Stock height with stock tires...it's rubbing

[J33ps]

So I think I know why the PO put 3" springs on this truck.  That's literally all he did, didn't swap control arms to do anything else which I thought was dumb.  So I ripped it all out and did a stock install of all new stock parts from rock auto.

 

I snapped a pic of the tires that came with the truck and based on my search it seems that's that's the stock size -- P235 / 75R15 but that doesn't seem to be right.  I rub control arms on tight turns, rubs on less tight turns but hills flexing it a bit, and when I hit dips in the road at like 45 mph I hear a serious crunch which I can only assume is the tires touching my wheel wells.

 

I can fix the rubbing on turns with the steering stops -- i haven't checked to see if they're even installed.  Wouldn't be surprised if there's nothing there lol but I'm surprised rubbing against the wheel wells.  Guess I need a smaller tire??  What do you guys run on stock height?

 

Also, side note, I've tried 2 stock swabar links and neither one fit my setup.  I'm wondering if my front D30 is not the stock one...idk how to find links that will slide over that pin.  The ones I'm buying come with a sleeve that's always too tight.  It honestly seems like I should just remove the sleeve but I'm not sure the elastomer  will hold up very long.

[89 MJ]

Can we see a picture of the truck and the springs along with the sway bar end links?

 

Could you get some measurements to see if you’re actually at stock height? You should be able to clear 31s on stock wheels at the stock height. 
 

 

[J33ps]

Yes, I can do that.  I'll have to crawl under it tomorrow evening to grab the measurements!  Thanks!

[fiatslug87]

235s should fit no problem, the largest tires from the factory were 225/75 R15.

[pizzaman09]

29 minutes ago, fiatslug87 said:

235s should fit no problem, the largest tires from the factory were 225/75 R15.

I was just thinking this.  I swapped from 225/75 R15 light truck tires to 235/75 R15 BFG KO2 all terrain tires that are knobby in the sides.  When I turn hard left they will run on the lower control arm, of which the 225s didn't.  I keep meaning to look into whether I can adjust or add a steering stop.

[fiatslug87]

According to the FSM there are no adjustable steering stops on the MJ, I’ve never looked. You can swap WJ lower control arms for more clearance but need to cut down the bushing,

[Pete M]

31 minutes ago, pizzaman09 said:

I was just thinking this.  I swapped from 225/75 R15 light truck tires to 235/75 R15 BFG KO2 all terrain tires that are knobby in the sides.  When I turn hard left they will run on the lower control arm, of which the 225s didn't.  I keep meaning to look into whether I can adjust or add a steering stop.

 

the steering stops are adjustable by unscrewing them and adding a washer under them.  but something is amiss.  235s should fit

[ghetdjc320]

Almost sounds like an axle swap was done at some point to something narrower 

[watchamakalit]

Does it rub on both sides or just one?  I have seen a front end alignment issue cause rubbing in only one direction. I didn't see it started, are you using factory wheels?

[JZLAJeep]

13 hours ago, fiatslug87 said:

235s should fit no problem, the largest tires from the factory were 225/75 R15.

235/75/R15 is what I've run on stock height XJ/MJ for almost 2 decades now. 235/75 does seem to be the upper limit for what fits and we've noticed that even in the same size there is variation between tire styles and brands. The 235/75 that we currently have on the MJ and one of the XJs do rub if turning hard to the left. Turning right doesn't cause rubbing. On the aforementioned XJ, I'd never had the rubbing issue until this current set of tires that is a different brand than I had been running before so pretty easy to conclude that it was the tires. Also concluded that it's a left turn issue since we've now seen the same issue on multiple vehicles. In each case we are running stock XJ/MJ wheels although they may not be the wheels that were on the vehicle when it rolled off the assembly line.

 

We aren't replacing the tires until they need to be replaced so for now, just remembering not to turn left too hard and will wait to see if the rubbing lessens or goes away once the tires wear some more. 

[pizzaman09]

13 hours ago, Pete M said:

 

the steering stops are adjustable by unscrewing them and adding a washer under them.  but something is amiss.  235s should fit

Good to know, this is something I've been interested in addressing for a while.

[J33ps]

Great info so far, everyone.  Thanks for the replies.  I'll snap some pictures and measurements after work tonight.  This truck is full of mods and I'm not sure they're all good ones haha.

 

I noticed driveline vibrations and the PO told me he modified the drive shaft for the lift.  Transfer case is leaking pretty bad at the pinion seal on the front side.  Which confuses me cause the clown didn't replace the control arms, only put in new springs and shocks.  So if he didn't change angles why would he mess with the shafts.  So that's another piece of the puzzle I need to figure out at some point.  Unrelated of course to the tire size issue.

