Opinions please! Moving to 35s and correcting previous owner's budget parts

[ParadoxD]

Hi all,

I'm looking for opinions on what I really need, what I should do, and the best order of operations.

Context: '04 Rubicon, 4" lift, 33" tires. Not a daily but is driven on the street from time to time. Regular off-road trips in Florida sand and mud, not much by the way of rocks. It doesn't vibrate that I've noticed, but it does tend to wander on the road.

I've wanted to move to 35" tires for some time, and now that my current ones are about due to be replaced I've fallen down the rabbit hole. I've read and re-read the excellent thread by @Chris and have started game-planning the upgrade. Already have a 1" MML and 1.25" BL ready to go in. CV driveshaft, regear to 5.13 on the shopping list. But then I read on the Tom Wood site about adjustable CAs, pinion angles, etc. and how most lift kits come with different arms and I remember I don't know what lift is on the Jeep!

Looking at the springs and the LCAs that are on it, I'm pretty sure it's an RC lift, with a 1.5" t-case drop. It does have Fox shocks, however.

Now, I want to do things right and use the best parts but I'd love to have some kind of upgrade process here where I can do things in chunks so as 1) not to drain the bank account all at once and 2) avoid the wifely inquisition when a truckload of parts shows up at the door.

I was going to do MML, BL, CV driveshaft first - but I'm thinking the existing RC parts and t-case drop are gonna screw that up. Is it worth it to rip all that out and put in a new kit or should I just be replacing a couple control arms? I'm looking at the Rock Jock kits - but also wondering why the Pro is so much more than the Sport and if I need all that? Later on I want to tummy tuck it as well, and a t-case drop is just going in the wrong direction so I'd like to get rid of that.

What parts do I absolutely need vs nice to haves and what upgrade path would you recommend? TIA!

 

[Weasellee]

I will say two things that you have heard before;

1- you get what you pay for

2- but once, cry once

You can install the body lift with the MML (and cable shifter?) without touching anything else.

The SYE and driveshaft come when you upgrade your springs and control arms and track bars and shocks and ….

I bet with what you have and the BL the 35’s will fit.

B

 

[ParadoxD]

Yep I'm familiar and do subscribe to that line of thinking

I guess my main question is if I leave the t-case drop and RC CAs on, won't that screw up my measurements for the CV driveshaft? It seems like I'd want to get the Jeep sitting how I intend it to in the end, then measure it and order - which makes throwing a couple parts on and a few thousand $ into a much larger and more expensive endeavor!

 

[Chris]

Yep I'm familiar and do subscribe to that line of thinking

I guess my main question is if I leave the t-case drop and RC CAs on, won't that screw up my measurements for the CV driveshaft? It seems like I'd want to get the Jeep sitting how I intend it to in the end, then measure it and order - which makes throwing a couple parts on and a few thousand $ into a much larger and more expensive endeavor!

Yes, that will likely affect you CV driveshaft measurements. If it were me I would start piecing together the parts, wait until you have everything you need, then do it all at once.

It isn't that difficult to take the rear driveshaft off and have it shortened or extended if you need to. I don't think it's that expensive either.

Are you going to 35s just for aesthetics or are you interesting in getting into some serious off-roading?

 

[Weasellee]

Yep I'm familiar and do subscribe to that line of thinking

I guess my main question is if I leave the t-case drop and RC CAs on, won't that screw up my measurements for the CV driveshaft? It seems like I'd want to get the Jeep sitting how I intend it to in the end, then measure it and order - which makes throwing a couple parts on and a few thousand $ into a much larger and more expensive endeavor!

My response was that the SYE and CV shaft are done with the spring, CA and track bars upgrade. The MML and BL can be done before.

