CherokeeRic

hey everyone i just bought my first jeep and want to put bigger tires and will have issues with wheel rub when it flex my cousin has a tj so he not sure how to do the fender on a xj if someone could help i would be thankful because i hope to go wheeling this weekend in Michigan and do not want to hurt my tire
thanks Ric

caged

depends how much you need taken off. what size lift and what size tires are you running. and do you have stock rims or aftermarket with appropriate back spacing?

first you want to remove the flare and plastic inner fender splash panel and decide where you want to cut according to your lift/tire size.

then use either a sawzall or grinder with thin cutting disc and scribe a line on the fender. you could use masking tape to draw your line on.

i've used both to cut, and with ease, the sawzall is easier. but i got a better cut using the grinder. but it takes a steady hand. don't start cutting through the metal right away, first you want to scribe the line with the cutting disc, then slowly follow that line until you cut through.

then cut the bottom of the flares off at the body line and re-install covering the cut line using some tek screws.
don't forget to touch the edge with some paint so it won't rust.

CherokeeRic

Bone stock right now. Just got the Jeep a week ago. Thought of running my cousins TJ Rubicon rims and MT/R tires.

We've already removed the flares. Doing splash guards next. Do guys leave them in and trim them, or remove them completely?

Working on making a tougher, higher clearance front bumper to replace the flimsy original next.

Unfortunately, lift will need to wait a while.

Will I have any issues running the Rubicon rims and tires without cutting?

halmotors

What size are the tires?

CherokeeRic

The stock Rubicon MT/R's, so 245/75-16 or roughly 30.5" or so.

98CherokeeLimit4x4

i took my splash guards out completely and I trimmed my fenders by using masking tape up however much you want to cut out in the form of the Fenders shape.I say cut out a inch or so won't take much.

98 JeepJeep

You can do what you want to the front ......watch the rear....

CherokeeRic

Cool. THANKS! Eventually, I'm going to 35's when I get to know my Cherokee a bit, AND get a lift of course.

Hoping to go with a long arm kit with rear coil conversion. Still in the planning stages though.

Thanks again for the help!!

CherokeeRic

BTW, Mine's a 4-door. Wanted a 2-door, but this 4-door came up for the right price.

1995XJ_Sport

where at in Michigan are you? If you are close to me or come to me I can do it for you here are some pics of mine trimmed..

CherokeeRic

We're in Ohio, but go to Bundy Hill in Jerome, Michigan occasionally. It seems we're about 5 hours from where you are. We're east of Toledo about 20 minutes.

Thanks for the offer though!! We're gonna take a stab at it tomorrow. At least getting ready.

What should we watch for when trimming the rear? I plan to do some rock crawling and it'll be getting pretty flexxxy!

BTW....good looking XJ there.

1995XJ_Sport

thanks, the way i did it was cut strips up to that lip on the body, and then take pliers and fold them up in the fenders and then beat them up tight with a hammer from the back. fronts you dont have to worry about watching much, but the rear you will see small spot welds do not cut through them, cut on the sides of them. I dont have any pics of the process but its not too bad to do. also after you do it your paint will start to flake, sand it down and spray it with paint or bedliner.

1995XJ_Sport

I plan on going to bundy hill this summer sometime, my fiance's parents live in Jackson which is like 20 mins from bundy hill

91XJMudMan

On the rears you cant cut past the spot weld or else it will weaken the unibody and it will let debris up in the fender. You can trim up to just below the spot welds, then make a bunch of cuts to make pie cuts so you can fold up the edge. Someone will hopefully post pics of how to do it and probably explain it better than I can

CherokeeRic

ok thanks for your reply i might be going to bundy on saterday i hope I get to, wait and see i guess again thanks for your info it was very helpful