The market is recently being flooded with Grand Cherokee suspension kits. Some of these kits just give you some extra height while others are designed for extreme performance. The Rubicon Express 4.5" suspension kit is one of those extreme performers, but at a cost. Not just a monetary cost, but also sacrificing some other aspects of the ZJ.

All of the control arms and the front track bar utilize a "heim"-like joint and allow for more mobility, hence the extreme performance. They are also chrome moly which makes for a very durable setup. When the package arrived from Rubicon Express, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the parts. The control arms and track bar are coated with an aircraft-quality nickel plating that provides an unmatched appearance.

There are a few differences in my setup from this one: I don't run a rear sway bar at all so the lengthened links were not used. Rubicon Express recommends leaving the rear sway bar in place, and installing their extended sway bar links. At the time the pictures were taken, I had not installed the stainless steel brake lines which are definately needed (you'll notice the tension in mine in the picture to the left). The extended brake lines supplied with the kit allow full articulation of the front axle with no tension. The front coils that I was sent did not provide the correct amount of lift so I had to use 1.25" spacers. I was told that many sets would be going out their door with spacers included. I found out later that all kits for the V-8 would require the spacers, whereas the six-cylinder kits would not. This is due to the differences in weight of the engines, which is approximately 200 pounds.

The instructions that came with the kit were fairly vague and often left us guessing. According to Rubicon Express, a revised set of instructions are in the works to make installation easier. One particular example was the control arms. The lowers are offset where they meet the frame but no instructions were offered as to which direction they faced. We guessed correctly that the fronts would be set to allow the most room for turning but the rears were a head-scratcher...as it turns out, it didn't matter. I would not recommend this lift be installed by one individual or even several average Joe's.

Although the kit offers extreme performance, I noticed a few problems during my first outing. The pins on the disconnects face front to back and are very long, causing them to hit the springs. This makes them difficult to remove and install. However, they must be installed in this manner to keep the pins from coming into contact with the sub-frame during articulation with the swaybar connected. By the first off-road experience with the new lift, I found out the rear track bar bracket causes the rear track bar bolt to stick out too far. Hence the modification in the gas tank skidplate (Picture to left). According to Rubicon Express, the axle can be relocated to clear the skid plate by adjusting the control arms.

The parts in this kit seem very well manufactured and strong, especially the control arms and track bar. Being nickel-plated, this lift would even double as a "show" truck lift. The springs are silver, as are most of the parts, whether chrome moly, painted, or nickel plated.

The Doestch Tech 3000 shocks are self adjusting meaning they flex easy in slow off-road situations but limit bounce in fast moving situations. I found them a tad on the stiff side but was told it is necessary because of how soft the springs are. This makes sense given the fact that there is not much body roll for a vehicle lifted this high.

This kit is complete and reasonably priced, especially considering the quality and quantity of parts. What you have to consider is the extra road noise from bumps and the difficulty in installation. I feel that this lift kit makes the Grand Cherokee an extreme performer on the trail, but at the expense of some of the excellant driving characteristics the ZJ is known for.