willydigger 2017 DESERTHAWK Alpine White

Discussion in 'Renegade Show & Tell' started by willydigger, Sep 23, 2017.

  1. willydigger

    willydigger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    HdG MD
    Stock! 2017 Deserthawk/Trailhawk/Tigershark/Multiair/Alpine White/with Lots of buttons package!

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    After 1.25 Wheel Spacers.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  2. jrrjrr

    jrrjrr New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2017
    Messages:
    6
    Location:
    Carbondale, CO
    Enjoy! Thumbs up on the pinstripes.
     
  3. willydigger

    willydigger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    HdG MD
    Added a Serenity Decal. Browncoat for life!
    [​IMG]

    Painted my brake calipers. Not perfect, but a nice detail.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Jack decided to photobomb the best pic.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  4. Jeff Wilson

    Jeff Wilson New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2017
    Messages:
    8
    Location:
    Greenville South Carolina
    Cool, this is the exact same Trailhawk I have. Even the hood decal is the same!

    Sent from my SM-N950U using ToasterJeep mobile app
     
  5. willydigger

    willydigger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    HdG MD
    Got the Teraflex Budget Boost. Couple quick measurements. 1.5" for the strut spacers and 1.0" on the supporting cast.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Thought this was funny. People in California will live forever.
    [​IMG]

    Confirmed, comes with stickers.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2017
  6. willydigger

    willydigger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    HdG MD
    Quick Before measurement. Towards the front of the Jeep I got around 10.5" stock lift at the rails. Near the rear it was closer to 11.0". There is a slight rake from stock.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Kevin Gaare

    Kevin Gaare Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2017
    Messages:
    205
    Location:
    Minnesota
    How much did the lift cost? How's your alignment afterward?
     
  8. OGJEEP

    OGJEEP Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2017
    Messages:
    29
    Location:
    Las Vegas
    I have the same Alpine white Deserthawk as well! We are all brothers! I have been making youtube videos and plan to post more if you guys are interested. I am keeping mine stock for a little while but i have allready done some intense stuff!
     
  9. willydigger

    willydigger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    HdG MD
    $350-$380 range. I can't remember after shipping costs. Bought it direct from Tera Flex.

    Lift goes on Sunday. I'll update on alignment afterwards.
     
  10. willydigger

    willydigger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    HdG MD
    This Lift install has been AWFUL! Some before pics before everything turned to complete shit.

    Simple set up. Few helpers.
    [​IMG]

    Tool set up. Early on. No pics of the tool explosion later in the evening.
    [​IMG]

    Getting the strut out is the easiest part. DO NOT talk to me about the sway bar links. I hate them.
    [​IMG]

    Before measurement. Somewhere in the 3.5-4 inch range.
    [​IMG]

    No pics but some early observations. This lift is difficult. I put my lift on my Wrangler years ago and that set the bar for lift install expectations. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. Some quick thoughts.

    - I should have stopped when I couldn't get the wipers off. Never did remove them. Saved a step. Driver side will be an issue if you don't have a low profile ratchet. Fortunately I did, so I left the wipers in place.
    - The Sway Bar links were mind-numbingly awful to remove and install. Very tight with limited tool movement. A ratcheting box wrench would have been a life-saver here.
    - The Tera Flex comes with disconnect links. Another awful step. The instructions say use a 25/64 drill for the nutsert. **FALSE**. What you really need is a 17/32. I had 1/2 and wallowed it out to fit the nutsert. This was a step I considered skipping, but turns out I need the disconnect pin, because the top sway bar link pin is SS and one was galled to the point that I could not use it. So I'm disconnected at the moment.
    - I don't have an after measurement, but before was 3.5-4 inches from the top of stock tire to fender (see above pic). After the front spacer install (measures 1.5 inch), I have a 7 inch gap.
    - Total time including a solid hour trying to repair the top sway bar pin for ONLY the front spacer install = 5 hours. Unbelievable.
     
  11. willydigger

    willydigger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    HdG MD
    Finished the rear and drive line spacers today. Much easier time than the front. Some minor incorrect socket sizes in the instructions, but otherwise no significant issues. That said, the Trailhawk has a skid plate preventing the rear cross member from dropping low enough to fit the 1.5 inch spacers.

    The green arrow below is where the skid plate blocks the cross member from dropping. The yellow arrow shows the bolt I had to loosen to lower the skid plate, which allowed the cross member to drop enough to fit the spacer. I added a couple washers to act as spacers for the skid plate bolt and tightened.

    [​IMG]

    Orange arrow shows the spacer for the exhaust and the yellow arrow is for the cross member spacer. This pic is from the rear passenger side.
    [​IMG]
     
  12. willydigger

    willydigger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    HdG MD
    Pinch Seam Mod pics. Stock bump.
    [​IMG]

    Pinch Seam.
    [​IMG]

    Marked for removal.
    [​IMG]

    Dremel with Metal cutting wheel.
    [​IMG]

    Metal removed. Not show, grinding and painting.
    [​IMG]

    Heat gun on the bump.
    [​IMG]

    Heat gun molding the plastic mounting area to help push it back.
    [​IMG]

    All tucked in.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  13. willydigger

    willydigger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    HdG MD
    Before.
    [​IMG]

    After.
    [​IMG]

    Very subtle, but noticeable getting into the truck and general outside stance.
     
  14. Kevin Gaare

    Kevin Gaare Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2017
    Messages:
    205
    Location:
    Minnesota
    How's the ride and alignment after the lift?

    Did you need to do the pinch seam mod after installing the lift, or are you just preparing for bigger tires?
     
  15. Br!anR_oIIIIIIIo

    Br!anR_oIIIIIIIo New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2017
    Messages:
    31
    Location:
    Baltimore, Maryland
    Awesome write up. I have the TeraFlex lift ready to install. Just need a free weekend w/ my buddy that can help me. Heard it’s not a fun one person job. Looks good though. Are you happy w/ the final results?
     
  16. willydigger

    willydigger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    HdG MD
    Immediately after the lift install I took it for a ride. Minor issues. The steering wheel was slightly offset. The ride was completely fine. Got an alignment today. Front Caster is not an issue. My 2005 Wrangler never had a "green" caster and there was zero issue with ride quality. Rear camber might be an issue, but front toe is my main concern.
    [​IMG]

    The Pinch Seam was done because I slightly rub with stock wheels. I have 235/65r17 (Kumho AT51) on order, so I figured better safe than sorry.
     
  17. willydigger

    willydigger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    HdG MD
    I constantly struggle with the the enhance off-road capability vs. daily MPG driver. I have a Wrangler for off-road, but I want all my vehicles to have some "over the curb" ability. I opted for the 1.5 for minimal drive line impact. I also opted for the Tera Flex because it requires very little (easy) mods to the skid plates. I opted for Kumho AT51 in 235/65r17 to give a slightly more aggressive stance while still having a comfortable daily ride. The lift was much harder to install than expected, but now that it's over, I like the look and feel. Subtle, but noticeable.
     
  18. willydigger

    willydigger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    HdG MD
  19. Kevin Gaare

    Kevin Gaare Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2017
    Messages:
    205
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Awesome, thanks for posting all of this man - much appreciated.

    Forgive my ignorance.. Why is front caster not an issue but toe is?

    I don't really know much about alignments. I just get concerned when I see red, lol.
     
  20. Kevin Gaare

    Kevin Gaare Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2017
    Messages:
    205
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Also, I'd love to see more pics when you get the new tires in :) An curious if there will be any rubbing, even with the pinch seam trimmed.
     
    HC-Platinum likes this.

Share This Page