Ali Mansour
Brand Manager, 4WD & Sport Utility
If you own a '97-'06 Jeep Wrangler TJ then you know that there's no shortage of suspension systems in the aftermarket. With long-arm upgrades, coilover conversions, and wheelbase stretch kits all the rage these days, it can be a little overwhelming for someone who isn't looking to go all-out but still wants a quality suspension lift.
Luckily, Rubicon Express has a 3.5-inch Super-Flex suspension system to increase your Jeep's trail performance at an affordable price. The Super-Flex system is an all bolt-on suspension that sits just a touch above the company's entry-level 3.5-inch kit. To fine-tune each suspension, Rubicon Express pulls from its years of real-world testing both on and off road to dial in the coils and shocks specifically for the '97-'06 Wrangler.
Since we were looking for some new legs for our '97 Wrangler, we headed down to Off Road Evolution in Fullerton, California, to strap on the 3.5-inch Super Flex Kit. While the Evo installation pros were able to knock the lift install out in a just few hours, we suggest setting aside a solid day if you're working out of the home garage.
'Con Ride What better way to test out our new Rubicon Express suspension system than on the Rubicon Trail? After a few days of on-road suspension testing we dropped the air pressure down to 10 psi, disconnected the sway bar, and headed out on the 'Con for a weekend wheeling trip. Though we scrapped and banged a few times along the trail, the overall ride and performance of the suspension was excellent. For a short-arm kit the travel was great and the Jeep consistently felt stable and in control.
The 3.5-inch Super-Flex Kit provides four fixed-length tubular control arms that bolt in place of the Jeep's factory lower control arms. Each new arm is fitted with a rebuildable flex joint at one end and a Super-Ride bushing at the other. The new joints help keep the ride smooth and reduce bind under articulation.
To get the Wrangler in the air, new 3.5-inch coils were installed at all four corners. For ride control and damping we teamed each coil with a Rubicon Express monotube shock.
Up front a set of sway bar disconnects are used to allow the suspension to travel freely and increase the articulation off road. The rear sway control is handled by a new set of longer sway bar links.
Although the 3.5-inch Super Flex Kit provided a 1-inch transfer case drop, our TJ was already equipped with a slip-yoke eliminator and a Tom Wood's rear driveshaft. We suggest upgrading to the slip-yoke eliminator and an aftermarket shaft if you experience any major driveline vibrations or plan on doing more extreme wheeling.
Brake lines are never something to skimp on. Rubicon Express takes care of the fluid feeders by way of braided stainless-steel flex lines that replace the factory rubber units.
Raising the Jeep 3.5 inches gave the Wrangler plenty of room for our 33x12.50 Pro Comp Xtreme Mud Terrains. With the tires mounted on our 15x8 wheels, the aggressive radial tread pattern provides excellent grip for both of on- and off-road driving.
