Rock Krawler 3" X Factor JT System

[Duke56]

Normally only the lawyers benefit from class action lawsuits
[/QUOTE

I wonder if the NHTSB would be interested in any of this.

Sponsored

 

[Duke56]

It would be awesome to have a bench like RK does to be able to do this premature joint rebuild .

 

[SCUBATIM81]

Well, I called Daystar and got the same slap in the face offer of $75 for compensation. What a f’n joke. Anyone want to start a class action???

Though I havent called myself, Ive heard the same thing...$75. My installer quoted me around $900 as an estimate. Quite the difference....

On that note, for those that have done this yourselves already....do you need a press? Or can the joints be reassembled with just hand tools?

 

[Duke56]

Though I havent called myself, Ive heard the same thing...$75. My installer quoted me around $900 as an estimate. Quite the difference....

On that note, for those that have done this yourselves already....do you need a press? Or can the joints be reassembled with just hand tools?

I own and used a small cheap H. Freight arbor press and it went smooth. I’ve seen on YouTube that the flex joints can be tapped out using a large socket on the rubber bushing only!
If I recall I did the same thing using a socket on the rubber bushing except I used the press instead of a hard rubber mallet.

I still can’t convince myself, no matter how many times I say............
”This is gonna be fun”
”This is gonna be fun”
”This is gonna be fun”

 

[CerOf]

Seems the solution is this:
-Email rockkrawlwr the exact length of your control arms, center to center.
- rockkrawlwer charges you a “core” deposit
- rockkrawlwr mails you new arms
- customer sends back the faulty arms
-rockkrawlwr reimburses the core charge upon receipt.

That seems the logical thing to do.

Pre-setting the arms isn’t necessary, but would be nice.

 

[Duke56]

Seems the solution is this:
-Email rockkrawlwr the exact length of your control arms, center to center.
- rockkrawlwer charges you a “core” deposit
- rockkrawlwr mails you new arms
- customer sends back the faulty arms
-rockkrawlwr reimburses the core charge upon receipt.

That seems the logical thing to do.

Pre-setting the arms isn’t necessary, but would be nice.

I’ve edited this post and added to it since 4/26/2021 :

I’m in favor of that idea by far and had suggested it but not the core deposit in a phone conversation to them earlier!!!
RK warranty for bushings is 1 year. Now extended to 2 years because Daystar screwed up.
I’m covered and getting new ones, no cost but I have to rebuild them? THAT’S a lot of labor expected of the consumer to bear for an error that’s not their fault.
The joint housings are covered for 10 years. I’m assuming they mean the bushed swivel ball end and the inner diameter of the flex joint on the arm?
RK warranty for Control Arms is covered under their “Abuse Proof” clause so yeah..... why not have an exchange program RK?
My arms haven’t been abused and are in awesome condition except for whatever has deteriorated inside them bushing wise.
I check the torques as part of a semi annual maintenance check and the only “Trail” they’ve been on is the gravel road going to my house, so far! Yeah, it’s been a Mall Krawler so far and has received lots of compliments on it’s looks from passers-by and other drivers in stopped traffic.
Trails are in our near future now that there is an end in sight for this covid crap!
Rock Krawler should be able to check the cores dimensionally by placing them on the jig they use to fabricate the arms with. If not, build a checking fixture if you don’t already have one for quality control.
Jeremy, I feel for ya man. It’s a bad spot to be in and I know you take a lot of pride in your product and why shouldn’t you? It is a superior product in my book but you’ve been dealt a raw deal by a supplier. I see it happen every so oftenwhere I come from at my job. I wouldn’t be so easy on the supplier in this case but I know also there’s also so much you can do without litigation and that supplier may not care if you take them to court or if drop them from your supplier list. Sad.

It would be SOOOOO much easier to set the arms to my existing tuned in set one by one and undo/redo 16 bolts rather than me having to do all that AND rebuild all 16 joints on top. UGH.

It doesn’t seem fair that the consumer has to bear the extra labor weight for Daystar’s screw up.
I work for an auto manufacturer and our company would make it good through a recall and send the bill to the supplier who in this case is Daystar because they slipped Rock Krawler an inferior material. The only thing I can think of is that maybe the material wasn’t specified in absolutely clear detail and that would let Daystar off the hook for any legal recourse If they met the spec’s given to them by Rock Krawler.
Again, not our fault.

I’m not sure how many kits have been sold but if you started with a manageable percentage of customers on a list and could manage the exchange without jamming up your normal schedule......

Well....hell. I’d drive to yall there in New York to personally return the cores and give you all a big hug and thank you.

