RC 3.5" lift kit on 21 Rubicon

[BigAwesome]

Hi all,

I'm going to order the RC3.5" lift and move from 33" to 35" tires (same size rims). From what Im told the Rubicon has a 2" lift from factory. I'm new to lifting vehicles. Does this mean that my total height gain will only be roughly 2.5" of lift? (1" for tires roughly and 1.5" from difference of 2" to 3.5" lift kit?)

Thanks in advance!

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[dakota.morgan91]

Hi all,

I'm going to order the RC3.5" lift and move from 33" to 35" tires (same size rims). From what Im told the Rubicon has a 2" lift from factory. I'm new to lifting vehicles. Does this mean that my total height gain will only be roughly 2.5" of lift? (1" for tires roughly and 1.5" from difference of 2" to 3.5" lift kit?)

Thanks in advance!

Thats a good question.... what do they base the 3.5 inch lift off of? My sport suspension or rubicon/mojave levels? Will I see 3.5 inches on mine or 4 plus.

 

[Panthers65]

RC has a few different kits. The Rubicon has 2" lift springs.

If you use the RC 3.5" Spring Kit, you'll be replacing 2" springs with 3.5" springs, netting an inch and a half

If you use the RC 3.5" Spacer kit, you're adding a 3.5" spacer on top of your 2" Springs, netting a true 3.5" Gain over stock, and 5.5" taller than other non-rubicon stock Gladiators.

 

[dakota.morgan91]

RC has a few different kits. The Rubicon has 2" lift springs.

If you use the RC 3.5" Spring Kit, you'll be replacing 2" springs with 3.5" springs, netting an inch and a half

If you use the RC 3.5" Spacer kit, you're adding a 3.5" spacer on top of your 2" Springs, netting a true 3.5" Gain over stock, and 5.5" taller than other non-rubicon stock Gladiators.

That answers my question! Thanks man!

 

[BigAwesome]

RC has a few different kits. The Rubicon has 2" lift springs.

If you use the RC 3.5" Spring Kit, you'll be replacing 2" springs with 3.5" springs, netting an inch and a half

If you use the RC 3.5" Spacer kit, you're adding a 3.5" spacer on top of your 2" Springs, netting a true 3.5" Gain over stock, and 5.5" taller than other non-rubicon stock Gladiators.

RC has a few different kits. The Rubicon has 2" lift springs.

If you use the RC 3.5" Spring Kit, you'll be replacing 2" springs with 3.5" springs, netting an inch and a half

If you use the RC 3.5" Spacer kit, you're adding a 3.5" spacer on top of your 2" Springs, netting a true 3.5" Gain over stock, and 5.5" taller than other non-rubicon stock Gladiators.

Great response thanks. So are the rides equal? If I wanted height then I should pick the spacer kit and get higher? Why would you choose springs over spacers? I will be mostly daily driving with some mudding on weekends.

 

[dakota.morgan91]

Great response thanks. So are the rides equal? If I wanted height then I should pick the spacer kit and get higher? Why would you choose springs over spacers? I will be mostly daily driving with some mudding on weekends.

Springs are the "right" way to do it. With springs you get a spring rate that matches the increased travel, and you can get different degrees of firmness for the purpose you are designing your rig for. Spacers can sometimes decrease your suspension travel slightly (according to motortrend). If you dont need to change the spring rate, I wouldnt worry about it.... on a different note, spacers are so cheap you could rock that for a while, then later on do a full blown kit with shocks and the proper adjustable equipment etc.

 

[Panthers65]

Springs are the "right" way to do it. With springs you get a spring rate that matches the increased travel, and you can get different degrees of firmness for the purpose you are designing your rig for. Spacers can sometimes decrease your suspension travel slightly (according to motortrend). If you dont need to change the spring rate, I wouldnt worry about it.... on a different note, spacers are so cheap you could rock that for a while, then later on do a full blown kit with shocks and the proper adjustable equipment etc.

I would agree with most of that, just a different opinion though.

Spacers on Jeeps are different than spacers on IFS vehicles. When you have struts/control arms on a typical IFS vehicle, the spacer will actually "Preload" the spring which increases the spring rate (more coils/inch = stiffer spring). This is really why spring spacers get such a bad rap.

On Jeeps, spacers get a bad rap because your increasing the angle of the control arms which transfers more energy from the ground into the frame. However, a spacer kit with correct drop brackets will in theory change the "Ride" of the Jeep the least of all kits, especially if you use shock relocation brackets. Really the only change in ride would be the increase in the center of gravity (excluding whatever tires you put on). A spacer on a jeep effectively just lowers the upper mounting point, cheap lift, but very little change in quality.

The spacers, however, will add very little to the articulation of the suspension, but honestly most people that need performance articulation would understand the difference. This is their biggest flaw.

You are completely right on the ability to upgrade later. I'm starting out with a 3.5" spacer kit, and a set of adjustable control arms with rubber/poly bushing at either end. This will give me minimal articulation gains, but let me put a larger tire on now. In a few years, when the Jeep isn't brand new anymore, I can swap the spacers for springs and swap the threaded rubber/poly control arm ends for some threaded Johnny joints. Probably cost $600 for both those upgrades, but will provide a lot of the articulation I was missing in exchange for a little more of the ride quality.

 

[dakota.morgan91]

I would agree with most of that, just a different opinion though.

