I took some time yesterday and installed a new Steering Stabilizer.
As usual, getting the old one off proved to be the hardest part of the job. The nut on the top bolt came off right away, thanks to quadna's air ratchet wrench. The bottom one took me longer, as It was awkward holding the back still while I ratcheted the front (couldn't use the air tool since I didn't have that size socket in the 1/2" set).
Then getting the top out of the hole was a pain. In Stu Olson's write-up, he used a puller to get that off. So last week I got myself a puller, just to be prepared. Unfortunately, it was a three arm puller and it kept slipping off.
So after visiting Slinky (for the port-o-band adventure) I stopped at Pep Boys, bought a two arm puller as well as some 1/2 to 3/8 socket adapters!
With the new puller it took about 3 minutes to get the bolt dislodged from the drag link, and installed the new steering stabilizer. Bob Supplee said it was a Heckthorne, the material in the box said BDS Suspensions, and the sticker said Rough Country -- who knows what it really is...
As I was working on that, the Fedex guy stopped by with the divider kit for my Tuffy Storage box. So after the stabilizer, I spent an hour trying to figure out how those were supposed to go in.
I also modified the rack over the Tuffy box by adding a few eye bolts, so I have more places to attach by bungee cords.
I also reinstalled my steering box skid plate. I had taken it off for Baker Jeep to install a new steering box. Got that done on Tuesday, total cost zero under warranty.
As long as I was at it, I got BlueJ ready for summer weather - removing soft top, windows, and doors, and installing header top. Just in time for the rainstorm in the afternoon. I discovered that some creature chewed a couple of holes in my Rain Gear Jeep Cover. Anyone have a canvas repair kit?
Anyway it was a long day for a non-mechanic like me, so I was pooped by the end of the day. But it was worth it!
