Rubicon Express Mono Tube Front Shock

What is the difference between a mono tube shock and a twin tube shock?  Let’s take a quick peek at the two.

Mono Tube

With a mono tube shock, the cylinder of the shock has been divided into a couple of sections.  This is a section for the gas chamber and one for the fluid.  The shaft and the piston move in the fluid section.  There is only one valve assembly in the piston.  The overall diameter of the single cylinder and the valve for the piston are larger than what you see in a twin tube design, even while the outer dimensions of the two types are typically the same.   With this type of design, there isn’t a need for gas or air in the area with the fluid so the valve is able to work more responsively while not experiencing any performance fade or aeration.  The gas chamber is high pressure and is kept separate from the area with the fluid by a seal and a floating piston.  This provides an area for expansion for the excess movement of the fluid during the compressions stroke.  For movement that is more aggressive, this floating piston gets pushed further into the chamber for the gas which works to increase the pressure of the gas rather quickly which then provides additional force for the damping.  A mono tube shock is designed to have performance capabilities that are higher when compared to a twin tube shock and as such, it is used as the original equipment on many rigs and the ones that do not have this type of shock installed by the factory can upgrade to it. 

Twin Tube

With this type of shock, the working cylinder is the place where the shaft and piston move.  The outer cylinder is a reservoir for hydraulic fluid.  Both the stationary base valve and the piston have fluid valves.  The base valve is what controls the flow of liquid between the cylinders while also providing damping force.  The valves that are in the piston are responsible for controlling the damping.  When you hear the term “gas shock”, it typically refers to a twin tube shock.

Rubicon Express Mono Tube

The mono tube shocks that are made by Rubicon Express have been developed and tuned specially for each intended application.  In this way, the control is maximized while the ride quality is not compromised and neither is the stability at high speeds or the comfort for longer trips over rough terrain.  These shocks will allow you to get the best from your suspension system.  They have been robotically welded for precision and then specifically calibrated and then tested to ensure that you get the best ride possible regardless of the terrain.  When you want shocks that deliver on performance, strength and consistency, this is what you are looking for.

Rubicon Express Reviews Leaf Spring

Ok, for those not in the know, a leaf spring is just a simple type of spring that is commonly found being used in suspension systems for wheeled vehicles.  Originally, this was called a carriage spring or laminated spring and even sometimes can still be referred to as a cart spring or semi – elliptical spring.  This is a very old type of spring that dates all the way back to medieval times.

Leaf springs take the shape of a slender arc made from spring steel.  The middle of this are will be the location for the axle while the tie holes at each and will be attached to the body of your rig.  For those rigs that are heavy, leaf springs can actually be made from a number of the “leaves” stacked one of top of the other to form many layers using leaves that are progressively shorter.  Leaf springs also have functions in locating and damping applications.  While the friction between the leaves causes the damping action, it isn’t very well controlled and can result in restriction in the suspension stem’s motion.  This is a big reason for manufacturers moving to only making these springs with a single leaf.

Leaf springs can be attached right to the frame of your Jeep at either end or it can be attached as a single end while the other end attached to a swinging arm – generally via a shackle.  These shackles make the springing action softer.  Some leaf springs have a concave end which is also called “spoon end”, although this is rare now, meant to carry a member that swivels.

Rubicon Express Leaf Springs

The leaf springs that are made by Rubicon Express have been engineered to meet and exceed the standards for quality that have been set forth by the factory.  They will not only improve your suspension system, they are a great tool for upgrading it.  These have been designed to be direct fit parts, which means that you get the ideal fit, form and function.  They do come to you complete with a warranty that is quite solid.

What makes these leaf springs that are made by Rubicon Express the best choice for your Jeep?  These leaf springs have been forged from steel that is of the highest grade that is available in the entire industry.  The clamps that are used to hold all of the packs together are bolt style  and this maximizes the flex you get when compared to the clamps that competitors use that are the fold over style – that style tends to bind.  Each one of the leaves has been diamond cut in order to reduce the amount of friction that occurs between them when they are stacked.

