Thats is the height I run but my 3.07 gears effect my performance.
Lowest lift to run 35s?
- Thread starter jkowitz
- Start date
Thats is the height I run but my 3.07 gears effect my performance.
How bad was that? I might be in the same situation soon depending on the order i do things
Your '02 has the manual? My '04 NV3550 manual with the 3.07 gears and 31" tyres I could not use the 5th gear, even on the interstate.
With 5.13 gears with 31" tyres, 1st gear was to low on the street. I had 5th gear again.
5.13 gears and 35" tyres I had all my gears back. Can go 80mph at 3200rpms.
Generally speaking, the shocks that would be used with that setup would limit the up travel before the tires start tearing up the steel fenders.
Murf926
TJ Enthusiast
As others have said, 5" - 5 1/4" total is what you want with 35s.
I built my Jeep for 33s and it currently has 3" suspension and 1" body lift. I've since moved to 35s. This lift still works reasonably well with an extra inch of bump stop (1 hockey puck at each corner) but it's not ideal when the trail gets big rocky. I'd really like that extra inch. I also have poison spider flat fenders (in aluminum). Some say they don't give you any more clearance than stock fenders. I think I got a bit more clearance over stock though, but not much, maybe 1/2". And I think this is because the stock fenders edge where the plastic flares attached was further inboard than the outer lip of my 5" flat fenders, which my tires tuck inside of at full up flex.
I'm currently working on a SYE/tummy tuck so I can move to 4" springs and have a proper setup for 35s. I think anyone building a TJ for 35s should definitely follow this route.
EDIT: I now concede that I don't have any measurable clearance advantage with my flat fenders over stock after conversing with jjvw.
I built my Jeep for 33s and it currently has 3" suspension and 1" body lift. I've since moved to 35s. This lift still works reasonably well with an extra inch of bump stop (1 hockey puck at each corner) but it's not ideal when the trail gets big rocky. I'd really like that extra inch. I also have poison spider flat fenders (in aluminum). Some say they don't give you any more clearance than stock fenders. I think I got a bit more clearance over stock though, but not much, maybe 1/2". And I think this is because the stock fenders edge where the plastic flares attached was further inboard than the outer lip of my 5" flat fenders, which my tires tuck inside of at full up flex.
I'm currently working on a SYE/tummy tuck so I can move to 4" springs and have a proper setup for 35s. I think anyone building a TJ for 35s should definitely follow this route.
EDIT: I now concede that I don't have any measurable clearance advantage with my flat fenders over stock after conversing with jjvw.
Last edited:
When we say (non highline) flat fenders do not provide more clearance than stock, we are not comparing them to the flexible flares.
If the aftermarket fender does not have anything resembling this relief scoop on the factory fender, then it has reduced the available tire clearance.
After that, if the aftermarket fenders extend beyond where the factory sheet metal existed, the available tire clearance has also been reduced. Add in a thicker outer lip and the clearance reduction is even more.
Last edited:
Murf926
TJ Enthusiast
I understand that you aren't comparing to flexible flares, but I was talking about that area you have highlighted in red and I see what you are saying. After seeing that I would have to agree that at full stuff, I shouldn't have any measurable clearance advantage with the poison spider fenders, but I disagree that it has reduced available clearance. The way the poison spider fenders mount is to cut that fender you are showing an inch out from that lip that goes behind the hood and mount the fender on top of the 1" piece of remaining fender. So the part you have highlighted is just a flat sheet of aluminum on my fenders. The outer portion of my fender is rolled (actually it is welded and not rolled, but it appears as rolled) which would reduce available clearance if they weren't the 5" version, which my tire tucks inside of.
In this picture, you can actually see the 1" strip of remaining original fender that the aluminum fender is bolted to.
Murf926
TJ Enthusiast
I've thought about that and I've tried turning as tight as I could while flexing and have never rubbed anything except the sway bar, which I've been doing with multiple tire sizes and multiple lift heights through the 20 years I've owned the Jeep. I may not have been at full stuff when I have tried, but I keep trying to find the limit and haven't found it yet. It may indeed rub, I just haven't been able to put it in that situation yet even though I have tried numerous times.
Murf926
TJ Enthusiast
Yeah, those might rub a little, unless you do the go-kart suspension mod and lock your steering. Then, you're golden!