Jeep Wrangler TJ Lift and Tire questions

I just got this question from a fellow Jeeper and I thought I would post it and answer it here.


I have some questions and your help would be greatly appreciated. I want to run 35 inch tires on my Jeep Wrangler TJ. I know this is tough to do but that is my ultimate goal. Here is how i was thinking about doing it. I am going to buy Skyjacker 2.5in coils because i already have shocks that will work for a 3 inch lift. I will also buy some track bar brackets. On top of the front coil i was going to do a 1 inch coil spacer to level it. Then i will throw on a JKS 1.25 inch body lift. Then make a TC (Transfer case skid plate) drop with bolts and washers. I already have quick discos for the front sway bar. What what about my rear sway bar do i need to worry about that. Any help would be appreciated. I am doing this as money allows and eventually i will get a SYE and CV drive line and a D44 rear and 4.88 gears with a Detroit in back and maybe an Aussie for my front D30 what do you think about this?

thanks, Will

PS. as you can tell i am on a budget lol :)

I forgot to add that I do not off road much just some small stuff no rocks or anything crazy like that. With the lift that i mentioned i think i will get about 4.5 total inches maybe a little more how will that look and function? Like i said i don't do anything crazy.

Thanks again

Ok Will, go for it, from my experience you will need 4 inches of lift on a Wrangler TJ to clear 35 inch tires. Even more if you plan to really stuff the tires and Rock Crawl with the big boys. You mentioned your jeeping style is more mellow, so I think the lift you have planned may accommodate 35 inch tires. You shocks may still be too short, if you add 3.5 inches of suspension lift to the front end. The worry if your shocks are too short is they will limit your wheel travel versus the full extension of the suspension limiting it. I wouldn't worry about the shocks, you will probably be ok.

Another thing you will need to think about is the possibility of getting some adjustable control arms. These are needed to control the front caster if you experience any "Death Wobble" or front end wobble after the lift. You may be fine you may not, it's kind of lift and see what happens issues. The control arms can also reposition the rear pinion to point up to the transfer case. This eliminates the rear drive line vibration that you may get.

Track bars brackets are good and will solve the issues of axle alignment. The rear sway bar should be fine with only 2.5 inches of lift, you can look at it before an after the lift and notice the difference, the angles won't change that much.

The other thing you have planned sound good, if you don't get vibrations you can hold off on the SYE, a Dana 44 rear end is a very nice thing to have, When a Dana 35 clip breaks it can make for an adventure getting the Jeep home. I run 4.56 gears in my TJ with a 5.5 inch suspension lift and 33 inch tires. I may go to 35's but I currently own 33 and am afraid of breaking more axles if I upgrade to 35's.

With 35's you may also need to change out you speedometer gear. This is very easy to do, it is mounted in a window on the transfer case. A new speedometer gears about 10 bucks at your Jeep dealer.