Which Axle Width for tons

[DOOKEY]

Sounds cool. Shit, I went to donate plasma for the extra money. I can’t because of my tattoos. They can’t stick the needle through the ink. Some fda law about ink poisoning on the person receiving the plasma. I don’t care what it takes. I’m getting them. Anyone want to buy a kidney?

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[Headbarcode]

I have the 4.5" Gamechanger with 6-packs and 40x13.5's on 17x9 wheels with 4.53" of backspace. Even with chopped factory fenders and high tuck liners, the inner shoulders of the front tires hit the liners with the wheels straight.

I agree with the above comments about not going beyond 4.5" backspace, so as to not have too much scrub radius. What I don't agree with is that coilovers are the only reason for wider than 68.5" axles. If I had 72.5" axles, my wheel and tire combo would clear the liners and be able to take full advantage of the chopped fenders. I'd also be able to drop my bumpstop spacing from 4" down to 2", or possibly less.

Here's a pic from when my JLUR had the 3.5" Metalcloak springs and 38x13.5's. Notice how much fender clearance isn't being used, yet the tire was kissing the liner. The 4.5" springs and 40's caused the tire to kiss the liner a bit lower, because the higher ride height makes the taller tire tilt inward further when stuffed. 3.5" backspace would've helped uptravel a bit, but at the expense of too much scrub radius. 72.5" axles would fully help uptravel, while keeping the milder scrub radius of the 4.5" backspace.

 

[jellis4148]

Okay dumb down the definition of scrub radius please? Based off of what I’m guessing a 3.5 backspacing on a 9” wheel like I have would be better for a 68.5 or 72.5 axle. They will stick out more for clearance.

 

[MSparks909]

I’ve got 68” Dynatrac XD60s with 40x13.50 Cooper STT Pro’s on 17x9 KMC’s with 3.5” backspace. Zero issues. I wanted 72” axles but didn’t want to wait 6+ months for them to be built as I was chasing a bad caster vibration issue and wanted it resolved ASAP.

If I was doing it all again I’d go 72” axles front/rear with 4.5-5.5” backspace wheels. YouTube scrub radius and it’ll explain it better than I can type it out.

 

[chevymitchell]

I have the 4.5" Gamechanger with 6-packs and 40x13.5's on 17x9 wheels with 4.53" of backspace. Even with chopped factory fenders and high tuck liners, the inner shoulders of the front tires hit the liners with the wheels straight.

I agree with the above comments about not going beyond 4.5" backspace, so as to not have too much scrub radius. What I don't agree with is that coilovers are the only reason for wider than 68.5" axles. If I had 72.5" axles, my wheel and tire combo would clear the liners and be able to take full advantage of the chopped fenders. I'd also be able to drop my bumpstop spacing from 4" down to 2", or possibly less.

Here's a pic from when my JLUR had the 3.5" Metalcloak springs and 38x13.5's. Notice how much fender clearance isn't being used, yet the tire was kissing the liner. The 4.5" springs and 40's caused the tire to kiss the liner a bit lower, because the higher ride height makes the taller tire tilt inward further when stuffed. 3.5" backspace would've helped uptravel a bit, but at the expense of too much scrub radius. 72.5" axles would fully help uptravel, while keeping the milder scrub radius of the 4.5" backspace.

I didn't say coilovers are the only reason.

It was just an additional reason why someone would run the wider axle set.

Trying to save the dude some money.

Gotta be careful with the bumpstop. I made a few suspension tuning videos. At 72.5" wide, the trackbar will hit the pitman arm and diff if you don't tune correctly. Mine is set to 3" in the video.

 

[chevymitchell]

Okay dumb down the definition of scrub radius please? Based off of what I’m guessing a 3.5 backspacing on a 9” wheel like I have would be better for a 68.5 or 72.5 axle. They will stick out more for clearance.

The sticking out is what you don't want. The 3.5" BS wheels really only serve one purpose and that's to achieve a look or aesthetic. From a geometric POV, they're not good for the steering components.

Dynatrac has a great explanation here:

 

[Headbarcode]

I didn't say coilovers are the only reason.

It was just an additional reason why someone would run the wider axle set.

Trying to save the dude some money.

Gotta be careful with the bumpstop. I made a few suspension tuning videos. At 72.5" wide, the trackbar will hit the pitman arm and diff if you don't tune correctly. Mine is set to 3" in the video.

Yes, I should've expanded a bit more. I didn't mean to imply that. You definitely mentioned other benefits, such as side to side stability when in off camber situations.

It was just the talk about 4.5" backspace on 17x9 wheels being the sweet spot for scrub radius, followed by being fine with 68.5" axles that I was responding to. I happen to have that exact combo, along with the same lift setup as OP, and there's clearance issues that only wider axles can fix. Since OP is going for axles, and already used the buy once cry once saying....

 

[chevymitchell]

Since OP is going for axles, and already used the buy once cry once saying....