 

[Rickyd]

Yep I'm familiar and do subscribe to that line of thinking

I guess my main question is if I leave the t-case drop and RC CAs on, won't that screw up my measurements for the CV driveshaft? It seems like I'd want to get the Jeep sitting how I intend it to in the end, then measure it and order - which makes throwing a couple parts on and a few thousand $ into a much larger and more expensive endeavor!

Yes when you measure it will be a shorter driveshaft than when the tcase is up and further away from the rear axle.

Do the tummy tuck,shift cable,and rear adjustable arms,then order a driveshaft. Expect exhaust work to be needed. This is a separate project from other things.

To fit 35s do gears and a body lift. If you value stopping afterwards check out black magic brakes. If you value steering afterwards check out rockjock currectlync and psc hydroassist.

To fix your wandering steering put adjustable arms in front and give it more caster. Assuming the steering box and other parts are good

 

[ParadoxD]

Are you going to 35s just for aesthetics or are you interesting in getting into some serious off-roading?

Mostly for extra confidence in deep water/mud. The 33s have done great for me only getting stuck once in an area so soupy 35s wouldn't have done me any justice. I would love to get into more serious off-roading.

If you value stopping afterwards check out black magic brakes. If you value steering afterwards check out rockjock currectlync and psc hydroassist.

To fix your wandering steering put adjustable arms in front and give it more caster. Assuming the steering box and other parts are good

I have BMBs now and love them but plan on doing the BBK when I move to 35s. The steering upgrade is on my list too.

Yeah that makes sense. Sounds like I'll be doing the Rock Jock Pro!

 

[rasband]

I would love to get into more serious off-roading.

I don't mean to troll, but I would imagine that's tough being in FL?

 

[ParadoxD]

I don't mean to troll, but I would imagine that's tough being in FL?

You're not trolling at all. It would likely require some travel.

 

[Rickyd]

I don't mean to troll, but I would imagine that's tough being in FL?

He wants to wheel where gators can get him

 

[Plumber1]

My response was that the SYE and CV shaft are done with the spring, CA and track bars upgrade. The MML and BL can be done before.

The Op said its a Rubicon so I think he can skip the SYE

 

[John Cooper]

Mud did someone say mud???? Stay away from it!!! Let me just say I'm would have needed tons and 40's to get through this little hole........

And always remember.......

 

[ParadoxD]

He wants to wheel where gators can get him

 

[ParadoxD]

Contrary to popular opinion, not everywhere in Florida is completely flat and gators don't roam the streets.

There are areas down here in the WMAs and national forests that one could easily flip a Jeep or absolutely not make it through without some skill and experience.

We just don't have much by way of rock crawling unless it's man-made. I would love to take a trip north with the Jeep and try it someday though!

 

[John Cooper]

Yep like in Ocoee and Apopka for several years!

You could be like this guy and drive up and wheel with us!!!!!

 

[TheBoogieman]

Living in Fl, negates most of the advice given. People that crawl rocks know nothing about mud. Just a fact.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Contrary to popular opinion, not everywhere in Florida is completely flat

You must have visited @Zorba's driveway. Other than that, the only hills are ON and Off-Ramps in Florida.

and gators don't roam the streets.

They prefer the canals. I hung out in Marathon Key for a while.

 

[Rickyd]

You must have visited @Zorba's driveway. Other than that, the only hills are ON and Off-Ramps in Florida.
View attachment 612867

They prefer the canals. I hung out in Marathon Key for a while.

And the interstate where they can cause 9 car pileups

 

[Zorba]

You must have visited @Zorba's driveway. Other than that, the only hills are ON and Off-Ramps in Florida.
View attachment 612867

They prefer the canals. I hung out in Marathon Key for a while.

Jeep barely made it to the top of that mountain, it was running a bit rich by the time it got there!

 

[ParadoxD]

Interestingly enough, if I add up all the parts for the RockJock Pro kit (using available bundles) it's almost $100 cheaper than the kit price

Not to mention their CA set is ~$350 more than the 6061 Savvy set is... I think I'll just piece together my own kit!