Problems w/ Tires Rubbing

GoodAScoolwhip · **Posted:** Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:01 pm

Hello Everyone -

Just got an '05 Jeep Liberty. Put 2.5" Lift and 245/75/16's on her, and it runs great on the street. No rubbing whatsoever turning, etc.

However, when I hit the trails, climbing stuff, or in awkwardly articulated moments, my wheels rub --- BAD. :evil:

The front is not too bad unless I get really crazy, but the back wheels are leaving black streaks all over the wheel wells and are even starting to tear up my fender flares a bit.

Keep in mind I just have a spacer lift kit, with the stock springs and struts, and about 44k miles. Is it time to upgrade the rear shocks? Or does that even matter for this particular problem? Any suggestions on how to reduce tire rubbing with these size tires?

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:24 pm

well first is the spacer lift, although some are OK your springs are starting to sag so you may not be getting a full 2.5 inches of lift.
Second is bump stops if you don't have any then you need some. Teraflex makes them for the front, a cheap fix for the rear is two hockey pucks perside.
Third what wheels are you running? Backspacing/width? Best is a 7 inch wide wheel with 4 inches of backspacing. I run Rubicon Moabs that are 8 inches wide and can stuff them but its tight!
And have you pounded over the pinch welds in front?
heres what a 265-75-16 on a eight inch wheel and two hockey pucks looks like

GoodAScoolwhip · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:18 am

okay. Thats what I was thinking after reading a few posts.

So, do you think I could go ahead and upgrade the rear shocks/struts to the OME's while leaving the spacer kit on the front for now? I was thinking the same thing about the bumpstops, too. I will probably have to do the hockeypucks in the meantime.

I've been mostly concerned with the rear wheels, so -- No, haven't done the pinch weld yet. I've seen some discussion about that but I'm not really sure exactly what that is or how to take care of it to be honest with you...

I have the American Racing 16x8" Mojaves. 4.5" backspacing.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:20 am

GoodAScoolwhip wrote:

I have the American Racing 16x8" Mojaves. 4.5" backspacing.

Those are the biggest issue with your rubbing,to wide and not enough BS for the width.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:57 am

Like tjkj stated wheels are working against you first, then with no bump stops, new springs and shocks will not really help right now, well would , but only to a point

GoodAScoolwhip · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:46 am

cool. Thanks for the input. So, since I already spent a grip of $$ on these wheels, what can I do to overcome the issue with the width vs. bs? wheel spacers to increase bs?

KJ04 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:04 am

First, address the rear bumpstops. I would go a full 3" on the rear bumpstops and add an extra upper rubber spring isolator, then see how it works out from there. :wink:

They attach to the spring perch that your spacers sit on. Disasemble lower shock , remove springs and the lower rubber isolator pad. Drill 1/4" hole through center of spring perch and through all 3 hockey pucks and connect with 1/4"X3.5" bolt.

Rubber mallet heads cut to size and drilled will also work for rear bumpstops.

Do you have extended rear shocks on it for a 2000-2002 Durango?

Look in the tech section for pinchweld pounding.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:23 am

agree with KJ04, would go with 3 per side to keep you pretty much out of the flares, still may have some problems, may need to do some trimming of the plastic inside the fender well also, you can remove 1/4 to 1/2 inch of plastic that helps somewhat.

GoodAScoolwhip · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 4:03 pm

good stuff good stuff. You guys have no idea how much of a help this is. No, I don't have the durango shocks. Is that recommended with the spacer kit? Which shocks specifically are you talking about? Sorry for all the questions. :roll:

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 4:25 pm

still have stock shocks? OK need to replace them soon, Check with JeepinByAl he can still get the Rancho RSX 17004
these are the right length for a lifted KJ they were or are for 97-04 Dakota 4 Wheel drive or 98-03 4wd Durangos

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 4:38 pm

i have 235-85-16 and i needed to run 3 hockey pucks(3" bumpstop) to keep my tires from rubbing on my rear flares. it still stuffs the tire in there, but it keeps it just out of the point to where the tire doesn't touch the flares anymore

GoodAScoolwhip · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:58 pm

ok sweet. I'm checking into the bumpstops next week and probably will upgrade the shocks next month. $$... but on the + side, I just found out my wife and I are having another baby in July! woo hoo :shock:

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:27 pm

Congrats on the new little Jeeper! :wink:

djui5 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am **Posts:** 536

If you push down on the back of your Jeep does it move up/down at all? If so then your rear shocks are toast and putting on new shocks would help a lot. Bump stops are a cheap alternative. Another option is some wheel spacers (not sure if it's been stated in this thread before).

BTW I live in Apache Junction. We should go wheelin sometime.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:49 pm

djui5 wrote:

Bump stops are a cheap alternative. Another option is some wheel spacers (not sure if it's been stated in this thread before).
.

bump stops are not an alternative, they keep the tires from hitting the flares.

Wheel spacers?? He's already hitting the flares, wheel spacers would only make the problem worse.

just saying...... :wink:

ramlebliberty · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:01 pm

Obvious solution for this problem is to make some custom high clearance fenders duh!

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:07 pm

Obvious solution? Really have to cut out a lot of body panels/sub frame to do that! :wink:

ramlebliberty · **Posted:** Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:18 pm

tommudd wrote:

Obvious solution? Really have to cut out a lot of body panels/sub frame to do that! :wink:

ahh with a dremel, sheet rock saw, maybe a plasma cutter... anythings possible :wink:

GoodAScoolwhip · **Posted:** Sat Dec 05, 2009 1:00 am

djui5 wrote:

BTW I live in Apache Junction. We should go wheelin sometime.

Sounds good to me. I've been looking for someone to ride with. When I go I usually head out toward florence junction. I was really wanting to check out montana mountain since I haven't been there before. PM me and we could try to set something up.

djui5 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am **Posts:** 536

tommudd wrote:

bump stops are not an alternative, they keep the tires from hitting the flares.

I don't have any and I don't suffer from this problem

Same tire size, cept I got a shock/coil lift instead of the type he got. I see you posted earlier he needs new springs and I agree.

If the backspacing is an issue causing the rubbing then wheel spacers will fix that. 1" spacers will set the rims a little further out, and depending on where the rubbing is happening, could stop it.

That was my thought process anyway.

Coolwhip,
I'll pm you. Montana Mountain is an incredible scenic run and I think you'd like it a lot. I wheel FJ a lot too so we can meet out there someday.

Problems w/ Tires Rubbing

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