Im wanting to put a sus. upgrade on my eddie bauer bronco. Currently im running 31x10.5 on stock suspension. If i go with a 3" lift, can i run 33x12.5 without problems, also if i go with a 4" lift could i run 35x12.5's without problems? I want the best lift without having to get a longer drive shaft, and without having to worry about U joints all of the time. Im running a stock 5.0, with i believe the ED04 tranny (i believe thats right, may be the AOD, not for sure). I know im going with 10 inch rims, cause ill be running 12.5 tires. So which lift would be the best for the bronco without loosing power? I dont do any serious off road, its mostly going to be on the street, for looks, and in the mud every once in awhile just to have fun.

Also im looking at MT radial claws. Are these good tires? Which tires would yall suggest? Which lift would yall suggest? Also what is a good site that has 4x4 steel wheels, and a good variety of them?

All comments are welcome and all suggestions will be put to thought.

Thanks

 

A 3" lift should clear 33 very nicly and a 4" will give even more.
I think you need at least 5" to clear 35s, I beleive a 6" will give good results for 35s.
If you go with a 4" with 33s you might not have to lenthen the driveshafts, and if your gears a 3:55 then you should be ok.
With 35s you will want to go with a liest 4:10s.

I think that BFG makes the best all around tire, You can go with ATs and that are nice on road and mud tires. BFG is the only company that makes there tires with a 3 ply side wall.

Check these guys out, you can get tire wheel combos for good prices. www.4wheelparts.com

Good luck

 

As a general rule 92-96 Bronco's need 4" of suspension lift to clear 33x12.50's and 6" of lift to clear 35x12.50's. This is assuming that you are changing rims from the stock 15x7.5" with 4.5" backspacing to a wider rim with a shallower backspacing. 15x10 with 3.5" of backspacing works really well when trying to clear raduis arms. Also helps widen the truck's footprint for stability.

Some people have squeezed 33's under less lift but had to shim the front bumper forward. Same with stuffing 35's under less than 6" of lift. The thing you have to keep in mind is even if it will "just clear" with the truck sitting on level ground on pavement, when the suspension flexes all those clearance measuremeants will change. Just because it works sitting still or on pavement doesn't mean it won't slam the fenders or bumper when you get into places that require some suspension flex.

Neither 4" nor 6" of lift will require driveshaft lengthening. Beyond 6" of lift and the slip yokes get a bit too far out of their splines for comfort. And gearing with the E4OD runs closest to stock RPM range when you run 4.11's with 33's and 4.56's with 35's. I could post the formula but its available at Superlift's website and many gear and diff. suppliers have the calculators on their sites for figuring these numbers.

I'll second Roadkill's plug for the BFG's. Good all around tire and they wear forever.

 

If i went with a 4" lift, and 33" tires, would the tire fill in the wheel well pretty good, or would they look to small for the truck? I dont want all terrain tires, so would the BFG's mud tires be good as well? Currently im running 31x10.5 mudkings, i dont believe in putting AT's on a 4x4, especially a bronco . Yall never have commented on the Mickey Thompson baja claw radials, lol are they a good tire or would ya still go with the BFG's. I know i can get the MT baja claw for 165 a piece for 33x12.5's.

Also greystreak was talking about gears. What gears do i have now as far as stock? What would i need to go up to, and how hard is it to change and how much would it set me back?

Thanks

oh how can i edit my stuff so i can have a signature? Just an off the wall question, lol.

 

I think 33s w/ 4" lift would look like the 31s look now.
The gears are your ring and pinion, if you look on the back of your rear axle there should be a tag with numbers and such, you can post them here and someyone shopuld be able to decode them.
I'm guessing 3:55 gears because that was the most common gear ratio dropped into these trucks.
If you go up to 4:10s you will need a new carrier that can hold the ring gear. You can get prices from several sorces like randy's ring and pinion, maybe www.4wheelparts.com not sure.
You should change both front and back so that you can use 4wheel drive.