That’s of course AFTER I’ve installed the replacement arms with the good stuff in ‘em.
Oh and don’t worry......... I been vaccinated.

 

[RH 67]

I have the new pieces to install i just cannot get motivated to start doing it. A lot of work that really should not be on our shoulders. A local shop quoted $1200 and all day to do the work. Thinking about replacing with MetalCloak arms.

 

[Duke56]

I have the new pieces to install i just cannot get motivated to start doing it. A lot of work that really should not be on our shoulders. A local shop quoted $1200 and all day to do the work. Thinking about replacing with MetalCloak arms.

I hear ya Dave. I’m in the exact same boat.
There was a mid production change in the RK bushings when I first ordered my kit and I happened to get some older stock from one of their retailers so while waiting for my entire kit to be shipped I rebuilt the arms with the newer bushings purposely so I wouldn’t have to rebuild them after installation. With this latest fiasco however, my best laid plans have gone to waste.
It’s not too hard but it is time consuming and an arbor press will be a big help on the flex joints.
8 joints to rebuild on the front. Probably a solid 8 hours just to remove and rebuild the fronts only.

However on the rear upper arms the MetalCloaks are not an option if you have the Pro-X kit that eliminates the rear track bar.
The rear lowers should be swappable But you’ll need to check the pinion angle is in spec after the swap.

The MetalCloak arms claim to be maintenance free as well. No grease fittings but still rebuildable which looks to be much easier than The RK design.

Rock Krawler Rebuild = Loosen 2 set screws, remove 2 threaded retainers, torque specs.
Rock Krawler Maintenance = Annual inspection and greasing of all joints. Warranty 1 year.

MetalCloak Rebuild, if needed = 2 Snap rings
MetalCloak Maintenance = None claimed

Did you get a price from MetalCloak for just the arms?

 

[Rock Krawler Suspension]

Daystar wanted the terms of the TSB the way that they are. If you want to know why their CEO, Ray Fundora, chose that path, ask him directly. (623) 215 - 0453


@Duke56 check out our Adventure Series arms, the joints use a similar snap ring to the MC arms and are a true maintenance free joint.

 

[Mjolnir]

Daystar wanted the terms of the TSB the way that they are. If you want to know why their CEO, Ray Fundora, chose that path, ask him directly. (623) 215 - 0453


@Duke56 check out our Adventure Series arms, the joints use a similar snap ring to the MC arms and are a true maintenance free joint.

If someone decided to go with the Adventure Series arms, what would that entail? Would they be able to send back the old arms with the shoddy joints and only have to pay the difference in the arms?

Or would they have to pay full price for the new arms, and have to keep the old ones to lay around their garage?

 

[Rock Krawler Suspension]

If someone decided to go with the Adventure Series arms, what would that entail? Would they be able to send back the old arms with the shoddy joints and only have to pay the difference in the arms?

Or would they have to pay full price for the new arms, and have to keep the old ones to lay around their garage?

I'm sure we could work something out. The old arms would still be yours though, to sell or keep. We don't sell used or rebuilt components so we would have no use for them. Give us a call.

The labor involved is highly exaggerated in this thread though. It takes about 10-15 minutes per joint and by the end you'll be knocking them out in 5. Honest to god rebuild time should be less than 4 hours including removal and install in the vehicle. If a shop is quoting you north of $400, you need to shop around. Of course Daystar needs to take care of this but we also have to be reasonable and rational in what the time or labor cost involved would be.

 

[RH 67]

I have the Pro X can the upper Adventure Series arms be bought by themself?

 

[Duke56]

I’d like to know what can be worked out for the Adventure Series arms as well.
Please PM me a price for the Rear Pro X set and the 3.0 Front set..

Edit: I checked out the RK Adventure Series on the RK Website and it looks as though there are grease fittings on the Pro X Rear Upper Arms. Is that true?

 

[Rock Krawler Suspension]

I have the Pro X can the upper Adventure Series arms be bought by themself?

Yes, absolutely, give us a shout in the office.

 

[Duke56]

I’d be curious as to how much “old stock” is out there with the shoddy Daystar bushings in them that unaware customers are going to buy and install in their Jeeps.
Has RK recalled them or do the unaware buyers get free bushings for rebuilding their arms after they install their kit too?

I just got off the phone with “Kelly” at Daystar and confirmed once again that if you installed the kit yourself you only get $75 for the inconvenience.
If you had a Rock Krawler authorized shop do the installation then they ”negotiate” with the shop at a higher price.
How is it they figure my labor is that cheap when shops charge about $100 per hour?

I was never aware that Rock Krawler even had any “Authorized” shops.

Sponsored