In need of lift and tire advice

Pharrrmboy

New Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2023
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3
Location
Oklahoma
Hello all, new here. Just got a 95 2.4 and want a tiny lift to add more clearance and I need new tires yesterday. I live 2 miles from nearest pavement but she won't see much more off road than that. Current tires are 255/70/15 with spacers of some sort. Probably don't want any larger than a 31 tire for my setup after reading other posts considering I'm operating under squirrel power. Suspension looks stock and flat to me and probably due for replacement. I like the 2.5 inch lift option but afraid it may lift almost double that distance. Would it be smarter to replace with stock suspension and do a body lift if needed? I still want those squirrels to get me down the road at reasonable speed. Thanks in advance.

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A 2.5” lift will lift the amount as advertised, roughly. Your stock suspension isn’t sagging. You definitely don’t need to replace it, only do so if you just want to.

I’d stick to 30’s or less and honestly if I had a stock 2.5L, I’d stick to stock tires or I would plan to regear.

There are no real great stock suspension parts to replace with. Mopar parts are long gone and the stuff advertised as stock often sits considerably higher than stock.
 
Looks stock suspension wise. If it were mine.....Id shitcan those mass offset wheels for??, unless you like eating mud when the windows are down or doors off, go no bigger than 31's like you said, and use a 2.5 lift of your choice. I have a RE 2.5 on my 91 and removed one of the rear leafs to kill the stink bug affect and soften it up. I also removed the trac bars and sway bar. It goes down the highway at 70 no problem and its typically very windy at times here . You will need to drop the Tcase 99% surely to eliminate vibes. Looks like a clean, in good shape jeep.
 
A 2.5” lift will lift the amount as advertised, roughly. Your stock suspension isn’t sagging. You definitely don’t need to replace it, only do so if you just want to.

I’d stick to 30’s or less and honestly if I had a stock 2.5L, I’d stick to stock tires or I would plan to regear.

There are no real great stock suspension parts to replace with. Mopar parts are long gone and the stuff advertised as stock often sits considerably higher than stock.
Thanks for the reply, this is probably what I'll do....at least until the squirrels give up. Don't know when that will be since she has 150k and leaves no puddles and she is fun to drive as it sits now.
 
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Looks stock suspension wise. If it were mine.....Id shitcan those mass offset wheels for??, unless you like eating mud when the windows are down or doors off, go no bigger than 31's like you said, and use a 2.5 lift of your choice. I have a RE 2.5 on my 91 and removed one of the rear leafs to kill the stink bug affect and soften it up. I also removed the trac bars and sway bar. It goes down the highway at 70 no problem and its typically very windy at times here . You will need to drop the Tcase 99% surely to eliminate vibes. Looks like a clean, in good shape jeep.
Stink bug affect lol, I'm gonna have to look that up. You're right , I gotta do something about the mud as I live in a low area. Would 6" flares look right on this without the lift?
 
Ive run 3 sets of wheels on my 91 with 31's. I finally went back to stock steelies, couldent be happier. I do have a soft top though and the mud in the zippers was a PITA. I tossed the extended flare idea around for a year or so, however the deciding factor was a friend that has extended flares on his with 31's and it looks pretty goofy to me. In my decades of wheeling I need to remind myself often there's a wide margin between looks, a drained bank account, and functionality.
 
Ive run 3 sets of wheels on my 91 with 31's. I finally went back to stock steelies, couldent be happier. I do have a soft top though and the mud in the zippers was a PITA. I tossed the extended flare idea around for a year or so, however the deciding factor was a friend that has extended flares on his with 31's and it looks pretty goofy to me. In my decades of wheeling I need to remind myself often there's a wide margin between looks, a drained bank account, and functionality.
I struggle so hard with wheel options for Jeeps. My Jeep when I got it 10y ago came with some aftermarket 15x8 chrome soft 8s. Ditched them for black steelies because black was the cool thing at the time. At this point, I would absolutely love to go back to stock rims, but I don't have any and can't find any in even remotely good condition. I kind of want to get some TJ wheels and put 31's on them.

Either way, I want to get away from aftermarket eventually but it's difficult to do so these days.

Do you have any leaf spring rub with the 31's turning too far with the stock backspacing? Or are you good?
 
Hey there Macho! Yep they rub. I haven't so much as looked at spacing the stops a bit, so I just use caution when going full turn. I still have 5 of the alloy 5 star lookin yj OEM jeep wheels your welcome to have for free. Bad side is its a long drive to west NM, or shipping would kill the free.
 
Perhaps an unpopular opinion.
If you actually want a "tiny lift" I recommend a 1" body lift from Prothane or daystar.
If you add some 5"to 5½" long shackles, you will end up just shy of 2" lift for about $250.
You could probably run 31s without too much rubbing.
These mods will pair well with a suspension lift, if you decide to go bigger later.
 
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My last jeep had 31's on it and I believe it had no lift. The 2.5 and ran pretty good but was no speed wagon. I put a ton of work into it then had to sell it because of a leg injury. I just put 33s on this one but it has a 4 inch spring lift and a transfer case drop. Looks good, I have only drivin it around the block because it gets a plate on about april 15 for the summer and we still have 3 ft of snow.

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I struggle so hard with wheel options for Jeeps. My Jeep when I got it 10y ago came with some aftermarket 15x8 chrome soft 8s. Ditched them for black steelies because black was the cool thing at the time. At this point, I would absolutely love to go back to stock rims, but I don't have any and can't find any in even remotely good condition. I kind of want to get some TJ wheels and put 31's on them.

Either way, I want to get away from aftermarket eventually but it's difficult to do so these days.

Do you have any leaf spring rub with the 31's turning too far with the stock backspacing? Or are you good?
It won't be cheap but I've gotten some items from here and it's always been well refurbished :)

 
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Guys. It's been over a year since the OP last posted. Pretty sure they:
1-Figured it out and are enjoying it
2-kept it as is due to low funds
3-lost interest and sold it

;)
 
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My opinions-

Body lifts suck. Period.

With the 2.5L stick with stock or near stock tire sizes.

Don't bother with lifts.

If you want to put money into mods focus on traction aids and maybe some light armor such as some rock sliders, but don't go overboard, you'll run into weight issues.
 
It won't be cheap but I've gotten some items from here and it's always been well refurbished :)

Yeah I looked at those for a while....I wasn't sure if they actually came with the caps. The only other complaint I had was that the windows are refinished lighter along with the rest of the wheel, instead of being the darker accent like stock. Not a big deal, but just one of the touches I wasn't huge on. They do look good though and I considered them. Ultimately decided on brand new TJ wheels I was able to buy from Mopar. They look good, aren't quite "YJ correct" but they fit well and look nice so I'm calling it good enough.
 
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The previous owner put 31x10.5 on my 2.5 with stock gears and I can do 70 mph (actual) on a flat highway all day long.
Ya, I just put 33x12.5 on mine because it had a 4 inch lift and it would cost more to remove the spring lift then just try it with 33's. I might have to stop by a stump to get in and out of it ;) but it looks kewl and has a ton of clearance.
 
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My opinions-

Body lifts suck. Period.

With the 2.5L stick with stock or near stock tire sizes.

Don't bother with lifts.

If you want to put money into mods focus on traction aids and maybe some light armor such as some rock sliders, but don't go overboard, you'll run into weight issues.
Can't tummy tuck without a body lift. I guess you could cut the transmission hump out, but 1" body lift is way easier.
Stock skid plates suck. period ;-)