2001 Grand Cherokee Laredo

[adventure_is_necessary]

I've noticed with the cooler temps around here that my suspension gets a little creaky. I've always attributed that to the cold. Nice to know it's partially due to worn out bushings

 

[maxfederle89]

I've noticed with the cooler temps around here that my suspension gets a little creaky. I've always attributed that to the cold. Nice to know it's partially due to worn out bushings

I'm so used to driving older vehicles I kind of just accept sounds that seem "normal" but I agree. If it's bushings, and ones I want to replace anyway, I can deal with that. Bad thing is my wife freaks out over noises.... Oh well.

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[adventure_is_necessary]

I'm so used to driving older vehicles I kind of just accept sounds that seem "normal" but I agree. If it's bushings, and ones I want to replace anyway, I can deal with that. Bad thing is my wife freaks out over noises.... Oh well.

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Greasing the bushing upon install is just a normal thing for me. I've found when I build street cars that it also aided in installation as most of the vehicles I've worked on have seen some abuse and lack of regular care. Hopefully you can get it all squared away for piece of mind.

 

[maxfederle89]

Greasing the bushing upon install is just a normal thing for me. I've found when I build street cars that it also aided in installation as most of the vehicles I've worked on have seen some abuse and lack of regular care. Hopefully you can get it all squared away for piece of mind.

Howdy. Sorry it's been awhile. Ive determined with some expert advice it's my Sway Bar ending bushings. And I can also say Silicone based spray doesn't help. It may even make it noisier... If I get some time I need to pull it apart and do as you say. Just grease the little buggers. I wish they had grease zerks on them like the JKS fronts do...

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[maxfederle89]

Not much adventure lately. But I have been working on starting my own construction business and I'm working the fun-vee. Now I'm thinking of selling my roof basket and making some stout crossbars to carry my ladders on.... Anybody have some ideas? I've found some Square aluminum tubing that is pretty strong and comes in four foot sections. I figured two pieces of that in place of the stock crossmembers would make a pretty stout ladder rack. But I'm open to any one's ideas.

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[adventure_is_necessary]

Howdy. Sorry it's been awhile. Ive determined with some expert advice it's my Sway Bar ending bushings. And I can also say Silicone based spray doesn't help. It may even make it noisier... If I get some time I need to pull it apart and do as you say. Just grease the little buggers. I wish they had grease zerks on them like the JKS fronts do...

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Best bet is to just replace them if they're worn. Otherwise greasing them should do the trick.

 

[maxfederle89]

Best bet is to just replace them if they're worn. Otherwise greasing them should do the trick.

They're brand new. Just had the lift installed a few weeks ago. I just gotta find time to grease them.

And I'm sorry I may have been unclear. It's not the Sway Bar bushings it's the end link bushings. They're new from IRO with the lift. And it's only the passenger rear ones.

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[adventure_is_necessary]

Not much adventure lately. But I have been working on starting my own construction business and I'm working the fun-vee. Now I'm thinking of selling my roof basket and making some stout crossbars to carry my ladders on.... Anybody have some ideas? I've found some Square aluminum tubing that is pretty strong and comes in four foot sections. I figured two pieces of that in place of the stock crossmembers would make a pretty stout ladder rack. But I'm open to any one's ideas.

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I'd say keep the basket, but set it aside. Wonder if you could get a rack fab'd up that would be more ideal for hauling ladders? Definitely look at some longer cross members that would hang out over each side of the rig for easier access and the ability to slide the ladders on. I know I'll be in heaven once I get the extension for my basket. Adds somewhere around 18" which will be ideal for when I'm hauling stuff up there other than my spare.

 

[adventure_is_necessary]

They're brand new. Just had the lift installed a few weeks ago. I just gotta find time to grease them.

And I'm sorry I may have been unclear. It's not the Sway Bar bushings it's the end link bushings. They're new from IRO with the lift. And it's only the passenger rear ones.

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Ahh! You'd think they'd already be greased from the manufacturer...but I guess not.

 

[maxfederle89]

I'd say keep the basket, but set it aside. Wonder if you could get a rack fab'd up that would be more ideal for hauling ladders? Definitely look at some longer cross members that would hang out over each side of the rig for easier access and the ability to slide the ladders on. I know I'll be in heaven once I get the extension for my basket. Adds somewhere around 18" which will be ideal for when I'm hauling stuff up there other than my spare.

That's what I envision as well. And stronger crossbars would be a little better for the basket as well. Someday I'd like to invest in a small tool trailer. That would haul my ladders most of the time. Or I'll get wild a buy another pickup to work out of. But for now this has to work.

