Red Baron JKU

AMcBride423

Jeep Owner
Instagram: The Red Baron JKU
Updated: 18FEB2022
Figured I would post up my build so far, 2016 JKU Rubicon Hard Rock:
- 38x14.5/r17 GoodYear MT/R Kevlar Tires.
- 17" KMC Machete Machined Beadlocks.
- Flat Belly
- 3 Link Front: Aluminum Control Arms, MetalCloak Builder Joints.
- 4 Double Triangulated 4 Link Rear: Aluminum Control Arms, MetalCloak Builder Joints.
- Artec Industries Aluminum Inner Fenders.
- GenRight Offroad 22 Gallon Crawler Tank
- GenRight Offroad Aluminum Tire Carrier.
- GenRight Offroad Aluminum Narrow Front Fenders, 4" Aluminum Rear Fenders.
- GenRight Offroad Full Corners w/ Frenched Tail Light Buckets.
- MagnaFlow Glass Pack, Custom exhaust, runs down passenger side, dumps after rear crossmember.
- 1350 Adams Driveshafts Front/Rear.
- Yukon 5.38 Gears.
- Yukon Chromoly Front/Rear Axle Shafts.
- Custom Trusses
- Barnes 4WD 1 Ton Swap Frame Side Track Bar Mount.
- Barnes 4WD Adjustable Axle Side Track Bar Mount
- Barnes 4WD Pritchett Canyon Frame Chop Front Bumper.
- Warn Zeon 10S
- RadFlo Shocks 12" Front/14" Rear Coilovers.
- MaxBilt Trail Tails.
- PSC Hydro Assist Ram, Tapped/Ported Factory Box.

Plans:
- Hydro Bumps.
- Custom Flat Belly Skid.
- Frame Mounted Sliders.
- Full Roll Cage.


Here is a Google Photos link to some of the work I have done since my uploaded pictures appear to not be working.









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Pthorpe84

Moderator
Staff member
Great looking build. How was the exhaust install? I have got to do something different with mine. Trail has taken a toll on mine. Plus I need to move the Y-pipe behind the crossmemeber for clearance.
 

AMcBride423

Jeep Owner
Google link works and your rig is coming along looking strong!
Thank you very much! Looking forward to some big changes here in 2019!!.

Great looking build. How was the exhaust install? I have got to do something different with mine. Trail has taken a toll on mine. Plus I need to move the Y-pipe behind the crossmemeber for clearance.
The exhaust install was not too bad. Having a lift helped out a lot. I did have to buy new hardware for the flanges as the supplied hardware was not long enough. Other than that, everything went smoothly. I was always hitting my y-pipe on rocks which caused exhaust leaks at the headers for me, have not had an issue since.
 

AMcBride423

Jeep Owner
After New Years I finally got around to pulling my rear differential... What we found was slightly disturbing...seven months after running a dry diff for two hours on the highway, combined with heavy wheeling and two driveshafts going out had caused my rear pinion to start shedding teeth. Dont know how I managed to drive on it so long.
We did a full rebuild of the rear differential, regeared to 4.88 in preparation for my 38s and also added some chromoly rear axles shafts all from Yukon gear and axle. All my drivetrain vibrations that had been plauging me since my trip to WindRock are finally completely gone.
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mclerran11

Jeep Owner
After New Years I finally got around to pulling my rear differential... What we found was slightly disturbing...seven months after running a dry diff for two hours on the highway, combined with heavy wheeling and two driveshafts going out had caused my rear pinion to start shedding teeth. Dont know how I managed to drive on it so long.
We did a full rebuild of the rear differential, regeared to 4.88 in preparation for my 38s and also added some chromoly rear axles shafts all from Yukon gear and axle. All my drivetrain vibrations that had been plauging me since my trip to WindRock are finally completely gone.View attachment 1792View attachment 1793
YIKES!! That’s crazy. How violent were the vibrations? Subtle or “There’s definitely something wrong” noticeable?
 

AMcBride423

Jeep Owner
YIKES!! That’s crazy. How violent were the vibrations? Subtle or “There’s definitely something wrong” noticeable?
They were pretty bad, the vibrations were much worse with the bad driveshafts. After replacing shafts, they subsided a good bit, but were definitely noticable, mostly when the engine was under strain between 1800-2700 rpm. Also, above 70mph everything completely smoothed out which was odd. It was also very loud, which I didnt realise until getting the new gears how much noise the old were making.
 

AMcBride423

Jeep Owner
Well, my Jeep has come a long way since I last posted in here. I have posted an update of what all has been done to it now and some more pictures of the build.
Here are some pictures of my testing the articulation on a retaining wall.
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Pthorpe84

Moderator
Staff member
Any plans to upgrade axles to handle the width of those MTR-Ks? I would imagine you are getting a good amount of rub at full lock.

The rig does look great. I want to hear about how you got that dent on your passenger side rocker ;)
 

AMcBride423

Jeep Owner
Any plans to upgrade axles to handle the width of those MTR-Ks? I would imagine you are getting a good amount of rub at full lock.

The rig does look great. I want to hear about how you got that dent on your passenger side rocker ;)
No plans for moving to wontons yet, it is something I will be doing in the future though. They do rub the frame a good bit, even with the 3.5" backspacing. My friends have had pretty good luck with the D44 and the 38x14.5, so with my just crawling it, I hopefully will be okay. As this is still my DD, the 60/14B wont happen until I get a second vehicle.
As for that dent...kinda had a little too much fun one day...
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AMcBride423

Jeep Owner
So, finally got to put my Jeep on a makeshift RTI ramp and see how much travel I really have. I believe my front was actually limited by my swaybar links...may need longer ones or to just get quick disconnects. Has a pretty impressive amount of travel though!
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AMcBride423

Jeep Owner
Also, took a trip to Morris Mountain ORV and turned my rear track bar into a smiley face. Replaced it with the beefy TeraFlex Monster Rear Track Bar, shouldn't be bending that one...
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AMcBride423

Jeep Owner
Update:
Well, I was in a fender bender. Got rear-ended by a silverado and pushed into the stopped car in front of me. Thankfully was only cosmetic damage. All 4 corners have been replace, new tail gate, new tire carrier, new corner armor, and new tie rod and drag link. Replaced my Poison Spyder corners with GenRight Offroad. Fusion 4x4 tie rod and drag link were replaced by TeraFlex. Also while everything was ripped apart, I installed my new front bumper, Barnes 4WD Pritchett Canyon Frame Chop with a Warn Zeon 10S.
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