Rusty's Upper Control Arms

SethX9 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 06, 2006 9:49 am

First: Bad-ass IFS action going on in those pics!!

Second: Will people please quit saying "You can't patent that". If you or someone you know has an idea for a product or a modification to an existing product or a way of doing something (workflow) then talk to a patent attorney. There is a patent (owned by Microsoft) for double-clicking your darn mouse!

TALK TO A PATENT ATTORNEY!

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:48 pm

Geeze guys I'm very disappointed this has become such an issue. I really like Al's products and would always recommend a tried and true product over a new untested one. If he wishes to seek a patent he can, that’s his right. I'm just really disappointed that some of you would want to discourage new product development by accusing someone of stealing an idea. That product development is something we have fought for.

Guys we all express our ideas on here, I didn't mean to offend anyone by expressing my opinion.

Wes

SethX9 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 06, 2006 6:54 pm

I didn't read anything on this thread that was offensive. I wasn't even offended by the people saying a patent couldn't be issued. I just thought it was negative and false. That said....

Product development on a larger scale is only going to happen if someone thinks they are going to make money. That's the reason for patents in the first place. Society at large benefits from people like Al and Rusty putting the fruits of their efforts into the public sphere. The patent is the incentive to the inventor to not keep his/her ideas to themselves. The nice thing is that both Rusty and Al could exist together in the marketplace with each of them owning patents on their own ideas. But if Al ( or Rusty or Suzy Effin' Jones) has a good idea for a product he could get worse advice than 'talk to a patent lawyer'.

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:47 am

fdezone wrote:

Did Al copy his Upper A-Arms from All-Pro? I don't think so. It's a basic concept. You can't patent that. There's no patent that I'm aware of for long arms or Y-Links. Everyone's making them. Listen, some folks will continue to buy Al's arms because he's a fellow KJ owner, he developed it first, he sought input from the community and made modifications accordingly. As far as I know, he has never had a single complaint. That said, others might opt to buy from Rusty's because they're a larger, more reputable company. It all comes down to the material, options and even customer service. This is all good for the consumer. More options, availability, lower prices, etc.

Larger does not mean better and as far as more reputable, well I don't know how long you have been on the board but do you remember all the problems with their shock hardware. And I also received a trans/engine skid for my Tj and it had mismatched hardware in it. Their lift is good for the price but after having it installed it starts to sag in the front. I am not bashing Rusty at all I just want it noted that these A-arms are going to have a rough time trying to live up to Als already tested arms.

chemguy · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:22 pm

WV,

LBJ stole that quote from Frank Sinatra.

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:44 pm

I am looking into getting that (pictured previously) joint put into my a-arms right now. I have asked for pricing on the joint and to machine the bung up. If I came up witha new lower arm that would elimintate the clevis and use a coil over would you be interested?

Coil overs...$400 to $800
Upper arms $400
Lower Arms $600
Steering ends $150

You could be talking close to $1800 without addressing the dif or shafts.

What 'er say?

Al

lilmatty · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:02 pm

Al: Only if it gets me a lift that I can stuff 33s under...

gone_jeepin · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:16 pm

33's and less problems then we already have with the current lifts!

lilmatty · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:23 pm

gone_jeepin wrote:

33's and less problems then we already have with the current lifts!

Problems with lifts? No probs with Frankenlift and Daystar before that.

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:25 pm

That you will need to wait for. I am working with both Jeff Daniels Jeep in Pa. and Rock Krawler. I am getting a bunch of left over parts from the 7-up kit, such as the rear truss and four link, springs for the rear and the those funky looking ball joints pictured previously.

I know I keep promising to take photos and write things up, but it is not done yet. I just got the Rock Krawler 3.5 lift front clevis, really nice piece, and the front Frankenlift with HD OME springs. Add those two together we will have around 6 inches of lift in the front. More than I had planned for but hey. If I use the 7-up rear springs as is (no cutting down), that will 7 inches in the rear. It is getting too high. I also picked up a rear sway bar from a Chevy Tahoe that looks like it work. I will need to weld the sway bar connections to the axel or truss.

Why a truss, well its a truss, keep from bending things, I ran trusses on all my old iron, but those things weighed in at over 6000lbs fully dressed out. And if you weld them to the tubes, or bolt them-than bolt it to OEM mounting point on the diff, you have one H E double toothpick of a strong 8.25 housing. Add Yukon axles and a detroit, now you are living large!

Front diff, once I get the lift completed, I will turn my attention to the front diff and the lower arms. I still have that Dana 44 and a full size Dana 30. I may take the Dana 30 and see if I can adapt the existing 30A parts to it such as the axle tube and D/S bearing support and swap everything over except for the pinion gear. :shock:

This is Jeepin Al...no life but a Jeeper's Life for me. And I wonder why I am tired and sore all the time...no its not from the ladies! :cry:

gone_jeepin · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:37 pm

sounds like u got it pretty much figured out! hopefully it turns out like ur expecting!

gone_jeepin · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:51 pm

so other than 6" of lift, which dont get me wrong is really nice, how will this be different then the frakenlift or daystar. sorry i'm kinda inexperienced in the whole suspension stuff

Jeepin Al · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 9:05 pm

Lift:

The way the lift works now, is that rear is insane with flex, I have 6 inch LJ springs in the back and I had to tie them down. The rear tire would flex to the point of the top of the tire would be even with my rock rail.

I kept loosing the springs. The front will only flex the length of the strut now. So the flex in the front is limited by the strut. The Frankenlift gives me more spring rate and the longer strut. So the total lift affords more tire and better ground clearence. If I get my act together and build a lower arm and coil over, it will flex better. It will be limited by the half shafts and somewhat the steering.

This is the reader's digest version.

Al

gone_jeepin · **Posted:** Thu Aug 10, 2006 9:10 pm

thats so awesome that u can flex like that, and thanks for the explanation.

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:38 am

I think a lift with a new coil over, upper and lower arms with reliable ball joints, with an extended CV shaft would be the way to go. I know tons of the Toyota guys that swear by that type of lift. The Liberty is not much different than a Toyota in the front end. My only concern is that we will start reaching the limits on the steering and we still need that steel differential replacement.

Wes

Rusty's Upper Control Arms

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