Tires and lift

[tbburg]

I didn't read anything about the conditions you were driving in, but I got the impression the tires are rubbing when you are turning on the street? Going up/down/around won't fix your problem. You increased the tire diameter. With the stock backspacing, the back side of the tire is still in the stock location, but the tread is now around 1.5 inches further away from the hub center,and that much closer to the front and back of the wheel well. The only things you can do are adjust your backspacing, or adjust the steering stops to prevent the tire hitting the control arm.

 

[Rod Knee]

There is an article on trimming an XJ with 31 inch tires and minimal lift in the new JP magazine (which I received just today). Trimming is also covered in Zappe's book "Cherokee Builder's Guide" or whatever its called. You could also search here and google and get quite a bit of info.

 

[REVROK]

If I can get a budget boost consisting of shackles and spacers for front and maybe trim a bit up front would I be good? Or do I need to get the wheel spacers too? Trying to minimize $$. Let me know.

Thanks,
Silent

Here are the guys I get my wheelspacers from. http://www.weirdharoldscoolparts.com/new%20page0.htm

Great prices... I knew I would eventually go 5 on 5.5 to clear locking hubs on new axles in the front and rear so I got spacers to change my pattern at the same time. Bought the wheels I ultimately wanted that way. I know that is not what you are looking to do, but it might help someone else. Again, just relax... your rig is not messed up. These are easy fixes.

 

[olsen78]

i run 33X12.5's on about 3.5 of lift on the frount i rub a little, but i did the trim and took my time with help i looks stock

 

[cherokee chuck]

Spider Trax should fix your problem & they only space your wheels 1&1/4" out, so your tires shouldn't stick out too far.people swear by them, they say they are bullet proof. the downside is $99a pair & you'll need 2 pairs and your tires will still rub at the back of the rear wheel opening. mine still rubbed there at 2&1/2" when off road., 3 &1/2" cured it .

 

[sunburned]

You guys are really giving this guy a lot of bad info. A new trackbar is not really needed on a 2" lift. I don't have one on my Rusty's 3" lift and the front axle is barely misaligned. I'm sure he can do without it for now. Also, different backspacing is not going to help his rubbing issue on the front and rear of the rear wheel opening. I bought my XJ with a small 3" lift and 32" tires and it rubbed in the same spots he is talking about, as well as the back edge of the front bumper.


Like he asked about in his 3rd post, trimming is the answer. I just removed all my flares and trimmed the fenders a bit and now any rubbing issue I had is completely gone. My tires are a bit too big for my lift, but a quick trim in the front and cut/fold in the rear opened up the wheel wells drastically. It'll make the jeep look more aggressive too. Keeping the stock backspacing or something close to it isn't a bad idea if he trims, because it'll keep the tires from sticking out too far without the flares. Still, there are writeups where people put the stock flares back after the trim, which is a possibility as well.

Still, if he really wants to change the backspacing on his rig, new wheels are definitely the way to go over wheel spacers. 3.75" backspacing is pretty aggressive and something like 4.5" or 4.25" might be a bit better. Plus, the spydertraxx spacers are over $100 a pair, and he can get cragar wheels for less than that, and they even fit his 31" tires.

 

[ColoradoRaptor]

I looks like it is rubbing on the back part of the wheel well where the bottom of the fender is on both sides. Also some on the front of the wheel well. It is rubbing on that plastic inside the wells. If I remove that and trim a bit, would that get rid of it? Also, the back space is stock. Also where could I get spacer and shackle from?

TRIM......if this fails to help then new wheels or backspacing is required. I am running 35's with only 4.5 up front and that required LOTS of trimming!