i feel ur pain. mine was my daily driver for almost 2 yrs. i have a 4.5" lift with trimmed fenders and i was only gonna put on the 3" version and 31's to save some gas.

As it turns out; i found a job that gives me a company van wich i take home every night. so with leaving the old job i bought 15x10 rims and 33x12.50 duratracs and just yesterday installed my 4.5" lift, after it sat in my shed for over a year.

im not trying to rub this in; but here she is day 2 lifted.
before and after. the bad is now i dont get to drive her daily. so it is bitter sweet. such as life. my advise to you is buy a beater and keep the xj as the toy. you've got time. nothing has to be done overnight. YOU CAN MAKE IT WORK.

 

How bad do you think 33's would rub without hacking up the fenders?

 

Bump stop and they wont. They'll still rub the LCAs at full turn on stock backspacing though.

 

What's good backspacing on 15x8 rims. I'd like a wide stance but not too wide.

 

3.75

 

Would that clear the the 4.5 and 33x12's?

 

From rubbing on the control arms? Yes.

 

Are you trimmed???

i'm trimed and at full lock i rub the bottom of the front fenders going towards the doors. i actually have to take off about an 1/8-1/4" at the bottom of the fenderss. just alittle feathering.

you will not clear 33s and 4.5 with stock flares. you will have to trim. it wont rub the c/a's if ur backspaced but it will rub the flares..def.

 

Ya i trimmed just a lil bit and with my 33s an 3.75 back space i dont rub any where an i only trimmed the front fenders rears are fine

 

Could I trim the inside of the flares?

 

Take the flares off there ugly lol

 

I kinda like them.

 

There she is.

 

REVERT TO POST 16

they are very ugly. sorry guys.

CHEROKEE = BEEFY LOOK.

 

Are you sure your front axle isn't set back at all?

I've got 32s and half the lift and don't rub on my fenders at all turning. Hell, they didn't rub at all on the fenders with just the inner fender removed at stock height.