Rusty's vs Rock Hard - frame side rear control arm skids

[sass JT]

Oh and on the the Rusty’s rears. When I put mine on, I was on level ground and I only removed the front lower control arm bolt. I held up the arm via a pry bar, aligned the front bolt and rotated the bracket up from there. I was able to get a wrench in and get the nut/bolt snug before I took out the pry bar and fished up. I guess I was lucky.

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[Rusty PW]

Oh and on the the Rusty’s rears. When I put mine on, I was on level ground and I only removed the front lower control arm bolt. I held up the arm via a pry bar, aligned the front bolt and rotated the bracket up from there. I was able to get a wrench in and get the nut/bolt snug before I took out the pry bar and fished up. I guess I was lucky.

About the same as my install. Level ground. Pull the bolt out. I used a screwdriver to hold the front nut in place. A box end wrench wouldn't fit because of some part of the frame was in the way. Installed the front bolt. Swing the skid toward the rear. Install the control arm bolt. Then the rear upper bolt and nut.

I had issues with the RockHard rear lower control arm axle skid plates on both sides. My JTRD isn't lifted. So the angle of the control arm is almost flat. When I when to install them. Found out that the front of the skid was hitting the control arm. Couldn't line up the bolt holes to push the bolt through. I ended up cutting the tab in the rear of the skid off to give me the clearance I needed. Once I did that. They fit.

 

[Maccam26]

i have the rockhard ones on order... will post after install.

 

[sass JT]

i have the rockhard ones on order... will post after install.

Definitely. Love to see it.

 

[Rusty PW]

Today, I ordered the Rock Hard skid plates for the front lower control arms frame mount. Also ordered their FAD skid plate too.

 

[Divided_Wood]

For anyone reading this worrying about the fit of Rusty's skids, I installed mine today in about 15 minutes.

I actually reached out to them because with a "dry fit" I was 100% convinced they weren't going to fit. (Pic below... the control arm bolt is right under the big hole at center. Yes, I suck at using spray paint.) They replied back and said the holes are big to allow for variability between frames. I put them on this morning and sure enough, they went right on.

 

[ecidiego]

i have the rockhard ones on order... will post after install.

How did it go?

 

[Maccam26]

How did it go?

Never installed got injured lower back put all mechanical work I was going to do on hold

 

[ecidiego]

Is this the right RH frame side LCA part?

https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-80517.htm

Why is RH calling it Upper....

 

[Rusty PW]

Is this the right RH frame side LCA part?

https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-80517.htm

Why is RH calling it Upper....

It's the rear lower control arm, frame mount skid.

 

[ecidiego]

It's the rear lower control arm, frame mount skid.

Thanks. Not sure why their page calls it upper.

 

[ecidiego]

Oh...and typical...I'm ordering them because I banged the passenger up hard this past weekend.

 

[ecidiego]

My Rock Hard passenger side doesn't go on. Nice. Probably have to cut about 1cm off the of the skid.

 

[KQL]

My Rock Hard passenger side doesn't go on. Nice. Probably have to cut about 1cm off the of the skid.

Sorry to hear brother.

For others that chose Rusty’s, I was doing the install on my own and didn’t want to take any chances on the control arms shifting when I removed the bolt. I stopped by the local hardware store and picked up a generic 4 inch bolt the same diameter as the control arm bolt. After I removed the nut, I used my generic bolt to tap the control arm bolt out from the other side guaranteeing no shift in the arms. Passenger side bolt pushed out almost by hand. Drivers was a bit tight, so likely would have shifted if my stand-in bolt wasn’t there.

 

[Rusty PW]

My Rock Hard passenger side doesn't go on. Nice. Probably have to cut about 1cm off the of the skid.

Which piece?

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