Help me plan for 35's
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 598
Likes: 1
From: Little Rock
You don't need a suspension lift to run 35s, especially if you want it as low as possible.
Flat flares (cut stockers, Bushwackers, or Xenons)
1" body lift
1" rear extended bumpstops
wheels with 4.5" or less backspacing
Then, you can prioritize your money on:
JKS front swaybar quick disconnects
minimalist front stubby bumper
OR-Fab rear tire carrier
minimalist rear bumper
regear to 4.56 or 4.88s depending on how much you offroad
lockers
AEV ProCal to calibrate your 2012 speedometer
strong, but ligher weight rocker guards/sliders
engine/oil pan skid
EVAP skid
2012 exhaust skid
CB
winch
If you get any front end sagging due to the winch and a steel front bumper, you can find a front only pair of take-off stock springs from a 4 dr Rubicon hardtop JK to use. They have a stiffer spring rate and will handle the weight with no sagging. You won't need this for the rear.
Flat flares (cut stockers, Bushwackers, or Xenons)
1" body lift
1" rear extended bumpstops
wheels with 4.5" or less backspacing
Then, you can prioritize your money on:
JKS front swaybar quick disconnects
minimalist front stubby bumper
OR-Fab rear tire carrier
minimalist rear bumper
regear to 4.56 or 4.88s depending on how much you offroad
lockers
AEV ProCal to calibrate your 2012 speedometer
strong, but ligher weight rocker guards/sliders
engine/oil pan skid
EVAP skid
2012 exhaust skid
CB
winch
If you get any front end sagging due to the winch and a steel front bumper, you can find a front only pair of take-off stock springs from a 4 dr Rubicon hardtop JK to use. They have a stiffer spring rate and will handle the weight with no sagging. You won't need this for the rear.
Could I do this setup using airbump's from fox or teraflex?
If I can do this...I may be riding on 35's in a few weeks.
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
I finally was able to put 35's (well, 285/75/17 BFGoodrich KM2's, which are just short of 35) on my 4-door 2008 JK Rubicon a few weeks ago, wrapped around new Mickey Thompson Classic II 17x9's (black, Signature Series), and at the same time I installed (paid to have it installed, that is) the Teraflex 2.5" suspension lift (some call it a budget boost, but it is mainly new coils and shocks, which I don't think of as a budget boost). The result was, to me, PERFECT. Once I learn how to upload photos on JK-Forum, I'll show you. It looks beefy and proportional to the Jeep now, without straining the stock parts (this is my daily driver).
Good thing you already know about the need for sleeves and gussets for the front axles; this should be on the sticker of every new Wrangler: "WARNING: If you intend to run tires of 35" or larger and do any offroading (or bump against a curb), REINFORCE YOUR FRONT AXLES AND C-YOKES." I bent my front right C this past Sunday doing a little offroading and it cost me $700 to fix (install a new "offset" ball joint). Now I'm ordering the gussets and sleeves.
Enjoy!
Good thing you already know about the need for sleeves and gussets for the front axles; this should be on the sticker of every new Wrangler: "WARNING: If you intend to run tires of 35" or larger and do any offroading (or bump against a curb), REINFORCE YOUR FRONT AXLES AND C-YOKES." I bent my front right C this past Sunday doing a little offroading and it cost me $700 to fix (install a new "offset" ball joint). Now I'm ordering the gussets and sleeves.
Enjoy!
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 598
Likes: 1
From: Little Rock
It isn't about the amount of lift.
It is about the combination of body clearance and bumpstopping at full articulation.
With flat flares and no body lift, you can run stock front bumpstops and 2" rear extended bumpstops.
Since you usually don't want to run extended bumpstops that are taller than your lift, you will see 35s with flat flares on a 2.5" lift with stock front bumpstops and 2"-2.5" rear extended bumpstops as a very common build for 35s because you can run longer shocks and don't have to worry about control arms or driveshafts.
However, if you run a 1" body lift, you only need 1" rear extended bumpstops with flat flares. On a limited budget, this allows you to prioritize $ for more important things like regearing, armor/bumpers/sliders, etc.
A leveling kit that does not include extended bumpstops makes absolutely no difference in how large a tire you can run without rubbing when the suspension is fully articulated. What matters are The bumpstops that limit up-travel and the body/flare clearance that can be enhanced from a barely noticeable 1" body lift and flat flares.
Read the link in my signature below about how to run 37s on a 2.5" lift, flat flares, and 1" body lift for details and pics. Dozens of JK owners have done that exact build.
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It is about the combination of body clearance and bumpstopping at full articulation.
With flat flares and no body lift, you can run stock front bumpstops and 2" rear extended bumpstops.
Since you usually don't want to run extended bumpstops that are taller than your lift, you will see 35s with flat flares on a 2.5" lift with stock front bumpstops and 2"-2.5" rear extended bumpstops as a very common build for 35s because you can run longer shocks and don't have to worry about control arms or driveshafts.
