[sitzlejd]

Hey all,

So I've got an '07 JKU. Just purchased 2.5 Teraflex spacer lift and 35x12.5x15 KM2s that I got a great deal on. Called the local off-road shop to see what kind of wheels they had available.

The shop tech basically proceeded to talk me out of 35s. He said he sees JKs all the time with completely worn out front ends after as little as 1,000 miles. He said the lucky ones might make it 20,000 miles. And this is daily driving, not hard wheeling. Parts he mentioned wearing out were trackbar, tie rod ends, ball joints, etc. He also mentioned the dreaded death wobble. His argument was basically a Jeep isn't beefy enough to handle the tires. Called another off-road shop to get a second opinion. They weren't as dramatic, but did say a lot of guys have had to beef up their trackbars with 35s.

So what I'm looking for is honest, unbiased opinions from those with 35s. Not guys who've had their 35s on for a week, but folks with a decent amount of experience with this setup. What issues have you had? Would you do it again or go with something smaller? What's the real story with the JKU and 35s?

Thanks for your feedback!

 

[75' forty]

Put 35s on, ignore that shop.

 

[jerseyjeep95]

You gotta pay to play. Ball joints, track bars, and TREs aren't a big deal to replace. 95% of us on here have upgraded all of the parts. The fact is your not going to be able to throw larger then stock tires on a vehicle and expect it to last as long as if you have factory rubber under there.

 

[Uncle Sams Misguided Child]

Had 35's for 3 years, now 37's. Yes I did upgrade track bar, ball joints, steering, knuckles, sleeved, gussetts, tie rod. But thats because I wanted to do that to make it better than stock.

Search on here for people running 35's and see what they have done. Forget that shop and press forward.

 

[Chuck Bullitt]

My rig rolled off the lot brand new with 35" Toyo MTs.

I did gusset the c's and re-gear my d30 at 10,000 miles and replaced ball joints at 58K miles.

Running 37s now. Rig has 110K miles on it.

 

[Blackout]

Well Its a 07 so all those thing are prob in your future any way at some point.
I have a 07 2 door sahara no lift all stock and i cut the fenders, and put on some 35 17R... i got them well used... and still no DW (knock on wood) the only problem i am having is un even wear and cupping but the tires are on there last leg so i have not bother to rotate or alighn it.
i would say that guy reads to many news feeds and just belives all the safty nanny hype.

 

[nreese]

Had 37's for over 60k and not one issue. But you gotta pay to play! And I wouldn't get 35's either, just go with 37's and cut anything thats in the way.

 

[jerseyjeep95]

YMMV

 

[Gotlime?]

I wouldn't use that shop. They sound like idiots.

 

[Co4Lo]

My wife ran 35" MTRK's on our 4-Door for a while with a simple budget boost and adjustable front track bar. Never had a worry. No DW. Probably would have replaced the balljoints and gusseted the C's if I would have kept that one longer. But that's simple stuff.

 

[Victim Of Pain]

You'll be replacing the crap stock ball joints anyway... Some lifts come with trackbars.

 

[Uncle Sams Misguided Child]

Well Its a 07 so all those thing are prob in your future any way at some point.
I have a 07 2 door sahara no lift all stock and i cut the fenders, and put on some 35 17R... i got them well used... and still no DW (knock on wood) the only problem i am having is un even wear and cupping but the tires are on there last leg so i have not bother to rotate or alighn it.
i would say that guy reads to many news feeds and just belives all the safty nanny hype.

You got a good deal.

 

[mitter]

I ran 35's on no lift for about 8 months. I had zero problems. I'm now lifted and still running 35's with no problems. I have replaced some things only as preventative maintenance, and to prep for better performance offroad.

 

[sitzlejd]

Okay, i'm feeling a little better about this. Coming from stock, in what order would you replace factory components (assuming nothing breaks and is needed right away, of course)? Or would you just wait for things to go bad and fix as needed?

 

[Blackout]

You got a good deal.

soory if it sounded like bitching it def was not

I did in fact get a great deal and i am very happy with the tires








Oh and

 

[Imped]

Disregard their comments. They're the kind of people that think anything over 33" tires will blow up anything smaller than a HP Dana 70 out of a GM Topkick.

 

[usmcdoc14]

As noted, that shop is worthless.

My wife has like 20k on hers on 35's, my old stock springs and a spacer.

 

[NGINIER]

Hey all,

So I've got an '07 JKU. Just purchased 2.5 Teraflex spacer lift and 35x12.5x15 KM2s that I got a great deal on. Called the local off-road shop to see what kind of wheels they had available.

The shop tech basically proceeded to talk me out of 35s. He said he sees JKs all the time with completely worn out front ends after as little as 1,000 miles. He said the lucky ones might make it 20,000 miles. And this is daily driving, not hard wheeling. Parts he mentioned wearing out were trackbar, tie rod ends, ball joints, etc. He also mentioned the dreaded death wobble. His argument was basically a Jeep isn't beefy enough to handle the tires. Called another off-road shop to get a second opinion. They weren't as dramatic, but did say a lot of guys have had to beef up their trackbars with 35s.

So what I'm looking for is honest, unbiased opinions from those with 35s. Not guys who've had their 35s on for a week, but folks with a decent amount of experience with this setup. What issues have you had? Would you do it again or go with something smaller? What's the real story with the JKU and 35s?

Thanks for your feedback!

You forgot to tell us that the "local off-road shop" was actually the dealership. That sounds like something a dealership would tell you. 35's will be fine without upgrading everything mentioned. Sure, it's something to think about, but the idea that your entire front end will implode within 1000mi is crazy.

 

[Auckland]

I have three dealerships around me that install a lift and 35's to sell on the lot. They do nothing to the axles so I doubt they are too concerned about things breaking since its all covered under warranty.

 

[forgedoffroad.com]

Okay, i'm feeling a little better about this. Coming from stock, in what order would you replace factory components (assuming nothing breaks and is needed right away, of course)? Or would you just wait for things to go bad and fix as needed?

C-Gussets first and foremost. They require welding, but one of the most common things to fail are the axle housings tweaking. My '12 JKU tweaked the inner Cs with only 2,000 miles on them running 34x10.50s.

Even better as a first step, go get 9/16" grade 8 bolts to replace the bolts on your trackbar. Do that today. Torque to 125 ft-lbs.

From there, start putting money aside to upgrade your tie rod next.

A trackbar will come with most quality lift kits or you can upgrade your long-term lift to include a trackbar if it doesn't already.