I Have an 08 2dr, auto 4" lift on 35's. I have read so much about the shaft contacting the pan and peeling off the boot, so I had to check mint out to see. Using a forklift, I wasn't able to make it touch, even with the rear tire off the ground and bouncing on it (swaybar connected). Out wheeling the other day with the bar disco'd I got it in a bind where the tire was smashed well into the fender and checked, it was def touching, but juuuuuust barely! I understand this issue, and the fix (smaller DS) but the question I have is...

With a STOCK rubicon, with the elec swaybar disco'd, factory tires, stock bump stops, and stock tires, seems to me that the shaft could travel way further up than my setup. So why doesn't the stock auto rubicon have this problem? Or does it? A wheeling buddy of mine has a JKUR, but it's s 6spd, so this problem isn't there. If something is different on the rubicon what is it?

Thx in advance!!!!
Jason

 

Nobody.........,

 

I've got a similar setup with my 07 sahara, 4" lift and 35's and I can tell you I definately tore my driveshaft boot on my first wheeling trip out. I assume that by transmission pan you're referring to the stock skid plate which is what tore mine. I ended up cutting away the skid around the drive shaft till I could fully droop my suspension without it contacting. Still need to replace the DS eventually but it's lasted a year and a dozen or so trips since I did it, just pack some grease in occasionally.

 

Only thing I can think of as to why it does it on a lifted Rubi, vs. not with a stock Rubi, is the change in geometry with the suspension. I have a .25" lift with 37's and mine made contact the first trip out. I believe I was turning driver to go up a fairly steep incline and I believe that's when it made contact. Tore the boot obviously, which was very annoying when I tried to leave because it was flapping against the undercarriage with each revolution, but it also peeled a small section (and I do mean small) of the trans pan gasket back, causing a slight leak/seep.

And I've been driving around/wheeling with the stock driveshaft minus the boot for over two years w/o incident (knock on wood).

 

My 2011 2dr rubi auto stock tires, with sway bar disconnected and while doing a major flex dinged my tranny and put a small dent in it and tore the boot.. Lift was a Teraflex 2 1/2 for a 4dr.