265/70-17s are rubbing, even w/ 3" lift - What to trim?

wayne551

wayne551

New member
I tried searching for info on what to trim for rubbing, but couldn't find what I need. I thought I remembered a thread with pictures about where to trim. Can anyone direct me to a previous thread on what and how to trim for wheel rubbing as described below, or offer some advice here?

The quick story: Had new wheels and tires installed today (265/70-17 BFG AT KOs on Pro Comp wheels with 4.5" backspace and 0 offset). I have a 3" lift, so I thought there'd be no rubbing. I was wrong.

Rubbing happens in reverse with wheel turned all the way, to either side - (why only when in reverse?). Looks like the rubbing is happening on the wedge shaped plastic pieces that protrude down - the ones with drain slots at their bottoms, in the front of each front wheel well.

I was able to move the wedges forward by cutting new mounting holes and enlarging the areas for the screw clamp/clips, then moving the whole part forward, on both sides. This looked like it would solve it, but the wheels still rub there. Am I on the right track? Should I try again and move them further forward? I can probably go another 3/8"-1/2" more. I also trimmed the mud flaps, for good measure, since they looked awfully close.

What about trimming off the entire protruding wedge shapes that hang down in the front of the wheel wells? What is their purpose, other than funneling water out through the slots? If I trim them, water can still drain, just through a much bigger hole, right?

Any help would be much appreciated. I'm so bummed about the rubbing 'cause I thought I wouldn't have any rubbing at all. Please help...
 
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wayne551 said:
I tried searching for info on what to trim for rubbing, but couldn't find what I need. I thought I remembered a thread with pictures about where to trim. Can anyone direct me to a previous thread on what and how to trim for wheel rubbing as described below, or offer some advice here?

The quick story: Had new wheels and tires installed today (265/70-17 BFG AT KOs on Pro Comp wheels with 4.5" backspace and 0 offset). I have a 3" lift, so I thought there'd be no rubbing. I was wrong.

Rubbing happens in reverse with wheel turned all the way, to either side - (why only when in reverse?). Looks like the rubbing is happening on the wedge shaped plastic pieces that protrude down - the ones with drain slots at their bottoms, in the front of each front wheel well.

I was able to move the wedges forward by cutting new mounting holes and enlarging the areas for the screw clamp/clips, then moving the whole part forward, on both sides. This looked like it would solve it, but the wheels still rub there. Am I on the right track? Should I try again and move them further forward? I can probably go another 3/8"-1/2" more. I also trimmed the mud flaps, for good measure, since they looked awfully close.

What about trimming off the entire protruding wedge shapes that hang down in the front of the wheel wells? What is their purpose, other than funneling water out through the slots? If I trim them, water can still drain, just through a much bigger hole, right?

Any help would be much appreciated. I'm so bummed about the rubbing 'cause I thought I wouldn't have any rubbing at all. Please help...
Click to expand...
That is exactly what happened to mine, but mine was worse. You need to chop the body mount. It sounds like a bigger deal than it actually is. You can weld a flat piece back in front of it (what I did) so the actual mount is still somewhat protected from direct impact with debris. This is not required at all but my buddy had some steel laying around so we decided to go ahead and add it.
 
wayne551 said:
I was able to move the wedges forward by cutting new mounting holes and enlarging the areas for the screw clamp/clips, then moving the whole part forward, on both sides. This looked like it would solve it, but the wheels still rub there. Am I on the right track? Should I try again and move them further forward? I can probably go another 3/8"-1/2" more. I also trimmed the mud flaps, for good measure, since they looked awfully close.
Click to expand...

Yes... move them forward more. I have 275/70/18's and had to move them alot. And now I only rub if I hit a big bump when the wheels are at a certain angle.

Oh, and I trimmed a little of the bumper/wheel well and dabbed a little touch-up paint cut edge. I also just removed the mud flaps, which looks pretty good.
 
