RE 6130 4.5" kit ... settling ???

[bchulett]

I just ordered a RE 4.5" w/full leaf pack to replace my Rancho system. I'm told the RE 4.5" raises the back the same as the front ... making the rear sit higher ??

After the suspension settles, will the RE system sit level ?

I want it to ultimately sit a little higher in the front ... not the rear.

Should I add a 3/4" spacer up front ?

Thanks for the help.

[RCP Phx]

Mine netted a little over 5" and never settled below that in the 2 years I had it on!

[robs]

My front was lower... but I've lost about 1-1/2" from my rear... even with bumpstop extensions... the front is higher now...

[bchulett]

Thanks guys.

Maybe I should just install the RE kit as is with new but stock OEM coil isolators ... then run it for awhile.

Robs:

Thanks for the link to your website ... very informative and well thought out. Your build objectives are essentially what I want to achieve with my XJ. I like what you've done!

Since I'm the original owner and my XJ is in near mint condition, I want to preserve most of the original Jeep appearance ... but also have some fun on the trails.

I ordered the kit with the following components... I'm open to objective advice:

RE 6130
4.5" Coils
OEM Isolator
3.5" Leaf Packs
1.25" Shackle
"Adjustable" LCA's -- Superflex
"Fixed" UCA's
HD Track Bar w/bracket

Anything I should consider or reconsider ... like using,

- "Super-ride" as opposed to "Superflex" arms
- "Fixed" LCA's
- "Adjustable" UCA's

Thanks

[Kejtar]

Make sure that you get ubolts for the springs if they don't come with them....

[Speed_racer]

Why not just order the RE 4.5" super flex kit?

[bchulett]

I did ... but RE recommended to upgrade to "adjustable" LCA's ... and the HD track bar w/bracket ... so I did.

I was wondering if it would be beneficial to also get adjustable UCA's ? .... and if there's a "big" difference between "super-ride" and "super-flex" arms ? ... other than more noise being transferred through the unibody.

They're probably kitting this thing as we speak ...

[Speed_racer]

Oh, in that case, Im not so sure...

I just ordered my lift thru re, they sent me everything EXCEPT ups lost one of the leaf packs

[bchulett]

Kejtar:

You're practically in my back yard ... I live in Whittier. The U-bolts are on the way too ... after 12 years I found out my XJ has a 8.25" Chrysler ... I thought the damn thing had a Dana 35 all these years. I never really looked at it until now----the FSM doesn't say anything about a 8.25" Chrysler.

Pleasent surprise.

[Kejtar]

Originally posted by Speed_racer
ups lost one of the leaf packs
That's one big thing to loose LOL Or maybe the driver needed to replace his :D

Kejtar

[Speed_racer]

Originally posted by Kejtar
That's one big thing to loose LOL Or maybe the driver needed to replace his :D

Kejtar

Yeah, thought that myself, last time they scanned it thru their lil ups computer was on the 19th in CALIFORNIA!! im in FL!!

[Kejtar]

lol.... welll about that time I received my set of 3.5" leafs (a pair) LOL and I am in CA :D

Kejtar

[Speed_racer]

Originally posted by Kejtar
lol.... welll about that time I received my set of 3.5" leafs (a pair) LOL and I am in CA :D

Kejtar

haha, so funny :D:D

Well, i got one of them!! youll still need to buy one more ;)

[Kejtar]

I got two :D

[azxjman]

I dont think its that they "lose" them I think they just are to lazy to pick up the heavy stuff.

[Yucca-Man]

That's the same mix of parts that I used to make my RE6130 - I'd leave them as you have it right now. The non-adj UCA is the same length as the stock one. Add 0.5" to the LCA measurement when installing the new ones.

Torque the trackbar mount when you install it, because it will be semi-inaccessible after the rest of the lift is in place.

I've already got 1000+ miles on mine and it's sitting level right now; 22" hub center-to-fender on the front and 21.5" in the rear. That's exactly 4.5" over the typical stock measurement.

http://www.yuccaman.com/jeep/45lift.html - I keep adding details as I think about it.

[Kejtar]

YuccaMan... can you measure for me the distance from the top of the plate that sits on teh springs (the hold down plate) to the frame where the bumpstop mounts??? I'm trying to decide how much height I got, and I got trimmed fenders and flares....

