My dealings with Rusty's Offroad

[bluedragon436]

As I just recieved my XJ and don't have any Rusty's products, can't say for myself personally... but I did contact Rusty's on a few issues that a friend of mine had with his 6.5" lift from Rusty's that the previous own had installed... and with all the issues we were either given quite a bit of assistance in fixing the issue, or sent replacement parts no questions asked... I am considering the LA kit for my XJ, but will continue to research prior to making that large of a purchase!!

 

[a1racer]

wow old tread. but i have talked to him and his kids on several occasions. not all together on different days. but they all seem OK to me and i am using his upper and lower arms with the flex joint. they have worked good for the past year or more. i did break one of the grease nipples off. but they sent me extras when i called them. so i got no issues with them :cheers:

 

[Rob Mayercik]

I've only bought from Rusty's once, but I made out fine - the tow hook kit I got lasted through nine years of use, abuse, and b!tch-slapping before finally giving up the ghost in February when one of the mounts actually tore most of the way apart.

I'd say I got my money's worth out of them.

 

[FlexdXJ]

I've only bought from Rusty's once, but I made out fine - the tow hook kit I got lasted through nine years of use, abuse, and b!tch-slapping before finally giving up the ghost in February when one of the mounts actually tore most of the way apart.

I'd say I got my money's worth out of them.

LIke i sadi before its the Tie rod not everything they build. I am running one of their t-case skids. It saved my t-case last weekend! :cheers:

 

[Darky]

I've only bought from Rusty's once, but I made out fine - the tow hook kit I got lasted through nine years of use, abuse, and b!tch-slapping before finally giving up the ghost in February when one of the mounts actually tore most of the way apart.

I'd say I got my money's worth out of them.

I ran Rusty's tow hook brackets as well. Lasted me a good 4 yrs or so. They were slightly bent from being towed home (side roads and short distance) at the end of a strap when I hydrolocked my engine, but held together. I only took them off because I got a JCR front bumper. I have a front end skid as well but haven't installed it yet (over a year after getting it) because I have yet to finalize my steering alignment...

 

[Blaine B.]

Interesting. I have bought alot from Rusty's. Leafs, coils, add a leafs, 2 sets of shocks, control arms, tracbar, steering.

My biggest issue with them is this:

The tracbar they gave me is too long. Fully collapsed and I still can't get my axle centered properly. It is the tracbar with two bushings and the "HD" body side bracket.

The leaf bushings wore out in about a half year. Because I failed to call within the first year they would not warranty the bushings. Not that I would want to run their bushings again, but thats besides the point.

My control arm bushings seem fine so far, running the arms for nearly an entire year. Although the body side of my LCA bushings are tearing slightly...hopefully it doesn't progress.

The UCA body side bushing sleeves seem to be too large for the stock bolts and creates alot of slop.

From flexing, I snapped the cast pitman arm TRE on their steering clear in half. Except I was lucky though, I drove all of the way home and it snapped as I was manuvering in my garage....couldn't have been a better place to snap, but what if it snapped on the road? I bought all new Moog replacements for $230.00.....and I paid $260.00 for their steering......should have just done JCR 1 ton and saved a bunch of dough and ended up with something stronger! Oh well, lesson learned. They did replace the snapped tierod end but I will only be keeping it as a trail spare, no way would I not run the MOOG's for any reason.

I did buy some of his tow hooks and tow hook brackets which are now tearing. Although it is not his fault, at least I don't think so. A few too many rock ledges bending the hooks sideways and then a good yank to straighten them out.....I suppose any welds or metal would tear.

I also bought an Advance Adapters SYE and Tom Wood's driveshaft from them. The driveshaft isn't TOO SHORT but is NEARLY TOO SHORT....about fully extended at ride height.

I thought the tracbar's length and the drive shaft lengths would have been correct based on the amount of lift number I provided them with?

I am not really complaining to bash Rusty's but these are my experiences with them which should be known. It would be nice if Rusty's would be active on these forums, seeing as they are a contributor from seeing their ad banner at the top of the page every now and then.

I must say their house shocks as well as leaf packs and coil springs provide an outstanding ride.

Also I have noticed if you call in an order your shipping will be less than online. That is what they told me as well, on the phone. I always have problems with my credit card when ordering online anyway, the only way it seems it works properly is when you call in to Rusty's. Something with their website, don't have any problems with it at any other online store.

