Hello I'm new here! So nice to meet you! I have some questions about the pinch seam mod and structural intergrity issues. I would like to fit 225/75/R16 SST Pro by Cooper to Renegade THawk. I read in other forums about people that made the pinch seam mod that it harms the structural integrity of the car and it's durability. Is that dangerous? On the other hand does this affect the waranty? I do not own a Renegade but the times is coming so I would like to know what option do I have. I love this car and it's a great project! Thanks in advance!
W E L C O M E ! ! ! to the forum. IF you were to cut the lower portion of the pinch weld seam and cut through the spot welds, you will weaken the integrity a little bit, not enough to worry about. IF you fold the seam over instead of cutting it off, the integrity should be unaffected. I cut the lower portion of my pinch weld without cutting through the spot welds, and then folded over a few more inches up the weld to get the clearance that I was looking for. Then I used seam sealer to cover the pinch weld, just in case there was any separation between the two pieces of the weld. Then I sprayed some bed liner over the seam sealer (after the seam sealer dried) and pinch weld for additional protection. Then I painted the painted bed liner for even more weather protection. AND THEN, lol I heated the fender liner to flatten out the spot where the pinch weld was, to gain that clearance that I worked so hard to get, and reinstalled the fender liner, for maximum pinch weld modification protection. lol enjoy the forum
That is a sexy looking (aggressive) tire. but at 29.5 inch diameter, you are going to need more. NO more then 1.0 inch spacer in the front to clear the spring perch (more then 1.0 inch spacer in the front, the wheels arch in a turn will cause rubbing (reference 29.5 inch tire, 7.5 inch rims with 30mm offset)). At least 2.0 (maybe 2.5) inch lift or all of the pinch weld modifications in the world won't help you with that size tire. I read once that 4.0 inch lift will get you 30 inch tires. At 30 inches, you will lose the fender liner to prevent any rubbing issues. For me, I want the fender liner. I stopped at a 29.5 also.
That pinch seam mod wayoflife did and post here in the forum can harm enough the structural integrity? That little piece? https://www.toasterjeep.com/index.p...to-clear-bigger-tires-write-up.546/#post-3927
it leaves quite a gap in from the fender to the rest of the body (if you cut it out like I did) but it is still attached below/underneath and above the trimming. My take on it is that there’s not much done to weaken the frame, structurally speaking, as there doesn’t appear to be any weight or pressure in that location which would cause additional stress. (at least that’s what I’m telling myself!)
I posted a couple over in this thread (last post as of writing this one) https://toasterjeep.com/index.php?threads/245s-here-i-come-i-hope.3056/page-2 x marks the spot for me