However, if you run a 1" body lift, you only need 1" rear extended bumpstops with flat flares. On a limited budget, this allows you to prioritize $ for more important things like regearing, armor/bumpers/sliders, etc.
A leveling kit that does not include extended bumpstops makes absolutely no difference in how large a tire you can run without rubbing when the suspension is fully articulated. What matters are The bumpstops that limit up-travel and the body/flare clearance that can be enhanced from a barely noticeable 1" body lift and flat flares.
Read the link in my signature below about how to run 37s on a 2.5" lift, flat flares, and 1" body lift for details and pics. Dozens of JK owners have done that exact build.
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I have read up on your setup for 37's. So it'd be the exact same, just without a 2.5" lift?
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 598
Likes: 1
From: Little Rock
285s are 33s.
A Budget Boost is a coil spacer lift. It doesn't include springs. It costs less than a spring lift.
You likely just damaged your ball joints and did not bend your Cs. It is very, very uncommon to bend Cs with 285s unless you jump your jeep. Have the shop inspect your ball joints first. It is likely that they are shot and you don't need offset ball joints.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
A Budget Boost is a coil spacer lift. It doesn't include springs. It costs less than a spring lift.
You likely just damaged your ball joints and did not bend your Cs. It is very, very uncommon to bend Cs with 285s unless you jump your jeep. Have the shop inspect your ball joints first. It is likely that they are shot and you don't need offset ball joints.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 598
Likes: 1
From: Little Rock
Exactly.
Springs do not limit your up-travel. Bumpstops limit your up-travel.
You could run 4" lift springs and still rub off road with 35s if you do not run extended bumpstops.
Shock length and swaybar links limit your droop. Bumpstops and body parts limit your stuff/up-travel.
Springs are simply filler to match the equation between your shock length and bumpstop length.
If you never flex your suspension, you can run 35s with no lift and stock flares--but what fun is that?
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Springs do not limit your up-travel. Bumpstops limit your up-travel.
You could run 4" lift springs and still rub off road with 35s if you do not run extended bumpstops.
Shock length and swaybar links limit your droop. Bumpstops and body parts limit your stuff/up-travel.
Springs are simply filler to match the equation between your shock length and bumpstop length.
If you never flex your suspension, you can run 35s with no lift and stock flares--but what fun is that?
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Whats a good cost to get a 1 inch body lift installed? I wouldn't how how to do a body lift myself....
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 598
Likes: 1
From: Little Rock
A pizza and some beer.
It is a 1-2 hour job tops--including consuming the pizza and beer.
If you don't have tools and a floor jack, I am sure there is a local 4x4 club or Forum member who can help you out.
There are write-ups with pictures here and on project-jk.com
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It is a 1-2 hour job tops--including consuming the pizza and beer.
If you don't have tools and a floor jack, I am sure there is a local 4x4 club or Forum member who can help you out.
There are write-ups with pictures here and on project-jk.com
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Northern Illinois
I got a 3 inch BDS lift installed on my 2008 4-door wrangler x about 6 months ago for 35's and so far its been great. And BDS has their "no fine print" lifetime warranty as long as your the original owner. No questions asked.
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
285s are 33s.
A Budget Boost is a coil spacer lift. It doesn't include springs. It costs less than a spring lift.
You likely just damaged your ball joints and did not bend your Cs. It is very, very uncommon to bend Cs with 285s unless you jump your jeep. Have the shop inspect your ball joints first. It is likely that they are shot and you don't need offset ball joints.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
A Budget Boost is a coil spacer lift. It doesn't include springs. It costs less than a spring lift.
You likely just damaged your ball joints and did not bend your Cs. It is very, very uncommon to bend Cs with 285s unless you jump your jeep. Have the shop inspect your ball joints first. It is likely that they are shot and you don't need offset ball joints.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 598
Likes: 1
From: Little Rock
I'm trying to keep an open mind here.
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 598
Likes: 1
From: Little Rock
On a 4 dr, it raises the belly more to reduce the likelihood of getting high centered.
On a 2 dr with a limited budget, the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages. If you don't have a limit to your budget, then that is a different story.
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On a 2 dr with a limited budget, the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages. If you don't have a limit to your budget, then that is a different story.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I need to check on that.
So this is what I'm thinking right now:
1" body lift
1" rear bump stop extension
35 All Terrains
Cut Fenders (if I don't like them, swap for BW's)
TF Leveling Kit
Fox or Bilstein Shocks
Matching Front and Rear Bumper/tire carrier
In that order.
I'll probably go ahead and get the 35's set up with body/suspension mods, then start saving up for a full size spare and bumpers.
So, that keeps me around $3500 before bumpers.
So the question I have now, is what exact part do I need for Rear Bump Stops? I see some that say "For 3 Inch lift" and so on....