XJ going from 5.5'' to 3.5''/4.5''

[SWbySWesty]

Really? I don't have access to tools to do that kind of stuff...but that sounds like you need a REALLY good weld...I always heard of ricers just chopping springs from the top all ghetto - but not cutting out the middle and rewelding.

 

[Maximus Ram]

I think you'll be happy with 4.5. Like you said, 5.5 is a bit much and 3.5 would seem a bit low after having the 5.5 .
Have you checked craigslist for some 4.5 springs ? Maybe offer a trade for some RE 4.5 for the 5.5's...

 

[SWbySWesty]

Yea - I'll trade the 5.5 springs and mostlikely the rear shackles (to help them have a full set) for the 4.5. I just need to figure out which friggin' shocks I got...

 

[Root Moose]

Really? I don't have access to tools to do that kind of stuff...but that sounds like you need a REALLY good weld...I always heard of ricers just chopping springs from the top all ghetto - but not cutting out the middle and rewelding.

ZZZZzzzzzzzz

I caught a big one.

LOL

No, just yanking your chain.

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

XJ front coils do not taper at the axle, so they can be cut to length. That picture looks like a ZJ/WJ rear coil??

 

[XJCamper]

My 99 is riding on a 3.5" Rubicon SuperRide with the full springs.
I am currently running 33 x 10.50 BFG All Terrain KO's on the factory wheels.
I have a very slight rubbing at full lock on the LCA. But, the Rubicon LCA's are round and it does not rub hardly at all.
With that said, I do not disconnect at all. If I did I would tear off all of my flares. I do lots of trail riding but most of the trails are FS roads.

 

[bat]

That is the key to lift and tire choice are you going to disconnect.
Running 33' with 3.5 can be done but if you disconnect you will tear up things.

 

[SWbySWesty]

Thank you for the photos! Does anyone have 4.5 w 33's in a photo just sitting on the ground?

I'll definitely be cruising baja at some speed and will probably want the 4.5 for the whoops...hehe the cargo gets pretty loud when I do that - (i.e. no glass beer bottles allowed)

 

[BIGdaddy]

My 99 is riding on a 3.5" Rubicon SuperRide with the full springs.
I am currently running 33 x 10.50 BFG All Terrain KO's on the factory wheels.
I have a very slight rubbing at full lock on the LCA. But, the Rubicon LCA's are round and it does not rub hardly at all.
With that said, I do not disconnect at all. If I did I would tear off all of my flares. I do lots of trail riding but most of the trails are FS roads.

nice:drool:

 

[alosix]

Thank you for the photos! Does anyone have 4.5 w 33's in a photo just sitting on the ground?

I'll definitely be cruising baja at some speed and will probably want the 4.5 for the whoops...hehe the cargo gets pretty loud when I do that - (i.e. no glass beer bottles allowed)

Ugh.. too bad the one I air bagged is on the other coast so I don't have pics. We could just 'simulate' whatever lift you wanted to see. Its sitting on ORO 6" air bags that we've been running right around 4-4.5" inches of lift with 33s and to me it looks 'proportional'. Haven't had it off road enough to check rubbing, but its got TJ flares on it and a reasonable amount of sheet metal cut away.

After doing one with 32x11.5s, Bushwacker cutouts and a 2" lift.. I'd probably run 3.5" lift with some sort of cut out flare personally.

If you're worred about rubbing that can be fixed with some fine tuning of the bump stops. If you're still worried about whoops after that you can still set your shocks up long enough to have sufficient 'droop' travel.

If that's still not enough, then applying something like this:
http://www.rubiconexpress.com/Jeep/JK/RE1398.aspx

(I know the pic is JK, but they have a TJ mount which could work with a little mod on the front and I think the JK setup might work on the rear as it sits).

Jason

 

[SWbySWesty]

Thanks! I can't decide whether to hack my fenders with my dremel all the way or to go the Bushwacker route...I guess since I'm not seeing lots of rocks, they would be more practical on my rig since they'll be less prone to breakage?

 

[Explorer 1]

Maybe already said......

Coming in a bit late on this thread, but if it hasn't alreday been said , a lot would depend on how much articulation you want. If you really limit your upward movement by longer bumpstops, you can get away without much or any cutting, however the more you want to stuff that wheel into the "well" the more room you have to make for it. On a earlier thread I had some guy tell me about how he was running 37's without any cutting. ( a little hard to believe but he had really limited his axle 's upward movement.)

Here are 33x12.50's on a 4.5 front lift.

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1

 

[SWbySWesty]

Thanks, Fred! I want to be able to stuff as much as possible (such as in your pic)...how much cutting did you do to fit the Bushwackers?

 

[Explorer 1]

How much was cut???

It is hard to say, I started with the recommended amount the "bushwacker' people said in their directions and then went from there. I would lift up the suspension and then articulate each side to see possible rub spots. I would also spray new undercoating inside the wells just before a trip and then see where the tires rubbed it off to know where I needed more room.

I also cut out the inside or underside of the bushwasker fender flares to allow more room. I did the with a simple dremel.

I ended up cutting enough that I needed to rivet the two sides of the outside and inside fenders back together. I wanted as much articulation as possible without much if any rubbing.

Here is a picture with the flares off. I recently decided to go another route than the bushwackers. My experience is that they need either to be stronger of softer. The dont' bend of flex and when you do hit something they are strong enough to dent your sheetmetal at he same time they break. Bushwacker replacement parts are very over priced. A front fender flare is over $100.00 shipped.

I'm currently working on how to stuff 35's without more lift and still keep the articulation I want. (we'll see)

One other item is the off-set of your rims to move the tire away from the LCM's.

I really getting an education on mig welding thin metals!

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1

 

[SWbySWesty]

What about just getting fiberglass fenders like the Jeepspeeders? Seems that it would be practical...albeit expensive since then you still need to repaint them!