Christian Lee
Contributor
Photographers:
Chris Pasley
It doesn’t take much to fit 35-inch tires under a JK these days, and Pro Comp offers a bolt-in kit that makes it as easy as ever. The kit uses a bare bones list of equipment, which includes front and rear coil springs, all necessary hardware, front and rear ES9000 shocks, and front and rear adjustable chromoly track bars with Heim joints.
Making the Pro Comp 3.5-inch system even more advantageous to new JK owners: The system is covered by Pro Comp’s Promise Lifetime Warranty, and also qualifies under Pro Comp’s Lift Shield Warranty, a free five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
The Pro Comp 3.5-inch lift will accommodate 16-inch-or-larger diameter wheels with 8- to 9-inch widths and 3.25 to 4.75 inches of backspacing. We elected to use a set of 17x9 Pro Comp Alloy Series 7036 wheels with 4.75 inches backspacing and mounted up a set of LT315/70R17 Pro Comp Xtreme M/T2 radials.
The Pro Comp Xtreme MT2 radial features an aggressive, open tread design optimized using computer modeling. It delivers substantial grip and control without excessive noise, as well as improved self-cleaning performance in mud and snow. Pro Comp Xtreme M/T 2 tires come with a 40,000-mile tread wear warranty.
Check out the photos and captions to see how easy it is to raise your JK to new heights and create a more capable 4x4.
The new Pro Comp 3.5-inch lift for four-door JKs was designed to provide a great ride on the road, while easily clearing 35-inch tires. The suspension offers an even stance front to rear and ample space beneath the fenders for 35s.
The 2012 JK rolled into the shop in stock form with minimal dirt miles logged.
With some creative fender trimming, some owners have fit 35-inch tires on their JKs while still running stock springs.
Wanting to have ample space beneath the fenders with minimal to no fender trimming, the Pro Comp 3.5-inch kit would add just enough space for the 35s but still maintain a comfortable ride.
Most of the stock front and rear suspension components would be removed.
Then replaced with new Pro Comp parts.
The Pro Comp 3.5-inch lift kit includes front and rear coil springs, all necessary hardware, front and rear ES9000 shocks, and front and rear adjustable chromoly track bars equipped with Heim joints.
With the factory parts removed the 4 Wheel Parts team began installing the new Pro Comp components. Here the new 3.5-inch front coil spring is installed.
The Pro Comp 3.5-inch kit includes brackets to relocate the brake and ABS lines. The bracket secures to the bottom of the coil spring perch.
Shown side-by-side with the new 3.5-inch Pro Comp front coil spring, the factory spring looks fairly light duty.
The new Pro Comp chromoly adjustable track bar is shown next to the stock front track bar. The new unit uses a Heim joint (not shown) on the axle end mount and is much beefier than the factory part.
With the new Pro Comp ES9000 shocks and chromoly adjustable track bar in place, installation of the front components was nearly completed. The front sway bar will use the stock rear sway bar links while the rear sway bar will receive new, longer links.
The stock rear suspension components were removed to make way for the new Pro Comp parts.
After removing the factory coil springs, the 4 Wheel Parts team installed the new Pro Comp units.
The new Pro Comp 3.5-inch coil springs are shown next to stock rear springs. The new springs appear heavier-duty than the stock coil springs and will also add the needed height to clear 35s.
The Pro Comp 3.5-inch kit includes brake line drop brackets to relocate the rear brake lines along the frame.
A rear chromoly adjustable track bar is included in the Pro Comp 3.5-inch kit. Like the front track bar, it is much stouter than the factory component.
The track bar Heim joint will allow great adjustability to help maintain and improve the factory ride, even with 35-inch tires.
The 4 Wheel Parts crew installed the new Pro Comp ES9000 rear shocks and the frame end of the new adjustable track bar. The axle end will be bolted up once the JK is on the ground. The new rear sway bar links were also installed.
We elected to pair a set of 17x9 Pro Comp Alloy Series 7036 wheels with the Pro Comp 3.5-inch kit. They’re great-looking wheels with 4.75 inches of backspacing to provide excellent fitment for the LT315/70R17 (35-inch-diameter) Pro Comp Xtreme MT2 tires beneath the factory fenders.
The LT315/70R17 Pro Comp Xtreme MT2 tires offer a 35-inch diameter and are well prepared to tackle mud, rocks, sand, loose dirt, or whatever terrain you run in to. The Pro Comp Xtreme M/T 2 tires also include Pro Comp’s 40,000-mile tread wear warranty.
The 4 Wheel Parts team removed the tire pressure sensors from the factory JK wheels for installation on the new Pro Comp Alloy Series 7036 wheels.
The 4 Wheel Parts team removed the tire pressure sensors from the factory JK wheels for installation on the new Pro Comp Alloy Series 7036 wheels.
The tire pressure sensors were then installed on to the new Pro Comp Alloy Series 7036 wheels.
The crew at 4 Wheel Parts then mounted and balanced the LT315/70R17 Pro Comp Xtreme M/T2 tires on Pro Comp Alloy Series 7036 wheels.
Compare the new tires and wheels with the factory tires and wheels. The improvement in size, durability, and trail performance is obvious.
The new LT315/70R17 Pro Comp Xtreme M/T2 tires on Pro Comp Alloy Series 7036 wheels were bolted up to the JK.
A do-it-all shop like all 4 Wheel Parts stores, the Riverside, California, location offers full alignment services in addition to installations.
The increased tire size affords greater clearance for traveling over trail obstacles and improved traction thanks to the Pro Comp Xtreme M/T2 tire. With lift, tires, and wheels in place this JK is ready to delve into further mods, such as rocker guards and bumpers.
The Pro Comp 3.5-inch lift kit offers a great look to the JK with the added advantage of increased ground clearance and the ability to run up to 35-inch tires.