Yeah, man... I incorporate this credo whenever I can afford it. Lol.

I looked at my axles as being universal for whatever I do in the future. I can always cut brackets and weld new ones on. I don't ever plan on spending the money I did and waiting the 211 days for the axles again.

It's all good. We're all on the same page really. I'd suggest OP get rid of the 3.5" BS wheels moving FWD.

 

[Headbarcode]

Yeah, man... I incorporate this credo whenever I can afford it. Lol.

I looked at my axles as being universal for whatever I do in the future. I can always cut brackets and weld new ones on. I don't ever plan on spending the money I did and waiting the 211 days for the axles again.

It's all good. We're all on the same page really. I'd suggest OP get rid of the 3.5" BS wheels moving FWD.

Yeah, I'm definitely guilty of putting a big wear mark on that credo myself. At the same time, I save a few bucks in areas that would be a waste for my needs.

For example, going with the non adjustable Fox TS stabilizer vs the ATS and 6-packs vs the Fox DSC shocks. I don't personally need to soften anything for on road comfort, as I would just leave it firm, so that saved me a couple hundred on the former and a couple thousand on the latter.

When I spend that difference on the wider one tons, for both strength and clearance purposes, I can still convince myself that I'm being fiscally responsible. ?

And I fully agree with you about the backspace. Even with hydro assist, 4.5" minimizes stress. 3.5" is, at least in my opinion, a lower cost solution to improving clearance issues with 40’s on the 68.5" axles. If already giving the wallet a beating, 40’s with 4.5" backspace on 72"+ axles would check all of the boxes.

Nothings worse than spending a lot of hard earned money, just to be left with a what if. Those types of what ifs will last far longer than it'll take to recoup the cash that would've paid them away in the first place.

I very much enjoy the conversation. You're an incredibly knowledgeable person who does a lot for this community, and i wanted to acknowledge that. We're definitely on the same page, but I believe it to be a book that I still have to refer back to way more often than you.

Thanks for what you do, Shawn!

 

[chevymitchell]

Yeah, I'm definitely guilty of putting a big wear mark on that credo myself. At the same time, I save a few bucks in areas that would be a waste for my needs.

For example, going with the non adjustable Fox TS stabilizer vs the ATS and 6-packs vs the Fox DSC shocks. I don't personally need to soften anything for on road comfort, as I would just leave it firm, so that saved me a couple hundred on the former and a couple thousand on the latter.

When I spend that difference on the wider one tons, for both strength and clearance purposes, I can still convince myself that I'm being fiscally responsible. ?

And I fully agree with you about the backspace. Even with hydro assist, 4.5" minimizes stress. 3.5" is, at least in my opinion, a lower cost solution to improving clearance issues with 40’s on the 68.5" axles. If already giving the wallet a beating, 40’s with 4.5" backspace on 72"+ axles would check all of the boxes.

Nothings worse than spending a lot of hard earned money, just to be left with a what if. Those types of what ifs will last far longer than it'll take to recoup the cash that would've paid them away in the first place.

I very much enjoy the conversation. You're an incredibly knowledgeable person who does a lot for this community, and i wanted to acknowledge that. We're definitely on the same page, but I believe it to be a book that I still have to refer back to way more often than you.

Thanks for what you do, Shawn!

Appreciate it, man.

This is great advice:

"Nothings worse than spending a lot of hard earned money, just to be left with a what if. Those types of what ifs will last far longer than it'll take to recoup the cash that would've paid them away in the first place."

 

[jellis4148]

I don’t mind waiting. I’ll probably stick with the 68.5 and do 4.5 bs. So my next question, which will open a can of opinion worms. Which brand to get? I’ve gravitated towards the UD60 with 5.13 gears and elocker. Then do the PSC steering upgrade. Has anyone had any issues with those? Is there a better brand. I’ll pay extra for quality if there is one substantially better.

 

[chevymitchell]

I don’t mind waiting. I’ll probably stick with the 68.5 and do 4.5 bs. So my next question, which will open a can of opinion worms. Which brand to get? I’ve gravitated towards the UD60 with 5.13 gears and elocker. Then do the PSC steering upgrade. Has anyone had any issues with those? Is there a better brand. I’ll pay extra for quality if there is one substantially better.

Everyone will have their opinion. I chose Dynatrac after doing all the research.

 

[Headbarcode]

Everyone will have their opinion. I chose Dynatrac after doing all the research.

Yeah, I've looked at both Fusion and Currie, but keep going back to Dynatrac.

On a related note, you made a great point in some other thread a short while back. That 5.38's are worth considering over 5.13's, because of factoring in the extra weight of the larger axles. Typically, we here about 4.88's and 5.13's mostly, because more people are regearing factory axles vs full axle swaps. I just thought that suggestion made a lot of sense and was worth bringing to light here.

 

[72Blazer]

Lots of talking. Not enough pictures of 1 ton JLs

 

[MSparks909]

Lots of talking. Not enough pictures of 1 ton JLs

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