Going off topic

Nate and I just before his Birthday

I'm diving a little deeper into my personal life here. A year ago, my son was born. He came to us with a little something extra, that extra being a 3rd copy of the 21st chromosome. Nate has Down Syndrome. I wouldn't change him for the world, and if anything, he's changed my world in ways I couldn't have imagined.

Now I come to the public world of the Internet because of something happening in Canada that isn't right.

I'm a firm believer of "Being Human". Religion, Race, Political Views aside, we should help each other out when we can. Canada is doing an incredible job by giving homes to thousands of refugees who are fleeing a war. We're giving them a chance at a better life, and we're opening our doors.

Which brings me to the Montoya family. The Montoya family has been in Canada for three years. Felipe is a University Professor, and Anejandra is is a dancer. They have two teenage children. The focus of this article is their 13 year old son Nico. Nico has Down Syndrome, that one extra chromosome has caused them to be denied permanent residency. Immigration officials in Canada say that that extra chromosome will have an increased impact on our health care system. However, Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms prohibits discrimination on the basis of a disability.

Now, the impact on the health care system isn't lost on me. We've been very lucky to have a health care system that has covered everything Nate's needed without costing me more than parking. However, the fact that this family is here, and already contributing to the system, makes me stand behind them 100%, and I want them to stay in this country. They came to a great country to contribute and be part of Canada, yet Canada is basing their admissibility on one chromosome. People with Down Syndrome should not be singled out and discriminated against. Not in my country.

Sorry this wasn't Jeep related, however, it's close to the heart and for the small audience I have with this blog I felt it was worth sharing.


CBC News Article
YouTube Video
Petition to the Immigration Minister

Puttering

My wife decided to take our 5 month old son on a weekend roadtrip to visit friends, so that left me with LOADS of Jeep and garage time.

Most of it was spent puttering in the garage and cleaning it up, organizing, finalizing some projects and just generally not being in front of a screen. What I did tackle on the Jeep was just a couple small items. Firstly, and no pictures, 'cause really... I put the back seat back in. Figured it was time to haul out the toolbox and put the seat in so that we can do family cruises to Dairy Queen in the Jeep.

Secondly, I finally got my TMR Customs fire extinguisher mount, uh, mounted, complete with refillable marine grade extinguisher. I'm not sold on the location, but it's easy to access.

Lastly, thanks to David from the Redneck Garage, I drilled some holes in my frame to the rear of the front control arm brackets, and about centre with the body mounts to let water out. After seeing the pooling water in his video, I decided to make sure I was safe.

Otherwise, I got my tools stored securely, I've started plan on a behind the seat toolbox, and I fixed the light on my bench grinder.

Straighten Out the Steering Wheel

After replacing the steering shaft (Read all about it) my steering wheel had a slight left turn to it. Fortunately, it's easy to correct with a wrench and a pipe wrench.

Start by getting your supervisor setup to ensure you do quality work. Oh, also make sure when you pull into your parking location you let the wheel self centre while moving forward to make sure you're going dead straight (or as close as possible)

Loosen off the two nuts holding the adjusting collar, and start making VERY small adjustments with a pipe wrench on the collar. Check the steering wheel frequently (or have a helper) to make sure you're going in the right direction and that you're getting close to centre.




 

Once done, tighten up the nuts and celebrate with a smile and a Jeep wave

Jeep TJ Upper Steering Shaft Replacement

There comes a time in every Jeep life, when a u joint goes. In this case, mine was on my upper steering shaft. In Jeep engineer wisdom, the joint is not a serviceable/replaceable part. I had to replace the entire shaft. That in itself proved to be a difficult pIart to find. I was finally able to source it via Amazon.ca in the form of a Crown Automotive 5102531AA Steering Shaft. It's a simple two bolt process to replace it, and aside from bending in ways that I didn't think my body could bend, and a buggered thread that needed tapping, it was an easy swap

Engine compartment bolt

Undo the bolt on the joint by the firewall. Start the jeep and turn the steering wheel about a quarter turn to access the inside bolt. Under the dash, get your socket on the bolt and undo it. 

Potato quality short under the dash

Slide the shaft off in the engine compartment, and off the splined shaft under the dash. Pull the shaft into the cab and it'll pop through easily. 

Old vs New shaft

Get your new shaft, repeat the process and tighten your bolts down. Just remember, when the shaft is disconnected, do not let the steering wheel spin, as you'll break your clock spring and mess up signals and air bag. I used a bungee cord to hold the wheel from turning. 

You can kinds see the gap in the u joint pinion

Rough Country Trackbar Tie Rod End Replacement

A while back I had the misfortune of hearing a clunk coming from under my Jeep, while also feeling the steering not quite working right. Fortunately, I was a couple blocks from home and made it into the driveway safely. What I found was a blown out tie rod end on my Rough Country track bar. Fortunately it uses the same TRE as the drag link, and I was able to source one same day at NAPA. 

Removing the rusted up cotter bit and nut required the use of a cut off disc on my Dremel, and a little pounding. Once out, I was able to remove the TRE with some heat and a large pipe wrench. 

When I put it back together, I made sure to be generous with my anti-seize to ensure that in the future, this is easier to do. 

One thing I ran into, was that the hole on the frame mount was wallowed out a bit. Using some grade 8 washers, I was able to pull the TRE up enough to make it nice and tight. 

Hand Throttle or Redneck Cruise Control

Simple bike shifter

One of the nice things about an automatic, is that it doesn’t require two feet to drive. It also gives you a spare when you need to hold the brake and hit the gas for a tricky climb. With my manual, when I’m sitting on a hill, sometimes a third foot comes in handy. In that thought, I installed a hand throttle using a bike shifter and cable, plus some bits and pieces. It’s also great on the rocks, as it keeps the throttle set so that I’m not modulating the gas as I bounce around. On highways, it makes a great redneck cruise control, but I don’t suggest you do that, as it doesn’t disengage like factory cruise control.

Cable running through new hole in throttle cable bracket

Connected to throttle.
Apparently this is where factory cruise control connected

Happy 4th of July

Have a safe and happy 4th of July my American Friends and Readers

Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?