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[stickel]

Not much adventure lately. But I have been working on starting my own construction business and I'm working the fun-vee. Now I'm thinking of selling my roof basket and making some stout crossbars to carry my ladders on.... Anybody have some ideas? I've found some Square aluminum tubing that is pretty strong and comes in four foot sections. I figured two pieces of that in place of the stock crossmembers would make a pretty stout ladder rack. But I'm open to any one's ideas.

I've been looking at this rack from Front Runner: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/roof-racks/slimline-ii-roof-rack-kits/jeep-grand-cherokee-roof-rack-pre-2006-full-cargo-rack-front-runner-slimline-ii.html

Benefit is that it's flat all around so you could have the ladders across the whole rack instead of the edges. Not sure if it fits your budget or idea of what you want to do though.

 

[maxfederle89]

I've been looking at this rack from Front Runner: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/roof-racks/slimline-ii-roof-rack-kits/jeep-grand-cherokee-roof-rack-pre-2006-full-cargo-rack-front-runner-slimline-ii.html

Benefit is that it's flat all around so you could have the ladders across the whole rack instead of the edges. Not sure if it fits your budget or idea of what you want to do though.

Oh I'm very familiar with Frontrunner! I love that rack but it's so outside my price range right now. But I guess it could be a "business expense" [emoji6][emoji41] Good recommendations though! Maybe if I can justify it for work now I can make it happen. It's just a lot of cash...

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[stickel]

Oh I'm very familiar with Frontrunner! I love that rack but it's so outside my price range right now. But I guess it could be a "business expense" [emoji6][emoji41] Good recommendations though! Maybe if I can justify it for work now I can make it happen. It's just a lot of cash...

I hear you, man. The next projects on my build are all $1k+ each expenses for parts alone!

Marking it as a business expense would be key, even though it doesn’t prevent the money coming out of your pocket today. No harm going the homemade route until funds open up though. I see plenty of homemade mods on work trucks in my neck of the woods.

 

[maxfederle89]

I hear you, man. The next projects on my build are all $1k+ each expenses for parts alone!

Marking it as a business expense would be key, even though it doesn’t prevent the money coming out of your pocket today. No harm going the homemade route until funds open up though. I see plenty of homemade mods on work trucks in my neck of the woods.

You and me are on the same level man. I've been thinking everything you said for sure. And I've always been cool slumming it and building things myself.

A little update: I bought all the parts I need for about $50. I'm going to overbuild this thing! Steel 1" square tubing, grade 8 bolts, and stainless steel eye bolts rated at 200 lbs. My goal is to build this to meet our exceed the factory rails so it has no chance of failing. So I guess I'm not really slumming this build. I really did try to make it the best I can. I sort of wish I had a welder... I could add some framing to the cross bars to enable it to me used as a roof rack as well. I don't think it would be very difficult to achieve. The only thing I'm unsure of is how pretty it will be... It may not match the aesthetic of the Jeep. But it should be highly functional.

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[adventure_is_necessary]

Over the last couple days I installed an iron Rock Offroad skid plate. However, I ran into clearance issues with my catalytic converter. So today I took it to the exhaust shop and had them get me more clearance and because I had a stock Muffler that had rusty holes, I asked them to put a new MagnaFlow clone Muffler under it. Couldn't be happier. Everything turned out really nice. The Iron Rock Offroad skid plate is super beefy. I don't see how anything could hurt it.

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How did this skid plate fit with your tcase? I assume you have the NP249?? I'm concerned about how it'll work with my NP249.

 

[maxfederle89]

How did this skid plate fit with your tcase? I assume you have the NP249?? I'm concerned about how it'll work with my NP249.

I have Quadra Trac II in my Jeep and I had no issues with the t-case. My catalytic converter on the other hand was the issue!

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[maxfederle89]

So here's my improved crossbars to carry my ladders for work. It seems a lot better than putting them on the Rola, primarily because the stock crossbars don't inspire any confidence in me. I really wish the stock rails weren't aluminum... They are the weak link along with whatever holds them on the roof.... How I wish I could afford the Frontrunner... Or I wish I had the resources to built an entire permanent or bolt on system myself. If my business progresses how I want, I will someday have a trailer and I will mount a ladder rack on it and I can go back to my "adventure" setup. But for now this will work.

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[Eddiebrs]

Does having the ends of the crossbars open cause any noise or whistling at speeds. I too want to replace the current crossbars.

 

[Montaska]

Great progress! I used to have an '02 Grand Cherokee, I loved that thing.

 

[maxfederle89]

Does having the ends of the crossbars open cause any noise or whistling at speeds. I too want to replace the current crossbars.

You know I don't know if having the ends open affects the noise. But their square shape and how low they are to the roof creates a "wubwub" noise at highway speed. But with both ladders on it doesn't make any noise. They are strong but the next weak link is the aluminum rails on the Jeep. They don't inspire much confidence...

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