+3 not to mention your xj wont look like it needs bigger tires.

 

3 inch and 31's is a great setup and you wont hate yourself for not going bigger and you can always add a coil spacer and shackle

 

I have the RE 3.5" superflex kit w/full leafs on my heep. It is a great kit and very complete. My 31's only barely rub at full flex. Not bad, because I like the look of the stock flares...I think I'm about the only one.

I bought a new cv driveshaft and hack 'n tap when I got the kit, but drove it for a couple of weeks after installing the lift before installing the driveshaft. At first, I didn't think I needed it because I didn't have bad vibrations. Most people say they get vibration at speed, which I didn't. Mine vibrated at slow speed, 5-15 mph, which I attributed to the mud tires...wrong! After installing the cv driveshaft, all vibrations went away. It drives every bit as smooth as it did before the lift, even with the mud tread. I would definitely advise to get the driveshaft.

Also, my kit settled a bit more in the front than the rear. After reading posts here, that seems to be common. I installed 3/4" coil spring spacers in the front to level it out correctly. I would recommend installing these at the time of install. It would have been much less trouble.

Also, for what its worth, after 3.5 months my 3.5" lift gave me 5" of actual lift measuring from the center of the hub to the flare both front and rear. Of course, that is including the 3/4" spacer in the front.

Good luck.

 

thanks all for your input. i think im going to go with the 3.5 instead. i kind of figured the tires will look too small. that kit dosent come with a track bar will i need one with that lift? btw i like the way the stock flares look. i really like the way bushwackers look but for the price and the amount of people that have broken them ill keep my stock ones

 

Alot of RE's lifts give a little bit more life than is advertised fropm what I've seen. And yeah, you would be smart to look into a trackbar at that lift, my XJ only has 3" of lift and my front axle isn't centered all that well anymore. Plus adding a new tracbar eliminates just one more of your old suspension parts, replacing it with something tougher, further reducing your risk of a failure. Besides, with the money saved over getting a 4.5" kit, you've got some room for some other small upgrades, like swaybar quick discos if the kit doesn't already include them... That said, RE is an awesome pick, and good luck with your lift!

 

the only other reason i was thinking about the 4.5 kit is the extra weight that i will be adding like a winch and bumper and undercarrige armor. im guessing that will take away from some of the height. maybe around an inch which would bring me back down to 3.5 right?

 

I didn't need to replace my track bar. The RE 3.5 instructions explain to drill a new hold in the track bar bracket 3/4" inboard to get the axle centered. It was't a big deal at all.

If you decide you want more lift, you can easily go another inch or so with coil spring spacers in the front and extended shackles in the rear. You would probably want to shell out the bucks for an adjustable track bar at that point, though.

From the guys I talk to, most quality lifts get what is advertised when installed or once they settle. For whatever reason, the RE kits seem to always settle at an inch or so over the stated lift.

 

one more question before i place my order. the 3.5 only comes with lower control arms. are the stock uca's sufficient for the lift or does anyone make replacement uca's that are compatable with the re lift? i think im set on the 3.5 sf and going to order the adjustable trackbar as well. any of you have pics of ur xj with re 3.5 with 31x10.5? thanks to all for your input

 

The uppers do not have to be replaced with the 3.5" kit. I think you will be happy with the RE Superflex...I know I am.

Here is a pic of mine stock also with the 3.5 kit. It has 31" 10.50 Cooper STT's on 15x8 American Racing Baja's w/3.75" backspacing.

 

thats a sweet looking jeep. ok im sold. thanks for your help. what did you do for a track bar?

 

Thanks for the compliment. I dceided what to do based on help from this forum, too.

I redrilled 3/4" over and relocated the track bar, so it didn't have to be replaced. The RE instructions explain how to do it. If I go higher later, I think I will get an adjustable track bar, but it is not necessary with the 3.5" lift.

Thanks again.

 

have you gotten any death wobble with that setup?

 

i changed my mind yet again. i have been talked into the 4.5 kit with 33"s. rode in one on the trail today with that setup. it was a blast. the RE 4.5 kit is pretty complete. http://www.rubiconexpress.com/Produc...d=F29E84437190
besides the sye and driveshaft will i need anything else? also what shocks should i get?

 

No death wobble at all. I did realign it as specified by RE.

I bought RE Monotube shocks and have no complaints.