I've picked up my LAST *&%$#@! rock...

[Adondo]

Last weekend, we took a day trip up into the Blue Mountains. We headed east from Walla Walla, on Government Mountain road, followed it to the last where it dumps out on USFS 64, then meandered for a zillion miles and hours later 'til we popped out in Dayton. (The spider web of forest roads was so complex, I don't even remember how we got back to pavement again)

Once again, we had to head back to town with a fingernails-on-a-blackboard screech of a pebble stuck in the brakes. That's about the 6th time. Every time, the wheel has to be removed, and the stubborn rock pried out with a screwdriver. Most of the time, I get lazy and let Les Schwab do it. (The tire store chain)

The original factory wheels with their flush to the rim spokes and sharp 90 degree edges act like blades on a combine header. They're infamous for packing snow and ice too. We about wrecked last year when several pounds of ice broke out of one of the ''pie slice'' shaped spoke spaces, and suddenly was EXTREMELY out of balance while doing 60 MPH on the freeway. I had to use my Leatherman to chip out the rest of the ice, while parked on side of the freeway.

Tomorrow, my new wheels will be in. I'm having these installed:
(They should help get rid of the ''soccer mom mobile'' look too. :cool: )
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2010/09/Ultra_175_Rouge_BLK-4.jpg

[GPintheMitten]

Maybe it's just me, but all I see is a red x.

[cico7]

I see the pic. Says U L T R A M O T O R S P O R T S around the rim.
I did that so GP would know I wasn't messing with him.
I saw it last night when I was looking..

[GPintheMitten]

Yah, I see the wheel pic now. Nice wheel.

[LWM]

That is a nice wheel, update your garage thread when you get them installed.

[IamJEEP]

Nice wheels! Please show a pic when installed. What size did you go with, factory 17" or bigger?

[07JeepXK]

Did the rock get stuck in between the rotor and brake shield? I had that problem a lot and took off thoe brake shields. No problems since!

[Adondo]

Just got 'em installed. I thought it was going to be this morning, but their freight truck decided to reverse his route... they didn't come in until a couple hours ago.

Here they are: (They're 17x8)

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2010/09/IMAG0088-4.jpg

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2010/09/IMAG0089-3.jpg

I'm thinking the soccer mom look has vanished. I think they give it a little bit of 'tude'

And, yes, the pebbles get stuck in the shield.

On edit: Those are cellphone pics... I'll take some with my 'real' camera later.

[Adondo]

Here's a little better photo. We were parked in a wildlife preserve, while taking Jack (My micro-coyote) for a walk. I know washing a Jeep amounts to sacrilege, but I couldn't help myself. :D

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2010/09/DSCF0533JPG-4.jpg

And... I discovered a little problem while the Jeep was sans-tires on the lift:
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2010/09/IMAG0085-3.jpg

I called Rocky Road today, and they're sending me a set of metal (upgraded) spacers under warranty. I'm just going to swap out the pair, even tho the other side is okay. The spacer is about to croak. I can lift up the top of the cone part like it's hinged. :eek:

[strokeZ]

Wheels look great man. Glad to hear RR is still standing behind their product. They swapped mine out a few months ago for metal. They make some pretty big claims on the web site and yeah, I am impressed with how they back up the products that have failed.

[07JeepXK]

Why does it look like your missing something on the top of the rear spring?

[Adondo]

Why does it look like your missing something on the top of the rear spring?

So, what's missing? I took pix of both sides. The other side looks the same.

On edit:

I've been happy with my RR lift kit so far, but this cut 'n' paste from a Quantum View email just makes them all the better in my opinion:

"This message was sent to you at the request of ROCKY ROAD OUTFITTERS to notify you that the electronic shipment information below has been transmitted to UPS. The physical package(s) may or may not have actually been tendered to UPS for shipment. To verify the actual transit status of your shipment, click on the tracking link below or contact ROCKY ROAD OUTFITTERS directly."

The scheduled delivery date for a 9 lb. box is this Thursday. Obviously, they're not sending ABS plastic replacements. :)

[Adondo]

I'm impressed. I received my new set of rear spacers yesterday. They're made of 1/2" thick plate steel with a ring fully welded around the outside. The ring is about as thick. These spacers are NEVER going to fail. The box contained two spacers, a set of bolts, and instruction sheet, and the box weighs 9 lbs. That should give an idea how heavy duty the new design is.

They're different than the old plastic ones, in that these install at the top and bolt on. The spring's lower end sits on the original Jeep bumper, and the spacing's done from the spring's top - the exact opposite of the old ABS plastic spacers.

Rather than deal with risking losing fingers and the like, I'm just going to take the XK to my friend's shop on Monday morning, and have an alignment done again while we're at it. It's had a year's worth of boony-bashing as well as wider spaced new wheels, so it's time anyway. They can do in 15 minutes what would take me three hours of crawling around underneath with crap falling into my face. :p It could be today, but too many people are gone today for various reasons, and I can't sneak out to get it done. :mad:

[Adondo]

All done. It was realigned too. I'd noticed the steering was somewhat ''live'' in that the wheel pulled around under power, especially on corners. Not anymore. It was something to do with the tire contact patches 4 inches farther out, I'd guess.

The new, heavy steel spacers install at the top:
I left the rig there all day, so I wasn't there to take photos when it was apart. It's too hard to see from below.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2010/09/DSCF0563JPG-2.jpg

[LWM]

All done. It was realigned too. I'd noticed the steering was somewhat ''live'' in that the wheel pulled around under power, especially on corners. Not anymore. It was something to do with the tire contact patches 4 inches farther out, I'd guess.

The new, heavy steel spacers install at the top:
I left the rig there all day, so I wasn't there to take photos when it was apart. It's too hard to see from below.

Looking good, I still have not replaced mine. I would like to go straight to the SuperLift and then sell my Rocky Road lift.

[Adondo]

I finally got around to taking a snapshot on the way home last night. I was getting tired of ''busy background'' shots, so I stopped by the boat ramp down the street from the house. It's not a bad photo considering I spent all of 90 seconds taking it. :)

First, here's a shot of shortly after buying it:
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2010/09/DSCF3688JPGg-1.jpgg

Here's yesterday: And it's come a heckuva long ways from the all OEM, white painted grill version of when I rolled it off the Jeep dealer lot. :)
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2010/09/DSCF0565JPG-1.jpg

Okay, one more. I did some searching thru hundreds of photos to find one close to the pose of the above shot. Consider this one to be a ''before'' the wheel change shot. Also note that the tires are OEM, not the larger Coopers. :)
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/imported/2010/09/DSCF39271JPG-1.jpg

[rwmorrisonjr]

Your XK looks good now! Love those wheels, very unique. Planning on relifting my truck soon, I miss the stance and look of the 2" lift.