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Jeep Wrangler Parts

The SUV known as the Jeep Wrangler was a vehicle produced by United States auto manufacturer Chrysler, under the Jeep name. It has also been known to some as the YJ, TJ and JK. The first Wrangler came out in 1987, and was redone exactly ten years later in 1997, and then ten years later once again in 2007. The Wrangler was one of the Jeep’s most popular models, and many people still drive them today, all models still continuing to use live axles on both the front and rear, and have since their ancestral CJ in the 1950’s. The Jeep is well known as a civilian vehicle for both regular commute and off-roading, as well as for being a well known military vehicle.

The first Jeep Wrangler was called the YJ and it was manufactured first in Ontario, Canada and then at Chrysler’s Toledo South assembly plant. This model was on the market from 1987 to 1995. Wranglers ere manufactured at Toledo South until 2006, when the car company finally made the decision to tear the plant down. However, production continues just around the corner at the Toledo North plant. The YJ was replaced by the TJ, a similar model, in 1997 with a few being released as Unlimited, or LJ’s. These were manufactured until 2006, where they were, are are even now called the JK, and began being manufactured in 2007.

In more depth, the Jeep YJ, branded as the Wrangler for sales floors, replaced the Jeep CJ in `87. It was built in Canada until 1992, when the cars began being manufactured in Toledo, Ohio. This new design featured a wider wheel base, was more comfortable, and was a little closer to the ground on the undercarriage. The new EJ Model had wider springs on a leaf spring suspension, and track bars and sway bars for better handling. The YJ models also had the rectangular headlights, which became sort of a trademark for the model, and were the subject of much controversy when they were first added. The Yjs were built up until the 1995 model with nearly 700,000 units produced.

There actually were Yjs produced in 1996, but were sold as 1995 models. These models featured parts that hadn’t previously been released on any previous models including bumpstops on the hood, with the hinges on the tailgate reinforces. Some of those models even received the l6 which were newly tuned to run quieter.

For three years, from 1991 to 1994 Jeep created an options package on the YJ Wrangler that was called the Renegade Décor Group. At first, all the Renegades were one of three colors, either white, black oor red, but new colors were added, blue in 1992 and bronze in 1993. This was a more than $4,200 option from the base Wrangler and included a 4.0 liter I-6 Engine, 29×9 Wrangler All Terrain tires, off road gas shocks, power steering, fog lamps in the front fenders, a leather wrapped steering wheel, a full size spare and a whole list of other features includes more room in the fuel tanks, cup holders in the center console and interval windshield wipers. You could also get a hardtop edition, defroster at the rear window, as well as column shift automatic.

Another change came in 1999 when the larger fuel tank became standard, holding nineteen gallons, but was followed by minor fixes, until 2002, when the models for that year and the following year were changed with some parts not being able to fit with those years any longer. The minor changes that happened were things like changing the metal framed mirrors to plastic molded ones, a different fit of hard and soft tops and additional fabrics and colors. Also in 2003, the three speed automatic transmission was swapped out with a four speed that had overdrive, with the option of disabling the OD with a switch on the dash. Some other minors changes included radio buttons, interior seats and headrest design.

A new model of the Wrangler was introduced in 2003 called the Wrangler Rubicon which was named for the Rubicon Trail that is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It had quite a few features such as front and rear Dana 44 axles. They had built in locking differentials that were air actuated. It also had a five speed mnaual transmission, the NV3500 which was changed in 2005 to the NSG370. The Rubicon also included 1001 Tomb Raider models, to promote the major motion picture Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. This unique model had a light bar, fender flares that were riveted in, Tomb Raider branding and sixteen inch aluminum wheels, as well as a new grill guard a diamond palted bumpter guard and new fabric seats with red accents and silver around the instrument panels. It was bright silver to match the vehicle that was used in the film.

In 2004 Jeep came out with the Wrangler Unlimited that had a longer wheelbase and a different gear ratio. Then in 2005 it was the Rubicon Unlimited which included the off-road features of the Rubicon but the same wheelbase that the unlimited had. This model also featured a six-speed manual transmission as well as some features that were mainly for comfort and convenience, but that weren’t present on the earlier Jeep models.

Another movie came out in 2005 called Sahara which had the characters driving a Jeep Wrangler. As before Jeep produced the Sahara Edition of the Unlimited Rubicon.

In recent years there have been several changes and even a major design of the Wrangler, with the major revision coming in 2007 in both the two door and the four door models. The 2007 model was quite a big bigger, with a longer wheelbase and supported a larger tire size. The 2009 model added a features called Hill Start Assist and Trailer Sway Control with an optional Electronic Stability Program. Jeep is also coming out with electric models in recent years. The Jeep Wrangler received several awards fro Models to Best Hold Its Value and was named number four among Forbes list of top ten vehicles with the highest resale value.