I have just installed 2 inch Pro-Comp springs on my 05 TJ.  I have 32/11.5 MTRs mounted on the factory wheels.  After a day of driving I noticed the left rear is rubbing the upper spring pad (tough lesson learned).  The lift has shifted the rear axle about 2 inches so I ordered an adjustable rear tack bar.

Does anyone see a problem with trimming the upper spring pocket to provide more clearance?  I don't know if it will cause integrity issues or spring problems down the road.  With the axle centered I will have less than an inch on each side.

I would like to avoid wheel spacers and I like the factory wheels.  

actually a bolt on track bar extention will take care of the problem there. as you ordered the adjustable..better yet.
I don't believe it can cause any problems from trimming the pockets, although on the right side the track bar mount hangs out as far as the pocket does, I wouldn't trim that...

I'm assuming you have the stock wheels also...

stock rubicon wheels have 5" backspacing and will work for up to 12.5" wide rubber, its a tight fit though.

4.5" backspacing is a good way to go for replacements if you don't do any extreme articulation. 4.5 also keeps the tires in the fenders instead of stuck way out there....

heres my rubbage from a busted track bar mount...
I have barely enough room to stick my finger between with the 5" backspacing, It hasn't caused any problems.




 

Thanks for the help.  I was reading some of your postings and I figured if you could run 12.5s with 5 inches of backspacing I should be able to get away with 5.5 inches of backspacing on my 11.5s.

I'll mess with it when the track bar gets here.  I can adjust the track bar to provide clearance on the right side and possibly trim the left spring pocket.

I'm not looking to max out any RTI ramps I just want to avoid buffing my suspension components to a mirror like finish.  

lol, let me know how it works out!

when you get the trackbar adjusted it should be fine in the rear.
the same is happening up front also... and some rubbing (no worries) on the lower control arms from the 5.5" with 11.5's.

a bolt on bracket wil solve that as well.  

How concerned should I be with the damaged sidewall?

I had the white letters turned in and the spring pocket dug into the white layer of the sidewall.

I know they a 3-ply but is that too deep to be driving on the street?  

If it just scrubbed the raised lettering I wouldn't worry at all about it. they get worse rubbage from the curb.  

my trXus are tough.. I drove it home from the trail with no track bar and didn't harm the tires at all just pollished up thr buckets.  

It's above the white lettering actually into the sidewall.

From what I can see the sidewall is about 1/2 inch thick and I think I went through half of it.

Not too bad for about 20 miles of driving.  

dang..It would need to be a pretty good gash to make me concerned about it.

can you get a good pic of it?  

I have a pretty good pictures but I'm not sure how to post them.  

cell phone pics are great also...

text or e-mail it to:

mudb8-.93690@uploads.photobucket.com

if you don't have a photo host or have trouble posting pics.  

I sent you a couple of them.  

Here are the pics, I think:



http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj17/mudb8-/?action=view¤t=Tire004.jpg

http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj17/mudb8-/?action=view¤t=Tire014.jpg

http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj17/mudb8-/?action=view¤t=Tire005.jpg  

wow!, thats a good gash, I think I'd be inclined to get another on and mount that one up as a spare...