Fizzlepop
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- John
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2018
- Threads
- 11
- Messages
- 132
- Reaction score
- 51
- Location
- Fort leavenworth
- Vehicle(s)
- 2018 JL Rubicon
- Thread starter
- #1
When I first bought my JL, not many lift options were available yet, and I opted for the RC 2.5 spacer lift. I quickly found out that it wasn't going to cut it for heavy off-road use, and luckily the RK 3.5 X-Factor had been released. I've always had RK products on my jeeps, so I jumped at the chance to lift the JL. Long story short, I was disappointed in what I got for what I paid. Don't need to go into that, theres already a thread on it. I spoke to the wife, and we agreed to give the MC route a chance. Best decision I've made since purchasing the JL.
I can tell you with absolute certainty that the MC articulates better, sits higher, and binds less. The RK is definitely thicker, but having put stock equipment through some pretty obnoxious situations, not once did the stock equipment fail from contact with foreign objects. Articulation and ground clearance in my opinion are the two largest factors when I'm wheeling. The MC kit has both of those exceedingly covered.
My height sits at right about 4 inches with no additional weight added on. The driveshaft does make contact at full droop, as to be expected. The drag link, although flexed, is not flexed to the point where breaking is of concern.
I have not tested the kit off pavement yet(that will be this saturday), but on a 30 degree ramp it past my RK kit by 6 inches(I did not have bumpstops on the RK kit at the time, but after installation of bumpstops that RK supplied me free of charge articulation was less). I'm sure some of you will immediately question such a difference, as I did. Verified by two shops, my RK installation was correct. If that ramp is any indication of offroad performance, I'm in for a fun ride.
On the road I felt like the RK kit did a good job of absorbing things such as potholes, cracks, etc. Offroad, it was too soft. I found myself constantly bouncing off the bumpstops in the rear. Weight such as bodies and equipment definitely had an impact on height as well, and often times I was scraping my skids on the same places I was scraping with my spacer lift. The kit did handle all abuse i threw at it but ground clearance and articulation were definitely lacking. I went on the same trails that I did with my RC spacers, and felt no difference in CoG off camber, so I cannot comment on their rear trackbar. Perhaps 25-30 degrees isnt enough to see the benefit.
The MC kit is much more firm. Bodies, equipment, it doesnt matter. The springs just don't move. I am fully confident that additional armor and mods will have little effect on the height of this kit. You do feel more of the pavement than the RK kit, but not so much that it's annoying or inconvenient. As stated earlier, the height is every bit of 4 inches. Given the fact that I have to half-hop into the Jeep, it's clear that ground clearance is better. When fully dropped, I can literally fit my 4 year old between the top of my tire and the bottom of the fender. That's with 2 inch bumpstops front and rear, which is currently the limiting factor. I can safely drop an inch and remove the lower portion of my fenders if I wanted more. The ONLY downside I can honestly claim out of this kit is that my 35s now look ridiculous.
Another benefit I feel is worth mentioning is price. At about $500 cheaper, you get a complete kit from MC. No need to spend a dime more(unless, of course, you dont install it yourself; then you'll pay labor). The RK X-Factor prices at just under $2,400 without shocks or bumpstops. After it's all said and done, with mid-point shocks, you can expect to spend upwards of $3,000 on their kit. The MC, on the other hand, is $2,300 with shocks and bumpstops, and that's it.
While not a major factor, RK kits also require maintenance. Following their recommended schedule, you can expect to service your kit every 4 or so months, and unless you have an elbow fitting on your grease gun, requires dropping the control arms or cutting a hole in your control arm bracket. While not such a big deal, some may be a bit apprehensive on taking a hole saw to their $50k vehicle. The instructions do not mention the angled fitting that I saw, only recommend the hole saw. Keep this in mind if you purchase the kit. MC requires little to no maintenance, no special tools(other than a pipe wrench sent from the gods for their jam nuts), and no modification.
Obviously everything I've stated is opinion, and should be treated as such.
I can tell you with absolute certainty that the MC articulates better, sits higher, and binds less. The RK is definitely thicker, but having put stock equipment through some pretty obnoxious situations, not once did the stock equipment fail from contact with foreign objects. Articulation and ground clearance in my opinion are the two largest factors when I'm wheeling. The MC kit has both of those exceedingly covered.
My height sits at right about 4 inches with no additional weight added on. The driveshaft does make contact at full droop, as to be expected. The drag link, although flexed, is not flexed to the point where breaking is of concern.
I have not tested the kit off pavement yet(that will be this saturday), but on a 30 degree ramp it past my RK kit by 6 inches(I did not have bumpstops on the RK kit at the time, but after installation of bumpstops that RK supplied me free of charge articulation was less). I'm sure some of you will immediately question such a difference, as I did. Verified by two shops, my RK installation was correct. If that ramp is any indication of offroad performance, I'm in for a fun ride.
On the road I felt like the RK kit did a good job of absorbing things such as potholes, cracks, etc. Offroad, it was too soft. I found myself constantly bouncing off the bumpstops in the rear. Weight such as bodies and equipment definitely had an impact on height as well, and often times I was scraping my skids on the same places I was scraping with my spacer lift. The kit did handle all abuse i threw at it but ground clearance and articulation were definitely lacking. I went on the same trails that I did with my RC spacers, and felt no difference in CoG off camber, so I cannot comment on their rear trackbar. Perhaps 25-30 degrees isnt enough to see the benefit.
The MC kit is much more firm. Bodies, equipment, it doesnt matter. The springs just don't move. I am fully confident that additional armor and mods will have little effect on the height of this kit. You do feel more of the pavement than the RK kit, but not so much that it's annoying or inconvenient. As stated earlier, the height is every bit of 4 inches. Given the fact that I have to half-hop into the Jeep, it's clear that ground clearance is better. When fully dropped, I can literally fit my 4 year old between the top of my tire and the bottom of the fender. That's with 2 inch bumpstops front and rear, which is currently the limiting factor. I can safely drop an inch and remove the lower portion of my fenders if I wanted more. The ONLY downside I can honestly claim out of this kit is that my 35s now look ridiculous.
Another benefit I feel is worth mentioning is price. At about $500 cheaper, you get a complete kit from MC. No need to spend a dime more(unless, of course, you dont install it yourself; then you'll pay labor). The RK X-Factor prices at just under $2,400 without shocks or bumpstops. After it's all said and done, with mid-point shocks, you can expect to spend upwards of $3,000 on their kit. The MC, on the other hand, is $2,300 with shocks and bumpstops, and that's it.
While not a major factor, RK kits also require maintenance. Following their recommended schedule, you can expect to service your kit every 4 or so months, and unless you have an elbow fitting on your grease gun, requires dropping the control arms or cutting a hole in your control arm bracket. While not such a big deal, some may be a bit apprehensive on taking a hole saw to their $50k vehicle. The instructions do not mention the angled fitting that I saw, only recommend the hole saw. Keep this in mind if you purchase the kit. MC requires little to no maintenance, no special tools(other than a pipe wrench sent from the gods for their jam nuts), and no modification.
Obviously everything I've stated is opinion, and should be treated as such.
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