Rusty's spacer lift

Sport · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:52 pm

Does anyone have any experience with the spacer lift Rusty's offers? I read alot about the coil lift and from what I read they are good quality.

I know spacer lifts aren't the choice of lift for an off-road enthusiast, but I just want a nice ride and be able to fit 31's with no major issues. These tiny tires gotta go!

raceinfan · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:35 pm

if I recall 1 person had it around here & wished they had just gotten the full coil kit instead, if you just want a spacer kit look into Daystar,I my self would go full coil kit cause who knows you may just see a dirt trail & make a sharp turn into it

Sport · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:54 pm

I am sure spacers will get me into a dirt trail.

raceinfan · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:03 pm

well yes but from what I've read around here the coil kits are the way to go with minimul limitations compared to spacers,BUT I've been wrong before, all in preferance I guess

& the coil kits give a better street ride

Sport · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:20 pm

thanks for the comments guys, but I wasn't looking for a comparison to a full coil lift. All I want to know is if Rusty's "spacer" lift is a good reliable lift. Are there any known problems that have been reported when using it.

I know the coil lift is the way to go but I don't plan on driving over big rocks, I will leave that up to you guys. Maybe after it is payed for I will beat it to hell but for now some trail riding and a little mud is fine with me.

bighause · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:49 pm

Just do it right the first time and get a full coil kit. You will be glad you did when you don't have to upgrade a year or so down the road when your stock struts are shot.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:17 pm

Avoid it like the plague!... It is the same thing as the dreaded RRO OTT that's been renamed RRO Budget Lift that eats struts.
Two dependable spacer lifts are the Daystar and the RRO Combo, stay away from the rest, and that includes the clevis spacer lifts.

You've been warned!

Sport · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 9:14 pm

KJ04 wrote:

Avoid it like the plague!... It is the same thing as the dreaded RRO OTT that's been renamed RRO Budget Lift that eats struts.
Two dependable spacer lifts are the Daystar and the RRO Combo, stay away from the rest, and that includes the clevis spacer lifts.

You've been warned!

I don't see how the Rusty's spacer lift could ruin the stock struts. The spacer is a piece of steel that bolts on top of the assembly and that would to not compress the system at all. The assembly doesn't eve need to be broken down

From their website:
Rusty's strut spacers are precision laser cut of 3/16 steel and are black powder coated. The spacers bolt on to the top of the factory strut between the fender wheel and the strut

tarkus · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 10:45 pm

If you are not going to listen to peoples advice, why are you asking for it??

Do the research yourself. Read about the different lifts that are out there. There are hundred's of discussions about them. Do some digging on your own then make a decision.

I agree with what the others have said: get the coil lift and do it right the first time.

The Rust's spacer lift is a qualiy item and will give you the lift needed to fit 31's but a lot of people have had premature strut failure withh OTT style spacers.

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Sport wrote:

KJ04 wrote:

Avoid it like the plague!... It is the same thing as the dreaded RRO OTT that's been renamed RRO Budget Lift that eats struts.
Two dependable spacer lifts are the Daystar and the RRO Combo, stay away from the rest, and that includes the clevis spacer lifts.

You've been warned!

I don't see how the Rusty's spacer lift could ruin the stock struts. The spacer is a piece of steel that bolts on top of the assembly and that would to not compress the system at all. The assembly doesn't eve need to be broken down

From their website:
Rusty's strut spacers are precision laser cut of 3/16 steel and are black powder coated. The spacers bolt on to the top of the factory strut between the fender wheel and the strut

This is just like the Rocky Road OTT lift. Stay far, far away. It WILL kill your struts. If you insist on getting a spacer lift then go with the Daystar 2.5" or the Rocky Road Combo lift...I repeat DO NOT BUY THEIR OTT LIFT OR RUSTY'S SPACER LIFT. If you want to then good luck...

You're best bet is Rusty's spring lift or the Frankenlift for maximum offroad performance and fewest worries about rough ride, coil bind, and bad struts.

warblade666 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:34 am

I have had the Rustys spacer lift on our '04 for about 2 years without any problems. I have added the same type of "bumpstop" on the front struts that I see on most Frankenlift kits to save the upper balljoint boots.

It is still on the stock struts and springs with no damage. It is taken offroad at least a few times a month "but not as extream as some of the pics I see here" I wouldn't do hard core wheeling in a new Jeep that we still owe so much $ on. We have a '96 XJ for that.

