265/70s with Emu lift?

Kaboom · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:03 pm **Posts:** 31

Here's the plan: 2005 Libby Renegade

Old Man Emu struts, springs, shocks.
16x8 sheels with 5" backspacing.
265/70R-16 BFG Rugged Trail TA tires.

The OME lift should give me 1.5" of lift with my ex post pre lowered KJ. I already have the tires, which were the OEM tires I took off of a 2002 Toyota double cab pickup, and they have 3,000 miles on them (they're free in other words). The tires measure exactly 30 3/8" tall, and the 8" wide wheels should help flatten them out just a bit more than the stock 7" wide wheels would. And the wheels will have 1/2" less backspacing than stock, so I will gain just a touch of extra room at the swaybar, but not loose too much clearance at the pinchweld.

I think its going to work. How wacked out am I for trying this?

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Quote:

ex post pre lowered KJ

What does that mean? That's like a double or triple negative. My brain hurts. :lol:

If you own a 2005 then you are lowered, not pre-lowered. Maybe I am reading that wrong. It doesn't matter since you are swapping out the springs anyway.

If you have your heart set on this then plan on a lot of pounding and cutting. Keep in mind that you are moving the tire further out in the wheel well because of the 8" rim and the new offset. This will put the wheel on a greater arc so there will be more contact in turns compared to the stock rim.

With only an extra 1.5" of clearance I wouldn't recommend trying this. Is there a particular reason you are wanting the OME lift? Why not go with the Rusty's lift? Or the Frankenlift?

Kaboom · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:03 pm **Posts:** 31

Good point on the wider wheel moving the centerline of the tire farther out. A 1" wider wheel will move the centerline of the tire out by 1/2", which would give the same effect as a stock 7" width wheel that has 4 1/2" of backspacing.

I had wanted to go with OME for two reasons:

1) I really don't want the Jeep to look lifted, so I am after the bare minimum lift needed to use the larger tires.

2) Ride quality.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

By the time you fit those meats it will probably look lifted even if it isn't all that functional.

I don't have the Rusty's lift, but I have read over and over again that it actually gives a BETTER ride than stock. Maybe some of the Rusty's owners can chime in here.

The OME lift is probably a solid choice given your reasoning, but I wouldn't plan on running anything much bigger than 255/70 or 245/75 with that lift.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

The OME rear springs (the lightest ones) actually give you more like 2.5" of lift. I started out with the OME lift and wanted to go higher so I added some spacer to the front and now she sits about level. I measure against a stock KJ and I am about 2.5" higher with all my armor and other cr@p loaded up.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Eddo, what size tires are you running?

Also, in case you didn't know the word cr@p gets converted to "poo poo" with the new filter...hilarious! :lol:

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

Skyjump136 wrote:

Eddo, what size tires are you running?

Also, in case you didn't know the word cr@p gets converted to "poo poo" with the new filter...hilarious! :lol:

I'm running 245/75R16. Rubs just a little in the usual spots.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

And what size spacer are you running? Basically, do you think you'd want to try the 265/70 without the spacer?

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

The spacers give me about 1.5 inches of lift. I would not want to run 265/70R16s with the lift I have now. Just too wide of a tire, you are going to rub no matter what lift and you will probably need some different rims. 245 looks pretty darn close to that upper ball joint.

Kaboom · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:03 pm **Posts:** 31

Just so folks know, the actual measured height of the set of 265/70s I have in the garage is 1/8" shorter than the published height of most 245/75s I have checked.

Kaboom · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:03 pm **Posts:** 31

Another question ...

What limits upward suspension travel in the front suspension? A bump stop, right? Is the bump stop in a different location with one brand of lift vs another? And what does the bump stop "bump" against? I guess I need to look under my Jeep :roll:

because I do not recall if it is on the upper control arm, or the lower control arm.

Spike6901 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:53 am

265/70 will not fit with the stock wheels but it looks like you know that unless you don't care about loosing some of your turning radius. I tried last week, but with 1/2" less backspacing you should be good. Just heat gun the front fender well front and pound down the pinch weld. I did it and the whole process took me about an hour.

I ended up going with the 245/75 and they fit with zero rubbing, but I put the 265's up next to them and they were about 1/4" taller than the 245's. I depends more on the tire manufacturer than the actualy mathmatical size.

The bump stop does not change but you can add a longer one I believe. I wouldn't though, but then I haven't rubbed at all.

KJ_WHEELER_2010 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2012 9:33 am

Gonna deff take some cutting :seuss:

Thats about the setup that I have. OME lift & 265/75R16 Nitto Terra Grapplers. They rubbed ALOT at first. After alotta triming they still rub slightly at full lock or full stuff. I think I have like 4 or 4 1/2" of back spacing though. I forget the specs on the wheels I got. Low & wide.....keeps it stable :lol:

TwoBobsKJ · **Joined:** Fri May 11, 2012 8:03 pm **Posts:** 463

Remember that the advertised OME lift amount of 1.5" is to avoid liability issues - the actual lift you get over where you are now will be close to 3" most likely.

To fit those tires and not tear out your inner fender liners you should add a top plate and clevis lift in front and an upper isolator or two in the rear to make the hub-to-fender flare measurement around 22.5 to 22.75".

You need the extended front bumpstops so your larger tires don't destroy your inner fender. You need bumpstops in the rear (2 hockey pucks on the lower spring perch) so you don't bottom out your shocks (you ARE getting longer shocks, yes?)

The OME springs are superior to Rusty's. You'll be much happier with the ride quality and the fact that the OME's are rated higher than Rusty's.

Good luck - and post pics!

Bob

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:15 pm

From 2005 up to 2012 :ROTFL:

sorry private "Ohio" joke

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

tommudd wrote:

From 2005 up to 2012 :ROTFL:

sorry private "Ohio" joke

I wondered how long that would take! :ROTFL:

OHHHHHHHH but wait, Wildman is runnin bigger yet! :-)r

OHHHHHHHHHHH but wait some more, read how he got his name! :-)r

265/70s with Emu lift?

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