Help me decide on next lift! RE or RockKrawler 4.5"

[jforse]

This is my 99 Limited. 4.0, AW4, NP242, D30/8.25"
It has a Rustys 3" Lift, and Rustys adj trac-bar.

I'm looking at upgrading my suspension. I want to fit 32" tires, or maybe squeeze in some 33" tires. I don't want to hack apart the fender wells. I would also like to keep the factory flares. I have a RE hack & tap that is waiting to go in with a factory front DS. I have narrowed my choices down to the Rubicon Express 4.5" Super-Flex and the Rock Krawler 4.5" x Factor Short arm system.
RE: http://www.rubiconexpress.com/Products.aspx?Cn=188&Pn=2021&XnPath=173,180,188&Vid=31A5191233758

RockKrawler: http://www.rockkrawler.com/

Which one would you choose and why?

Discuss!

 

[Begster]

I bought the RE kit a while back, and its a great system. The RK kit is more expensive, and the only thing I notice is that the controls arms are solid stock it says, and the rear leafs look a bit heavier duty, which might mean stiffer. I know my kit performs well, and I enjoy it. I only have experience with the RE kit, but I would recommend it. The only complaints I had about mine were the leafs decided to sag on me. It was noticable at time, and at other times not really, but they were definitely fubar. I attribute it to the fact that I didn't break them in (went and decided to flex it fully out the day after I got it) as well as probably just bad luck with the product. My friend who had a 3.5 RE kit, (same springs as 4.5, except 4.5 has shackles) his back was higher than mine, so its not like it happens to all RE leaves. I just replaced them with some 4.5 leafs and they are doing great, no sag.

IMO the RE kit will cost you less, its a good quality product. I would also suggest getting a SYE. I finally decided the vibes were getting annoying after about 6 months, and it drove like a completely different car after I put it on.

If you don't want to cut up your fenders, and plan on disconnecting your sway bar, I would go 32's over 33's. I have rubbed and destroyed a fender on full flex with some 32's already.

 

[jforse]

I bought the RE kit a while back, and its a great system. The RK kit is more expensive, and the only thing I notice is that the controls arms are solid stock it says, and the rear leafs look a bit heavier duty, which might mean stiffer. I know my kit performs well, and I enjoy it. I only have experience with the RE kit, but I would recommend it. The only complaints I had about mine were the leafs decided to sag on me. It was noticable at time, and at other times not really, but they were definitely fubar. I attribute it to the fact that I didn't break them in (went and decided to flex it fully out the day after I got it) as well as probably just bad luck with the product. My friend who had a 3.5 RE kit, (same springs as 4.5, except 4.5 has shackles) his back was higher than mine, so its not like it happens to all RE leaves. I just replaced them with some 4.5 leafs and they are doing great, no sag.

IMO the RE kit will cost you less, its a good quality product. I would also suggest getting a SYE. I finally decided the vibes were getting annoying after about 6 months, and it drove like a completely different car after I put it on.

If you don't want to cut up your fenders, and plan on disconnecting your sway bar, I would go 32's over 33's. I have rubbed and destroyed a fender on full flex with some 32's already.

It does seem the RE kit is wining. The SYE h&t is going before the lift as stated above. So I'm covered on that. I drive on the highway alot so it is definitly needed. Thanks for the tip on the tire size. I can get the RK kit for only $100 more than the RE kit. Is it worth it? I don't know!?

-J

 

[red_01_xj]

I have the RE 4.5" (kinda hybrid) and I love it...I have pricejacker shocks and will upgrade those to RE eventually but for now they are fine... got lucky and bought my coils and leaf pack on a local board and sold my bb for more than the RE stuff

I too have the H&T seems to do the trick for most of the vibes...now i need just a little shim

 

[trailbound xj]

I'm real happy with my RE 4.5" kit. Used to have a procomp 3" , so I did the same thing your going to do.I would recommend jeepin outfitters if you purchase the RE kit.I would also recommend the track bar upgrade and a set of adj. control arms (control arms are like a 60 dollar upgrade for either the upper or lowers). your also going to have to do some more bump stopping for 32's or they will rub. well here is a couple of pics of my rig on 32" tsl radials
www.imagestation.com/7303693/3927639408
www.imagestation.com/7303693/3927639170
www.imagestation.com/7303693/3927638968

