New to Jeeps

[RockinRam96]

After quite some time talking about one and looking but not really finding anything that I liked, I finally found the perfect Jeep Liberty.

I stumbled across this 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD surfing on Craigslist one day. It was about 2 hours from my house so I emailed the owner. He said that the drives side front ball joint was broken and it would need to be trailered. No big deal.

I get there and in conversation he mentioned he bought this Jeep to transport hospice nurses from town to his house for his wife, who was suffering from Lime disease. He lived on a one lane dirt road in the hills of PA just across the NY border. He had bought this Jeep about 2 years ago for this reason from a friend of his who worked at the Jeep dealership in town.

At first look the Jeep stated well and checked off all the initial inspection boxes. So we got to work addressing the ball joint to get it on the trailer. I ended up popping out the stud and drilling a hole in the cup. I then put a bolt through the spindle and A arm. Worked out perfectly to get it on the trailer.

Got it home and stated looking things over. It is in very good shape. Very clean all around. It needs some TLC and clean up but will suit my needs for a hunting truck and overland vehicle just fine.

Only problem I have found is the throttle pedal doesn’t return to an idle. The engine will of the pedal is pulled back but it won’t return on its own. New spring? New pedal?

Any ways, plans are to put wheels and tires on it this fall and then a 2.5” lift kit next spring. Any recommendations? I see there is a lot of info here but don’t want to creat a post asking the stupid Newbie questions.

Would also like an EGR delete kit or tune. I called Green Diesel Performance but they no longer support the Libertys. If anyone knows of a tuner to delete the EGR, that would be appreciated.

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[turblediesel]

Look into a YETI tune. A gentleman in Italy does them. He's a member on the LOSTJEEPS forum which has the most info on the 2.8 CRD. Can't think of his username at the moment. ID-Parts and Sasquatch/Weeks are good parts sources. Sasquatch made a delete kit but I think the Federales made them quit. There are delete kits on ebay that seem to have the important bits.

Biggest problem makers on the 2.8 CRD are the timing belt and ceramic glowplugs. Timing belts are only good for 100,000 miles or 6 years installed and oem ceramic glowplugs can lose their tips and ki-ll the engine or just mess it up.

Always give it a good warmup to keep the alloy head happy and a good 2-5 minute spin-down at idle before shut-off to keep the turbo happy.

 

[RockinRam96]

Look into a YETI tune. A gentleman in Italy does them. He's a member on the LOSTJEEPS forum which has the most info on the 2.8 CRD. Can't think of his username at the moment. ID-Parts and Sasquatch/Weeks are good parts sources. Sasquatch made a delete kit but I think the Federales made them quit. There are delete kits on ebay that seem to have the important bits.

Biggest problem makers on the 2.8 CRD are the timing belt and ceramic glowplugs. Timing belts are only good for 100,000 miles or 6 years installed and oem ceramic glowplugs can lose their tips and **** the engine or just mess it up.

Always give it a good warmup to keep the alloy head happy and a good 2-5 minute spin-down at idle before shut-off to keep the turbo happy.

Thanks man. It has 189,000 miles in it now. I’ll look into changing the timing belt soon. Maybe the glow plugs too just to be safe.

A tune would be great. Even if it is to eliminate the EGR and such. Do they have a DPF or anything like that. I’ve read about a catalytic converter, but do they have sensors and such going to them, is there a turbo back exhaust to be had?

another pic that didn’t seem to load before.

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[tommudd]

Then when you get ready for a lift next spring use OME springs and shocks
OME front springs 790, rear 948 with at least OME front shocks ( they just work way better in the long run )
rear you can use either OME 132 Ls or Bilstein in which there are a couple of numbers for extended ones

 

[RockinRam96]

Then when you get ready for a lift next spring use OME springs and shocks
OME front springs 790, rear 948 with at least OME front shocks ( they just work way better in the long run )
rear you can use either OME 132 Ls or Bilstein in which there are a couple of numbers for extended ones

Do they make OEM springs with added height for a lift? Where can they be found?

 

[tommudd]

Do they make OEM springs with added height for a lift? Where can they be found?

The 790s are made for the CRDs extra weight and give 2.5 inches of lift
You can't lift the CRDs as much as the gassers since the front diff sits over to the drivers side more so has a shorter CV on that side
Check ALLJs ( www.boulderbar.com )
also OK4WD, and many other places
If you go somewhere and buy a whole kit ( springs and shocks ) the rear shocks will not be long enough that is why you need the OME 132Ls or Bilsteins of the correct length

 

[tommudd]

Man that thing is sitting low
Measure left front , middle of the hub to bottom of the flare and report back

 

[RockinRam96]

The 790s are made for the CRDs extra weight and give 2.5 inches of lift
You can't lift the CRDs as much as the gassers since the front diff sits over to the drivers side more so has a shorter CV on that side
Check ALLJs ( www.boulderbar.com )
also OK4WD, and many other places
If you go somewhere and buy a whole kit ( springs and shocks ) the rear shocks will not be long enough that is why you need the OME 132Ls or Bilsteins of the correct length

Thanks. I’ll look into it. Not looking for any kind of crazy lift. I’ve seen 2.5” lifts. Which is what I’m into. Just enough to get a little bigger more aggressive tire.

 

[RockinRam96]

Man that thing is sitting low
Measure left front , middle of the hub to bottom of the flare and report back

Gotta fix the front drivers side ball joint correctly, still. That may be why it is sitting so low.
I would like to put shocks and struts in it now, as I am sure it is due. If I go with Bilstein 5100s will the be ok for a lift.

