Episode 515 – The Slow And Serious

This Week In Jeep

Jeep Grand Cherokee L Loses Quadra-Lift Suspension Due To Chip Shortage

Modern technology brings all kinds of neat features to the automotive industry. But as we’re finding out in this new age of vehicle production, it’s proving to be a double-edged sword for manufacturers. The latest casualty of the global semiconductor shortage comes from Jeep, specifically the Quadra-Lift air suspension system available on some new Grand Cherokee L models. The height-adjustable suspension is – or at least was – standard equipment on Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims. Nosing around the Grand Cherokee L online configurator, only the standard suspension shows up now. Further investigation found that the Quadra-Lift feature was removed, with the report citing a Jeep spokesperson as stating it was removed due to the ongoing chip shortage. Right now, there is no announced timeline for when the feature will be added back in.

Jeep’s Plans For China

Stellantis is poised to roll out a new strategy for China, with the first major step being to take control of its struggling Jeep joint venture from a domestic partner. The automaker formed from the merger between Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group is in advanced discussions with state-owned partner Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. on raising its stake in the 50-50 venture overseeing its Jeep operations in China. The change could take effect as early as next year when Chinese rules on Joint Ventures are set to be loosened. In the coming years, Stellantis plans to promote some of its brands including Jeep in the world’s biggest car market. Stellantis is trying to align its production with disappointing levels of demand in China, outlining in a statement last week a plan to integrate Jeep import operations into the venture and centralize production in Changsha, closing the second plant in Guangdong. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has for months been promising investors a plan to improve the carmaker’s dismal performance in China. Out of the 3.6 million vehicles the company sold worldwide in the first half of 2021, only about 50,000 were delivered in China. Its market share in the country slipped to just one-half of one percent compared with a double-digit share in all other regions outside Asia. Stellantis’ plan comes ahead of China lifting a cap on foreign ownership that has for decades limited global carmakers’ access to its market. As part of the Fiat Chrysler-PSA merger, Stellantis also inherited a venture in China with the Dongfeng Motor Group that makes Peugeot and Citroen models. Dongfeng sold some of its stake in Stellantis last week as part of an agreement with PSA that was reached in December 2019. Since Stellantis was formed at the start of the year, Tavares has unveiled plans for electrification and pledged more details with regard to the group’s software plans.

In the past few months, Tavares has also said the company was “moving forward very well” in China, and by year-end would have a full strategy including an “innovative” new business model.

Jeep Wrangler 4xe Added To 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems List

The innovative 4xe plug-in hybrid propulsion system in the Jeep Wrangler that delivers nearly silent driving and enhanced off-road capability has been voted a Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems winner in its first year of eligibility. The hybrid Jeep is a hit with consumers and media since its launch in early 2021. They claim the Jeep Wrangler 4xe provides 21 miles of zero-emission all-electric range, but we know the real-world numbers on that are nowhere even close to that. Despite that, the EPA rating is at 49 miles per gallon-equivalent (MPGe). Something tells me that will be adjusted in the history books though. Within weeks of reaching dealerships, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe became the No. 1 selling PHEV in the United States for the second quarter of 2021.

Nearly 25% of all the Jeep Wranglers built by consumers through the configurator at jeep.com included the 4xe propulsion system. Delivering a powertrain that manages torque from three sources and loses nothing from the Jeep Wrangler’s legendary capability is a challenge. In response to the #1 spot on the list, all a Jeep rep had to say was “We’re not finished, there is more to come.” Consumers are driving the Jeep Wrangler 4xe on roads in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China. In North America, 4xe propulsion is available on the Jeep Wrangler Sahara, Rubicon, and High Altitude models. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe’s propulsion system combines two electric motors, a 2.0-liter I-4 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission for nearly silent propulsion, and enhanced 4×4 off-road capability, without EV range anxiety.

This arrangement enables the Trail Rated Jeep Wrangler to retain running gear that includes solid front and rear axles, a full-time two-speed transfer case, fully articulating suspension, and 30 inches of water traversing capability. The E Selec modes let the driver tailor the Jeep Wrangler 4xe propulsion to the trip: Hybrid, Electric, and eSave, which conserves the battery pack charge for later use. The Wrangler 4xe’s 17-kilowatt-hour battery pack recharges in about two hours with a Level 2 charger… that is a charging system that is hooked up to a 220-volt source, and not just hooked up the same plug as your washing machine which would charge the Jeep in about 12 hours.

For anyone keeping count, this is the 11th consecutive time a Stellantis product has made the list of Wards 10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems. In the 28-year history of the award, 10 engines/systems produced by Stellantis and its predecessor companies (namely Dodge and Chrysler) have accounted for 21 winners.

Go Mopar!

Campfire Side Chat

What Brand/Type/Style Of Wiper Blades Is The Best?

Which Ones Are The Worst?

