Smallest lift/ 35's/ cut fenders

[Ludakris]

ok, I have listened to what everyone is saying and i agree. Keep the lift at a minimum, and cut the fenders. I got an 89' 2dr and want to work my way up to 35's. I know i have to at least replace my D35 first, but i wanted to know what lift i will need. I am thinking a 4.5 or so max, and get out the sawzall. Is this do-able? are there guys out there doing it? the truck will be a trail beater so I am not concerned about hacking beyond recognition.
Luda

[muddybeast]

In that case take the fenders off and sell them for some mod money lol ....might still have to worry about stuffing the tires into the wheel wells and rubbing there but you could just get a longer bumpstop. I say go for it

[Ludakris]

my only issue is I have to have fender flares covering the tires. I would like to have it marginally be street legal, in MD that means fender flares covering the tires and bumpers around 28". I saw an article on the rear fender wells, and i like the idea of replacing them. this all looks like a great winter project...

[Ramsey]

3'' is all you need.

take a look at what cheapxj did.
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=31850

[Ludakris]

I had seen that, I didnt realize he did that with only a 3" lift. know my gears are turning...soon the sparks will be flying....

[Ramsey]

just make sure to take plenty of pictures

[Big Red]

You want to be around 6" or so with 35's. I run about 7" with plenty of fender hacking. With 4-1/2" and lots of cutting you could get the 35's to work. Remember to that many tire manu overstate the tire size. Get some TJ Sahara flares to cover your tires up if you need to. The Buchwacker flares are nice, but way to expensive and easy to break.
Troy

[Starboard M]

Has anyone done this and kept the rear bench seat? CHeapXJ said someting about a YJ bench. Does this fit? I would think that it would be a bit smaller.

[Ludakris]

i'm thinking the seat wont be an option. where the seat latches on the sides, is almost in the center of the wheel well. I am going to try and keep the seat, but other wise i will build something for storage in the seat's place. I want a flat floor to sleep on, if overnighting it. Its so much easier to crash in the back then setup a tent.

[NCxj]

Without really cutting into the interior of the XJ like CheapXJ did. You can run 4.5" and clear a 35" tire.

Dirk runs 35" MTR's with around 5" of lift on his XJ.

[Starboard M]

Without really cutting into the interior of the XJ like CheapXJ did. You can run 4.5" and clear a 35" tire.

Dirk runs 35" MTR's with around 5" of lift on his XJ.
That is true, but how much flex do you have. With my 32'' MTR the rear is almost touching, and I folded over to to pinch seam. So I could run a 35'', but I would not have very much flex.
Does anyone have any pics of just folding the outer part of the wheel well? Will it hit the seat on the inside? I have been wanting to do that, but this is my DD, so I want use of the rear seat.

[Fryphax]

I ran 36" on 4.5" of lift. Just have to trim a whole hell of a lot..

[Ramsey]

I ran 36" on 4.5" of lift. Just have to trim a whole hell of a lot..
any pics, you do anything to your wheelwells.

[CW]

I am running 36" tsl radials on 4.5 inches of lift. I'll post a pic later.

[NCxj]

That is true, but how much flex do you have. With my 32'' MTR the rear is almost touching, and I folded over to to pinch seam. So I could run a 35'', but I would not have very much flex.
Does anyone have any pics of just folding the outer part of the wheel well? Will it hit the seat on the inside? I have been wanting to do that, but this is my DD, so I want use of the rear seat.

Bumpstops are your friend to fit a big tire with low COG.

RE/Hybrid Extreme Duty 5" lift with 35" MTR's

http://www.dpgoffroad.com/images/jeepgals/robyn3.jpg
http://www.dpgoffroad.com/images/jeepgals/robyn4.jpg

[Matt S.]

My Jeep is going under the knife, but when it comes out, I will be around 5" of lift with 35 MTRs. I believe the use of bumpstops is a misunderstanding in the 4x4 world. Especially with the XJs! We have problems with the front suspension having TO MUCH articulation, and the rear not any where close to what we think it should be. On my current setup i have extended bumpstops and the rear articulates MORE than the front!

When I step up to bigger tires, and better control arm angles. (Midarm setup) I will be rely on bump stops to BALANCE my two suspensions. The key word is balance, I may not have a ramp king, but I will be more stable and have a better performing Jeep because of it.

