3" lift and 35's - works awesome!

Finally got a chance to test out the "low(er) COG" lift that I switched to after getting sick of my RE 4.5" setup. I'm now running Rokmen front lowers, JKS rear lowers, Currie rear uppers and the RE front uppers (I replaced them in phases). I switched to Nth 3" springs and all my jeepin buds said it wouldn't flex, wouldn't work well, etc.....but I wanted to give it a try, especially on wsm04rubi's recommendations.

I still have a few items to iron out, the front trackbar mount (RK frame bracket) slightly hits the front spring perch, and the rear axle hits the gas tank but I've got a Savvy tank to throw on that should get me the clearance I need.

SO here's the photos:

Nice flex & stuff...looking good

Looking good Chris!

nice, chris!
i've been wanting to switch out to the 3" nth progressives myself. how's the ride?

Love them - much better than the RE's. Still rides like a lifted jeep, but not as harsh.

that's good to hear...i definitely want to come down for the 4.5"ish set up i'm running now (BDS 3.5" springs/1"spacer) and as much dd time as the rubi sees, i think i would benefit from a progressive spring and less severe CA angles.

eventually i'd like outboard the rear shocks, maybe keep the coil springs in the back and go coilovers up front.

thanks for the report.

Just a quick update, after that run I installed a Savvy gas tank skid to give me a little more trackbar clearance, I have my rear axle moved back about 3/4" and the diff cover was hitting the Warn tank skid (which is no higher or further back than stock). The Savvy skid gave me a good 3/4" TB clearance so I should be good to go now, but haven't had it out and fully flexed yet.

The other issue I had was my RE trackbar bracket (on the axle) came up and hit the fuel supply line where the hard line on the frame connects to the flex line on the top of the tank. It barely interfered, and I bent the hard line out of the way slightly without any problem but I wanted to point that out as it could cause a problem out on the trail!

Good luck-
CR

I had the same problem with my Full Traction bracket, only I didn't catch it before it broke the plastic connector on the EVAP line and started throwing codes...

Did ya remove the bracket? I posted up on Nth's forum and asked if they thought I still needed it, Jim Frens advised that it provided a higher roll center and was a good idea to leave it but I think it's probably too tall and not that necessary.

I left it on and just bent the lines out of the way so it wouldn't happen again. That was about 2 years ago, and I've had no issues since...

Lookin' good and good to hear, I am looking to lose a couple inches on my TJ.

Hey all,
Just a quick update. The lift has been working fine, but I removed the RE track bar bracket on the axle as noted here and had some issues with the rear axle "steering" through turns, especially when taking hard rights. Did a little reading and determined that's the "roll center" a few people told me I wouldn't even notice. The heim lock nut on the RE trackbar also interfered with the stock mount on the axle, so I had to change things around a little.

I found OME's trackbar bracket is a little cleaner than the RE mount, it's rounded on the outside where the RE bracket hit the fuel line and it's 1/4" shorter overall. So I just threw it on and gave it a shot....here's what it looks like, about $20 on quadratec. I have to get it on an RTI ramp to see if it interferes, but since the RE just barely touched, I don't think it will. It handles better now.

Also stepped down to 33.5" x 10.5" KM2's....very happy with them and together with the Currie Anti-Rock the offroad performance is actually better than with the 35's....very happy with the setup overall. I re-worked the frame end of my front trackbar, basically raised it up a little with a modification of the Rock Krawler bracket I was already running, and shortened the front trackbar a little bit to make the angles all work. Anyway, all working good now.

Here's the OME bracket:

I need to pick up one of those and an adjustable rear track bar...

The RE rear trackbar is OK for the money, not much to it except a daystar bushing at the frame and a heim at the axle. I've had mine 5 years and the heim is still tight.

I'd like to do a weld-on trackbar mount on the axle, but on the other hand am still not certain I won't go long arm someday and don't want to put the effort into it right now. Time is tight with work and family!

In case I haven't posted this before, here's what I did to my RockKrawler front TB mount -- chopped the mount from the bottom of the bracket and slapped it on the side. Also had to shorten the trackbar about an inch and sleeve it for strength. Cut it in the middle (angle section) to shorten it in both height and length. Steering is exceptional now though, basically factory geometry or even a little better!

I would have liked to clearance the bottom of the mount to allow flipping the drivers side tie rod end but did not, may do it in the future as I now have a plasma version smoke wrench and chopping metal is MUCH easier than it was before

Here's how she sits now



for comparison this is the RK mount before, and it contacted the tie rod:

Check it out, RE TB on ROF for $60! http://www.rubiconownersforum.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=71994

Yeah, I saw that one on ROF. Good deal, but it needs new bushings, a job that I've always found to be a major pain-in-the-butt...

Bushings are super easy on the RE -- it uses a 2 piece poly bushing that just comes apart and falls out. And the other end is just a threaded heim you run in.

Ah, didn't know that. I've replaced bushings in a JKS trackbar, and it was a several hour long ordeal...

Gotcha...any with the OE style sleeve are a bitch, control arms or trackbars! You have to have exactly the right size sleeve for it.

Here's the RE one...$10 on their site or quadratec