Bearing Boogie
Weak link: Lower steering column bearings
Models affected: '80-'86 CJ
What happens: The lower steering column bearing dries out and fails.
Strong fix: Replace the bearing with an OEM bearing or replace the entire steering column. Flaming River offers columns for this application, including the column shown, which has a heat-resistant lower bushing for increased longevity.
Contact: Flaming River, 800/648-8022, www.flamingriver.com
Insufficient Lube
Weak link: Oiling system
Models affected: 304ci-, 360ci-, and 401ci-equipped CJ's
What happens: These engines have a lousy lubrication system. One of the by-products is that the distributor gear doesn't get enough oil, thus it wears prematurely and fails. When this happens your jeeping day comes to a rapid halt.
Strong fix: Attitude Performance in Arlington Heights, Illinois, tells us that they improve lubrication flow to the distributor gear by drilling and tapping a hole in the front of the block near the distributor gear so that a copper tube can be routed from an oil-pressure sending port at the front of the engine. The result is that the distributor gear gets a constant spray of life-giving oil.
Contact: Attitude Performance, 847/593-0505, www.attitudeperformance.com
Rear Ended, Part II
Weak link: Dana 35C rear axle
Models affected: '89-'96 YJ, '97-'05 TJ
What happens: The Dana 35C rear axle is the Peugeot transmission of axles. Somewhat reliable for stock use, its reliability quickly becomes sketchy at best when you hit the trail, add larger tires, or look at it funny. We know-we've had one.
Strong fix: The hot ticket is to swap it out for something beefier. The general consensus is a Dana 44 or a Ford 8.8 will do a great job for rigs equipped with up to 35-inch tires. If you absolutely must keep the 35C under your rig, fear not, because there are gobs of companies offering ways to make it better. Randy's Ring & Pinion is one of those, and they offer the Ultimate 35 kit that includes two Yukon heavy-duty alloy 30-spline axleshafts, carrier bearings, studs, axle bearings, and shims. Further, you can choose kits that include a Detroit, Ox, or ARB locker.
Contact: Randy's Ring & Pinion, 866/245-2316, www.ringpinion.com
Weak Gearbox, Part II
Weak link: Peugeot/BA10-15 five-speed manual transmission
Models affected: '87-'89 YJ
What happens: This transmission is probably one of the most ridiculed gearboxes of all-time. Infamous for its unreliability, it also gained fame for its hard-to-service internal clutch slave.
Strong fix: Get rid of it and swap in something good. Advance Adapters offers a number of bellhousings and transfer case adapters that offer the opportunity to upgrade (see "Weak Gearbox").
Contact: Advance Adapters, 800/350-2223, www.advanceadapters.com
Disconnected axle
Weak link: Vacuum actuator
Models affected: '87-'95 Wrangler
What happens: When you shift the transfer case into four-wheel drive, a vacuum actuator is designed to move a collar laterally and engage the front axleshaft. Unfortunately, this component often fails for one reason or another. When this happens, the transfer case engages but the front axle doesn't. The result is no four-wheel drive.
Strong fix: 4x4 Posi-Lok offers a kit that replaces the vacuum system and allows the driver to engage the shift collar and fork from inside the cab with simply a 1-inch pull on the 4x4 Posi-Lok cable.
Contact: 4x4 Posi-Lok, 517/279-7177, www.4x4posi-lok.com