[89 MJ]

8 minutes ago, J33ps said:

I noticed driveline vibrations and the PO told me he modified the drive shaft for the lift.  Transfer case is leaking pretty bad at the pinion seal on the front side.  Which confuses me cause the clown didn't replace the control arms, only put in new springs and shocks.  So if he didn't change angles why would he mess with the shafts.  So that's another piece of the puzzle I need to figure out at some point.  Unrelated of course to the tire size issue.

I find this very odd. You'd be fine with a stock driveshaft with a 3" or smaller lift. And anything more than that, you'd need different control arms for sure. Let me make it clear, I'm not doubting you, but I don't think that the PO knew what was going on. 

[J33ps]

18 minutes ago, 89 MJ said:

I find this very odd. You'd be fine with a stock driveshaft with a 3" or smaller lift. And anything more than that, you'd need different control arms for sure. Let me make it clear, I'm not doubting you, but I don't think that the PO knew what was going on. 

 

With you 100% haha the PO told me a lot of details and I'm learning he remembered most of it incorrectly.  He definitely didn't do things right, and most of the spare parts he gave me are junkyard parts.  Doesn't cost much to just buy some of it new.  He was an older guy and seemed like he just pieced this truck together with whatever junkyard stuff he came across.  Not sure what compelled him to mess with the driveshafts, I'll have to take them down and measure to see.

[J33ps]

Before I go too deep, it's making crunch noises when I hit dips in the road at a decent speed.  Pot holes and the like do not crunch, it seems solid.  Best I can figure is it's bumping the wheel wells when the body flexes enough but I dunno.  Maybe I'll have the wife take a GoPro and a stick and we go for a drive   I'm questioning this because the measurements below would say there's nothing wrong height wise:

 

Okay here's some pics and some measurements.

 

Front measures 8" (as close as I can tell) which is within 4wd limits.

 

Rear measures 7 to 7.25" which is a little short but probably accurate if their original leafs.  Not too worried about that, won't be hauling much any time soon.

 

Swaybar pins on the comanche are 0.690 inches per my calipers

 

Attached are lots of pictures, figured more is better.  Maybe someone will spot something.  It definitely contacts on the drivers side lower control arm at full lock.  Passengers side has clearance.  Not sure that's normal, maybe my steering stop is set differently one side vs the other.  They're tack welded into place so not meant to be adjusted.  Swaybar pins look identical to my TJ but I haven't measured the pins on the TJ yet.

 

Here's a flood of pictures, PO told me the rear was an AMC 20 but it looks too round to me, I put a D35 gasket on there with no issue.  Diff cover looks odd, like it's not centered...I dunno...also plug is still leaking so I'll get it replaced.

 

**going to do a separate post with pics from my phone, maybe it won't come in upside down

 

 

[J33ps]

[J33ps]

[Pete M]

why does your coil spring look non-straight?  is the tire coverage the same up front side to side? (meaning is the axle centered?)  can you snap a photo of where the track bar mounts to the axle?
 

[J33ps]

Hmm how might I measure the centerness.  I replaced the following with new stock equipment:

 

4 arms, coil springs, shocks, and supposed to be new swaybar links. I did not remove the trackbar nor the steering links to install.  It appears stock or otherwise non adjustable.

 

here's some more pics and better lighting 😁

[J33ps]

Oh shoot, I see, that one pic where it looks off I hadn't used the jack stands to level the axle.  That's a bad pic, don't know how it snuck in there.  That's why the coil looks crooked!

[89 MJ]

40 minutes ago, J33ps said:

PO told me the rear was an AMC 20 but it looks too round to me, I put a D35 gasket on there with no issue.  Diff cover looks odd, like it's not centered...I dunno...also plug is still leaking so I'll get it replaced.

Definitely is a D35. 
 

It looks to me like the whole axle might be shifted to the passenger side. Look at the difference in gaps between the outboard most point of the front springs and the bump stops. 
 

Anyone else wondering if this was one of the Pennzoil giveaway trucks that were yellow?

[J33ps]

If it wasn't centered, wouldn't that mean it's the wrong sized trackbar?  It's not adjustable so I'd have no way to fix a centering issue unless I bought a stock bar.  I'll measure it and see.

 

Also he painted it detonator yellow from the jeep color released in 2007.  Didn't know there were pennzoil ones, that's funny to me as everyone has some opinion on this color from school bus to taxi truck

[89 MJ]

Yes, it would mean that the track bar is too long, which you would need for a lifted Jeep. Could you measure the track bar and hopefully someone else with a stock Jeep will be able to say how long theirs is. 
 

 

I personally like the yellow. Here’s a thread on the Pennzoil trucks if you’re interested. 

 

[Pete M]

I spy an extra bracket at the axle side of the track bar.  it's designed to accommodate a lift and so needs to be removed now that the lift is gone.  

 

 

 

[J33ps]

Wow Pete, good eye!  I didn’t even think of that.  I’ll pull it off this weekend, hopefully the difference didn’t tweak the new arms.  They seem so flimsy they’ll probably bend right back 😂