I think the carrier w/ 4:10 gears for a spicer 9" is around 500 bills.
not sure tho.

 

I guess ill have to go with a 4" suspension lift, being that i cant find a 3" lift. Later on if i want to go to 35s then i could always go out and get a 2" body lift. So the gears im running right now wont be good enough for 33s? Ive been told that 33s will ruin my automatic tranny, and that my 302 wont have the power to pull them good. Is any of this true?

Thanks

 

You could always go with a 3" body lift. just a note.
but a 4" will give you more room.
Never had any expirience with mickey thompson tires.
I love the MTs, but they wear more on pavement than the ATs.
I'm currently running 33x12,50 mudkings also I have 3:55 gears and that little 302 pulls them around with no problems.
The bigger tires will wear the tie rods and ball jouints out a little faster and may put more stress on the tranny, but not enough to notice. I'm going to 4:10 gears as soon as I can aford the parts.
good luck

 

So a 4" lift with 33s will look great on the bronco, good. Now for the next question. What type of lift would be the best? Could i just go with rear blocks and longer coil springs, or would it be best to go with new leaf springs and longer coil springs with new radius arms and all of that other stuff that comes in exspensive lifts.

Thanks

 

BroncoRoadKill
Goodyear MTRs have three ply sidewall.
greystreak92
is right about the driveshaft,i have six inch lift,with stock length shaft.pulled it out today to check the slip yoke ok. cardon bearing is out.driveshaft man sad it's not worth lengthening 1.5 inches.atleast three inches of slip is in yoke.
90ebbronc
I went straight to six inch lift i'm glad i didn't stop for four.
six in front four in back sit's level 35 inch tire

 

Chuck, im not really wanting it to high cause i live in the hills and there are alot of sharp curves coming off of some of the hills (not mountains). I live in the foothills of the Ozarks in arkansas. If i go with a 4" lift, how high will i have to go in front for it to be level and still look good, and not like i have bigger tires in back than i do in front? 6 inch lift with 35s would be cool, id love to see one first to see how high it really is compared to mine. But like i said earlier, i dont wanna have to worry about replacing U joints alot because of being to high, or worrying about my drive shaft being to short. I would love to see pictures of a stock next to the 4 inch lift and 33s, and also next to the 6 inch lift with 35s. If anyone knows where i can see this, let me know.

Thanks

 

With a little bumper spacing and the proper offset on the wheels you can get 33's under your STOCK bronco with little to no rubbing. I know because I put 33x12.5s under my 93 with just a little bumper spacing. I now have 4" of lift and the tires look a bit dinky now. With 4" you can go 35" but you will have to bang in a little of the rear inner fenderwells to keep the tires from rubbing while articulating.

 

What do u mean by bumper spacing? Also, why would i have to beat in the rear inner fender? Im going with 10 inch rims, with probably 3.5 back spacing. I have a friend that used to have an 86 bronco and put 33s on it stock, but he raised the torsion bars so the front wouldnt rub much. So u are saying i can put 33s on a stock bronco, and 35s on a 4 inch lift. But could u explain what bumper spacing is, and why the rear inner fender for me please. I would love to have 35s but im not going any bigger than a 4 inch lift.

Thanks

 

basicly you put some washers between the bumper and it's mounts. usually 3 will do it. this will move the bumper forward and will keep it from chunking your tires.

With 35s and a 4" lift you will get soem rubbing of the tires on the inner fenderwells in the rear. Keep in mind it's not much only a small clearance issue but it will sound like nails across a chalkboard nevertheless. Plus the added resistance will likely get you stuck if your in a tight spot.

 

you will be fine with a 4 inch and 33's wont have to change anything. my dads truck has a 9 inch lift on it with 35's and stock gearing and it runs. Of course gears will help but they are not nessasary. I am going to be running 33's on my 94 but i am going to go with a 14.5 wide tire

 

_Bodyman Chuck
-Goodyear MTRs have three ply sidewall.-

I ment as far as I know.