JKU Rubicon takeoff parts worth buying?

[TFin04]

I'm working on a mild JKU and see a lot of Rubicon takeoff parts that seem to be good prices (suspension components, tires/wheels, sliders). Are these OEM parts worth buying or can I do better for the same price? I don't know enough about the Rubicon versions to know how good the OEM stuff is.

Thanks!

 

[jadmt]

Suspension is basically the same as any other jk. Shocks are a slight improvement but unless you are getting them for free there are better shocks. Coils depending on equipment and control arms are the same. If you have worn out parts and you can get new takeoffs for a good price it is worth it but otherwise aftermarket

 

[nwoods]

I'm not an expert on this, but I think the axles are beefier, the front and rear differentials include (low pressure air?) lockers (and have lower gears), the transfer case is beefier (and has lower gears), there is a disconnect-able sway bar assembly up front, there is a switch panel on the interior with the locker activation switches. The drive shaft might have a longer yoke spline or universal joint over a non-Ruby (I'm not sure) to correct pinion angle when lifted. I think there are rock sliders and better skid plating also. The tires are available everywhere, as a lot of people upgrade in tire size and style, so they aren't really worth a whole lot. For example, I got brand new 32" take-offs from a Gladiator for $400 for 5.

 

[Superduty]

Axles are definitely better on the Rubicon, but you likely won't see too many Rubicon take off axles and if you do they sell for a premium.

 

[wandererr]

It's complicated - the suspension could be same as stock or better. You have to look at the tags on the springs to determine: the higher the number, the better (there is a chart floating out there someplace).

Axles are an upgrade, bumpers as well (depending on the version) but the price for either of these is so damn out there it's not worth it.

I ran the highest rated stock springs and shocks for couple years and they were improvement over stock and they suited my need. I picked the set for iirc $80 which was a good price.

 

[NatersXJ6]

I’ve been pretty happy with the factory sliders, even buying take-offs to modify, but I don’t actually slide on them much.

Factory skid plates are very serviceable for casual wheeling, certainly fine for an overland rig.

Factory wheels are becoming really cheap. I was only buying take off tires with wheels for a while and ended up with about 20
Wheels at one point. I ended up giving a bunch away just to get rid of them.

Beware that wheels/hubs/axles changed from JK to JL, some Craigslist sellers focus on Rubicon but not the model.

In general, IMHO, yes, take off parts can be good deals, especially for custom build starting points or collision repair.

 

[86scotty]

You can get Rubi springs and shocks for a steal since most people lift their Jeeps immediately. A friend of mine put a practically new JKU Rubicon suspension under his JL Sport for about $50 (plus a few hours labor) and has been very happy with the improvement and especially the value.

 

[Jeep or Tacoma]

THe rubicon take off parts are a substantial upgrade over the stock jk parts and on the jlur it is even more of an upgrade.

 

[shays4me]

I wouldn't personally do the work to install Rubicon coils when aftermarket are so cheap. I could see installing some Rubicon takeoff shocks if they were under $50, and the rock sliders look nice if the price is right. There's a reason they're everywhere!

 

[Jeep or Tacoma]

The reason is because a lot of people modify their Jeep. I did. So I have rubicon take offs from my jtr coils. Fox shocks. Control stem wheels. Etc but I put on 37s method wheels and a full metal cloak 3.0 game changer lift and new shocks

 

[Jeep or Tacoma]

So how many people responding to this post own Jeep or have owned Jeep rubicon’s?

 

[86scotty]

I have had severalm, most recently a 2016 Rubicon, so you've got one so far.

Why do you ask?

 

[jadmt]

So how many people responding to this post own Jeep or have owned Jeep rubicon’s?

me I have owned 4 jk/jku's including 3 rubicons the newest a 2018 recon edition. I have installed probably 20 lift kits.

 

[jadmt]

THe rubicon take off parts are a substantial upgrade over the stock jk parts and on the jlur it is even more of an upgrade.

other than the shocks the coils can be the same (recons and 10A are the exception on coils) the coils on a say 2014 rubicon 4 door with hard top and automatic will most likely have the same coils as a sport 4 door with hard top and automatic. Control arms, track bars etc are the same on all jk's. Dana 30 non rubicon and Dana 44 rubicon front axles share the same weak link and that is the axle tubes. The Recon editon did have slightly better front housing as it is the same as the J8 front axle housing.

if you're bored https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/figuring-out-the-spring-rate-code.119003/page-5#post-35028802

 

[offroadite]

other than the shocks the coils can be the same (recons and 10A are the exception on coils) the coils on a say 2014 rubicon 4 door with hard top and automatic will most likely have the same coils as a sport 4 door with hard top and automatic. Control arms, track bars etc are the same on all jk's. Dana 30 non rubicon and Dana 44 rubicon front axles share the same weak link and that is the axle tubes. The Recon editon did have slightly better front housing as it is the same as the J8 front axle housing.

if you're bored https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/figuring-out-the-spring-rate-code.119003/page-5#post-35028802

Thats about it. You can screw around with springs if you want but after that its sort of a struggle for useful functional upgrades. I