Thanks
Kejtar

[BillR]

That's an interesting list. I was told that it's better to use a fixed-length LCA, and an adjustable upper arm. It was something about the flexing would actually loosen the locking nut on the lower arm.
Maybe that recommendation was for a drop bracket set-up...:confused:

[TOZOVR]

Originally posted by bchulett
I did ... but RE recommended to upgrade to "adjustable" LCA's ... and the HD track bar w/bracket ... so I did.

I was wondering if it would be beneficial to also get adjustable UCA's ? .... and if there's a "big" difference between "super-ride" and "super-flex" arms ? ... other than more noise being transferred through the unibody.

They're probably kitting this thing as we speak ...

There is a big differance in the Super Ride arms and the Super flex arms. all the fixed SR arms do is give you .25" more length. The SF gives you a spherical balljoint at the axle end with much more flex.

[xj2k]

also, if not already done, get the slip yoke eliminator kit and cv rear shaft. I did the 4.5" RE lift, the hack & tap SYE kit, rear cv shaft and I have no wobble at all, the jeep is as smooth as it was stock. I never even put in the transfer case lowering kit because I had no vibes. It's definitely worth it!!

[bchulett]

Thanks ...

You guys have me thinking too much and I'm kinda struggling with my list and have things on hold right now. This WILL be the last suspension upgrade so I want to do it right the second time around.

I stopped by Currie this morning and was more impressed with their control arms for these reasons:

- The adjustment, threads and nut on Currie's are closer to the joint---one would think this is a stronger application. I've only seen pictures of RE adj LCA's and it appears the adjustment, threads and nut is in the middle of the arm ?? Please verify.

- Currie's are zinc plated as opposed to powder coated ... my Rancho arms are zinc plated and have no rust after 8 years---even where the tires rub the arms. I'm concerned about the RE's rusting where the shafts thread into each other. Is this a valid concern ??

- Currie arms are engineered with grease fittings for through-bolt lubrication---advantages ? disadvantages ?


FYI -- a SYE is a given and already accounted for in my build up plan.

[RCP Phx]

Go with the RE kit,tell them to keep their disco's and get the XD Duty trackbar.The Currie JJ's suck to grease/adjust/re-build!I do believe in the "fixed lower's/adjustable upper" thought.

[bchulett]

Jim,

"I've already got 1000+ miles on mine and it's sitting level right now; 22" hub center-to-fender on the front and 21.5" in the rear. That's exactly 4.5" over the typical stock measurement."

Thanks for the info ...

This really helps me establish a new baseline to work from. My current specs with my 8-year old Rancho system measures 20" hub center-to-fender on the front and 19" in the rear. I guess that means I'll go up an additional 2" and get an extra .5" in the rear---and maybe will eventually settle to the exact rake I have now.

My 8-year old 3" Rancho lift currently measures out at 2.75" up front and 1.5" in the rear if I use the "frame" measuring method described on one of these websites. What I found interesting is my Rancho advertised lift is 3" in front and 1.5" in rear---this was straight from their technical data info when I bought the system ... I also verified this with a tech engineer.

The Rancho kit was designed to make up for the higer rake in the rear when XJ's were new .... springs do settle over time ... so it's difficult to establish baselines from a vehicle that's got 100K plus miles on it.

So ... if the "frame" measuring method is accurate, I should be at 4.75" in the front and 4.0" in the rear after 1000 miles of settling ???

I don't want to complicate things more than they're now ... BUT ... what would happen if I used the RE 4.5" leaf as opposed to the RE 3.5" with the 1.25" extended shackle ??

[bchulett]

Robs,

"My front was lower... but I've lost about 1-1/2" from my rear... even with bumpstop extensions... the front is higher now...

Question:

Did you use RE's 3.5" leaf with 1.25" shackle or RE's 4.5" leaf ??


Thanks for the help ...

[Yucca-Man]

Kejtar - I just came back from getting that measurement. Because of differences in sprin pack thickness I measured from the top of the mounting plate to the frame, and got 10.75" Don't include the bumpstop, but measure to the frame itself.

Any suggestions on measuring the front?

Jim

[Kejtar]

Originally posted by Yucca-Man
Because of differences in sprin pack thickness I measured from the top of the mounting plate to the frame

Doh..... I should have thought of that LOL..... Anyways, front.... that's a tough one... look at this: http://www.mike-g.net/jeep/yinyang/techdex.html

:D

Kejtar

[Yucca-Man]

Nice. I'll take a look at that later and see if I can come up with a number. Note my measurement was from spring perch to frame, but Mike measured axletube-to-frame on that site. I suppose that eliminates any variables in the height of spring perches as well...

Jim