I'm new to posting on this forum. I have a 98 XJ with 4.5 inch lift. I have been running the 4.5 Rusty's leaf pack for 4 to 5 years now. It was pretty good with the correct rear height, but when adding a couple passengers, bike carrier, bikes and minimal gear the rear would sag some. I know these leaf packs were soft from the start, but they retained their height, drove well and good for off road.

Recently, I upgraded the front end with RE heavy duty track bar, RE coils, RE Track Bar with track bar brace to the frame. The front end stiffened up well but now my rear end is too soft. Once when running on the road at 45 mph, doing a quick swerve to avoid a car coming into my lane, when I straightened the front steering the rear end started swaying back and forth almost causing loss of control. This happened again in the mountains when I was traveling close to 50 mph had slight slip on ice and once the steering got straightened, the rear end did the swaying thing again.

Prior to this, last year I had the rear Ford 8.8 differential serviced and the limited slip rebuilt, so I know its not the rear diff. I recently replaced the rear shocks with new Bilsteins and checked tire pressure, but the rear is still not feeling right on the road. I still have my rear sway bar connected (it was never corrected for the lift). Most forums I have read say to ditch it if the leaf packs are in good order. My Jeep has the additional weight of front and rear steel bumpers, gas tank skid with rock sliders, I do not tow, but would want to carry a few passengers with additional couple hundred pounds for gear. Not planning on rock crawling but the trails do get rugged here in Colorado.

I believe I need a firmer leaf pack in my back. What would you guys recommend for the best 4.5 leaf pack? A leaf pack that will be firm but not overly harsh and that will allow me to carry some additional weight.

 

I cant help right this second, but I have new 4.5" RE packs that I am installing when I get the rest of the parts for my lift... And by the time that happens, you'll have probably fixed your issue, say a couple months from now.

When did this start happening? From the start, or within the last few months?

What about going cheaper than new packs and just getting a beefier rear sway bar?
Maybe the rear shocks need replaced?
Rear tires a little low on air?

 

I replaced the rear shocks recently Bilstein 5100's. I did find a shop here that said they could add a custom add a leaf which sounded interesting since I cant locate any add a leafs for a 4.5 leaf pack.

The swaying and really feeling soft in the rear started end of last year after I did all the work on the front end. Front end work included adding Teraflex ball joints, grand ZJ tie rod and steering linkages, RE heavy duty track bar with track bar brace to frame and RE coils. The front end firmed up nicely but now the rear suspension is not firm enough to match.

My main concern is safety and getting the rear end to track firmly on the road and to handle moderate load weight. Of course i would still love to retain some flex in the rear.

 

I replaced the rear shocks recently Bilstein 5100's. I did find a shop here that said they could add a custom add a leaf which sounded interesting since I cant locate any add a leafs for a 4.5 leaf pack.

The swaying and really feeling soft in the rear started end of last year after I did all the work on the front end. Front end work included adding Teraflex ball joints, grand ZJ tie rod and steering linkages, RE heavy duty track bar with track bar brace to frame and RE coils. The front end firmed up nicely but now the rear suspension is not firm enough to match.

My main concern is safety and getting the rear end to track firmly on the road and to handle moderate load weight. Of course i would still love to retain some flex in the rear.

 

RE packs all day. Love mine.

 

That's what I needed to hear. Was looking at RE's. Anyone else with good feedback on RE's?

 

I had RE 4.5" packs 10+ years ago. They were fantastic. They required quite a bit of load to come down to the advertised height. They also required load to flex similarly to the front. I had to do some leaf swap play to get them exactly where I wanted them to be, but they were a fantastic base.

I understand they are a different company nowadays, but I installed some RE 3.5" packs 6 months ago. They can still definitely handle extra load. I had to remove 2 leafs out of mine to get them down to ~2" of lift and ride similarly to the stock front springs. Still staying there half a year later.

There are likely better springs out there, but I doubt there is much better for the money. I paid $230 for the pair of 3.5" off amazon ($290 for the pair on amazon now).

 

Yeah, Clayton off road like $590. RE is sounding better. I heard the RE leaf packs may require the use of a different shackle ? Not sure what I have on there now, but they were like nice JKS with grease zerks on them. Would like to keep my shackles

 

I have the RE 4.5” leafs. Its a 3.5” leaf pack with a 1” shackle. They do have zerks. It looks like they use the same shackle with a 4.5” spring to achieve 5.5”.
RE 1463 3.5”
RE 1462 4.5”
RE 2700 shackle is used on both. These are listed as 5” shackles.
I really like this spring and shackle combo. I haven’t put as much weight on them as you’re describing but they do flex a lot. I run 5100’s also.
It did come in a little tall. Exactly how much over 4.5”, I couldn’t tell you.
Hope this helps

 

I'm running the 4.5's with the RE boomerang shackles for a total of 5.5 lift, fully greasable. Zero issues, handles well on and offroad, loaded or not. Excellent flex, durable, with the 5100's it's really a no brainer recommending them. Super happy, and FWIW, it's run a lot of the trails in Johnson Valley, where KOH is held every year

 

Received real good information here. I'm pretty much sold on Rubicon Express. Ill make sure to get the correct size leaf springs matched to shackles to get as close to possible 4.5" lift. Appreciate you all

 

I have a tired RE 4.5” leaf pack. Can I perk it up with a add a leaf?

 

Yeah but it'll sag again in a few years. Use a full leaf from an old leaf pack. There's all kinds of info on how to do that.