Regarding clearance

[Gabe Voorhees]

My friends, I beg that you go easy on me.

‘07 Liberty Sport, 2wd, stock ride height

I bought some nice black rims from a jk with size 285 tires on them. I also picked up some 2” hubcentric spacer adapters. I jacked up everything and put them on and the clearance was good in the back. The front cleared too when I pulled the inner fenders, but when I turn it contacts the metal frame area towards the cabin in the wheel well. Me being the young dumb college kid that I am, I figured I’d just hammer it back. Fit better, but still didn’t clear. My first question is (please don’t hate me) can I sawzall that metal corner so that it can clear? I know it’s unibody so I get scared with any important looking piece of metal. If I can’t do that, what are my options? I don’t really have any money so I can’t buy new tires or anything like that, but I’m curious if there’s anything else I could do to get it to fit? I’ll include pictures etc.

Link to pics:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/knU9K4vASXGVukd5A

 

[jeeptorino68]

No you cant cut that out. Hammering over is the best bet.
You need some lift. Probably not much...perhpas a top plate spacer or clevis lift would be enough? Search herr and you will be able to find what I am referring to.

 

[tommudd]

My friends, I beg that you go easy on me.

‘07 Liberty Sport, 2wd, stock ride height

I bought some nice black rims from a jk with size 285 tires on them. I also picked up some 2” hubcentric spacer adapters. I jacked up everything and put them on and the clearance was good in the back. The front cleared too when I pulled the inner fenders, but when I turn it contacts the metal frame area towards the cabin in the wheel well. Me being the young dumb college kid that I am, I figured I’d just hammer it back. Fit better, but still didn’t clear. My first question is (please don’t hate me) can I sawzall that metal corner so that it can clear? I know it’s unibody so I get scared with any important looking piece of metal. If I can’t do that, what are my options? I don’t really have any money so I can’t buy new tires or anything like that, but I’m curious if there’s anything else I could do to get it to fit? I’ll include pictures etc.

Link to pics:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/knU9K4vASXGVukd5A

DO NOT, DO NOT start hacking away at the unibody, weakens the structure in front

unless you lift it with a real lift, ( springs, shocks etc no way are those tires and wheels going to work
Next is the size of the tires, going to need to regear to have any power or gas mileage
And yes taking it easy on you for now , but you really should sell everything, buy correct wheels and tires that actually fit and work
bet your suspension is already sagged down making it even worse

just looked at picture

BY the way your 285-75-17s are almost 34 inches tall, requiring at least 6 inches of lift and 4.88 gears
4.88s are doable in the 8.25 rear diff but no 6 inch lift available
Always best to ask questions FIRST before doing something like this
sell the darn JK wheels and tires and buy some tires that actually work

 

[tommudd]

No you cant cut that out. Hammering over is the best bet.
You need some lift. Probably not much...perhpas a top plate spacer or clevis lift would be enough? Search herr and you will be able to find what I am referring to.

Not when trying to install a 34 inch tall tire

 

[tommudd]

and when they do not like the answer I guess ..................crickets chirping

 

[Thadeus_Rex]

and when they do not like the answer I guess ..................crickets chirping

Please forgive me for hijacking a thread but I noticed you have JBA lifts on two of your vehicles and an OME lift on the other, what are the benefits to each? I have an 04 libby 4wd that I'm trying to fix up. I also couldn't find the JBA lift on their website. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Thad.

 

[tommudd]

Please forgive me for hijacking a thread but I noticed you have JBA lifts on two of your vehicles and an OME lift on the other, what are the benefits to each? I have an 04 libby 4wd that I'm trying to fix up. I also couldn't find the JBA lift on their website. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Thad.

Sadly JBA does not sell the coilover lifts I have on two of mine anymore
They are great lifts, adjustable heightwise in front, also can adjust rebound etc , but no more
I have installed over 60 OME lifts on KJs and they do a great job.
On my 04 I ran 927/948 and the 790/948 combo until I went JBA
But overall handling and ride is vastly improved over the stock mushy suspension, the 04 I lifted before it had 20,000 miles on it due to the weak springs and cheap shocks it came with, hated the ride

 

[Thadeus_Rex]

Sadly JBA does not sell the coilover lifts I have on two of mine anymore
They are great lifts, adjustable heightwise in front, also can adjust rebound etc , but no more
I have installed over 60 OME lifts on KJs and they do a great job.
On my 04 I ran 927/948 and the 790/948 combo until I went JBA
But overall handling and ride is vastly improved over the stock mushy suspension, the 04 I lifted before it had 20,000 miles on it due to the weak springs and cheap shocks it came with, hated the ride

Thanks for the input Tom! I can't seem to find those springs on the OME website though. You got any tricks up your sleeve? I've also seen the RockFather kit but haven't been able to find any info on it. It's rather pricy tbh.

 

[tommudd]

Thanks for the input Tom! I can't seem to find those springs on the OME website though. You got any tricks up your sleeve? I've also seen the RockFather kit but haven't been able to find any info on it. It's rather pricy tbh.

fORGET THE ROCKFATHER
OME springs are available many places on Aamazon, Summit Racing , 4WD Hardware etc
combine with either bilstein or OME shocks , teraflex front bumpstops, hockey pucks bolted down to lower spring perch in the rear and good to go
if you need shock numbers let me know, stock for front, but longer needed for the rear

 

[Thadeus_Rex]

fORGET THE ROCKFATHER
OME springs are available many places on Aamazon, Summit Racing , 4WD Hardware etc
combine with either bilstein or OME shocks , teraflex front bumpstops, hockey pucks bolted down to lower spring perch in the rear and good to go
if you need shock numbers let me know, stock for front, but longer needed for the rear

You're the man Tom! If you would be so kind as to point me in the direction of a list for total parts I would need to replace I would greatly appreciate it!

All the best and thank you for the guidance!

Thad.

 

[tommudd]

You're the man Tom! If you would be so kind as to point me in the direction of a list for total parts I would need to replace I would greatly appreciate it!

All the best and thank you for the guidance!

Thad.

OME 927 front and 948 rear springs
Teraflex front bumpstops in place of the stock ones
Stock shocks for a KJ on front either Bilstein or OME
Rear shocks same either will work,OME or bilstein get shocks for 99-04 Dakota ClubCab 4x4 ( correct length ) if Bilstein, but if OME 132Ls
Rear bumpstops , 2 hockey pucks per side bolted down to the lower spring perch
that will give you a 2.5 inches of lift