Rubicon Express leafs good or bad?

[lazyxj]

Bottom line, you will not be disappointed with their products.

The bottom line is that many of us are disappointed with RE's inconsistent quality control.
Your springs were well made, mine were not and sagged.
I installed a set of RE 3-1/2" springs, several years ago in a friends XJ, and they are still fine.
Inconsistent quality.
It should not matter where they are produced. OME's springs are built overseas. Going bankrupt hasn't helped RE and being acquired by 4WPs doesn't give much hope for a better product, as mentioned by Cal.

Now don't get me going about RE's Super Ride control arm bushings.

 

[WrenchMonkey]

No one should be afraid to buy RE. Period.

Cool. Wanna buy mine? Practically new, barely 5000 miles on em...

Robert

 

[crazyjim]

Yea we're not talking out our ass here... many of us are posting with personal experience. Again, they vary so much.

 

[XJWOLF]

Wow, lot's of unclear info here.

Rubicon Express is NOT ProComp! ProComp is NOT Rubicon express.

When TAP(Transamerica Parent company) Bought R/E they changed the bushings and warrantied all old bushings and hired back everyone in the company. Not at all the same company. Heck the new R/E kits come with Bilstein made R/E shocks, where as Procomp just came out with their own monotube shocks made by teneco. But guess what? R/E isnt running them.

As far as leaf springs, again not the same at all. ProComp 53111(235 in/lbs spring rate) leaf is 3 and an overload spring. The comparable RE1463(195 in/lbs spring rate) is 6 leafs and no overload. Different sized bushings and different spring rates.


I run ProComps and the stiffer spring works good for me. No they are not Deavers, but i dont drive a jeepspeed and didnt spend $700 on springs either.

To the OP i'd run BDS for the next set.

 

[X E Ryder]

BDS it is then

Thank you to the OP and all replies...

I have been on the fence about the RE kit (springs) for a bit and now with all the input I'm going to buy a BDS system.

When I called RE with some questions, I was not able to get consistant answers for a few things like, whether or not a SYE was needed, rear axle degree shim size to use, and a couple other points - did not feel comfortable.

The BDS is more expensive but the kit comes with your choice of shocks and is truly complete, and their website lets you option the kit right on the page and I hear so many say the right quality is very good.

 

[DaveNJeep]

Just to weigh in...

I recently installed RE XJ 4.5" RE 1462. After installation I noticed the pass side sits 1/2" higher than the dr side. That's measuring at the bolt that goes thru the rear spring eye on each side. The Jeep definately has a "left" lean to it. Not much mind you, but noticable.

To attempt to correct it and help the leafs break in I have placed two bags of sand on the inside pass side cargo area. Hope that helps. (yes, I've already vacumed up half a bag when the bag ripped! lol)

 

[WrenchMonkey]

Re: BDS it is then

When I called RE with some questions, I was not able to get consistant answers for a few things like, whether or not a SYE was needed, rear axle degree shim size to use, and a couple other points - did not feel comfortable...

In fairness to the RE folks, both of those points (and many others) really will depend on your particular Jeep. With a 3.5" lift that sits more like 4.5, you'll probably need an SYE, but the guy would've been lying to you if he said for sure one way or the other.

Likewise, what shims you'll need isn't a hard and fast rule either, as much as it seems like it should be. Each jeep is a little different, every lift, every axle housing. You do need to just install and measure.

I'll bash the springs. I won't bash a guy cause he won't answer what he can't know. Honesty's cool with me!

Robert

 

[1990JEEPXJ]

id personally put RE in the middle of the road, simply because they do have some good products, and some bad. i run their 4.5" leafs because i got a good deal on them. they ride fine and sit at a good height for me and havent sagged...yet. but the bushings are toast and the leafs can move side to side about 1/8" in the shackle. i just got their 5.5" coils and so far i love them. my previous 3.5" leafs stunk and lasted about 2 years and at that point they sat at about 2". if i had my choice, id get another brand. but when good deals on some of their used stuff, or even new stuff, comes up, ill settle.

 

[X E Ryder]

Re: BDS it is then

...I'll bash the springs. I won't bash a guy cause he won't answer what he can't know. Honesty's cool with me!

Robert

Fair enough! I can't fault a guy there, to be sure.

I suppose there is some unwritten scale that reads Confidence vs. Money Spent - the more you are about to spend, the more confident you want to feel to limit exposure.

BDS is inspiring a lot more confidence for an even greater expense right this second!

Hope the analogy made sense!