JMO! :guitar:

Matt

[logdog]

what he said. articulation is overrated! I run 6" of lift with 35's cut fenders, and longer bumpstops. Feels very stable on the trail. :cheers:

[Ramsey]

yeah but not enough flex will put you over on the trail. right?

[WayneXJ]

Rubicon Express 5.5" and 35" MT/R's.

Works for me....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/wthomas39/2004_0629Image0001.jpg

[NCxj]

yeah but not enough flex will put you over on the trail. right?

If the suspension is balanced front and rear...then you will be way better off. That's the key to setting everything up, making sure everything works together.

[Matt S.]

yeah but not enough flex will put you over on the trail. right?


There is no REAL answer besides opinions. So here is mine.

I have rolled a vehicle because of lack of ARTICULATION. here is the kicker though. I KNEW IT WAS COMING. I could expect it. The front and rear were balanced. It was a stock YJ.

My last XJ had some serious front articulation, but if I would have gotten the chance to roll it, it would have been totally unexpected.

Basically, a properly balaced suspension well give you a more predictable jeep.

Oh and just becaused you are balanced doesn't mean you dont have articulation. You just have to work with small things to find the medium. EX: bumpstops and limiting straps.

Matt

[Fryphax]

any pics, you do anything to your wheelwells.

A lot of trimming on the front, the rear could have used more but I was waiting to get the MIG before I cut to the point of welding in the rear. Going to be running TJ flares when I get it back on the road with the 38.5s.

http://subaruwagon.com/craphole/randompics/DSC00108.JPG

[Ramsey]

wow looks nice, not much up travel though huh :laugh:

[dellstopjeep]

hey wayne ur xj lookc susopiously familiar to my new improved xj, rolled totaled but still running like a champ!
and whats even better, we cant put a damn thing on are roofs!

[yellowxj]

http://img5.exs.cx/img5/9408/michslickrock4.jpg
my wifes xj, she's got the 4.5" superflex and it worked great with 31's. then we bumpstopped it and trimmed fenders, locked the rear and bolted on the generic 35's....did great at tellico...planning on putting a 1" spacer in the front and longer shackles in the rear to get it to about 5.5"...If I ever have to build another one it'll be 5.5-6" with 35's for sure....

[prerunnerXJ]

Gottabejeep is running 37s on his 5.5" RE lift now

[Ramsey]

so does she like it better now or before

http://img5.exs.cx/img5/9408/michslickrock4.jpg
my wifes xj, she's got the 4.5" superflex and it worked great with 31's. then we bumpstopped it and trimmed fenders, locked the rear and bolted on the generic 35's....did great at tellico...planning on putting a 1" spacer in the front and longer shackles in the rear to get it to about 5.5"...If I ever have to build another one it'll be 5.5-6" with 35's for sure....

[evilpresence]

I have the RE 4.5 with 31s. They couldn't fit any better in the wheel-well. I had no idea 35s would fit with bumpstops and trimming, just 33s. My mind is pondering.... bumpstops, trimming, 35s on 15x8 Canyons....hmmmm....

[GottaBeJeep]

I have the RE 4.5 with 31s. They couldn't fit any better in the wheel-well. I had no idea 35s would fit with bumpstops and trimming, just 33s. My mind is pondering.... bumpstops, trimming, 35s on 15x8 Canyons....hmmmm....


I wouldn't put 35's on stock canyons without some wheelspacers. The backspacing is really going to have the tires rubbing the crap out of your leaf springs and LCA's, as well as most everything else in the front wheel well when flexed and the wheel turned.

Anyways, Here are my writeups on trimming and bumpstopping:
http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/fender_trimming.htm
http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/Adjusting_Bumpstops.htm

And here's my RE 5.5" kit with 37's, trimming and proper bumpstops:

http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/100_0045.jpg
http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/100_0553.jpg
http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/100_0554.jpg

[Fryphax]

wow looks nice, not much up travel though huh :laugh:

Where I spend 95% of my time wheeling, articulation is optional at best. I could still droop a fair amount, but massive uptravel I had no desire for.

[evilpresence]

I wouldn't put 35's on stock canyons without some wheelspacers. The backspacing is really going to have the tires rubbing the crap out of your leaf springs and LCA's, as well as most everything else in the front wheel well when flexed and the wheel turned.


I got 2" wheelspacers.