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Jeep Wrangler TJ - Rebuilding a Rubicon Express SuperFlex Joint


By Christian Lee

Rubicon Express Super-Flex joints are standard equipment in Rubicon Express suspension systems. The greasable joints are easily rebuildable should one fail, ensuring a long life for the other suspension components.
Rubicon Express Super-Flex joints are standard equipment in Rubicon Express suspension systems. The greasable joints are easily rebuildable should one fail, ensuring a long life for the other suspension components.

No matter how stoutly you build your rig, you'll undoubtedly hear that crack, snap, pop, crunch, or smash that means it's time to get out the tools and get dirty. Such was the case with our seemingly indestructible Jeep TJ when we first detected that the vehicle lunged and settled whenever the transmission was engaged in Drive or Reverse. After poking around, we discovered a blown-out Super-Flex joint located in the rear upper control arm of our Rubicon Express 5.5-inch Extreme Duty suspension system.

Thankfully, Rubicon Express anticipates such occurrences and offers Super-Flex joint rebuild kits with the tools to complete the job. Tri-County Gear in Pomona, California, carried out the joint rebuild, and we were up and running in no time.


Once the rear upper control arm was removed from the vehicle, the Super-Flex Control Arm Tool was used to remove the Super-Flex joint. It was apparent that the joint's inners were damaged before disassembly, but we didn't know to what extent until we were able to remove the recirculating ball and races. The ball was chipped and galled where the bolt had snapped, and one of the races had split in half. Once again, proper lubrication could have prevented this damage.


In order to rebuild its Super-Flex joint, Rubicon Express offers its Super-Flex Joint Control Arm Tool. The tool fits on a 1/2-inch socket or driver and is available in two sizes to accommodate both large and small Super-Flex joints.
In order to rebuild its Super-Flex joint, Rubicon Express offers its Super-Flex Joint Control Arm Tool. The tool fits on a 1/2-inch socket or driver and is available in two sizes to accommodate both large and small Super-Flex joints.
Rubicon Express offers replacement balls and races for rebuilding its Super-Flex joint. The components are available for both small- and large-size joints.
Rubicon Express offers replacement balls and races for rebuilding its Super-Flex joint. The components are available for both small- and large-size joints.

The new ball and races were pressed into the rear upper control arm and the Super-Flex Control Arm Tool was used to secure them in place. The tool features prongs that match up to the holes in the threaded retainer ring, designed to secure the races and ball within the joint's cartridge. It's a real time saver when servicing Rubicon control-arm joints.
The new ball and races were pressed into the rear upper control arm and the Super-Flex Control Arm Tool was used to secure them in place. The tool features prongs that match up to the holes in the threaded retainer ring, designed to secure the races and ball within the joint's cartridge. It's a real time saver when servicing Rubicon control-arm joints.

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