As for the Rusty's spacer lift it's an ok kit that is cheap & can be intalled by almost anyone. It only lifts 2" not 2.5"-3.0" like some others, so balljoints & cv joints last longer too. I wouldn't recomend it for hard wheeling, but for mild to med offroading it is a good kit.

I have read that some poeple have had very bad luck with this type of lift, but I have had no problems at all.

Some day I will change to the Frankenlift (3.0"-3.5"lift), but not till they start making a better axle to replace the D30A and better cv shafts are easier to find. Even then I won't do hard wheeling with it, it cost to much $ to just trash it.

just my two cents.

Sport · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:04 am

This is just like the Rocky Road OTT lift. Stay far, far away. It WILL kill your struts. If you insist on getting a spacer lift then go with the Daystar 2.5" or the Rocky Road Combo lift...I repeat DO NOT BUY THEIR OTT LIFT OR RUSTY'S SPACER LIFT. If you want to then good luck...

You're best bet is Rusty's spring lift or the Frankenlift for maximum offroad performance and fewest worries about rough ride, coil bind, and bad struts.[/quote]

What if I just replaced the struts (after they went of course) with a set of decent aftermarket struts, would that solve the problem?

the1jferg · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:54 am

Sport,

I'm running the .75 in the front. It gives 1.5" of lift: http://rustysoffroad.com/Merchant2/merc ... sus_kj_par

I think anything over that and the plates would cause some problems.

This really is the way to go, For not much more money:

http://rustysoffroad.com/Merchant2/merc ... sus_kj_par

"fit 31's with no major issues" Better go with Franky lift.

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:32 pm

Sport wrote:

What if I just replaced the struts (after they went of course) with a set of decent aftermarket struts, would that solve the problem?

NOPE.

Sport · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:53 pm

Guyute1210 wrote:

Sport wrote:

What if I just replaced the struts (after they went of course) with a set of decent aftermarket struts, would that solve the problem?

NOPE.

Can you expain why, this seems real simple to me but obviously i am missing something.

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 4:37 pm

Sport wrote:

Guyute1210 wrote:

Sport wrote:

What if I just replaced the struts (after they went of course) with a set of decent aftermarket struts, would that solve the problem?

NOPE.

Can you expain why, this seems real simple to me but obviously i am missing something.

The problem with Over the Top type lifts is that it puts the strut at a different angle than they are designed to be in. It's like taking the strut opening it the whole way, and then pulling in on both ends so it bends a little, and then opening and closing the strut that way. That's what those spacers do to the strut and that wears out the seals on the inside, and then they blow. That's how it was explained to me.

warblade666 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:56 pm

I was told that because they relocate the strut downward insted of extending it that it makes the strut more likily to bottem out when you hit a hard bump, as the bumpstop won't even come close to hitting. This could cause damage to the strut.

But as I said, I have never had this problem with the Rustys top spacers in the 2 years it has been in.

Just depends on how hard you use it.?

KJRenny · **Joined:** Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:52 pm **Posts:** 72

I've had it for 6 months, no problems as of yet, the onyl thing i dont like is that i have stock rear shocks... limits flex, but I'm saving up to do a custom kit. but my point is it serves the purpose, looks taller and clears the tires I wanted and I have had no bad effects at all.

orm · **Posted:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:04 am

sport,

i have installed the Rusties lift over a year ago. the "precision" cut plates left little to be desired. at least one of the studs on each plate failed to lign up with the mounting holes in the fender well. a little bit of reaming with a drill solved this problem. as for the strut issue, i blew both of the OE struts with in a month, on rain-ruts, not rock crawling. I replaced them with Rancho's and haven't had a problem. It's definitly not the best lift, but for the price, it gets the job done. i would also recomend adding extended rear bump stops as the stock BS will gouge the poly spacers.

05kjrenny · **Posted:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 6:09 pm

sport,

im running the rustys lift and its 6 months old and know problems,
i think personally that it does fine for the mild beach runs we do. im not going to take something in the woods and scratch it all up just for bragging rights? it cost 26,000 dollars!! so for a little more height under the skids its not the bad, i dont see where the contact with the springs is any different than any other lift. just some of them come with a peice of poly strapped around the spring so you dont do anymore damage then needed!! so if you want a spacer than go get it, everybodies opinions should help you to choose whats right for you, but in the end its what you think is best for your jeep

Rusty's spacer lift

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