 

[jforse]

I'm real happy with my RE 4.5" kit. Used to have a procomp 3" , so I did the same thing your going to do.I would recommend jeepin outfitters if you purchase the RE kit.I would also recommend the track bar upgrade and a set of adj. control arms (control arms are like a 60 dollar upgrade for either the upper or lowers). your also going to have to do some more bump stopping for 32's or they will rub. well here is a couple of pics of my rig on 32" tsl radials
www.imagestation.com/7303693/3927639408
www.imagestation.com/7303693/3927639170
www.imagestation.com/7303693/3927638968

Good to hear you like it! Yea I have a couple dif options for bumpstops already. I'll have to measure up after the lift is in. Looks good. That is about where I want my XJ to sit.

-J

 

[Teellandor]

Like Begster, I went with the 4.5" RE kit. Only I got the leaf pack right then. No complaints yet, but Dave (frankenstang) says I haven't totally tested it either. We went with another guy that had the Rusty's 4.5" kit, and for some reason my Jeep was taller. (Both running 31s.)

Sorry, I don't have a pic of both rigs together.

One other thing I'd like to add to your list of mods. Dump the 242 for a 231. Same friend took a couple of months talking me into it, and now that I have I'm much happier.

---bought Jeep with a busted 242, barfed the replacement, now run the 231---

 

[Begster]

Like Begster, I went with the 4.5" RE kit. Only I got the leaf pack right then.

I had the full leaf packs when I got the 4.5, not the AAL's, and the full pack sagged. I replaced it with the 4.5 inch springs, added with the 1.25 shackles from the original kit, I have 5.5 in the back, which is why my Jeep currently looks like a race car with its ass in the air.

 

[Teellandor]

Oh. Well color me corrected.

Looks nice, though. I bet it feels better from inside when your going up something.

 

[jforse]

Wow. RE seems to be the winner. I didn't think it would be that big of a landslide. Thanks for all the input. I think RE will be the way to go. As far as replacing the 242 with a 231. Probably not yet. It only has 85k on it and has been meticulously taken care of.

 

[XJensen]

I was struggling with the same to kits the last few months. I ended up going with the RE 4.5, still in the garage, mostly because I live in Sacramento and like to support the locals and I got the Kit with Adj. uppers for just over $900 new. Even with adding shocks, RK comes with in the kit RE does not, it was still less coin.

I was leaning toward RK though because of the Adj. upper and Lower arms and even more so when they switched to rubber and hemi control arm ends. The #1 complant I found was from the noise and bumps from the older kits with hemi joints on both ends. They have corrected that in thier 3rd gen kit.

Bottom line is that they are both great kits, from what i heard, and this fourm is very pro RE. Good luck to you!

 

[Begster]

I was leaning toward RK though because of the Adj. upper and Lower arms and even more so when they switched to rubber and hemi control arm ends. The #1 complant I found was from the noise and bumps from the older kits with hemi joints on both ends. They have corrected that in thier 3rd gen kit.

Do you mean Heim joints?

 

[XJensen]

Do you mean Heim joints?

Umm Yeah....:doh:

 

[Xrated]

Get the cheaper lift. Then you have more monet to lock the rear...

 

[jforse]

Get the cheaper lift. Then you have more monet to lock the rear...

I've got a Detroit for the rear and 4.56s waiting to go in.

The lifts are only about $100 difference.

I'm wondering if everyone is just voting for RE because they have heard of it more. I have only got one feedback on the Rock Krawler kit and that was through a pm.

Anybody with the Rock Krawler kit have some input?

-J

 

[Onkover]

I voted RE. I still run RE after all these years. Yet I have run RK and have had no complaints. They do put out good stuff.
With RE you can expect to get more lift then what it is rated at. Sure it will settle down but.. IE a friend of mine set his Wrangler up with a 3.5" RE kit. After it settled down he is still sitting 5.5" in the rear and 5" in the front.