J.E.E.P. actually means…

Posted: July 26, 2026 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Just Expect Every Problem

Here’s a story of some of my recent Jeep maintenance/repairs over the last few months.

It started with me finally getting tired of the steering wheel being 15 degrees off. I knew I needed an alignment, but I also knew I had a few loose components that needed to be replaced before I could get an alignment.

I felt very good when I actually found an extremely loose left lower ball joint. I felt very bad after pressing in the joint without power tools. I pulled a few muscles in my back. The plan was to replace the upper while I had the Jeep apart, but I bailed on that when I hurt my back. (remember this for later) I didn’t play golf for almost a month! A very unprofessional, DIY alignment later and I was on the road. Once on the road it didn’t feel much better.

The Jeep specific ball joint kit off Amazon really helped!

An oil change at Nate’s (did I tell the new engine story?) brought on the discovery of a bad wheel bearing. He wouldn’t let the Jeep leave the shop without it being fixed, it was so bad. And I had just got back from an Eldorado Canyon run; Dayton and back!

Soon there after, I discovered worn track bar bushings. Replacing the bushings, and again doing a home alignment, I was back on the trail. Multiple trips to the Rubicon, no issues. I had found all my issues. Black – worn out, blue – wrong bushing, red – same weak type from JKS, metal – press in bushing will be the go-to from now on.

New JKS adjustable track bar I will need to shorten by 3/4″. I’ll tell that story when I install the new track bar. Winter project.

Sadly, death wobble appeared on the road home on trip number four. It was time for a professional. I went to Ayre’s for an alignment.

At Ayre’s, they found that the NEW track bar bushings were again toasted. Probably beat up during the death wobble. If that weren’t bad enough, the metal openings on the stock track bar for those bushings had been worn open so the solid bushings would not seat properly. I had them tack weld the solid bushings in place and I ordered a new JKS adjustable track bar.

But wait, there’s more. Remember the upper ball joint I declined to replace? It was bad and needed to be replaced. I don’t like paying someone for something I can do myself, but it was literally on the lift at the shop. Professional alignment done, steering wheel (almost) straight. I’ll have to wait on the new adjustable track bar until winter. If I do it now, I’ll need another realignment.

As I planned a maintenance trip to the Rubicon Trail, (Paving the Rubicon! | The ‘Other’ Rubicon) I hooked up my trailer and checked the trailer lights. I happened to notice the TJ’s left brake light was out. What a rabbit hole. It was not a bad bulb.

I thought I found an intermittent short with the exposed wire. I covered it up, put it all back together and still had no brake light! Then I took it all apart, again.

Because my TJ is set up for flat towing. That means the previous owner had tapped into the wiring and complicated everything. I fought trying to get the brake light to work while it was hanging by its wires. I had provided a ground. In the process, I broke a diode from the towing wires. I miss Radio Shack. It was a chore to find a diode. With a hint from a friend, I ran a tap through the three mounting holes in the Jeep and wire brushed the bolts before reinstallation. Bottom line, bad ground, lights work!

A few trips later, I decided to address yet another purely Jeep issue. The slow fill gas issue. It’s well known that the anti-spill feature has three nubs that get hung up and do not allow for a quick fill. It’s a free fix but you have to drop the tank, get inside, take apart the check valve and then put it all back together.

Remember: Just Expect Every Problem?

Dropping the tank is not really difficult. But don’t drop it, while you’re dropping it. I had my tank slip off the jack stand. The fuel line was still attached and when it went taunt, it broke off the plastic pipe of the fuel pump, holding the fuel line. That was a $200 mistake!

Broken $200 fuel pump.

Anti-spill float device. Note double “nub”. There are three of those pairs of nubs that need to be removed. I’m told there are a few different versions of this float but all have the same issue with the centering nubs getting caught up.

“Nubs” ground flat. No more binding!

Replacing the tank required a better system than a floor jack. The dual ratchet strp system along with the floor jack worked very well.

But it wasn’t only the fuel line I had issues with. When I went to disconnect the electrical connector, I slide over the red tab and then pressed down to unlock the connector. It broke. I went straight to the screwdriver and ‘manually’ freed the connector. I then ordered a new one online.

Old and new. The colors of the wires didn’t match but I didn’t care.

I soldered the wires to the existing wires rather than put the old wires into the new connector. One, I didn’t want to mess with the connector and two, this gives the wire loom more length to easier lower the tank next time. I hope I never have to lower this tank again. The shrink tubing is longer than it needs to be but I went longer for better protection.

The Jeep is now all put back together. For now. The tank is full and it filled without having to hold the lever at half speed.

I’m now ready to escape the 100 degree temperatures in Reno next week for the cooler high 80’s of the greater Tahoe area.

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Rubicon Ronin