XJ R.E. 4.5" lift kit

[NS-jeeper]

Anybody have any experience with the Rubicon Express 4.5" lift kit..... I've got the go ahead to Fix/replace my pieced together lift and this seems to be the cheapest I've found (aprox. $1200). I've had pretty good luck with the RE track bar and RE steel brake lines I bought last year. Of coarse if i get the whole kit it comes with a track bar and SS brake lines that I wont need.
Also I'm thinking of keeping the 2" spacers and Blocks and getting a SYE (6.5" would be SWEET)  .....Whats the difference between the XJ 231 and a YJ/TJ 231 (thats how the kits are listed)? You'd think they'd be the same, as car company's usually use one part in as many different vehicles as possible. Where's the Cheapest place to get a SYE, anyone try one off eBay? 

[cablesmurf]

Here's my opinion. 6.5" with sh0rt arms will cause you nothing but problems. It will ride like a$$ and will have bad bumpsteer. The RE 4.5" kit is good (it's the one I have), but the hiem in the trackbar is mediocre at best (it won't last long if you wheel it). At 6.5" you will NEED drop brackets or long arms...in which case you'd be better off buying the RE 5.5" Extreme Duty kit. Or, if it were me, I'd buy the Rockkrawler 6.5" Longarm kit. It's more value for you'r money. Spend the few hundred extra and get the more complete kit. As you know, you have spent money piecing together a kit that you are obviously not happy with...why do it again?

Just my 2 cents, since I have been down this road many times.

RE 4.5"

http://www.rubiconexpress.com/Products.aspx?Cn=188&Pn=2021&XnPath=173,180,188&Vid=21040F4975654

RE 5.5"

http://www.rubiconexpress.com/Products.aspx?Cn=188&Pn=2024&XnPath=173,180,188&Vid=21040F4975654

RK 6.5"

http://rockkrawler.com/pages/catalog/index.php?r_itemID=3

[cablesmurf]

Just for reference...i got my RK arms in last weekend, and I am VERY happy with them. My Jeep rides soooo much better, and mine isn't even the new style...apparently it rides better than the one I have...

[cablesmurf]

Oh, and BTW...this is your best bet for the SYE. I wish I had seen the before I did my RE H&T...

The difference between the XJ and TJ SYE is year specific...TJ's don't need the oil seal and flange. The pre '96 XJ/YJ's do.

http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoSYEconversion.htm



here is mine...

[cablesmurf]

One more thing...if this isn't a good enough reason not to run blocks, then i don't know what is...

[NS-jeeper]

I'd really like to stay away from any welding though (how much did it cost for the welding). My budget is around $1500.  Blocks were just a thought as i already have them... but my 31's would look pretty stupid with 6.5" of lift and I cant afford new tires and a lift at this point, so I'm going with the lift and waiting on the new tires.

[cablesmurf]

Welding on my kit was minimal (free)...but the new style kit is completly bolt on...At $1500, I say you can come up with a little more to get what you really want. Sell your old stuff to recoup some of your cost.

[NS-jeeper]

I also was looking at the rough country 6.5" lift....the price is sweet  for about $1800 USD including shipping I get a 6.5" lift kit a SYE and a CV driveshaft.

[cablesmurf]

I also was looking at the rough country 6.5" lift....the price is sweet  for about $1800 USD including shipping I get a 6.5" lift kit a SYE and a CV driveshaft.

Not a bad choice at all...does that include the drop brackets? If not...add them in. It's well worth it.

[NS-jeeper]

Well I ordered it all up the 6.5" rough country kit as well as the SYE, CV  drive shaft, and I also ordered the control arm drop brackets the whole lot of it came to just over $2000, its a little more than I wanted to spend but with all the extras I figure it was worth it I'll post pics when I start to install.