Tag 5150Productions

Jeep Wrangler Mud Bogging & Idler Pulley Replacement

Like most Jeep owners that actually wheel, I like getting my Jeep nice and muddy. But mud is actually pretty hard on your Jeep. Specifically your Belt Tensioner, the Idler Pulleys and your Alternator. The pulley on the tensioner as well as the idler pulley can seize up. If this happens, the belt will melt. Because the belt on many models drives the power steering pump, the power brakes, alternator and most importantly the water pump will stop functioning.

I’ve found this out the hard way a couple times.

Read More
Jeep Wrangler Front Axle Seal Replacement, Hub Installation & TeraFlex 3304100/3304000 Axle Upgrade

My 2012 Jeep Rubicon now has 171,000 KM on her and I felt it was time to replace the front axle seals. They weren’t leaking which I am told is a rarity in a Jeep Rubi’s age. The black-book estimate on this job is 4.9 hours, so while I was there I decided some more upgrades were in order.

Read More
Limestone Mountain – An Overlanding Adventure

I’ve wanted to do this run for a bit now; the weather was perfect and it was a beauiful time of year to make the trek up Limestone Mountian. Our group was the perfect size; six rigs. I was the only one with a modified Jeep; and I had the only winch. Would we need it?

Read More
Jeep Rubicon Electronic Swaybar Disconnect Repair

One of the reasons I bought the Rubicon package in 2012, when I was in the market for a Jeep, was the electrinic swaybar disconnect. But as with most vehicles, these luxury items often fail. This was the case a couple weeks ago after an adventure to limestone mountain. My swaybar light was blinking and the system was stuck in the unlocked position.

Read More
TeraFlex Falcon 3.3 Fast Adjust Piggyback Shock Absorber Kit Installation

It was time to retire my Bilstein 5100 series shocks.

The Falcon Series 3.3 Fast Adjust Piggyback Shock are designed and engineered to deliver race inspired performance and handling while exclusively built to the specific requirements of the Jeep Wrangler. Vehicle stability is the paramount goal with all Falcon shocks. For years, shocks have been simply “adapted” with minimal tuning and not specifically designed for an application. Falcon Shocks changes that mentality. The Falcon Series 3.3 Piggyback shocks are corner specific, built from the ground up, and deliver the best damping characteristics possible with fitment and function outlining the highest priorities.

Read More
P0128 Code – How To Replace Jeep Wrangler Coolant Sensor, Thermostat & Bleeding Coolant System

For the first time that I can recall Rubi started throwing an error code. After several months I decided to fix it. Originally I was told it was the cooling fan, but my Innova 3210RS OBD2 Bluetooth Code Reader was telling me otherwise.

Read More
Rugged Ridge/Rubicon Express Stainless Steel Brake Line Installation

As a direct result of installing the TeraFlex Falcon 3.3 shocks, I have installed longer (24” front / 20” Rear) Stainless steel brake lines. I initially went with the rugged ridge kit as it advertised these specs; the rear lines were perfect, however, the front lines were 4” SHORTER than stock. Not longer as advertised. This was unacceptable; the droop on the Falcon 3.3s was borderline with the stock lines; there was no way that a shorter one would survive the extra travel! Rugged Ridge claimed this was a packaging error, however, I have found quite a few reviews of their JK kit (RUG16734.10) claiming identical issues.

Read More
Brake Flush – Featuring the One Man Bleeder Kit

It’s time for Rubi’s brakes to get some attention; specifically the BRAKE FLUID! What can happen is that over time water can build up in the brake fluid itself. The only way to remove the water is to replace the brake fluid. A flush of the system is required periodically.

Read More
Nuts & Bolts – Spring Prep

My busy winter season started out pretty simple with the TreadHead Garage Naked Christmas Cruise. After that is was a trip to the Good the Bad the Ugly. The warm temperatures made this trail, that is usually quite simple, a challenging trip to say the least. Even with half our group bailing, a few of us trudged on and made it to the falls with plenty of light left for the return trip.

Read More
Lost Knife Trail – An Overlanding Adventure

It’s back to the Ghost PLUZ for me, but it’s a summertime adventure for me this time!

The weather has been terrible lately; the Waiparous region received nearly 75 cm of rainfall in the weeks leading up to this trip. It was so bad, that I was contemplating a cancellation. The weather cleared up and I did two trips to the Lost Knife Traile; the first was a mudfest. The second; was only slightly better.

Read More