View Poll Results: Form & Function with 35's:
TF 3"
12
48.00%
TF 4"
13
52.00%
Voters: 25. You may not vote on this poll
TF 3" or TF 4" for Unlimited on 35s?
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
TF 3" or TF 4" for Unlimited on 35s?
So humor me...
daydreaming like the next guy about the next lift.
Parameters: It would be for an auto Unlimited rolling on 35's, stock fenders (not flat), heavyass front bumper/winch and tire carrier/bumper.
What & why?
daydreaming like the next guy about the next lift.
Parameters: It would be for an auto Unlimited rolling on 35's, stock fenders (not flat), heavyass front bumper/winch and tire carrier/bumper.
What & why?
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
Thank you both for the responses.
Hey planman - I appreciate the specific info. I've already taken a lot of your previous posts as good advice for my build.
You really are a thoughtful, articulate, non judgemental consultant. Thank you. 
I had been wondering how close the OME (with LT shocks of course) would be to the TF 3" - now you've answered that. If its really that close and the spacers will accomplish that - that rocks.
A couple follow-ups:
•re-gearing: holding off until next year. I had been thinking 5.13s but wanted to see how the 5.38s hold up for everyone putting them in. You feel good about them?
•coil spacers & OME LT shocks: anything else to think about- say rear spring retainers? NR has JKS & Currie - whats the difference between the two? Or would a 1" TF rear spacer accomplish the same retention?
•control arms: I have TF front lowers on order from David@NR. Are rears uppers necessary on an Unlimited? I've read yes & no on this board. To set pinion angle, right?
•Flashpaq: Heard good things about the tune. I'm on a straight up Mac and not running Windows. Do you need to connect with Superchips after the initial update?
•brakelines: soon!
•bumpers: I have ARB/PP front and from my local shop (OK4WD) I have a Or-Fab (non-can) carrier on order. I hope to put an ARB on rear as well. Would you still recommend 1" spacers all around or maybe 1" in front (to help with sag) and a little less in the rear?
planman- thank you again for your suggestions. much appreciated.
Looking at your current build in your profile, I'd allocate the funds towards:
A 3" TF wouldn't be much different than with your current OME springs.
With 1" coil spacers and the OME springs, you'd be about the same as the 4" TF.
You already have bumpstops, adjustable trackbars, and longer rear links. No sense in buying them new 2x.
- 5.38 gears
- OME LT shocks
- Extended brakelines
- 1" front and rear coil spacers
- Adjustable front lower arms
- Adjustable rear upper arms
- Superchips Flashpaq (& sell the ProCal)
- A rear bumper/tire carrier (under bumpers you put ARB, but didn't clarify if you have only the front or both front/rear)
A 3" TF wouldn't be much different than with your current OME springs.
With 1" coil spacers and the OME springs, you'd be about the same as the 4" TF.
You already have bumpstops, adjustable trackbars, and longer rear links. No sense in buying them new 2x.
Hey planman - I appreciate the specific info. I've already taken a lot of your previous posts as good advice for my build.
You really are a thoughtful, articulate, non judgemental consultant. Thank you. I had been wondering how close the OME (with LT shocks of course) would be to the TF 3" - now you've answered that. If its really that close and the spacers will accomplish that - that rocks.
A couple follow-ups:
•re-gearing: holding off until next year. I had been thinking 5.13s but wanted to see how the 5.38s hold up for everyone putting them in. You feel good about them?
•coil spacers & OME LT shocks: anything else to think about- say rear spring retainers? NR has JKS & Currie - whats the difference between the two? Or would a 1" TF rear spacer accomplish the same retention?
•control arms: I have TF front lowers on order from David@NR. Are rears uppers necessary on an Unlimited? I've read yes & no on this board. To set pinion angle, right?
•Flashpaq: Heard good things about the tune. I'm on a straight up Mac and not running Windows. Do you need to connect with Superchips after the initial update?
•brakelines: soon!
•bumpers: I have ARB/PP front and from my local shop (OK4WD) I have a Or-Fab (non-can) carrier on order. I hope to put an ARB on rear as well. Would you still recommend 1" spacers all around or maybe 1" in front (to help with sag) and a little less in the rear?
planman- thank you again for your suggestions. much appreciated.
Last edited by m(a)ce; Sep 30, 2009 at 05:28 AM.
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
On the gearing, I have yet to read of a failure of 5.38s in JK Dana 44s with 37" and lower size tires unless it has been part of a catastrophic failure from a higher speed spin with sudden traction involving a violent break of an axle shaft. This type of break would destroy 5.13s as well. So, other than a violent, catastrophic event, no failures with 5.38s and 37s or lower tire sizes so far.
On the rear lower coil retainer, you could do either the Currie, the JKS, or you can just use a hose clamp looped through the center hole of the bottom spring perch out the bottom through the slot in the spring perch and around the spring. You could paint the hose clamp black if you want. The Currie or JKS rear spring retainers work great and look better, but they all accomplish the same thing.
On an Unlimited and 4", no need for both front uppers if you have front lowers. On the rear, I read that at 4" is when you begin needing to consider and aftermarket driveshaft. If you run rear uppers, you can increase the lifespan of your stock driveshaft by reducing the sharpness of the pinion/driveshaft angle. If you run rear lowers, you can lengthen your wheel base so that your tire doesn't sit towards the front edge of the wheel well. Either way, the rears are desireable but not required at 4" on an Unlimited.
On the Flashpaq, I don't know about the Mac thing. However, the frequency of needing to do a Flashpaq program update is minimal after the first update. If you can find a friend with a PC to borrow to do your initial update, you can afterwords uninstall the update software from his PC, and likely never need to do another Flashpaq update again--at least until you have your dealer re-flash your PCM for some reason with an updated Chrysler program.
On the rear spring spacer, I'd wait until you install the Or-fab tire carrier to decide what size rear spacer to do. Measure at your rocker guards before and after the carrier install to see how much you might want to level things out.
Glad to pass on the info. I've been on this same type of track.
On the rear lower coil retainer, you could do either the Currie, the JKS, or you can just use a hose clamp looped through the center hole of the bottom spring perch out the bottom through the slot in the spring perch and around the spring. You could paint the hose clamp black if you want. The Currie or JKS rear spring retainers work great and look better, but they all accomplish the same thing.
On an Unlimited and 4", no need for both front uppers if you have front lowers. On the rear, I read that at 4" is when you begin needing to consider and aftermarket driveshaft. If you run rear uppers, you can increase the lifespan of your stock driveshaft by reducing the sharpness of the pinion/driveshaft angle. If you run rear lowers, you can lengthen your wheel base so that your tire doesn't sit towards the front edge of the wheel well. Either way, the rears are desireable but not required at 4" on an Unlimited.
On the Flashpaq, I don't know about the Mac thing. However, the frequency of needing to do a Flashpaq program update is minimal after the first update. If you can find a friend with a PC to borrow to do your initial update, you can afterwords uninstall the update software from his PC, and likely never need to do another Flashpaq update again--at least until you have your dealer re-flash your PCM for some reason with an updated Chrysler program.
On the rear spring spacer, I'd wait until you install the Or-fab tire carrier to decide what size rear spacer to do. Measure at your rocker guards before and after the carrier install to see how much you might want to level things out.
Glad to pass on the info. I've been on this same type of track.
I think we're on similar wave lengths. Some solid stuff to think about.
Thanks man.
