bigbadxj

If you have every tried to get GOOD powder coating off you would know that Not only would their be reason too,but it takes a great deal and alot of tools most don't have to do it. Also I know the guy who I got them from and he was the first owner and he had them on for about a year.

badandy

I too have Rusty's Long Arm lift and crossmember. ...they suck!

Nothing they sell is powder coated. The T-case skid plate started to peel at the edges when I was installing it ...right out out of the box! The lower control arms are worn down to the metal from slight tire contact. I've only had the kit since August of '08 and have replaced the control arm bushings already.

bigbadxj

Yea and they are a ***** to get out too! Huh! I had to use the press and Heat them with a torch with a ridicules amount of pressure on them. What bushings did replace them with? Did the new ones come with the metal sleeves?

badandy

I replaced them w/ Daystar Poly bushings. They came w/ metal sleeves, but as I replaced them I realized I was missing the adjustment collar on the front of the lower eyes. I think it's refered to as a cam bolt? I'm not a mechanic, nor will I pretend to be. An un-named shop did the lift for me. The reason I'm mentioning the cam adjustment is I've noticed slop in the control arm already, two months after installing the poly bushings. Another Jeeper suggested I find replacement factory sleeves and cambolt or keep retightening the bushings every month. Anyone else have advise on this?

4.3L XJ

I'm a fan of factory bushings. I got mine from 4WD.

bigbadxj

A lot of people have said this, is it because of comfort? Or price? Why would you rather have rubber over the poly? Just wondering before I get them.

4.3L XJ

The front four link suspension on an XJ works well as long as there is some fudge factor in it. When it articulates, the geometry in it makes some of the links a little longer and some a little shorter. But it is not a perfect give and take. The large diameter rubber bushings provide the fudge factor. I can't remember if it was this forum or the other XJ forum, but there was some poly bushings that had egg shaped metal sleeves. This was caused by the tremendous forces generated by trying to compress poly when articulating. The rubber is designed to soak all that up and not complain. It will also soak up more noise. When I built my long arms, I put rubber at both ends.

broncofire75

Those look like theyve been beat on good bit. Dont blame Rustys for a little powedercoat chip when these have obviously been beat on and are a few years old...

bigbadxj

First off they (as stated) are only one year old and I don't care how much they had been beat on that is what they are made for. When you say you powder coat something then it should be powder coated. The guy I got them from said the "powder coating" came off around the bolt holes when he first put them on that is NOT powder coating. I sand blasted a section that looked like a section that looked new and it came off easier than appliance spray paint, powder coating will not come off from normal sandblasting or a touch or sanding or scratch from off-roading period. That is what I'm blaming Rusty's for LYING and if they lied about that what else are they lying about? So if you do buy a rusty's part as soon as you get expect to pay to snad blast it and re-powder coat it just so you can get what you wanted in the first place.

a1racer

dude they are not powder coated i have some of there stuff and the paint slash powder coat is cheap it just is my track bar that is real powder coat has no issues at all and has been on my jeep since the beginning and my arms that have only been on for 6 months have all kinds of wear and tear on them but maybe i am crazy right

broncofire75

Id understand if you bought them new but theres no telling the guy couldve sandblasted and repainted them...

I know Rustys powdercoat sucks Im just saying. Everyone jumps really quick to blame Rusty's on everything.

I know for a fact if you had bought them new and they chipped before you put them on they'd replace them...


I never said anyone was lying and all that. Theyre used...

Schmoozer

Why is Rusty's always in the line of fire? It seems to me if they never put out poor quality parts no one would jump to blame anything on them. I'm just saying this isn't the the first I've heard of Rusty's stuff not being high quality.

broncofire75

The things THEY make are top notch. The things they have made are not.

A lot of their stuff is made from the same place that makes RE and others.

I know they have some not so good products but these are used parts and prolly have changed hands a time or 2 since new..

OverlandZJ

Sounds as if you'v been around awhile and seen the Rusty's bashing..

Remember, Rusty's has his stuff fab'd and prepped offsite. He cant be everywhere to supervise practices.. such as powdercoating. I'd gladly trade a subpar finish for a solid product.. with emphasis on welding and material selection. Rusty has been making progress in his product line as of late that i have seen and read.

I have a few Rusty's parts. Steering box brace and transfer skid. The brace has some paint or powder flaking but the skid looks to be holding up well. My parts are approaching 10 years old i guess and run in winters with salted roads.

broncofire75

Yep Overland.

He does make some of his own stuff but like you I'd rather have a good quality product with chipping "powdercoat" than a pretty control arm made outta sheet metal and welded with a flux core turned all the way up....lol