Spacers on Jeeps are different than spacers on IFS vehicles. When you have struts/control arms on a typical IFS vehicle, the spacer will actually "Preload" the spring which increases the spring rate (more coils/inch = stiffer spring). This is really why spring spacers get such a bad rap.

On Jeeps, spacers get a bad rap because your increasing the angle of the control arms which transfers more energy from the ground into the frame. However, a spacer kit with correct drop brackets will in theory change the "Ride" of the Jeep the least of all kits, especially if you use shock relocation brackets. Really the only change in ride would be the increase in the center of gravity (excluding whatever tires you put on). A spacer on a jeep effectively just lowers the upper mounting point, cheap lift, but very little change in quality.

The spacers, however, will add very little to the articulation of the suspension, but honestly most people that need performance articulation would understand the difference. This is their biggest flaw.

You are completely right on the ability to upgrade later. I'm starting out with a 3.5" spacer kit, and a set of adjustable control arms with rubber/poly bushing at either end. This will give me minimal articulation gains, but let me put a larger tire on now. In a few years, when the Jeep isn't brand new anymore, I can swap the spacers for springs and swap the threaded rubber/poly control arm ends for some threaded Johnny joints. Probably cost $600 for both those upgrades, but will provide a lot of the articulation I was missing in exchange for a little more of the ride quality.

Very well said!

 

[Panthers65]

Great response thanks. So are the rides equal? If I wanted height then I should pick the spacer kit and get higher? Why would you choose springs over spacers? I will be mostly daily driving with some mudding on weekends.

Why did I choose springs over spacers, mainly cost. I know what I'm going to be doing with this Jeep in the first few years, the days of rolling my buggy down the side of the mountain are over, I"m a family man now... I also wanted a kit that kept the stiffer springs in the rear of the Gladiator because I plan on using it like a truck. Taller springs with a high articulation rate tend to be softer.

Mudding doesn't require a lot of articulation, only height. Spacers would be fine. If you were more trail riding/crawling, articulation would be a benefit.

 

[BigAwesome]

Why did I choose springs over spacers, mainly cost. I know what I'm going to be doing with this Jeep in the first few years, the days of rolling my buggy down the side of the mountain are over, I"m a family man now... I also wanted a kit that kept the stiffer springs in the rear of the Gladiator because I plan on using it like a truck. Taller springs with a high articulation rate tend to be softer.

Mudding doesn't require a lot of articulation, only height. Spacers would be fine. If you were more trail riding/crawling, articulation would be a benefit.

well the two RC kits I see are priced the same except for the $150 for the N3 shocks. I will use mine for towing some also. Since the cost difference is minimal I’m guessing I should use the springs kit instead? I don’t see it being any cheaper (for the RC 3.5” kit anyways). I want it taller and keep the same (or better) ride quality. That’s the end goal. Mine will already accommodate 35” tires.

 

[Panthers65]

well the two RC kits I see are priced the same except for the $150 for the N3 shocks. I will use mine for towing some also. Since the cost difference is minimal I’m guessing I should use the springs kit instead? I don’t see it being any cheaper (for the RC 3.5” kit anyways). I want it taller and keep the same (or better) ride quality. That’s the end goal. Mine will already accommodate 35” tires.

Hate to say it but neither RC kit will keep the same ride quality, most kits won't. Neither kit comes with adjustable control arms or drop brackets, so the kits will decrease caster angle and result in wondering on the road, and will increase control arm angle.

If you are sensitive to the ride, these kits from RC aren't going to meet your needs...

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Springs are the "right" way to do it. With springs you get a spring rate that matches the increased travel, and you can get different degrees of firmness for the purpose you are designing your rig for. Spacers can sometimes decrease your suspension travel slightly (according to motortrend). If you dont need to change the spring rate, I wouldnt worry about it.... on a different note, spacers are so cheap you could rock that for a while, then later on do a full blown kit with shocks and the proper adjustable equipment etc.

Remember Nth Degree Suspensions? The suspension company started by a former Jeep employee. Here is MotorTrend talking about why they used coil spacers for their taller lift kit:

While using a coil spacer on top of a shorter coil spring may seem like a cheap move, it is actually more costly and there is a very important reason for doing it. Coil-spring design includes what's called a "slenderness ratio." This is the ratio of the spring's loaded height to its diameter. Make a spring with a ratio over 4:1 with a soft rate, and all it will want to do is buckle to the side when compressed. TJ springs are so small in diameter that a 4.5-inch-lift spring is at the 4:1 limit, so a 6-inch longer spring is out of the question unless you make the spring rate stiffer. Since a key part of Nth's suspension performance is the frequency-based tuning of the springs, the spring rate wasn't "negotiable" to the company. So a spacer is the solution. Spacers may not look as cool as super-long coils, but this setup works.

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/129-0603-2005-jeep-rubicon-unlimited-suspension-install/

 

[foxman350]

Pretty sure the Rubicon only has about an inch in lift over other models and then has higher fender flares. Could be wrong though.

 

[Druidirvin]

Pretty sure the Rubicon only has about an inch in lift over other models and then has higher fender flares. Could be wrong though.

That’s what I thought as well. If you go with the 2 inch mopar Lindt the rubicon lifts about 3.5 inches in the front. And 2 inches in the back.

 

[Pushnf8]

I am planning on going with the 3.5" spacer, front lower adjustable control arms, and front adjustable track bar. This will get the jeep lifted and allow me to chose a set of springs that meet my needs later. I assume I will need extended brake lines for at least the front? Or just bracket to lower mounts?

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