IM hoping someone can give me a straight answer here, I want to run 37" tires on my 2007 jk unlimited sahara, I know I need a lift (duh) , but what are the other MUST haves for running 37s, I've heard so much about axles and gears and brakes and steering components, I'm on a tight budget and don't wheel that crazy that I could break an axle.... Someone help !
It's a 6 speed btw if that matters

 

you are definitely gonna have to regear probably with 5.13's then sleeves and gussets for sure.

 

what he said. and trim the rear pinch seams. If you're on a tight budget you can trim the stock fenders so you can go with a smaller lift but still fit the large tires. You'll need after market wheels to provide enough back spacing to get your tires out far enough so they don't rub...

 

If you have rims with 4.5 backspacing do you still need spacers? With a really wide tire like a 13.50 in wide?

 

I have 13.5 wide nittos and don't rub with 4.5 bs

 

I'm running 3.5 lift, trimmed pinch seam, stock flares, 4.5 backspace, 3.73 gears, and the aev procal with no problems. I drive like a grandpa so the 3.73 doesn't bother me but before I start hitting the trails I will be regearing to 5.13 (I have an auto) and doing gussets.

 

I'm running the 2.5" teraflex coil lift just under $500, 1 1/4" rough country body lift from eBay $100, spidertrax wheel spacers.on stock wheels $200, trimmed seams,fenders and rubi rock sliders on 37" km2's, no rubbing anywhere.

 

If you're on a tight budget, the only thing you need to do is a small lift 2-3" (could be budget boost spacer lift for cheap or coils), shock extensions if you don't get longer shocks, trim your stock fenders down, and run the 37s. You don't NEED a gear change and you don't HAVE to gusset or sleeve the axles.

Gear change is personal preference and gusseting/sleeving is preventative maintainence.

The only MUST HAVES are trim fenders so they are flat fenders and add a small lift. Then you can run 37s without rubbing everything. After that, if you break anything it could be have you drive or just fluke. They are guys running stock rigs (no higher grade axles, gusseting etc) with just a lift on 37s for years now without problems. Then you have guys who are breaking things left, right and center.

 

I want to go with the AEV 3.5 or 4.5 inch lift, a little more expensive then I'd like but I'm willing to pay for quality.

 

Here is what you definitely need to run 37's.........

Lift
Gut fender wells
Chop your flairs
Re-Gear
Build your front Dana 30 (Sleeves, Gussets, and Axle shafts)


Here's my Sahara...







Here it is at the grocery store parked next to a stocker Rubi!