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RE 3.5" Ride Quality
- Thread starter 97stomper
- Start date
advrider
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Cedar Hill, TX
When I first put my RE 3.5 w/leaf packs on it rode like a friggin' dumptruck! After a few hundred miles, it's softening a bit and is starting to feel normal again with everything breaking in nicely. One thing that I read on here help a LOT, and that is to make sure you can easily turn the spring shackle bolts by hand. I had mine tightened down way too much at first and nothing was moving back there.
I may go to LA's in the future, but am sinking $$ into multiple projects that must be done first.
I may go to LA's in the future, but am sinking $$ into multiple projects that must be done first.
Veeb0rg
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Glen Burnie, MD
It also helps to put a couple hundred pounds of weight in the back, *i used playsand* It helps break the leafs in.
I have about 200 miles on mine:
It netted me 4" front and 5.5" rear and my factory suspension was right at factory specs, 17" front and 17.5" rear.
The rear looks alittle like a jack rabbit, I will add some weight to it and see if it settles abit.
It is noticably stiffer than Stock and rides noticable rougher, not bad but
I was hoping it would ride nicer. I am running Doetsch Baja Rider shocks.
It netted me 4" front and 5.5" rear and my factory suspension was right at factory specs, 17" front and 17.5" rear.
The rear looks alittle like a jack rabbit, I will add some weight to it and see if it settles abit.
It is noticably stiffer than Stock and rides noticable rougher, not bad but
I was hoping it would ride nicer. I am running Doetsch Baja Rider shocks.
Logans91XJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- everywhere
My RE lift is about 2 year old I am guessing and it ride pretty damn rough still! The Bilstein 5100's made a huge difference over the DT3000's that were blown!
- Location
- Southern Maryland
The RE3.5 springs are designed for a built-up XJ's weight and height so they are definitely stiffer than stock but they aren't going to be rock hard. Shocks are going to make the biggest difference on ride quality. I've got the JK Rubicon shocks with BPEs on mine and it's not harsh at all, in fact the front end is kind of bouncy
jeepster_259
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- West Palm Beach, FL
I ran the RE 3.5" on my 98 for awhile with Pro Comp shocks and the ride was great, better than stock. I thought it was an excellent kit.
I ran the 3.5" with aftermarket bumpers, tire carrier and winch and netted right at 3.5. Ride quality varied quite a bit with shock choice. The Pro-comp stuff sucked, Doetsch were better, by the time I went to Old Man Emu, I was on Long Arms. Spend the money on quality shocks like OME or Bilstein.
I agree that RE makes excellent kits as well but, by the time you are netting around 3.5 - 4.5 you are right at the Drop Brackets or Long Arms decision point. Your control arm angles and steering geometry are pushed to the limit. Short arms at that angle will be harsh.
I maintain more Jeeps at home than I can count. I've driven an XJ with a 3.5" lift on Pro-Comp shocks and a stock XJ on fresh Monroes in the same day routinely. While the kit does feel more stable than an XJ with a worn out suspension, it will not "ride better than stock."
Tolerance for ride quality varies a lot between people. While spring rate can't be discounted, I believe most people will agree that steep control arm angles and cheap shocks are the biggest issue for most rigs.
I agree that RE makes excellent kits as well but, by the time you are netting around 3.5 - 4.5 you are right at the Drop Brackets or Long Arms decision point. Your control arm angles and steering geometry are pushed to the limit. Short arms at that angle will be harsh.
I maintain more Jeeps at home than I can count. I've driven an XJ with a 3.5" lift on Pro-Comp shocks and a stock XJ on fresh Monroes in the same day routinely. While the kit does feel more stable than an XJ with a worn out suspension, it will not "ride better than stock."
Tolerance for ride quality varies a lot between people. While spring rate can't be discounted, I believe most people will agree that steep control arm angles and cheap shocks are the biggest issue for most rigs.
96 XJ Sport
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Bardstown, KY
^^^ Agree about the short arm angle. I'm at at least 4.5" (no heavy bumpers or anything yet) with OME shocks and the ride is pretty decent EXCEPT when I hit any kind of sharp bump like freeway expansion joints, potholes, etc...it tranmits very noticably through the unibody because of the LCA angle. Gotta get some drop brackets.
srmitchell
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Mckinleyville (Humboldt) CA
The RE 3.5 is awesome.
Get the Old man Emu's, and it will ride great.
Like others have said, for a srock rig with no bumpers, it rides pretty harshly.
Mine looked like this when it was new.
Looks pretty awesome, but was a little harsh. Now i have bumpers front and rear with a full size spare, and it's a whole lot smoother, and responsive. I added a comanche shackle out back to deal with the bumper, and for travel with lots of weight.
Get the Old man Emu's, and it will ride great.
Like others have said, for a srock rig with no bumpers, it rides pretty harshly.
Mine looked like this when it was new.
Looks pretty awesome, but was a little harsh. Now i have bumpers front and rear with a full size spare, and it's a whole lot smoother, and responsive. I added a comanche shackle out back to deal with the bumper, and for travel with lots of weight.
96 XJ Sport
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Bardstown, KY
How much does the commanche shackle lift with the jeep unloaded?
JAS
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Ann Arbor, MI
I have about 20,000 miles on a RE Super Flex..
While it is not stock.... It is really quite good. To and from the trails on the freeway is good. It does feel heavy on a good washboard type of road at speed.
After all it is a Jeep not a Cadillac so do not expect it to ride like one.
While it is not stock.... It is really quite good. To and from the trails on the freeway is good. It does feel heavy on a good washboard type of road at speed.
After all it is a Jeep not a Cadillac so do not expect it to ride like one.
I'd guess an inch since JKS says their shackle will give NO lift to an MJ and does 1" on an XJ.
Have you considered the OME kit? Everything I've read about the OME kit seems to suggest it rides like a caddy. DPG Offroad (
sponsor) sells it w/spacers, giving you 3". Maybe look into that for smoother ride... just a thought.http://www.dpgoff-road.com/site/OMEXJkits.htm
- Location
- San Diego
am i the only thinking thats way too loose?
96 XJ Sport
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Bardstown, KY
I know I tightened mine down like I thought I was supposed to, something over 100 ft/lbs. Loose sounds scary to me. And are we talking about the "shackle to body" bolt, the "shackle to spring" bolt, or both?
- Location
- Southern Maryland
Yeah they have to be cranked down to 100+ ft/lb. The bushings will be immobilized.
lazyxj
NAXJA Member #1310
- Location
- Los Angeles
I tried the RE 3.5" leaves and was not happy with how stiff the ride was. After a couple thousand miles, I removed the thick (5/16") main leaf and replaced it with a stock XJ main leaf (1/4").
I lost a 1/2" of lift but my back was much happier.
Adding another shorter leaf in the pack brought it back to the desired height without the harsh ride.
Eventually, I took the entire pack apart and lined the leaves with 2 1/2" wide full-length plastic liners from Eaton Spring for the smoothest ride possible.
I lost a 1/2" of lift but my back was much happier.
Adding another shorter leaf in the pack brought it back to the desired height without the harsh ride.
Eventually, I took the entire pack apart and lined the leaves with 2 1/2" wide full-length plastic liners from Eaton Spring for the smoothest ride possible.