 

Rubicon Express Gen2 Sway Bar Disconnects

If you are a Jeeper who enjoys hitting the rails then the chances are good that before you do, you disconnect the sway bar in your Jeep.  By doing this, the front axle of your Jeep has more articulation.  Disconnecting a solid sway bar for the front axle is not really a difficult thing to do.  Just hold a wrench to the bolt and the socket in order to take the nut out.  However, you will still need to have the proper sized tools at hand to accomplish this.  Also, taking off the end links might be pretty easy, but when it comes to replacing them, that is a whole ‘nother ball game.  What better solution for this issue than a quick disconnect for the sway bar in the front of your Jeep?  With the Gen2 disconnects that are made by Rubicon Express, there is a lynch pin on each side that you will need to pull.  Do this and the sway bar will instantly be disconnected and your solid front axle will be free to really move.  Being able to flex more means that your off road stability and handling will be better.

Now, with the Gen2 disconnects, the easiest and quickest way to increase your wheel travel couldn’t be any easier!  Once you disconnect the sway bar, you no longer need to find a place to keep those ends links safe.  There is a retainer for the lynch pins that you can use to attach the end links to a location that is remote so that you will be able to achieve the maximum in terms of steering clearance.  This disconnect has rod ends that are spherical and proprietary bushings that are made from urethane and offer you a ride that is quiet.  All of the 6061 – T6 retainers have been crafted from aluminum while the links and the axle pins have been plated in nickel.  The pin connectors have been anodized and the entire kit has been given a clear anodized finish so that the parts look clean but they are also imbued with a resistance to corrosion.

This Gen2 disconnect kit has been designed to give you the quickest and easiest way to disconnect the sway bar.  Once the sway bar has been disconnected, the disconnects will swing out of your way and then it will lock into place in order to ensure that it doesn’t get in your suspension system’s way.

Features at a Glance

·         The Gen2 disconnects by Rubicon Express are made with pride right here in the USA

·         They come to you with a comprehensive warranty

·         Once the sway bar has been disconnected, the disconnects swing out of your way and then lock into place

·         The Gen2 disconnects have been given a clear, anodized finish which is resistant to corrosion

Rubicon Express Exhaust Spacer Kit

If you have given or are thinking about giving your Jeep a lift of more than 3 inches then you will need to also install a set of exhaust spacers.  This is for Jeeps with model years of 2012 and newer.  These spacers are to be installed right in between the passenger and drive head pipe flanges and the flanges that are on the exhaust cross pipe that moves this cross pipe to the rear.  This will prevent any contact with the front drive shaft and the cross pipe for the exhaust while the suspension is in downward travel.

Features at a Glance

·         Rubicon Express makes their exhaust spacer kit with pride right here in the USA

·         These exhaust spacers are for JK Wranglers models 2012 and newer that have been given a suspension lift of 3 inches or higher

·         The function of these spacers is to ensure that the exhaust cross pipe and the drive shaft never come into contact with each other

·         The spacers for both the passenger and the driver side are included

·         When you get this exhaust spacer kit you will get everything that you will need in order to safely and properly install these spacers

Extreme Duty Long Arm System

This was the very first of the radius long arm suspension kits that were available for the Wrangler JK.  It has been engineered in such a way that it works with the electronic stability controls in your Jeep as well as with the electronic sway bar that is made by Rubicon while not making any compromises on safety.  It features the world renowned radius ling arms that are made from chromoly and the geometry has been designed so that it keeps the drive shaft and the pinion angles in place while eliminating that unnecessary jacking or squat of the suspension.

The chromoly tubing that is used for the lower control arms is 2 inches x .250 wall and it can take serious off road abuse.  This long arm system when coupled with the Rubicon Express shocks that have been correctly valved will allow your JK to transmit the input from the throttle to the wheels over a variety of terrains, ensuring that you get traction that is sure footed as well as positive feedback from the suspension.  The end result is on road handling that is superior and an off road performance that is unrivaled.  All of this while also not needing to disable the safety features that were installed by the factory.  If you get this in the 3.5 inch lift version, you will be able to add tires up to 35 inches tall.  The 4.5 inch version will accommodate tires up to 37 inches tall.  Both version will require modifications to be made to your drive line as well as an alignment after installation.