i know this information is SOMEWHERE out there. maybe i'm just not that good at using the search function yet. but basically i was just wondering what things i should expect to add on to my JK (i have an '09 4dr Rubicon) to prepare it for 37" tires...other than the lift kit.

i'll be getting the 4' Teraflex lift...possibly the long arm...not sure. but i was just wondering if you guys could give me some ideas on what else i might need so i don't break my axle or something like that.

i know i'll need gears. i'll prolly go to 5.13. but what about driveshafts? axle reinforcement? anything?



oh...and i know that "it matters by what kind of wheeling i plan on doing." well...for now, at my current location, it's fairly mild. not too many rocks and mountains in south texas. but sometime in the future (maybe in a year or two) i do plan on going out to Colorado to go wheeling in the rockies, and will also probably head to moab

 

That front axle needs to be gusseted and sleeved. If it is an auto I would think at least a front driveshaft. It also depends on what lift you go with, I know you said teraflex 4", but they offer several kits in that height. Each kit coming with different components, some more complete than other.

 

Let's see on mine I have the following:
4" TeraFlex LA w/ 37" MTR Kevlars
5:13's Superior gears/shafts
ELKA shocks
SpeedBumps
Evo Magnum44/ C brace/ control arm skids
TeraFlex driveshafts with forged yokes

 

I would disagree with most of the above. I run a 4'' mid arm kit on my jeep and everything I have read is. If you have a 4dr then as long as you are not going above 4'' you do not need to change out your drive shafts (i've been about 10,000 miles on mine so far). As for sleeveing your front axle again, from everything I have read that you can get away from doing that if you have a Rubicon because it has the dana 44 in the front and not the dana 30's like the the rest of the non rubicons out there.
As for gears that's kind of an up to you type of thing. I would talk to 08{GA}RUBICON (Corey) he has a 4'' long arm teraflex kit and runs 37's and I think he is still on his 4:10 gear but he is an auto as well. And I know he was talking about power loss with his 35's.

 

I plan on mounting my new 37 tyres next week, will fit those on Hutchinson beadlocks.

Will my 3,5" RE lift be enough when using flatfenders?

 

Yes the rubicons have the dana 44's which are stonger than the 30's, but since they are the new wider 44's there has been alot of people reporting bending axle housings. Yes he admits his wheeling is mild but with 37's it is much better to spend the cash on strenghting up that front axle or it will eventually be smiling at him. Yes with the 4 door at 4" he could get away with stock driveshafts. He should flex it out and verify that nothing rubs at full tuck, he might have to do some mods to the tranny skid plate.

 

That's good to know about the new dana 44, i had not heard that. Also at full flex you will want to trim your fenders so you will not rub them.

 

:::this forum is so cool!:::

yeah, when i posted the thread i was thinking more along the lines of protecting my axle and drive train...and all this information is perfect! so it looks like one of the biggest concerns is keeping the axle strong. i was looking at those gussets and sleeves...and they're not that expensive at all. ESPECIALLY if they can decrease my risk (even if it decreases it only slightly) of giving me a smiling axle. lol.

i know i'm gonna have to prepare for some rubbing at full flex. won't do it at the same time as the lift and tires but i do plan on getting some flat fenders and probably some aftermarket sliders for clearance...oh...and (duh!) bumpers. hehe

do some of these lifts interfere with the skid plates? is that why i would possibly need to modify the tranny plate? i hope that one's not a big deal...

 

any lift over 3" with a auto will cause you to tear your boot on the front drive shaft and sometimes with less lift. you can still run it for a while but you will need a new one eventually. you will also contact the auto skid plate for the tranny but that is not a big deal. i have a 2" ome lift that netted me about 3.25 with my setup and i have torn my boot the first trip out.

as for the axles i think it is a good idea for a sleeve but i still have not heard of a bent axle (just people saying they have heard of one). i have seen a few broken one's though and that is why i will do sleeves soon. the c2 gussets are a must in my opinon. they will bend its just a matter of when and good adjustiball ball joints are not quite avalible yet. your hutchison wheels will stick out much farther than stock and put more stress on your axles.

good luck and sounds like it is going to be a nice rig. don't forget to put up some pictures.

 

Thank you for the reply and picture info, Planman!