose to a fire hydrant and you spray the whole rig down.. :bootyshake:

No if only I could hose the whole interior down..There shouldn't be as much mud next time..but... no promises. :wink:

[ScottyB]

i don't know exactly what it is, but that's a really cool shot. looks fun!

[V1GiLaNtE]

Not much to report. Made the 3 hour drive to Shoe Creek this past Saturday. Overall, a really fun trail with good obstacles, water crossings, and views. I'd say I enjoy it more than Flag Pole as there are a few good places to flex and be technical.

Tried my hands a big rock incline and just couldn't hook up. I think if I had let a few more psi out of the tires and approached the rock farther to the right I would have climbed right up. The tricky part was getting the driver rear tire up a foot gap between the ground and the next part up the rock. Put myself in a tight spot and ended up with a cracked driver tail light and a banged up rocker. Time to buy those rock sliders.









The incline..



That big rock on the right is the culprit for all the damage

[Senor_Taylor]

I wish I had got more pictures of my truck last time I went to Shoe. Such a pretty place.

I'm pretty sure that part with the rock incline was closed last time I went.

[ibjeepin95]

Not much to report. Made the 3 hour drive to Shoe Creek this past Saturday. Overall, a really fun trail with good obstacles, water crossings, and views. I'd say I enjoy it more than Flag Pole as there are a few good places to flex and be technical.

Tried my hands a big rock incline and just couldn't hook up. I think if I had let a few more psi out of the tires and approached the rock farther to the right I would have climbed right up. The tricky part was getting the driver rear tire up a foot gap between the ground and the next part up the rock. Put myself in a tight spot and ended up with a cracked driver tail light and a banged up rocker. Time to buy those rock sliders.









The incline..



That big rock on the right is the culprit for all the damage

Nice! Wish I knew you was going, we were talking about going but never went. I've actually never been there. Time for some bigger tires with the fenders trimmed!

[V1GiLaNtE]

I'm looking for tall and skinny 33x10.5 but need at least a 8.25 back there..

I need to armor up and address some suspension issues first. Mainly improving my shackle angle with relocation boxes and some adjustable LCA's.

I'm always down to make the trip again!

[Senor_Taylor]

Hey, both of you, I might be going to flag pole or shoe after the car show with some Toyota guys. We might camp out.

[V1GiLaNtE]

I'd be down to do some wheelin

[Senor_Taylor]

I've never been to flag pole, is it good?

[V1GiLaNtE]

It's *ok*. I've done it so many times it could do it with my eyes closed. Granted, you're closer to stock so I'd say there will be some good challenges. It's a good trail for what we have in the VA area available to the public.

[Senor_Taylor]

Clearance is my only problem. I've got a rear locker. My bumpers and bottom bits hitting stuff are what hold me back.

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