You may want to look for a different repair shop if they think a four cylinder Jeep is with 33s is too much for a Dana 30 to handle. Axle seal leakage is something that will happen with a live front end after a while. As for the gear ratio change, if you have bigger than 31s on a four banger you need to regear. Not only to get your engine rpms back to a more usable range, but you will doing your clutch and the AX5 a favor as well. Good for you is that there are 5.13 gears available now as 4.88 was the lowest when I did mine.
Lots of questions from a new TJ owner
- Thread starter MOTOcity
- Start date
You may want to look for a different repair shop if they think a four cylinder Jeep is with 33s is too much for a Dana 30 to handle. Axle seal leakage is something that will happen with a live front end after a while. As for the gear ratio change, if you have bigger than 31s on a four banger you need to regear. Not only to get your engine rpms back to a more usable range, but you will doing your clutch and the AX5 a favor as well. Good for you is that there are 5.13 gears available now as 4.88 was the lowest when I did mine.
Use whatever gears the shop recommends and warranties for the install. They will provide all the parts, and in doing so, any good shop will warranty their work.
So the installer's warranty will cover both parts and labor, have the installer supply all the parts. If you provided him parts you purchased, his warranty would only cover his labor. And if there was ever a problem, the installer would blame your parts and your parts dealer would blame the installer who actually does cause most problems.
derekmac
TJ Addict
Why is the spare mounted on the carrier backwards? As long as the spare is tight against all the rubber bumpers, and/or resting on the rear bumper, you'll be fine. I had my 33 on for over two years, and have a 35 on the factory carrier now. No issues whatsoever. Both rested against the rubber bumpers, and sat on the rear bumper though, so no pressure on the tailgate.
Jay P
TJ Enthusiast
PM me for a good mechanic that won’t rip you off. Hard to find around here.
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Jay P
TJ Enthusiast
How often do you open it? I’ve been hesitant to install my 33 is why I ask.
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OP
Anyone know if this will fit in that hole where the airbag switch used to be. And I sent debris jeeps a request for the switch. I don’t need it but I hate looking at the empty hole in console
The weight of a 33" spare tire can damage the OE carrier, it happened to me. My carrier cracked along its top surface within a month or so of mounting a 33x12.50 tire on an aluminum wheel. One solution is to replace the OE spare tire carrier with the Exogate spare tire carrier which is good up to the 35" tire size. https://gr8tops.com/shop/jeepmodels/wrangler-lj-2/tj-lj-exogate
Another way is like shown below... just getting the tire's weight off the OE carrier can also take care of the problem of carrying larger spare tires.
Jay P
TJ Enthusiast
Good options there unless you’re going to drag it through the rocks? I like the exogate option.
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OP
tech at big-o says the offset preventing him from mounting correctly. when i got the jeep the rim was in the backseat with no tire. the rubber bumpers are also not long enough to press against the backward mounted tire.
should i just remove the spare until i get longer bumpers and reinforced tailgate exo thingy? it will be about a month or 2 before i get to this.
Right, I agree. The next time I'm out there I need to get a photograph of how mrblaine welded a flat piece of steel to the top of his bumper as a spare tire support. It doesn't create ground clearance issues.
For the time being MOTO I'd take the 33" spare off until you can get the Exogate or similar installed.
derekmac
TJ Addict
derekmac
TJ Addict
If it's not being supported by the rubber bumpers and rear bumper, then yes, I'd take it off for now.
derekmac
TJ Addict
Pics of my 35 on the stock carrier. Those metal brackets are for my cargo rack, but the rubber bumpers stick out the same distance as them. The rim has 3.75" back spacing.
Tight against the rubber bumper and rear bumper.
Tight against the rubber bumper and rear bumper.
Jay P
TJ Enthusiast
Are there issues with the bumper/tire carriers that raise the spare?
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OP
woo hoo. that dave knows his stuff. center console is from a newer model jeep 2001+. coin tray is on order for cheaper than ebay
I thought it looked too big, my first TJ was a '97 and I remembered it being smaller than the one in your above post. Glad Davey's had it, they've been selling used Jeep parts for many years.
If your avatar pic is your jeep, it looks like an aftermarket wheel, which will have a different back spacing than a stock wheel, therefore it won't meet up with the 3 rubber bumpers like it should. I have a 33x1050x15 spare on my factory carrier, but it is a factory Canyon wheel which has a 5.5" backspacing. I had to shim my 3rd brake light up a bit, but as long as it's tight against the snubbers it should survive.
Save your caps for an Exogate. It's really the best solution.
Save your caps for an Exogate. It's really the best solution.
OP
do i need some sort of adapter to mount tire in a forward direction with the exogate? im thinkin yes but not sure.
The exogate is just reinforcement and beefier hinges. It actually retains the factory tire carrier. You will need to extend the 3 rubber bumpers so that they smash up to the tire to give support. folks have used PVC pipe as extenders with longer bolts.