Finally had a chance to do some work on my Compass over the weekend. When I got my inspection done in December maybe November I don't remember lol, my buddy who works at the Jeep dealership told me my sway bar links are quite loose I might want to replace them soon.
So I did some searching and saw they are plastic and that's the creaking noise I've been hearing has been coming from. Ordered myself some Mevotech Links and got to work.
While taking the tires off I remembered I ordered Titan Wheel Spacers and never put them on. Perfect time since already taking the tires off anyway.
Boy oh boy do I wish my driveway was paved and not gravel. I did use my giant emergency blanket in my Jeep as a cushion but it just wasn't enough. Nothing like stones jabbing into your knees and back on top of the slight rain and snow that hit while I was finishing 2nd wheel.
I'm not mechanically inclined at all but watching a few videos and seeing the process I can definitely figure something out and how to do it. I had most of the tools I needed except a breaker bar so went and bought one. My god they are soooo much better than the 4 way wrench. The breaker bar was great for loosening up bolts and finishing them off with vice grips and my impact drill. The lower bolts was impossible to get the drill in so had to get a socket wrench to loosen fully with vice grips. Front passenger side the room is so small that I was tightening with the socket wrench 1 little click at a time. Honestly think it was a solid 10 minutes at least trying to tighten that damn thing lol.
Back driver side nut was rusted and seized so badly I ended up using my Dremel and cutting it off. It looked like someone replaced it with a old nut that rusted already, other 3 were no where near that shape.
All said and done it probably took me 5.5-6 hours to do the links and spacers. Someone with experience probably would have this done in an hour tops lol.
New Sway Bar Link
Before Wheel Spacers
After Wheel Spacers
Next thing is to make a low profile roof rack over the OEM cross bars and Thule roof basket I have ATM.
So I did some searching and saw they are plastic and that's the creaking noise I've been hearing has been coming from. Ordered myself some Mevotech Links and got to work.
While taking the tires off I remembered I ordered Titan Wheel Spacers and never put them on. Perfect time since already taking the tires off anyway.
Boy oh boy do I wish my driveway was paved and not gravel. I did use my giant emergency blanket in my Jeep as a cushion but it just wasn't enough. Nothing like stones jabbing into your knees and back on top of the slight rain and snow that hit while I was finishing 2nd wheel.
I'm not mechanically inclined at all but watching a few videos and seeing the process I can definitely figure something out and how to do it. I had most of the tools I needed except a breaker bar so went and bought one. My god they are soooo much better than the 4 way wrench. The breaker bar was great for loosening up bolts and finishing them off with vice grips and my impact drill. The lower bolts was impossible to get the drill in so had to get a socket wrench to loosen fully with vice grips. Front passenger side the room is so small that I was tightening with the socket wrench 1 little click at a time. Honestly think it was a solid 10 minutes at least trying to tighten that damn thing lol.
Back driver side nut was rusted and seized so badly I ended up using my Dremel and cutting it off. It looked like someone replaced it with a old nut that rusted already, other 3 were no where near that shape.
All said and done it probably took me 5.5-6 hours to do the links and spacers. Someone with experience probably would have this done in an hour tops lol.
New Sway Bar Link
Before Wheel Spacers
After Wheel Spacers
Next thing is to make a low profile roof rack over the OEM cross bars and Thule roof basket I have ATM.