Last edited:
Seriously - you're telling me that I need to cut away metal and weld metal? No offense intended at you at all (more general exasperation), but WTF? Where are all the guys who are running 265/70-17s out there who are NOT cutting away metal and welding their trucks to make their tires fit? I was SO under the impression that with a 3" lift, this tire size, and a 0 offset wheel, that there'd be no rubbing issues - much less having to cut away metal and weld to make it work.

Does anyone have any other suggestions other than cutting and welding?
 
My bad, for some reason I thought it said 285/70 17. Didn't mean to offend, and like I said it sounds like a bigger deal than it actually is. There are a log of people that do this. I had the same size on mine stock suspension and it only rubbed when going over a bump and had the wheel turned all the way. Mud flaps were removed and that's it. You can trim the bottom part of the fender flare as well as the inner fender plastic just trim until it is not rubbing anymore. Obviously you know that it's rubbing in reverse because the weight is shifted to the front. So you will have to get someone to just sit on your bumper after you trim and make sure it won't rub. Again not meaning to make you go overkill I just misread.
 
Sounds like the offsett on your wheels is wrong. I have been running 265/70/17 tires for 3 years on stock wheels (2.5 lift) with no rubbing even when flexed out off road.
 
Wow, looks like you have some response now. Sounds like maybe it wasn't me that made the mistake on the tire size.
 
i have the same tires 265/70/17 bfg ko's also... and on stock suspension got no rubbing issues. even with fj springs and cornfed lift, no rubbing. it wasn't until the offset was changed with wheel spacers did i get rubbing on the mud flaps (so it's probably your offset).

how did you trim your mudflaps? have any pics of it? id rather not remove mine. thanks!
 
Autbond said:
My bad, for some reason I thought it said 285/70 17. Didn't mean to offend...
Click to expand...

No offense taken at all - I totally appreciate the help! I was just being dramatic about the thought of me cutting away metal and welding - something way out of my league.

I figured out what was rubbing and did some more trimming of the plastic wheel well liner. The BFG ATs have such a "square shoulder" that they rub where others don't.

Problem solved. Thanks for offering advice and support - much appreciated.
 
03_4x4Runner said:
Sounds like the offsett on your wheels is wrong.
Click to expand...

By "wrong" do you mean "incompatible"? The offset is 0, which I had read in another thread works well for 4th Gen 4Runners (also on the FJ).

After some additional plastic trimming, all is well. The small amount of additional width of stance is exactly what I was hoping for.
 
JCR said:
Trimming the Bumper

Give that a try, about 3/4 the way down the page. From what I have read the BFG KO is the only 265/70 that will rub due to the square shape.
Click to expand...

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for, and managed to fumble/fiddle/futz my way through on my own. I just kept trimming and moving the plastic wheel well liner and the "air deflector triangles" until I eliminated the rubbing.

Put me on the list of those who've experienced their 265/70 BFG ATs rubbing, and (thankfully) figured out how to un-rub them!
 
PharmSCRunner said:
i have the same tires 265/70/17 bfg ko's also... and on stock suspension got no rubbing issues. even with fj springs and cornfed lift, no rubbing. it wasn't until the offset was changed with wheel spacers did i get rubbing on the mud flaps (so it's probably your offset).

how did you trim your mudflaps? have any pics of it? id rather not remove mine. thanks!
Click to expand...

Odd that with adding wheel spacers that you wouldn't get any rubbing like I did on the plastic "air deflector triangles" at the fronts of the wheel wells.

The offset of my wheels is 0, which (from what I've read and learned while wheel shopping) isn't that aggressive. AR Mojaves and Chambers have 0 offset, and lots of people put them on 4Runners and FJs.

For trimming the mud flaps, I basically cut straight up, about 2" in from the inside edge. I continued the trimming straight up all the way up into the area inside the wheel well. I unscrewed the innermost fastener, removed the "orphaned" piece of mud flap, then put the fastener back in.

I might get a little more mud splat than with fully intact flaps, but no tire rubbing from the blocky BFG ATs is a good trade.
 
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