Okay, so I just got back from a 5-day trip that started in Sedona, AZ, did the whole Mojave Road, and hit Panamint/Death Valley for a couple days. It was fantastic... but that's a topic for another post.

I was very surprised to find that my brand new FT 3" Ultimate kit, which is advertised to clear 3" tires, was allowing my 35's to rub pretty badly under flex on the trail. I don't believe it's an adjustment issue, as I can see rubbing spots near the back, top, and front of the fender well (i.e. moving the axle forward/aft would not appear to help this situation).

My tires are 35"x13.5"x15" Toyo M/T's (the very same tires and almost identical rims to those depicted in early product shots with a 3" Full Traction setup -- see pic comparison below).

My question is: What should I do about this? Should I install a bump stop extension or something? Some kind of budget boost? Body lift (I don't like that idea)? I am growing increasingly disgruntled with Full Traction after my control arm fiasco prior to the trip, and now this rubbing issue. Their own product shot was a big part of the reason I chose the particular set of tires and rims in the first place.

Here are some pics of the rubbing (aft, top of fender well shot from below which didn't really come out, and front where you can see the tire-gouger frame bit was actually contacting the tire in addition to the fender):







And just to prove I'm not crazy, here's the product shot I was talking about:


... and here's my rig:

 

1. Get a Stubby Bumper.
2. Get some 3/4" Body spacers
3. Get some Wheel Spacers

 

not sure what to tell you my 35's fit fine with my FT lift the only rubbing I get is on the front bumper but that's because my front axle is a little farther foward because of the cam bolts I installed which had nothing to do with the FT lift.

so your rear tires are rubbing on the front and back side of the rear fender well ?? and your rubbin the top of the inside fender up front ??

Did you install the bump extensions that came with the kit ?

 

No, sorry, all three pics are from the back fenders, the front works fine. Yes, I installed the bump stop extensions front and rear.

FR -- it is unclear to me how #1 and #3 from your list will help my situation at all. Can you elaborate?

 

??? maby your 35" toyos are bigger than mine..LOL...

well the only thing I can think of since your rubbing all the way arround the rear tire is to limit it alittle more with a longer bump extension maby add a inch to the ones that are there already ??

 

Not sure why you are having trouble. I will call in the big guns for you!

 

Unless that amount of rubbing is causing damage, I woudn't worry about it. It doesn't appear from the photos that it is worthy of modification in my opinion.

 

Well it's obvious to the most casual observer. You need more space for your wheels. Surely a wheel space will do the job. It's got space right in the name.:toung:
I think he incorrectly assumed he was looking at the front bumper rubbing. At any rate . A stubby bumper isn't going to change all the places of contact inthe fender well.

I'm not surprised that you do get some contact. When I first saw the full traction pics I thought they were stffing alot of meat under there for a 3" lift. I wouldn't complain about it beacause that's exactly the way I like the jeep to look.

How much does it really rub? It doesn't look like it's doing much damage in the pics. If it's only at full stuff from off camber crawing type contact, I wouldn't sweat it. If it is rubbing while you have some speed up eventually it will rub through the outer layer of plastic. If that can happen, then it IS a problem. Given that kind of "opportunity" a rolling tire will rip the plastic fender right the hell off.

If I had these tires on my jeep I would administer some ball peen therapy to the tire gouging corner. I really don't know how they let that ride. Surely there had to be an engineer or designer somewhere who thought that might someday kiss a tire?

 

Another thing you need to realize, clearing 35's is for driving on road not at full flex when disconnected. Put a 1" BL and that wil help with the rubbing.

 

Hey mmccurdy, being that you were on a long wheeling trip, is it safe to assume your JK was fully loaded with gear and/or passengers? Because, adding that kind of weight will reduce your lift enough to be noticable and it will effect your clearance. When I was in Moab, I was wheeling topless and with no cargo on board and I had no problems in the rear. Up front, I did have some minor fender rubbing at a full stuff and wheels turned, but I was expecting that since I am running aftermarket wheels with less backspacing and wider tires.