Thoughts on Rubicon Express front track bar?

[JD Hamm]

I’m about to purchase a lift kit for my 97’ Sahara but I want to buy a new front track bar as well. I’m looking at the Rubicon Express adjustable front track bar and was wondering what anyone else thought about it and why it is cheaper than other front track bars. Thanks.

 

[Chris]

The joints on it aren’t as nice as some of the others (Currie for instance). Rubicon Express IMHO just builds average quality parts. For a track bar though, you should be fine.

Though I am not sure how much (if any) interference issues their track bar has compared to others.

 

[afitzray97]

Any adjustable bar is a big upgrade compared to stock when you add a lift to get the axle properly centered under the jeep. As mentioned, you can pay more to get better joints. I bought a currie adjustable front with my kit and it’s great but as I finished putting my 4” lift on I realized I also really wanted a rear adjustable to square up and center the axles properly because the rear relocation bracket with the stock rear bar didn’t really fix things as well as I’d hoped. It ended up being an added cost I didn’t initially plan on so I wish I had just bought a front and rear RE or similar. I ended up buying a JKS bar and bracket for the rear and I’m happy with it. So I guess it depends on if you’re doing a smaller lift of maybe 2.5, or a 4”+ lift that really works better with an adjustable bar(s) and then what budget you want to stay within. Just my thoughts.

 

[tworley]

Get a quality bar. Currie, JKS, or Metalcloak. Here is an RE bar from a few years ago

 

[ranger101]

I ran the same RE track bar @tworley posted. I had slop in the frame side joint and ended up replacing it with a JKS bar. I’d choose the JKS bar every time over the RE.

 

[jjvw]

I'm not a fan of a heim joint on the frame side mount.

 

[ranger101]

 

[Goatman]

I used the RE because I wanted to not drill out the frame side. It uses a "1 ton" tie rod joint at the frame side switch is an upgrade from stock. This makes adjusting the length a very easy job. You can do it with the tires on. And replacement parts are easy and cheap. It is a very heavy tube. I don't know how any other bar would be stronger that is adjustable. Obviously the broken one above was inferior so they may be making them better now. If you are drilling out the frame side mount you have a lot more options.

 

[ranger101]

I had to drill out the frame side mount for my RE bar. Made installing the JKS bar less time consuming. I didn’t have to drill the axle side mount with the RE, but I did for the JKS

 

[whitrzac]

You can use this joint on the end of the RE trackbar in place of the hiem joint
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C57VP0/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[tworley]

Still a hollow tube regardless of ends. Something solid sounds better for a piece that holds your entire front axle in place

 

[JD Hamm]

Thank you for the responses. For right now I might stick with the RE because as of right now I won’t be doing any crazy off-roading, I will upgrade to the JKS or Metalcloak next summer when I will be on the trails a lot more.

 

[Rescue6]

View attachment 129504

Wouldn’t that his require some kind of a drop bracket as apposed to the factory mount from the RE in the picture?

 

[jjvw]

Thank you for the responses. For right now I might stick with the RE because as of right now I won’t be doing any crazy off-roading, I will upgrade to the JKS or Metalcloak next summer when I will be on the trails a lot more.

Metalcloak has a heim joint on the frame side. And it's a cheap one.

 

[tworley]

Thank you for the responses. For right now I might stick with the RE because as of right now I won’t be doing any crazy off-roading, I will upgrade to the JKS or Metalcloak next summer when I will be on the trails a lot more.

The photo I posted happened on the hwy according to the owner of that jeep (IIRC this was on wrangler forum).

 

[ranger101]

Thank you for the responses. For right now I might stick with the RE because as of right now I won’t be doing any crazy off-roading, I will upgrade to the JKS or Metalcloak next summer when I will be on the trails a lot more.

How much are you finding the RE track bar for? Just curious.

Wouldn’t that his require some kind of a drop bracket as apposed to the factory mount from the RE in the picture?

Nope, mounts up in the factory locations. Just have to drill the frame side if not done already.

 

[LieutenantJohnson]

I never really had any issues with the RE track bar on 2 jeeps. I have since upgraded to a RS relocation track bar with EMF heims. The heim joint was the only shitty part on the RE. For our climate here, didn't last long. No issues with the "hollow" tube when wheeling hard in 8 years and 2 jeeps.

I do agree, there are better quality track bars out there, but there are also BMWs and Chevys out there too

 

[06TJ35's]

The Rubicon Express Trac bar For 4”-6” lift I had required a drop bracket. I had to drill two holes in the frame for the bracket and drill the trac bar mount. I had bump steer with the track bar. After I installed the currie it was a world of a difference.
I would not buy RE parts. Go with JKS or MC if you can’t buy Currie. You won’t regret it.
RE express is not “Extreme duty” . Just hollow tubing.

 

[PatMc]

The RE bar that came on my TJ was pretty flexy...I wouldn't recommend it. I went with the Currie bar that uses a rubber bushing on the axle side and a JJ on the frame side...much better.

 

[jjvw]

The photo I posted happened on the hwy according to the owner of that jeep (IIRC this was on wrangler forum).

That's my memory as well. All it does is reenforce my belief that a street Jeep should be built with the same considerations as an off-road Jeep.