those of you with 33s, how has the front end components of your trucks faired with the oversize tires? i want to step up in tire size, but i don't want to be bothered with ball joints and TREs all the time!

fill me in!

 

only problem i have had is my passenger side hub and thats not from my 33's thats from having almost 100,000 miles on it

 

the front end didn't like 35s
33s didnt seem too bad.

 

Ive never heard of a problem. i cant say for sure though since ive only been running them for 10k miles. So far so good though!

 

I replaced all the balljoints and TREs when I did my RCD. I don't think it was the 35s alone that ruined them, it was the fact that I had completely maxed #1 tbars. Since the RCD was put on I've had no problems at all. Thats with 35s btw.

 

I never had hub/bearing issues on the ranger or sport trac, I did have to replace upper and lower balljoints, inner and outer tie-rod ends after some time on the ranger. The 33's went on around 80k miles if I guess, and the balljoints not far behind. Though they held up pretty well until I sold it with 140k miles, probably due to be replaced again at that point.
I wouldn't say anything wore out significantly faster than with 31's. A proper wheel will help things, I always had 15x8's with (I think) 3.75-4" of backspacing. If you use a wide 10" wheel you are putting significantly more stress on the ball joints and hub/bearing assemblies.

 

Ive never had an issue with 33s. 35s are a different story though.

 

hmmm.....well......regular maintence made me put new upper and lower balljoints on. That's when the 35's were on for a week(just wear and tear, not abuse from 35's). 35's went on at about 70k. I'm now at 106k, and my TRE's seem to be holding up well. As are the unibearing/hubs, CV's, brakes, etc. I think I need new lowers here in the next 10k though.

Oh.....15x10 w/ 4" backspace and 35x12.50R15's.

 

i never had ball joint problems. mine still are tight at 103k. had 33's on for 40k miles... the half shafts are a different story though. there about to go. but also have t bars cranked to the max

 

^^Well.....i'm willing to bet those lower BJ's are SHOT! Have you even checked 'em??

 

I'm just on 31s and with my bars maxed now, I can just feel the extra stress going through the front end. Seems like it's going to be a ball joint eater in time.

 

EH IDK either i just put on 33x12.5 on a 15x10 with 3.75 backspace...beards old wheels......I kinda worry a lil about wheel bearings and i have maxed #1 bars so inner and out TRE's and ball joints may be an issue a lil down the road we'll see.

 

I guess since I have the adjustable Belltech shackles, I can always lower it down a little in the rear and back the torsion bars off a bit so they aren't maxed.