Rusty's 4.5" Advanced Kit (RK-405A-XJ) is a comprehensive short-arm kit with HD coils, full rear pack, and full bracketry including adjustable track bar.
Rusty's 4.5" Advanced Kit is one of the best-known XJ short-arm lifts at this height. The kit ships with Rusty's 4.5" front coils, a full rear leaf pack with overload, longer extended-travel shocks, adjustable front track bar, transfer case drop, brake line drops, sway bar disconnects (front), and steering stabilizer. Long swing shackles are optional.
Like all 4.5" short arm lifts, you absolutely need a slip yoke eliminator and CV rear driveshaft to manage the pinion angle. Caster will drop ~3 degrees from stock; offset ball joint sleeves or a cam-correction bolt is required for alignment. The Advanced kit does not include caster correction.
Ride is firmer than OME at this height but well-controlled with the included Rancho or upgraded Bilstein 5100 shocks. The included sway bar disconnects are a nice touch — many competing kits charge extra for these. Rusty's coils are known to settle ~1/2" within the first year; the rear leaf packs hold up well over time.
Total cost installed is around $1500-2000 with shock and SYE upgrades. NAXJA reviews are positive but consistently note the same caster correction gap.
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| Part | Vendor | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| Rusty's 4.5" Advanced Kit | Rusty's Off Road | ~$1450 |
| Slip yoke eliminator + CV shaft | JB Conversions / Tom Wood's | ~$550 |
| Offset ball joint sleeves (caster correction) | Rusty's / IRO | ~$80 |
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.