[BiTMAP]

go with trXus MT's I enjoy the ride much better and they come on a 16r rim at a decent price.

[planman]

Originally Posted by Michele07JK

ok need help. have a 3.5 lift and getting 35x12.5 BFG KM2's. I would like to stay with a 15 inch rim but need advice on what brand will work (avoid brake rubbing and stuff) and how much backspacing. Going with 15 saves money in a big way!

I run Cragar Soft 8s, 15x8, 4" backspacing. I am not the only one. This is a very common wheel for JK owners.

I had to slightly modify my Rubicon front Dana 44 brake calipers for the wheels to not rub.

However, I sold one set of these same wheels to a friend with an 07 X Unlimited with a Dana 30 front axle and he had no rubbing or need to grind any excess material off his calipers. Because you have a Dana 30 front on your 2dr Sahara, you may not need to remove any caliper material.


Here is a link to the wheels:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRR-3975850/


Here is a link for center caps:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRR-29270-1/


Here is are a couple pictures of why the back part of the punch holes on the Soft 8s can sometimes rub (notice how thick and far out the bottom rim of the caliper sticks out):





If you have to grind a little material off, this is where:





This is a Dana 30 front axle caliper (see how the part of the caliper in question is more rounded and doesn't stick out as far):





This is the process:

I used my daughter's sidewalk chalk to cover the areas identified in the above picture. Then, I would put the wheel on with 2 lug nuts moderately tightened so I could turn the wheel and listen for rubbing. Then, I would remove the wheel and see where the chalk had been rubbed off. I ground a little material off those areas, re-applied the chalk, and repeat. After repeating a second time, I had elminated all the scraping/rubbing on the drivers's side. The process was the same for the passenger's side.

After I finished, I painted the areas I ground with some grey anti-rust primer paint.

Hod rod builders have been grinding calipers for years. I have not heard of one problem here or on any other forum for those who had to do a little grinding to make 15" Cragar Soft 8s with 4" backspacing fit.


This is what they look like mounted:

[KICKER32]

Did the same thing on mine to get Cragar soft 8s to fit.

Grind here as well

Although I drive a 4 door

[yoda13]

Originally Posted by Michele07JK

ok need help. have a 3.5 lift and getting 35x12.5 BFG KM2's. I would like to stay with a 15 inch rim but need advice on what brand will work (avoid brake rubbing and stuff) and how much backspacing. Going with 15 saves money in a big way!

I have 15" ProComp RockCrawler black rock crawlers, with the 3.75" backspacing...no rubbing for me...

[alaskanthunder]

Haha, I did get out of it...eventually.

[JkRyder]

haha did you just sit there spinning them til you were totally sol? Looks like a nice hole

[alaskanthunder]

Originally Posted by JkRyder

haha did you just sit there spinning them til you were totally sol? Looks like a nice hole

Well I rammed it hard when I started across the river. Then it just SUNK. Man that bed rock was SOFT. Very deceiving. We tried to self winch our selves out (Ratchet one). I was sunk too far for it to work... so after that I manned up and walked the 2 miles back to the last place I saw someone and asked for a pull out. Meanwhile my dad got in the drivers seat and pretty much red lined it in reverse. LOL I could hear it.

After that my ABS system was screwed up because of the fine rock. It got into every part of my wheel system. Had to take the wheels off and even the rotors to power wash the rocks out of the system. I still think I have some in the frame rails!

I eventually took it to the stealership and they fixed the whole rear axle. Quoting "Rear axle bearing damaged, heavy work required". Haha!

[JkRyder]

haha ya those sink holes are brutal when they are unexpecting

[Deacon]

I suggest affixing a winch to your bumper. And getting something a little more aggressive than whatever you've got on there (looks like BFG AT's).

[Vertisce]

Yes...because a little bit more agressive tire would have kept you from sinking into that sand... /sarcasm.

[Deacon]

Sarcasm! Perfect!

I don't have much experience with wet sand like that, but I'm pretty sure aired down 12.5" wide M/T's wouldn't have a problem. Or at least, they'd give an EXTREMELY improved chance over those A/T's...

[warCryr]

He's right ya know

[terrahawk]

An A/T is a better tire for sand than an M/T. I'm talking like deep soft sand.

[Deacon]

Originally Posted by warCryr

He's right ya know

Who is? Pronouns should be used sparingly when insufficient context is available

Originally Posted by terrahawk

An A/T is a better tire for sand than an M/T. I'm talking like deep soft sand.

O RLY? I'm not saying you're wrong, necessarily, as like I said I don't have much experience with it, but I'd love to know what makes you say that.

[Vertisce]

All I was saying is given his circumstances there I doubt any tire short of much BIGGER tires would have made a difference. Riverbed sand like that is some pretty nasty stuff and that looked pretty thick. A winch would have been good though.