Rock Hard 4x4 - rusting skid bolts, very disappointed in customer service

[HereWeGo]

I bought over $5000 of Rock Hard bumpers, winch, and skids last year. Everything was top rate quality with one exception. The control arm skids come with longer bolts. After two months, I notice the bolts were severely rusted. I don't want to be in the middle of nowhere and have make an emergency repair that requires removing the nut from a rusted bolt. I honestly thought RH would be shocked at this and look at the quality of bolts they were distributing. No, the guy got defensive, saying it was just surface rust. Then he actually said this, "those bolts are close to the road, maybe you ran through something that splashed on the bolts to make them rust". I could not believe this guy was blowing smoke up my *ss like this!! I was trying to help them by pointing out an obvious quality control problem with their bolt supplier. He sent me new bolts (only sent two of the required four bolts). I would not install them until I put them to a test. I took both new bolts and a factory bolt and placed them outside for two months. Look at the result. The bolts they supply should not rust this easy!!

If you purchase these skids, do yourself a favor and also buy some quality bolts and toss the ones from RH in the garbage. If you buy the shock skids, longer bolts are not supplied by RH, you must buy longer bolts. You can see in the second picture that the stock bolt barely engages the nylon in the nut.

Sponsored

 

[CMac]

It’s how they’re finished: galvanized or anodized bolts wont corrode like an untreated bolt. In the vendor’s defense, he is right: it’s surface rust and isn’t hurting a thing.

I’d be more concerned about the BOLT GRADE or the HARDNESS of the bolt used in suspension components…NOT some surface rust.

 

[HereWeGo]

But why not use the correct grade AND one that doesn't rust? Everyone who looks at the skids mentions the rusted bolts. Not a good selling point for Rock Hard.

 

[fourfa]

+1 those bolts belong in the scrap metal bin. Fortunately this is easy to solve and not expensive. But wow what a penny pinching dick move from RH. Black oxide is ludicrous for anything used outside

 

[CMac]

But why not use the correct grade AND one that doesn't rust? Everyone who looks at the skids mentions the rusted bolts. Not a good selling point for Rock Hard.

I don’t disagree with you at all. I’m only trying to put your mind at ease. Those bolts aren’t going to fail due to rust.

 

[Dickster]

I just installed the sliders. I just painted everything, they are not the only ones doing it and its nothing new.... paint stuff hidden before install and after. 2 sec process.

 

[HereWeGo]

I don’t disagree with you at all. I’m only trying to put your mind at ease. Those bolts aren’t going to fail due to rust.

I appreciate the mind at ease thing. I'm not worried about them failing, it just looks horrible. The problem replacing them now is that I have to remove the ASFIR skid plates to get to the bolt head. Two steps forward, one backward.

 

[bd100]

If you remove those skids, paint the skids themselves before reinstall. The powder coat on mine started flaking off within a year.

 

[SoK66]

Back in 2015 I bought a JKUR cage from RH4X4. Am very disappointed in not only the quality of the product (sloppy welds, did not fit well, dash cross bar too short, warped the dash, etc.) but their response to my requests for help were downright insulting. I would never buy another of their products.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I appreciate the mind at ease thing. I'm not worried about them failing, it just looks horrible. The problem replacing them now is that I have to remove the ASFIR skid plates to get to the bolt head. Two steps forward, one backward.

From personal experience, lather those bolts’ shanks in antiseize. You do not want to deal with a bolt rusted to the LCA sleeve. It’s nasty.

 

[remlemasi]

I need to buy longer bolts for both the lower rear LCA skids and rear shock mount skids. Do you all know the lengths needed?

 

[Pliny]

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...k-with-rock-hard-lca-skids.83508/post-1367129

Don't know the length needed for the RH rear shock mount skids.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

OLD thread, i know, but having done tons of restoration for cars over the years, including REFINISHING bolts of all sorts and other parts and fasteners, that is not just "surface rust". It's going to be an issue some day - big issue. They likely source their bolts in bulk from export/import companies and the finish is very inferior.
That should not only not happen with a zinc bolt, but shouldn't happen with any other "quality finish" either.
How can anyone with a straight face look at the rusty as hell bolt and the unrusted nut and say "it's no problem, just surface rust".
Properly finished bolts should handle hundreds of hours of SALT SPRAY.
Me, I'd take those out fast and replace them with a bolt with a decent zinc plating (bolts are not galvanized like someone said - yes, you can buy those, but those are for general outdoor use, wind mill towers and such). Buy from a U.S. supplier who sells U.S. bolts.

Back in 2007, the bolts that held the leaf springs to the frame on my 11982 SX4 were like BRAND NEW.
There's no excuse for rust like that, period.
My bet is those are sourced BULK from an Asian market and supplied with the skids.

 

[remlemasi]

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...k-with-rock-hard-lca-skids.83508/post-1367129

Don't know the length needed for the RH rear shock mount skids.

Thanks. I ended up finding the specs in the RH4x4 install manual posted online. I guess they include a full hardware set for both shock and LCA skids now... but it looks like the quality (at least a couple years ago) is very suspect.

 

[WILDHOBO]

OLD thread, i know, but having done tons of restoration for cars over the years, including REFINISHING bolts of all sorts and other parts and fasteners, that is not just "surface rust". It's going to be an issue some day - big issue. They likely source their bolts in bulk from export/import companies and the finish is very inferior.
That should not only not happen with a zinc bolt, but shouldn't happen with any other "quality finish" either.
How can anyone with a straight face look at the rusty as hell bolt and the unrusted nut and say "it's no problem, just surface rust".
Properly finished bolts should handle hundreds of hours of SALT SPRAY.
Me, I'd take those out fast and replace them with a bolt with a decent zinc plating (bolts are not galvanized like someone said - yes, you can buy those, but those are for general outdoor use, wind mill towers and such). Buy from a U.S. supplier who sells U.S. bolts.

Back in 2007, the bolts that held the leaf springs to the frame on my 11982 SX4 were like BRAND NEW.
There's no excuse for rust like that, period.
My bet is those are sourced BULK from an Asian market and supplied with the skids.

I used to have those bolts in my skids. One control arm had its bushing sleeve seize to it. I was pretty unhappy. I’ve since replace all, or almost all of them with zinc flake bolts. If there are any remaining, they are bathed in Antiseize.

Sponsored