 

[tommudd]

Thanks. I’ll look into it. Not looking for any kind of crazy lift. I’ve seen 2.5” lifts. Which is what I’m into. Just enough to get a little bigger more aggressive tire.

2.5 is what they will give you plus no one else has the right springs that you need for a CRD
The 790s are rated at 500 lb and do great

Moog greaseable ball joints are the best bet, depending on what year you have

 

[turblediesel]

What's a DPF?

There is a catalytic converter but no oxygen sensors. Sasquatch had a stainless turbo-back exhaust pipe for sale.

Not sure about your throttle problem. Mine had a glitch with the TPS, Throttle Position Sensor, while under warrenty. I didn't look at it and I doubt the dealer did anything to it. It happened while loaned to a friend. The only forum info I could find said the computer can get confused if the Jeep is started with the brake and accellerator pressed. A spring sounds like it would solve your throttle return problem just fine.

5 Volt Bosch or Etechno metal glow plugs are the way to go. You might want to call the previous owner and see what mods he already did as well as when the timing belt was last done. Belt change should include new idlers, tensioner, and water pump since it might not last two timing belts.

 

[RockinRam96]

2.5 is what they will give you plus no one else has the right springs that you need for a CRD
The 790s are rated at 500 lb and do great

Moog greaseable ball joints are the best bet, depending on what year you have

Having a little trouble sourcing an OME 790 front spring. Found the 948s easily but having trouble locating a set for the front.

Will the 790 support the diesel engine, aftermarket steel bumper and winch. Bumper and winch are all future plans of course.

The consensus seems to be with a 2.,5" lift I will be able to squeeze 245/75/R16 tires on this Jeep. Correct?

 

[tommudd]

Having a little trouble sourcing an OME 790 front spring. Found the 948s easily but having trouble locating a set for the front.

Will the 790 support the diesel engine, aftermarket steel bumper and winch. Bumper and winch are all future plans of course.

The consensus seems to be with a 2.,5" lift I will be able to squeeze 245/75/R16 tires on this Jeep. Correct?

yes a 245-75-16 or 265-70-16 ( same height will fit on a 2.5 inch )
I run 265-70-16s on Moabs on one of mine with 2.5 inches of lift
The 790s are designed for the CRD and the extra weight
Only aftermarket front bumper anymore is the ARB which is the best anyways, run synthetic line and you are good

 

[tommudd]

Will need to "pound over " the pinch welds behind the front tires
easy to do with the way I do it and can't even tell you did anything

 

[RockinRam96]

Will need to "pound over " the pinch welds behind the front tires
easy to do with the way I do it and can't even tell you did anything

ha ha thanks for all the info! Its greatly appreciated.

This project may be moving faster than initially expected!

 

[tommudd]

ha ha thanks for all the info! Its greatly appreciated.

This project may be moving faster than initially expected!

and, .......Stock CRD springs are rated at 410 lb where as the OME 790s are rated at 500, so yes will hold up and give lift

Out of over 60 KJs we've lifted here only 3 have been CRDs but all the same setup as far as shocks/springs
Even upgraded one to 4.10s, was a great runner then

 

[RockinRam96]

and, .......Stock CRD springs are rated at 410 lb where as the OME 790s are rated at 500, so yes will hold up and give lift

Out of over 60 KJs we've lifted here only 3 have been CRDs but all the same setup as far as shocks/springs
Even upgraded one to 4.10s, was a great runner then

I havent been under this Jeep to much to gather how it all works. I am coming from the pickup world. I am guessing they have a transfer case and differentials similar to a a pick up? Pull the covers, axles and carrier, swap gears?

What kind of ratio do they have from the factory? Thinking I’ll need a hearing change eventu. Ordered a complete 3” lift from Rocky Road Outfitter today…

 

[tommudd]

RRO
sorry to hear that


Gasser 4 cylinder KJs came with 4.10s
front is aluminum D30a
rear 8.25
CRDs came with 3.55s
3.7 gassers came wit 3.73
to regear the D30a you have to drop diff down out from under the KJ

 

[RockinRam96]

RRO
sorry to hear that


Gasser 4 cylinder KJs came with 4.10s
front is aluminum D30a
rear 8.25
CRDs came with 3.55s
3.7 gassers came wit 3.73
to regear the D30a you have to drop diff down out from under the KJ

Not impressed with RRO?

 

[tommudd]

Not impressed with RRO?

No after years of ripping people off, parts not fitting, bad customer service
I've only heard of a very few people that were pleased with them over the past twenty years or so
If they were the only place to deal with for suspensions, I'd drive a Toyota or completely stock KJ
ALLJs far one example are great people, work on Jeeps daily, own the LOSTJEEPs website etc

For example guy we were doing a lift for wanted to replace the UCAs
JBAs are the best by far and told him to get them
But to save some coin he went with RRO, got them and when it came time to install, they would not fit back in the pockets where they mount. Welded wrong, called and was told to put them in a vice and just bend them ! LOL
I called Marlin at JBA and he overnighted a set to my place. When the guy tried to return them to RRO he was told he was an idiot and did not know how to install them. At that time I had installed over 30 sets of JBAs with no issues and of course knew how to install UCAs . There are other stories, like my buddy has been waiting since 2005 for a refund on a bracket he ordered and would not fit as it should . Part was returned but no refund