 

[FlexdXJ]

LIke i sadi before its the Tie rod not everything they build. I am running one of their t-case skids. It saved my t-case last weekend! :cheers:

Crap I totally meant track bar don't know what the hell was going on in my head earlier! :doh:

 

[a1racer]

Crap I totally meant track bar don't know what the hell was going on in my head earlier! :doh:

yeah i have herd of the track bar issues that is why i got an re unit. but that is the same complaint brought up over and over. and about the shipping i talked to his kid about that when ordering. and he was telling me that it ran a bit high on the shipping calculator. and after talking to him he lowered it like 25 bucks so no complaints here. :roll:

 

[Blaine B.]

What were the tracbar failures? I can see the tie rod end failing but what else?

Maybe they use cheap tie rods all around; for the steering and the non HD tracbar!

 

[a1racer]

yeah it was the tre. there are complaints all over about them

 

[Blaine B.]

Did it/do they commonly happen to fail like this? This was my tierod end on the pitman arm that came with the steering conversion.

 

[FlexdXJ]

Did it/do they commonly happen to fail like this? This was my tierod end on the pitman arm that came with the steering conversion.

YIKES! NO i think they normally shear off at the threads i thought.

 

[Ghost]

Did it/do they commonly happen to fail like this? This was my tierod end on the pitman arm that came with the steering conversion.

I've seen TRE's fail like that before. All different types and brands not just the ones from Rusty's.

 

[Blaine B.]

I believe the above is cast, no? I bought the Moog's...as far as I know they are forged (and they look to be forged too)

That is just from flexing. My stock steering has been flexed too where it was the limiting factor and never gave out. Heck when I put in my 3" coils I believe I even stood on the passenger side knuckle in order to get it to droop more. Never broke anything with the stock steering and its associated tierod ends.

I find it odd that an upgrade would be a bit weaker. Or at least contain weaker parts. The tubing is stronger but definitely not the TRE's it is shipped with. Not sure what brand they are either.

 

[edgreeson65]

I bought a 8" long arm lift and other stuff from Rusty's, best kit I've ever owned. Had some problems with shipping but Rusty fixed it right away when I called him. good company and good people.

 

[bluedragon436]

I know this is sort of bringing up an old thread... but I do have to say that although I do not personally own any Rusty's parts (yet anyways) I have been involved in a few installs of his lifts and other misc parts. I have also been involved in the inspection/replacement of any parts on a Rusty's 6" spring pack lifted XJ that was completely rolled and thrashed on, and only found that a few bushings needed to be replaced. And after I contacted Rusty's to inquire as to how much the new bushing would run me, I was told not to worry about it that they would be on their way... Wasn't the first owner of the lift, hell wasn't even the owner of the Jeep, was just inquiring as to part numbers and costs... and got the parts needed to get this beast back on the road... was prett surprised after the beating that the XJ took that it didn't have more broken parts, or even bent parts than just a few beat up bushings, and maybe like two snapped bolts.. I have been thinking of going with the 6" spring lift/wheel & tire combo setup, as this is all I really need... I would love to see Rusty's become a vendor on here, but I think too many people talk s**t and trash talk him & his products for him to want to become a vendor on here...

 

[FlexdXJ]

I know this is sort of bringing up an old thread... but I do have to say that although I do not personally own any Rusty's parts (yet anyways) I have been involved in a few installs of his lifts and other misc parts. I have also been involved in the inspection/replacement of any parts on a Rusty's 6" spring pack lifted XJ that was completely rolled and thrashed on, and only found that a few bushings needed to be replaced. And after I contacted Rusty's to inquire as to how much the new bushing would run me, I was told not to worry about it that they would be on their way... Wasn't the first owner of the lift, hell wasn't even the owner of the Jeep, was just inquiring as to part numbers and costs... and got the parts needed to get this beast back on the road... was prett surprised after the beating that the XJ took that it didn't have more broken parts, or even bent parts than just a few beat up bushings, and maybe like two snapped bolts.. I have been thinking of going with the 6" spring lift/wheel & tire combo setup, as this is all I really need... I would love to see Rusty's become a vendor on here, but I think too many people talk s**t and trash talk him & his products for him to want to become a vendor on here...

Oh god, someone brought this thread back up! :doh:

 

[scottmcneal]

Isn't he a Sponsor on here?

 

[WB9YZU]

LOL! Warning ** Zombie Thread Resurection **

I would love to see Rusty's become a vendor on here, but I think too many people talk s**t and trash talk him & his products for him to want to become a vendor on here...

Rusty's Off-Road is a GOLD sponsor and has been for some time. See rotating Sponsor banner on upper right corner? Each time you hit this site, you get a different sponsor shown.


Ron

 

[bluedragon436]

Yeah I figured that out... I know for a while he wasn't... Right after I hit send... I remembered that he was a vendor on here now...