[Ready for a New Kind of JK Wrangler Forum—Help Build One!]

Thanks for the reply Moses,

The re-routing of the belt would be necessary if I install the electric water pump as there would no longer be a pulley at that location. As for OE mechanical pumps, only Mopar makes them at this point for the 3.6L Pentastar. I am unsure if the issue is actual bearing related, several guys in my jeep club have brought theirs in with the squeaking and the dealer replaced it. It is a known issue with this motor.

My question is can this be avoided in the future by switching to an electrical water pump, and would this be a superior option to the belt driven mechanical pump? And, is it worth the effort to undertake this modification as opposed to replacing it with the OE pump.

 

Thanks again.

 

Nate

[Dana 30 and 35 Fluid Replacement and Inspection]

Alberto, most likely you have a D35 in your yj. You could confidently use mobile1 75w90 with lsd additive. It should take about 3.5 pints, the dana 30 would take 2.5 pints

[Ready for a New Kind of JK Wrangler Forum—Help Build One!]

Moses,

I have a 2013 Jeep JK Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited. I off-road it quite a bit. It is lifted 4" all suspension including shock mounting, sway bars etc have been replaced/ re-worked, it is running on 37" tires, new driveshaft etc. I am running into the well documented issue of the water pump beginning to squeak and squeal. I am interested in swapping the stock pump out for a digital thermally controlled electric 115 LPM water pump from Davies Craig.

 

Two questions: is this a reasonable alternative to replacing the stock pump for a daily driven off road vehicle, and how do I go about re-routing the serpentine belt?

[Is There a Labor Time Schedule for Installing Lift Kits and Off-Road Accessories?]

Moses, I've done no less than 15 full suspension lifts on Jeep Wranglers. At this point I pretty much have it down to a science. Including alignment, shocks, springs, control arms, sway bar links, track bars, track bar brackets,spring correction wedges and bump stops and extended brake lines.

If I'm doing the entire job solo it requires approximately 8-10 hours. With an extra well experienced hand we can trim 1-2 hours off that time.

Hope this helps

Nate

[Is There a Labor Time Schedule for Installing Lift Kits and Off-Road Accessories?]

Umm...I missed out! When I installed lift kits, 50 hours would have handled at least 2-1/2 vehicles...The 18 hours would be reasonable for a thorough job, from installation of parts to full alignment of axles, wheel alignment and such. I think you're right, though, Biggman100, this could be a loaded question. In the forums photo gallery, owners can comment on their individual experiences, and this might be insightful.

I do know that installation shops, familiar with particular lift kits on specific chassis applications, do quote labor from a "menu". For example, there is a 4-Wheel Parts retail outlet with installation shop at Sparks, Nevada (and elsewhere), and they must have a formula. We might look into that angle.

Similarly, auto dealerships, like a Jeep or Ram truck dealer selling Mopar lift kits, must have a formula and work from an estimate menu. I'm not clear how New York State handles this, but most states have a mandatory "quote" requirement before a job begins. This would be impossible to do unless the shop has a clear sense for the labor time. An independent shop might have more latitude for "time and materials", but I doubt it.

In states like California, an agency like the Bureau of Automotive Affairs insists on an initial estimate, though there is a provision for bumping the charges (with the consumer's permission) if a problem or additional work emerges during a repair. This generally applies to repair work on mechanical or electrical systems where the job is unclear before assembly teardown. Visualize an automatic transmission, engine or a transfer case, where the parts cannot be inspected without the teardown.

There is also the lift kit manufacturer's "estimate" of installation time, which also applies to many other aftermarket automotive products. This is typically intended to encourage consumers to purchase a kit, and it's not clear what the labor time reflects. (Is this the time it takes an expert or team, with all power tools available, to do the job at a professional shop facility set up for replacing these parts? This is hardly a home garage or under the apartment carport!) As Megatron aptly noted in his reply to our project difficulty rating topic, even the tools you own can determine how long it takes to do a job. Your familiarity with a given procedure is a whole other story!

I did open a can of worms...so let's keep this question open!

Moses