Lift and Tire Help

zip0154 · **Joined:** Sat Feb 13, 2010 12:59 am **Posts:** 17

HELP... Newbie here....
I've got a 2005 Limited.I have the budget lift form Rocky Road with the upgraded control arms. I ordered BFG 265/70/17 on 17X8 rock crawlers. The wheels and tires came mounted (no refunds) from4wheelparts.com. I explained to the salesman over the phone what I had as far a lift. Told him minimal rubbing. The tires came in and I put them on with the lift. So far i have flattened my pinch welds, cut what seems like half my front bumper off and I still have major rubbing. I have put about 100 miles on it, it's my daily driver. Any suggestions as to what else I can do? I really don't want to buy 5 more new tires. Thanks, and yes, I should have looked on here first, just didn't know this existed...

daspes · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:13 am

Moved this out of the Official Lift thread so that it gets more visibility.

You've got a lot of issues to work out...

First, don't ever listen to salesman on the phone for advice on any Jeep without doing your research first.
Second, the 265/70/17 is a 32" tire. To run that size there is a lot of work that needs to be done on the KJ besides pounding the pinch weld. Good deal of fender liner trimming, and probably relocating the washer bottle.

You should also do some research about Rocky Road Offroad while your at it.

Here are you major issues...
- 32" tire - Lots of work to be done to be able to fit.
- 17x8 rim - Though it can work depending on backspacing you will always have more rubbing than if you went with a 7" wheel (265 tires still recommend a 7" also).
- RRO OTT lift - Lots and lots of issues with OTT lifts. You must run extended front bumpstops with this lift or it will kill you front shocks very quickly.

What you can do...
Install a real lift - to make a 32" work, you are going to have to go with All J Product's Frankenlift, Jeepin By Al's 4" lift, or a homebrewed OME/Clevis lift/Daystar strut plate lift. Or, you buy new tires, for your size of lift recommend nothing larger than a 30.5" tire (16" tires will be cheaper, and again a 7" rim is better).

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:09 am

everything Mike said x2.

you might not want to change tires/wheels - but that's probably the quickest and cheapest fix - especially if you can sell/trade the new ones.

unless you specify differently a standard 17x8 wheel will be 4" backspacing - so the tire's too far out.

on the lift - bumpstops will keep your struts alive
http://www.trailquest.com/teraflex/KJ/suspension.shtml

long_tall_texan · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:52 am

I am running 32x11.50's on my 07 now. Just upgraded my lift, but ran for a long time with no problems with a Daystar plus some other stuff. I wioll list my setup below. Maybe some of those things will help you get a little more lift up front to stop the rubbing.

- Daystar Spacer Lift
- Added a 3/8" top spacer plate
- (like the ones Boiler is selling here: viewtopic.php?f=34&t=47813)
- or you can make them out of 3/8" thick HDPE. I have a CAD drawing of them if you want it.
- Added a 3 Ring Clevis lift
- Trimmed the front Bumper
- See this thread for pics of my trimming: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=48261&p=543510&hilit=fender+liner#p543510
- Trimmed the Fender liners quite a bit
- See that previous thread for pics of fender liners too
- Pound your pinch Weld
- Running 15x7 Cragar Black D wheels with 4" BS, so your wheels stick out an additional inch past mine most likely
- Running BFG AT's in 32x11.50x15

I just upgraded my Front lift to OME 927 in a DIY Frankenlift style. Plenty of room now.

zip0154 · **Joined:** Sat Feb 13, 2010 12:59 am **Posts:** 17

Lots of information to digest here, I do appreciate the help. The quick fix is smaller tires, but if everything is sagging after 5 years, I may want to replace those components. Oh and then there's the other big issue $$$..... At this point I'm going to sift thru everything, make a list to see whats cost effective and go from there...... I really didn't want to go on the word of a salesman over teh phone, but here in Southern Maryland, not too many places that do any 4X4 work.

SweepnChoke · **Posted:** Wed Mar 17, 2010 7:15 am

deleted

long_tall_texan · **Posted:** Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:21 am

zip0154 wrote:

Lots of information to digest here, I do appreciate the help. The quick fix is smaller tires, but if everything is sagging after 5 years, I may want to replace those components. Oh and then there's the other big issue $$$..... At this point I'm going to sift thru everything, make a list to see whats cost effective and go from there...... I really didn't want to go on the word of a salesman over teh phone, but here in Southern Maryland, not too many places that do any 4X4 work.

OK. Just making a budget-minded recommendation. If I were in your shoes...

Sell your brand new Wheels and tires. Or talk to the local 4 Wheel Parts shop about trading. Explain that you bought these wheels and tires on their size recommendation. See if you can trade-in the 17x8's and the tires for some 15x7 wheels and 31x10.50x15 tires. The 15" rims and the 31" tires should both be less expensive than the wheels and tires you originally bought. Then with the difference, buy a set of OME 927 springs and some Bilstein or Rancho shocks for the front. You will probably still have to spend a little $$$, but it will be your least expensive long-term solution.

Then save up and get some OME springs and new shocks down the road.

Lift and Tire Help

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