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Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma

Hey Tony, Josh, and Wendy… Keep your fingers crossed. Neil and I are moving our home to another location in two weeks. I am hoping we will finally be able to get a landline internet instead of this Wi-Fi, which is not dependable at all. We have had our monthly rent raised again. This time by 120%. Just for background, we are living in our camper in a local RV campground that also has tent camping. There are several campers that have made this their home who also work and live here in the valley. Campgrounds aren’t always for tourists. I am hearing campgrounds all over the US have raised their rates significantly over the past year. Some to the point where folks are just getting hotel rooms because they are less expensive. If your budget is tight when you head out for a trip do your research when looking for a place to pitch your tent. You may be better off at that local Super 8. Also out West don’t forget the BLM Public lands… camping on these lands are free. So, on the last Jeep Life, I talked about keeping the mud off your Jeep. I know everyone says Jeeps are supposed to be dirty. I would like to change that to Jeeps are supposed to GET dirty but not stay dirty. Not washing your Jeep shortens its life span. You are going to want to make sure once you are off the trails to give your jeep a thorough cleaning. I am going to share My Top 5 areas to pay special attention to. First, is the wheels and tires… Not just the front side we see but the backside. It is best to use a high-pressure sprayer like a power washer or at the local do-it-yourself car wash. Mud and dirt can get clogged up in all those components attaching your Jeep to your wheels. This happened to an XJ owner, and he thought he had death wobble. Well, he did have death wobble but it wasn’t a suspension issue but all the caked-in mud in his wheels. The second is your frame. Get under your Jeep. Those Wranglers have holes in their frames and they are hollow inside. Take your hose and insert it into the hole and let it run for a bit. The first time I did this to mine the water coming out was black than brown then finally just clear water. The same goes for your fenders if you still have those stock fenders. I have had mud caked up in them. The third is your undercarriage… it is a good idea to take that sprinkler that moves back and forth and put it under your Jeep and let it run for a good hour. But there needs to be more than just that. Some of those skid plates get mud on them. The space between the skid plate and your undercarriage. I have rear control arm skid plates and it really gets caked in there. SO, make sure you take that hose again and get those in-between spaces. Mud attracts rust just like road salt and ocean salt. Fourth, your radiator makes sure it’s clear of all obstacles. And of course your engine… You know you can power wash your engine. Just be careful not to spray into your air filter. Here in the valley, we are on dirt roads all the time. That dust can be just as bad as that mucky mud. Next week on Jeep Life I will share some Colorado Trail tips.

Must-Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!

Metal Cloak “Duroflex” Rod Ends (price varies)

https://metalcloak.com/metalcloak-duroflex-joints-suspension-builder-parts.html

This pick of the week for your Jeep is going to be focused on the more serious Jeeper, maybe someone who considers themselves a builder. A Jeeper who probably plays in the rocks, or who needs serious articulation out of the suspension system. This would also apply strongly to anyone considering building a long arm system, or who is looking to seriously increase the performance of their existing long or mid-arm system on their Jeep. So if that sounds like you then have just three words for you.

“The Duroflex Joint.”

If you haven’t heard of this unique rod end system from Metal Cloak, then you are about to be blown away. Typically when a Jeeper buys a lift kit, such as a long arm kit, the ends of those arms, the rod ends, are typically a Clevite style or possibly even come with Johnny Joints on one end. Those have been the industry standard for decades. And for good reason. They’re rebuildable, perform well enough and provide at least some degree of vibration dampening. Now… What if I told you that Metal Cloak’s unique design takes all that and makes it better by factors. Do you want proof? Go to the Metal Cloak Website and check out the Duroflex page, don’t worry, I’ll post up a link to it in the show notes for this episode at JeepTalkShow.com. There you will see a comparison video, showing the amount of flex between four different rod end joints. The Teraflex Monster Joint, which is a good heavy-duty rod end, was only able to flex 15.6 degrees. The world-famous Johnny Joint, developed by Currie Enterprises, flexed only 14.9 degrees. The basic Clevite found on at least one end of almost every suspension kit out there came in at a measly 5.2 degrees.

The Metal Cloak Duroflex joint measured in at over 20 degrees. That is a full five degrees more flex than what most would consider the best joints available. Ok, so you’ve probably said to yourself, that five degrees aren’t enough to warrant a change. And for many, that may be true. But for those who know the difference between picking a line and staying on one, then these are for you. If that’s not enough, then consider what they’re made out of. Metal Cloak uses a gold zinc chromate finish on all their exposed metals. No matter how much or how long they’re exposed to the elements, or how much they fade, or how much you dent and scratch them, the zinc keeps on protecting the metal. You can’t say that about paint or even powder coating. So with all this misalignment and tough metal, they have to be pretty hard on the on-road ride right? Actually, Metal Cloak has a comparative video for that too. Using an actual seismometer, you know, like they measure earthquakes with… They are able to measure the vibration dampening abilities of several rod end joints to see how they measure up. The Johnny Joint had to be on the list, Rock Krawler’s rod ends were tested too, even Rubicon Express was put to the challenge. And just for a control group, they threw in a heim joint as well. Heims are great for things like steering linkage ends, and some may even find them on the end of the occasional suspension arm, but the ride of that rig is nothing you’d want to experience on the road.

Once again the Duroflex Joint scored better than all the others by a wide margin. Meaning that for the best possible articulation performance, AND the quietest, softest ride, you’ll want to check out the Metal Cloak Duroflex Joints. Now, metal Cloak does offer a whole litany of upgrades for your Jeep, they do much, much more than just rod ends. In fact, the engineering behind their suspension designs is second to none. Seriously, put what I’m saying to the test, and just check them out. They compare their stuff to ALL the top brands with a side by side, geometric test, and the evidence speaks for itself. As they say, it’s still your Jeep, only better.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

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