Rubicon JK Install

Lifting the New jeep Wrangler JK to Fit 35 Inch Tires

The Kit Includes

• -New front coil springs
• -New rear coil springs
• -New front bump stop extensions
• -New rear bump stop extensions
• -New front upper and lower control arms
• -New rear upper and lower control arms
• -New front adjustable track bar
• -New rear track bar bracket
• -Relocating factory brake lines brackets

Since the new Jeep Wrangler JK has hit the market, a lot has been said about it. Some have talked about it being too wide since it’s five inches wider than the Jeep Wrangler TJ it replaces. This writer’s simple answer to that is; if the trail is that tight, you should be treading lightly and not be there in the first place! Another way to look at it is; five inches wider is only 2 1/2 inches per side, and those extra inches make the JK more stable in turns, equating to better street handling.

Others have talked about it having its gas tank mounted in the center, preventing a long arm lift kit installation. At the SEMA Show last year that was proven wrong by the aftermarket lift companies. With correct engineering work, it can be lifted with a long arm style kit and keep up with the rest of the trail Jeeps, if not pass them.

The lift we used for this article is one of the first out of the box engineered by Rubicon Express. It’s a short arm 3-inch lift that requires no cutting or welding for installation. Their design team created a kit that will allow the installation of up to 35 inch tires. It uses the original factory suspension mounting hard points and re-uses some of the original factory parts in different locations, to reduce the kit’s cost.

If you have all the right tools, you can install this kit in a weekend, but after installation you will still need to go to an alignment shop — as with any aftermarket lift. You will also need to get the speedometer re-calibrated for the computer control system. If after reading this article, you have any reservations about doing this on your own, then we would suggest you take your JK to your local 4 Wheel Parts store and have them install it. Not included are new shocks for the added travel. They will have to be bought separately. Rubicon Express has designed specific shocks already for both the 2-door JK and the 4-door JK.

In the past when you lifted a Jeep to fit 35-inch tires, you had to also change the gearing and have custom drivelines made, this was an added price that caught you by surprise. Not with this rig. Its factory gearing and drivelines can handle 33’ tires and three inches of lift for use as a daily driver. If you plan to hit the hard trails though, like Rubicon or Moab with 35 inch tires, I would look at lowering the axle gearing, and if you have the stock Dana-35 rear end, I would replace it with the Dana-44. For the average wheeler though to get the added lift, this kit is a great deal. It not only gives you the lifted look, but also makes the JK more trail worthy while remaining street friendly.

1.This Rubicon Express kit includes new springs and bump stop extenders. With larger tires, it makes for a great drive on and off the road — no bump steer or death wobbles.

2.The new short arm lift kit uses the factory hard frame mounting points. This makes the install easier with no cutting or welding to lift the rig for 35-inch tires.

3.With the new lift kit, the upper and lower control arms are still aligned like the factory arms. This allows you to lift your JK and still keep the factory- engineered angles for good driveability and safe handling.

4.One of the innovations of this kit is using factory parts in other locations. In this case you have a choice to either move the longer OE rear sway bar links to the front or upgrade them to the Rubicon Express quick disconnects.

5.For the rear track bar, this kit includes an extension for easy relocation. It also helps keep the rear track bar in the factory positition for road handling.

6.As you can see, the factory angles met with this kit, and it also uses the stock driveline.

7. In the rear it is the same. The kit uses the stock hard mounts from the factory.