Homeward_Bound wrote:
Hi all. After doing a lot of research and saving, I am finally going through with lifting my KK. You guys have had some really good advice in regards to lifts, regearing, and other mods. I have already ordered the lift (4" JBA), front locker (Eaton), and gears (4.56 Yukon). I was wondering if you all had any 'I would suggest doing (insert item)' while the KK is open underneath.
I have read about having to pound pinch welds and some cutting in the front wheel wells because of rubbing issues with larger tires. The tire I am going with is 255/75R17 Duratracs on a wheel with an offset of ~6mm (~4.25" backspace?) on a width of 7.5". Hopefully I'll minimize, if not avoid, pounding and cutting.
The last thing I can think of is replacing/upgrading the pads and rotors. My KK has about ~32k on the rear pads and rotors and ~2k on the front. To do this now or wait until they need to be replaced? I'm leaning towards the former. Thanks for all the advice you all have written throughout this site. It has been really beneficial.
Be careful locking the front. I say this because I just broke an axle wheeling her being open. I'm putting in a Detroit TrueTrac instead of an OX locker like I planned because with an aluminum housing, it's just not enough axle to survive with the way I wheel her haha.
I haven't heard of anyone running a 16x7.5 wheel yet, but with 8"ers needing 5" backspacing and 7"ers needing 4" backspacing you're in a pretty good sweet spot to run that. I can almost guarantee you're going to have to pound the pinch weld-just a thing we all have to do haha.
I upgraded my pads/rotors a few days before my regear and 265/75s (was about 70,000mi on stock brakes) so that I could guarantee a quick safe stop. But with that low amount of miles on them, might as well keep them unless you feel you cannot safely stop.