I want to hear feedback from only individuals running RC LA lifts pros/cons, ride characteristics, noises, rigidity, etc. Please let me know I have 1500 I can spend right now vs saving up 2500 for a clayton which I know is great

chase gentry

 

Here you go...

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/ro...rite-up-32265/

 

Thanks

chase gentry

 

Chase,

I have the 6.5" Kit and absolutely love it. Despite what many will say and what you will read online i love mine. From my research what i have gathered is when RC first hit the market their tolerances were not very good and they produced crapy parts. It has been a good 3 years since then and their tolerances have gotten a lot better. If you look for threads started since 2010 to 2011 and talk to people running their stuff since then, you will hear nothing but good things.

Its ON ROAD ride characteristics are very nice, spring rates are really great, and eliminates ALL death wobble, bump steer, etc. I can easily drive at 70 MPH on the freeway without drifting all over the road, could hit a pot hole and not jump over three lanes, and can make an evasive maneuver without losing it. IMO it feel as nice as stock even being 6.5" up in the air.

Its OFF ROAD characteristics are very nice for me. Now i am NOT a serious wheeler so i cant speak to its true abilities but i have done some mild flexing, rock crawling, frame twisting and it has all performed to my and above my standards/abilities. The truck stay very level when flexing, you get great travel, joints flex nicely, and nothing feels or looks like its about to break.

Its BUILD QUALITY looks very nice. Now im no expect on welds, or heims, or johnny joints but to me it all looks good and to my standards. Obviously in comparison to Clayton or Poly it wouldnt stand up but as you said you are going to be paying at least a grand more. The long arms are very sturdy and thick. The mounts are solid as well for being a bolt on kit. The joints are decent quality but i have seen Polys joints and they are AMAZING but again you are paying for it.

Its FITMENT is pretty darn good, i was expecting a lot worse. The Crossmember LA mounts have 6 holes on them. I expanded the holes slightly to help with fitment, they didnt line up perfectly to the stock holes and i wanted to make sure my bolts went in straight and not forced in crucked. The arms lined up perfectly.

As for the OTHER PARTS such as brake line extensions, leafs, shackles, etc. They all share the same and comparable build qualities. The rear leafs and shackles combo is awesome and i get great flex out of it. brake lines are awesome, they are actually a bit too long. I had to route the rear one upward so it didnt get caught on trail brush and what not. The Discos are fine but i found them to be a quite a bit less in quality then the rest of the kit. They are skinny, and the joints seem crapy. I am very disappointed with these and will be buying JKS and replacing my RC. i will say ive NEVER broken a pair or had any problems with them, i just feel like i might so im being proactive. This could be a completely pointless thing and i could be way off but i wanted to point it out.

There are SOME noises. My track bar clunks like CRAZY! I dont know if its just mine but its annoying. It also binds inside the bracket which i believe is the source of the clunk. Other then that i dont really have any noises, which is NICE!.

PROS - GREAT PRICE! great quality for the price. All inclusive, you get everything you need. Did i mention its great price? IMO you cant beat what you get for the price.

CONS - IMO chinsey and cheap sway bar disco. My sway bar binds and clunks, will be replacing it. Long brake lines, not necessarily a bad thing. Cross member holes didnt line up (this could be specific to mine).

Thats about it, let me know if you have any other questions.

Will

 

Awesome thanks for input

chase gentry

 

R u running a SYE

chase gentry

 

I bought and installed their 6.5 LA kit two weeks ago. With the kit I also purchased their SYE kit and driveshaft.
It took me two solid 12 hour days and a couple evenings . for the most part I'm satisfied with the kit.
There are a couple issues that came up one was because I went with over the knuckle steering . I can't get the track bar and drag link parallel ? I ended up going back to the stock pitman arm to get close. This isn't the kits fault just a heads up if you plan to go this way.
The two biggest issues is the track bar won't stay tight ? I'm going to try blue loc tight next. The other issue is the johnny joints or what ever there called. I have to keep tightening them. I broke the tips off the tool tightening them and they still rattle ? I went to a off road park this week end and the front feels like its going to fall off ?
I'm going to pull it apart again this week and try to tighten it again.
Other than those two issues I happy with the lift.

 

Yeah the flex joints in the control arms suck. I have like 1000 miles on my kit and the joints are shot, RC will send u new bushings for free. If you order currie joints ($40 each it will solve the problem) and I did tighten and greese them and they still clunk. Rides a little rough for my liking, only 4 leafs in the pack so its a bit bumpy. I had to put a washer between their pitman arm and nut because it was wobling on the splines (Its what they told me to do). and the 2.2 shocks are too short, atleast IMHO. I put the bilstein 5150s with 12" travel now the coils will unseat and flexes like a monster. My truck pulls to the left a bit IDK why maybe my measurements are off (checked a million times) and has all new TRE's and wheelbearings and what not
(check my pics and youll see the difference in the flex)

Over all for 1600 its not bad. I did have to drill out the cross member holes as well. I wish I saved for a Clayton or Rubicon Express but oh well.

Goodluck with your choice.

-Mike

 

running 6.5" LA kit with sye and tom woods rear, i love it, i have no complaints although im running the IRO trac bar for its about twice the size as RCs

 

Currently i am not running a driveshaft or a SYE. I have mild vibrations but i dont mind it. I do plan to get a Driveshaft from Adams Driveline and that should do the trick. unfortunately with the 242 you are limited to a hack and tap and im not okay with that.

 

I just have the LA upgrade. 1 wheeling trip and the joints are shot(hard wheeling 8 on the trail scale). granted they did ship me new ones in 2 days, but Its not worth doing 2-4 times a year lol. I will be buying the clayton joints soon just to eliminate the issue. it flexes and rides a lot better then my short RE arms...

 

Do you know what kind of Clayton joints will work with out lift?

 

i haven't istalled them but seen pics and were told these work...

 

Nice! Thanks. I have a rental property in San Luis Obispo so i was thinking about stopping by Poly Performance and seeing what they could whip me up. I know they make awesome joints.

 

Thanks for everyones input I bit the bullet and ordered the RC LA kit today be here mon. Ill put it in next wk end will see how it treats me

chase gentry