I am really debating getting rid of the KK, I am weighing all options and taking into consideration issues with the trans/drivetrain. Will a lift and 245/75/16 tires significantly kill the life of my trans/drivetrain? I drive about 50 or so miles per day, sometimes more. but I need a 4wd vehicle and I love jeeps so I was thinking of trading it in for a wrangler. My local dealer seems to only favor wranglers with mods and basically told me nothing will be covered under warranty because they can tie all drivetrain issues to my lift. but they said if I had a lifted wrangler it would be no problem.

So you lift a KK and no warranty
BUT lift a Wrangler and no problem??
That is the funniest crap I have heard for a while
Whats the difference between lifting one or the other and warranty
I'd tell that dealer to kiss my lily white***
Larger tires and a lift may kill a trans in anything, then again it may not
You may trade for a Wrangler/ lift it and 3 weeks later the trans will go out, who knows

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MUDD'S MOTORSPORT'S We do IFS lift installs ,
03 OVERLAND EDITION /Kilby-Skidrow-Mopar-4XGuard skids/ 2.5 inch TOTAL CONTROL JBA coilovers -JBA Arms/MOABS-31 FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3W / 4.10's etc, 04 Kilimanjaro Edition loaded, plus 05 KJ limited

yea I know, when they told me that I was shocked. I brought up the fact "how can you deny warranty when the earlier JK wranglers came with the 42rle and stock 32 inch tall tires, then I brought u that I have the same stock tire size and height as a jeep rubicon does stock. They didn't know what to say. I need to make friends with a tech at another dealer lol

Those JK Rubicon's with 255/75R17's also have 4.10 gears,that is your difference.


Regardless any Vehicle with larger then stock wheels/tires can have drivetrain issues,re-gearing helps reduce that by a lot.

Let's split this into parts:
1. under current federal law it is not legal to void a warranty based solely on the installation of after market parts or having routine service performed by an entity other than a dealer. If and only if manufacturer or dealer must show that the aftermarket part caused the need for repairs before denying warranty coverage, per the Federal Trade Commission, of course the dealer won't warranty the aftermarket part itself. However, an uncooperative/unfriendly dealer can certainly make your life difficult getting legitimate warranty work done. The most extreme case I've heard of was attempted denial of warranty work on a KJ CRD because the plastic engine cover/sound deadener was removed. Conclusion - any dealer who, without any substantive information, says any lift automatically voids the drive train warranty is automatically in violation of federal law..
2. I don't know what the stock tire size on a KK is/was but what I can find online says tire options included 16/17/18" with attendant differences in tire diameter (ex. 16" tire diameter increases about 1" between 225 and 245 plus the width increases). Bottom line is any tire, within reason, that will "fit" (e.g. when installed on stock rims will operate thru the entire range of motion without impacting on any portion of the vehicle) is going to be ok to use and won't damage drive train components in any way that I know of. Keep in mind though that getting all wild and crazy with aftermarket rims, spacers, and/or tires can create an all bets are off situation.
3. same applies to lifts. Don't know about the KK but on the KJ sticking with a 1.5" lift apparently causes no drive train issues beyond that....

So to your situation:
1. change tire size should be no problem
2. lifting beyond a certain point could be an issue. Ask yourself if you really need a lift and if so how much. Go from there.
3. how much warranty do you have left and can you wait until you don't care if the dealer digs in over warranty repairs cause the warranty no longer applies?

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Sold to LOST member my 05 Ltd, GDE Stg II turbo + TCM tune, SunCoast TC w. Transgo kit, Steiger window regulators, Samcos, Fumoto valve, 2nd gen filter head with Lub. Spec. bleeder, Hayden clutch & 11 blade fan, inverted spare, P-1 battery, BF Goodrich Long Trail TAs, Etecno1 glow plugs, timing belt at 50K miles/8 yrs

1--Larger then stock has been proven time and time again to cause extra stress on the whole drivetrain,it's a known fact since the '70's so little effort has to be put forth to prove that case in a court of law.

TJ Rubicon's have a different engine with a different power band then a KK,yes same trans and they also have 4.10 gears and 245/75R16's as stock sized tires.The JK's also have a different engine then a KK with a completely different power band then the 3.7.

"1--Larger then stock has been proven time and time again to cause extra stress on the whole drivetrain, it's a known fact since the '70's so little effort has to be put forth to prove that case in a court of law."

Of course but look at what I actually said regarding fit and reasonable. I and thousands of other folks have been putting slightly over stock size tires on vehicles from well before the '70s to date with no drivetrain issues. That said significant/substantial (whatever that means or however you measure it) deviation from stock via after market rims, offsets, over high lifts, etc. obviously puts extra stress on the drive train and suspension. Personally I've never done a lift and have no particular reason to but going slightly wider than stock is a common step that I have done.

As far as the OP question it comes down to what does the OP want to do with the KK that it won't do now and can safe modes (ex. minor increase in tire width, acceptable lift) be made to the vehicle to accomplish the objective without stressing other vehicle components. If the OP wants to run 37" tires and a 10" lift forget it but 30.5" tires and a 1.5" lift might work.

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Sold to LOST member my 05 Ltd, GDE Stg II turbo + TCM tune, SunCoast TC w. Transgo kit, Steiger window regulators, Samcos, Fumoto valve, 2nd gen filter head with Lub. Spec. bleeder, Hayden clutch & 11 blade fan, inverted spare, P-1 battery, BF Goodrich Long Trail TAs, Etecno1 glow plugs, timing belt at 50K miles/8 yrs

I just had my Trans rebuilt on my 09 kk cuz it went at 63xxx miles

problems i see with the kk.

most stuff done is basically experimental, and we have limitations. basically a basic ome lift with no extra issos, or top plates or other list about 2" or so is the most you can put with out stressing the car and it's components.
tires..... you go larger you regear... period. you can reprogram the transmission shifting points and reduce a little stress, but still the same 1st gear when starting from a dead stop. the engine whole power train need to work harder and in top of that all the gear, heavier tires and bla, bla blaa......

jks in the other hand have more out the shelf parts that have been prove and are basically bolt on. you can build a jk like going to the grocery store, pick and install. while we need to fabricate and experiment to see how it goes on out kk's

the crawler wrangler era changed peoples mind when it comes to offroading. people think the bigger the better, every one wishes to have 37" tires, cool bumpers, flares, role cages........ guess what.... not.
i know more landrovers, land cruisers, samurais on 30" tires that can go to places where lots of wranglers don't. now rock climbing is a different story.

take a kk twin locked with 3" lift and 31" tires and 100% you can go to places were the 80% of wranglers you see on the street with huge and fat tires don't.......... now if you want to show off...

IMO build it right, maintain i regularly and it will last for ever...

i will tell you the problems with lifts
people lift the kk
and don't:
1. install longer sway bar links. (need to keep the geometry so every thing work as manufactured)
2. install longer track bar or relocate trac bars (rear axle poops, bad alignment, stress on the drive shaft, steering problem... and more)
3. regear when bigger tires are installed (transmission problems, engine premature wear)
4. correct front alignment by buying upper control arms or using camber adapters (wish they will make some for the kk like other jeeps)

you don't do that and the problems will eventually come....

Regearing is the next big thing coming