I have a 08 4 door JK X with an auto trans. Im looking at a small 2" lift from Rustys. I don't want anything to high or wild since I will only be doing moderate trail runs. My question is with a 2" lift and 285/70/17s will I need to replace my front DS? I have heard of the boots ripping off when wheeling. I would like to keep the DS stock for now. Im thinking that only 2" will not make that much of a change in the angle of the DS, or am I wrong? Rustys Offroad: JK Wrangler 2" Basic Kit
I have a 2.5" lift and the DS hit the auto transmission pretty solidly. However, if you don't get an adjustable tackbar to recenter the axle (which is generally considered unnecessary with a 2" lift) you probably won't hit. I didn't have a problem until I recentered. Maybe others have had different experiences? If you don't have to replace the DS, don't. The Rzeppa allows you to lift without having to choose between correct caster and correct driveline angle. With the stock DS you can just install cams (if you want) and set the caster without concerns. AEV is working on a narrow Rzeppa shaft that will be the best of all worlds. Just waiting.....
I think I read somewhere that there is no difference between the 2 and 4 doors (with regard to this issue)because the driveshaft that causes the trouble is the front one...thus no difference in length or placement. My 2.5" lift didn't cause contact until I corrected the geometry using a trackbar relocation/reinforcement bracket. Then it was only on extreme left droop articulation while discoed.
the stock driveshaft rubbed on the auto transmission's skid plate when near full droop. threw on tom woods 1350, but it still contacted slightly at full droop.
i ended up removing the stock transmission skid plate. :thumbdown:
still don't know what variable in my set-up wouldn't let a narrower aftermarket drive shaft clear the stock skid.
edit: jimbo raised a good point below that i left out in mine. the full droop where i had continuing problems contacting was not done in the wild. it was in a garage with one wheel taken far farther then i think have the gonads for on a rock. :rofl:
would anyone with a 2-2.5" lift be able to post any pics of the problem area? from the threads that I have searched I cant find many pics of this before damage.
If you leave your stock automatic trans skid plate on after the lift, you'll likely rip your boot sooner than later.
Ripping the boot isn't a show stopper -- it's not like you'll have to get towed home. IIRC, the boot helps keep the drive shaft lubed. Without it, the DS life is reduced, but some folks have wheeled another 20,000+ miles after the boot ripped before the DS finally gave up.
Who knows when/if you'll need to replace yours. The potential is always there, but personally, it's not something I'd worry about replacing before it fails.
Can you cut the skid plate down? or replace it for one that will not cut it. I have heard about people notching it, that must be what they are doing it for.
I think I've seen a writeup where someone "notched it" to help with this issue.
I ended up replacing my stocker trans skid plate with the one from Rock Hard that also covers the oil pan. It doesn't seem to have the same rub issue as the stocker.
There is more than one rub issue with the JK front driveshaft. The one that commonly rips the boot is the transmission oil pan. There is a spot that sticks out of the pan and aluminum flange that it attaches to that grabs the boot and the band that holds it on. There is also an issue with the trans skid plate but my 2.5" lift isn't enough to cause trouble. The last is the exhaust pipe. Again, with the exhaust, you'll likely never see a problem until the lift is way more than 2".
I have been running a Zone 3in for a year and have had no problems with the stock drive shafts in my 2 door auto. And it has seen some tough trails that fully flexed out the suspension. If the boot gets torn then I will worry about replacements.
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