I'm looking at lifting my JK. Not sure how much, I would like to raise it without changing or having issues with the drivetrain. Also looking at new rubber maybe 33's or 35's. What are your thoughts?

 

You could do 33s with out a lift. You could do 35s with flat flares and just a small budget boost. I personally did flat flares and went with the middle ground of 34s. I didn't want to interfere with the stock street character but needed a bit more rubber for trails. Anyway, just some thoughts to consider.

 

Thanks! Info I need to make a decision.

 

I have a 2" Rancho sport lift, but note I swapped the rear spacer with a 2" JKS JSPEC coil spring. I run 33's with this lift on stock wheels. The tire I run is narrower than a typical 33 at only 11" wide. Ride is great, performance offroad is great.



http://s749.photobucket.com/user/tarpon4me/media/011_zpsfoh53up4.mp4.html?o=24

 

Here's a thread that is worth reading if you are new to lifting a rig -- https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modi...-lifts-288269/

 

First, 2 questions for you.

1. 2 or 4 doors?

2. What type of wheeling do you see yourself doing?

On a 4 door, you can get away with pretty much anything under 4" without having to worry about pinion angle and driveline concerns. I think for a 2 dr the max is 3" before those things come into play.

If you're planning on 33's, you don't need any lift at all to make them fit. Stock suspension works fine for that size unless you just want additioanl ground clearance and articulation. I'm a proponent of keeping a low center of gravity to maintain stability. You can fit up to 37's on a 2.5" lift and be able to conquer just about any obstacle a Jeep with more lift could. And you're under the 4"/3" limit, so no driveline concerns to worry about. My Rock Krawler 2.5" Stock Mod lift yielded right at 3" on my 2011 Unlimited and I've been running 37's for nearly 4 years now. But 35's will get you there just the same. Honestly, if you're going to spend the time, money, and effort to lift your rig, complete the package and install 35's. 33's will make a difference, but not nearly as much as 35's or bigger will. A lot of it has to do with actually driving ability and picking the right lines, too, but larger tires definitely help.

If you decide to go 35's, do yourself a favor and add some strength to your front axle via c-gussets and a truss kit. Consider it cheap insurance. Only other thing I can suggest is do your research and pick the lift that's right for you. My advice is not to do it on the cheap. Do it once and do it right. Several different kits out there and each will have pros and cons. Just pick the one that you think will fit your needs and run with it. I'd recommend Rock Krawler personally, as their lifts are very high quality and their springs don't really sag, even after adding things like armor, bumpers, etc. But AEV, TeraFlex, Metal Cloak, BDS, Rubicon Express.....all decent companies with decent products. Lots of people say AEV lifts provide great road manners, so that's definitely something to consider. Just research, ask questions, and pick what's right for you.

 

I've been researching this myself for the last 3 weeks. I've owned jeeps all my life and never toyed with the stock suspension. But, after doing some research I decided to go with a lift 2.5 inch lift and 35s. I didn't want to look at the 33s and tell myself I want more. But it all comes down to what you need and want. That sticky in modified jeep tech is worth the read for sure.

 

35's no lift and cut fenders on the wife's ride. Rides like a dream! You would need to get some wheel adapters (spacers) cause they rub at full lock but its too easy. I have 33's and a little BB on my jeep and I can't wait till I need new tires cause I'm going to rip the BB off and get 35's and cut my fenders.

 

Unless you are wheeling hard where you are bashing up stuff like the tie rod and belly I would just invest in some flat fenders and run 35" tires. I would only add lift if you need the extra clearance. Just a note that moving up to 35" tires will make the jeep feel sluggish compared to what you have now without doing a gear change. Your speedo and odometer will also be off and if you want them right a flashpak will be needed.

 

I'm running 34's as well, but with a 1.5" leveling kit. With stock rims I rub just a tad at full lock when turning right. I also trimmed the pinch seam to make sure I didn't rub when I disconnected.