Rough Country Lift

[JeepNWilly]

I know many give them a bad rap and also trash talk anyone who uses them. I have used Rough Country from the 2" budget boost, 4" short arm lift to my current 6" long arm lift and I have been very happy with its performance and will continue to use them.

I can't comment on the shocks because I have always used Rancho and now Bilsteins. The only issue I have seen is the same for any brand lift that uses polyurethane bushings instead of flex joints and rubber as they will go bad as soon as you flex the axles. They moved away from polyurethane and started using factory style rubber bushings which are a lot better. Their customer support is excellent in my opinion.

 

[Flib]

I can't comment on the shocks because I have always used Rancho and now Bilsteins. The only issue I have seen is the same for any brand lift that uses polyurethane bushings instead of flex joints and rubber as they will go bad as soon as you flex the axles. They moved away from polyurethane and started using factory style rubber bushings which are a lot better. Their customer support is excellent in my opinion.

so the bilsteins have flex joints?

 

[JeepNWilly]

Bilsteins are shock brand I prefer

There are also some Rancho brand that are very good. Other people here can say which model as I am not 100% sure of the actual model

 

[glwood]

so the bilsteins have flex joints?

Not sure, but I think he was referring to the RC control arms.

I have a set of RC front upper X-flex control arms that RC sent me upgraded flex ends for. I haven't used them, but if the need for adjustable front upper control arms presented itself, I'd give them a try.

 

[JeepNWilly]

The picture below I circled what the flex joint look like

 

[glwood]

The picture below I circled what the flex joint look like

View attachment 41079

Those are what I have. They used to use a threaded washer with a set screw to retain the bushing, but have since redesigned and gone to a snap ring in a groove. Much better for retaining the bushing.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

so the bilsteins have flex joints?

Bilsteins are shocks and just use bushings. It is better quality control arms that will have flex joints instead of simple bushings that don't flex well. Two flex joints on a shock are better than one flex joint plus a bushing.

 

[Chris]

The springs are fine, but the shocks are crap as are the bushings, which are typically poly or cheap rubber.

In many cases the control arms also aren’t adjustable either.

 

[JeepNWilly]

Those are what I have. They used to use a threaded washer with a set screw to retain the bushing, but have since redesigned and gone to a snap ring in a groove. Much better for retaining the bushing.

I think the flex joints on my long arms are the set screw type because I have had them since 2012 or 2013. They have been holding up good so far but I agree new snap ring is much better

 

[glwood]

Two flex joints on a shock are better than one flex joint plus a bushing.

??

 

[glwood]

I think the flex joints on my long arms are the set screw type because I have had them since 2012 or 2013. They have been holding up good so far but I agree new snap ring is much better

The new owner of the X these were on managed to have the threaded washer become unseated after a wheeling trip to Ouray, CO. He went back to OEM control arms, and gave them back to me. I contacted RC, and they sent new ends free of charge.

You might contact RC, they might do the same for your control arms.

 

[JeepNWilly]

The new owner of the X these were on managed to have the threaded washer become unseated after a wheeling trip to Ouray, CO. He went back to OEM control arms, and gave them back to me. I contacted RC, and they sent new ends free of charge.

Yea they are awesome with warranty replacements.

 

[glwood]

The springs are fine, but the shocks are crap as are the bushings, which are typically poly or cheap rubber.

In many cases the control arms also aren’t adjustable either.

What are the Currie bushings made of?

 

[JeepNWilly]

The only crap bushings that I know of are the poly ones. They don't last. These rubbers ones have been on my TJ since my long arm lift went on it back in 2012 or 2013. I have not had to do anything to my suspension since then. My TJ is my daily driver as well as my off-road vehicle. From mud in South Florida to rocks up in WindRock TN. It is also not a trailer queen either. All I have ever done to my suspension all this time is grease it.

 

[Chris]

What are the Currie bushings made of?

They use Johnny Joints on the Currie / Savvy stuff.

This is what a disassembled Johnny Joint looks like:

 

[glwood]

They use Johnny Joints on the Currie / Savvy stuff.

This is what a disassembled Johnny Joint looks like:

View attachment 41105

What material are the black pieces made from?

 

[Chris]

What material are the black pieces made from?

Urethane.

Which makes you wonder why they don't transmit any NVH like a typical polyurethane bushing would. But I can testify with both my old TJ (which had Currie control arms) and my new TJ (with Savvy control arms), that there is no NVH at all from the control arms. They ride smooth as can be on-road.

I'm no engineer though, so I'm not going to guess why that is.

 

[ac_]

The argument over whether springs affect ride quality is a divisive one. LOL! Some think higher spring rates make for a rougher ride. Others don't think they have an effect at all. The two main things that effect ride quality, IMHO, are tire pressure and shocks. Rancho 5000X is a good shock choice. They should improve your ride significantly. I wouldn't change anything else, yet.

Well I can attest to this. I just changed my rear springs that I have been driving around on for almost 6 months from OME lights to OME Heavies. I kept everything else the same. Same shocks same everything, and it rides noticeably stiffer. The lights gave it kind of a wishy washy cushy feel. It was a soft ride, but not in a bad way, more like a car would ride. Now with the heavies it is noticeably stiffer. Not horrible, but ride more like I would expect a mini truck to ride. It is not a crazy difference but you can definitely feel a difference. Personally i like it a little stiffer, but it does soften a little when loaded down. Not as much as the lights, but I do like the ride better now.

If I didn't go offroad and only used the Jeep as a mall crawler I might prefer the lights over the heavies. Also the heavies gave me quite a bit more height, so much so I leveled it up front with a 13/4" spacer.

so meI and my butt can attest to the spring rate makes a difference.

 

[Flib]

thanks for the info guys, a couple more weeks of healing and I think I'll be able to crawl around underneath and have a better look. I would definitely contact RC for the upgrade if they are bushings.

I watched the video RC has for installing the 4" lift and at the end it gives the measurement from the hub center to the fender flair as 23" which when I measured is exactly what I have so at least I know it is a 4 inch lift.

I have never done a lot of suspension work outside of replacing struts, leaf springs and shocks (all stock stuff too) so this will be a learning curve for me.

 

[sgtjdgelinas]

I've got a RC six inch lift and the shocks are probably the worst part, I'll change them eventually. I thought I had bad bushings but it turned out the control arm bolts were the problem, they must have been original. I replaced the axle side bolts and it made a world of difference. Still have to do the frame side LCA bolts and the uppers. I've got the adjustable x-flex joints.