I'm looking seriously at the 3.5 inch Rubicon Express lift, using new rear springs. I'm told that RE uses a 250 pound per inch front coil rate. The kit I'm considering is called the Super Flex, and comes with Rancho 5000 shocks.
I have the Rancho 5000 shocks on my CJ, and they work well. I was looking at Rusty's Offroad kits, and they offer two different coil rates, 150 and 180. Kinda makes me wonder how two companies could use coil rates so far apart, on the same vehicle, and have the same end result. Is Rusty's rate too soft?

Also, does anyone have any brand 3.5 inch lift, and if so, are you using a SYE on a NP 231? I'm getting different opinions about the need for the SYE at only 3.5 inches. If ya have one of these lifts, please speak up, I need some input.

Thanks guys,
Bob

 

That is the same exact set up i have and i love it. Rides great and flexes very well. I do not have a SYE on my np231 just a 1 in t-case drop only a slight vibe at 35 mph no big deal but all jeeps are different and it depends but generally at that height you can get away with just a drop. That kit will actually give you about 4.25 inches of lift.

 

Well first off are planning on going bigger tires? because if you are just go for the 4.5 RE, just in case you want to go higher or get bigger tires you wont have to buy a new lift or add spacers, shackles etc.
I have the Rubicon express 4.5 super flex and so far its done me well. Im very pleased with it. Havent heard anything bad from it. I heard rustys is also good but i think RE is better.
If you get the 3.5 you wont really need a sye, its not really recommened till 4.5. But every jeep is different. Theres guys here that run 6.5" and have no vibes while some only get 2" and get vibes like theres no tomorrow. Hope this helps

 

Thanks to both of you for your input, I appreciate your time. I ordered the Super Flex kit, and look forward to testing it pretty thoroughly during the first week of November. Got a trip planned that should yield some very nice scenery, and some tough enough Arizona backcountry.
Geez it's great being retired.........................
but don't wish your life away!

 

That sounds cool post some pics when you get it all done. I forgot to add that you might consider buying an adj trac bar instead of redrilling the axle end mount i did that on mine it was like for about an hour it caused my severe death wobble first time on the highway so i bought an adj one.

 

I just installed the 3.5 super ride kit a couple weeks ago with RE Twintubes and while it is definately a firm ride, i don't find it overly stiff. The shocks and rear leafs that came off were completely shot, so I'm not really sure what a stock cherokee is supposed to ride like for comparison. Oh and I'm also sitting in the 4.25 to 4.5" range as well

I did notice that the RE spring was only a little bit longer than the stock one that came off. If Rustys has a much lower spring rate, my guess is they have a physically taller shock to give the same lift.

I had bad vibes with no SYE or Tcase drop, but a 1" Tcase drop seems to have done the trick for me. Everything I've seen says you can't really tell until you lift it and drive it how its going to respond, but the 97+ seem to be more susceptible to vibes. I'd like to do an SYE in the future though.

 

I have the 3.5" superflex kit. It has been on a year now and I still sit at 4.25".

Drove mine for a week before doing the hack 'n tap. It made a huge difference. Before, it vibrated aweful at low speed and I wrote it off to the mud tires. When I installed the hank 'n tap and driveshaft, all vibrations went away.

It was easy to install and I did it in the driveway under the Jeep. Highly recommended.

 

Thanks to everyone who replied. I took the advice offered, and also ordered the adjustable track bar. I looked at the SYE today, and priced it. Holy crap are they ever proud of that thing. Being retired, I suspect I'll wait until next month for that kind of outlay. It's not my DD anyway, so for the time being I'll just take it easy.
Like I said, retired, no hurry. Thanks guys. I miss the CJ already and it's only been gone one day. :>(
Bob