Rusty's Shocks

Original Bigfoot · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 10:52 am

I saw the message about Rusty's shocks "xploding" on the old board, and coincidentally, after taking my Liberty in to the dealership with the "door rattle", their diagnosis is that it is the aftermarket shocks, which also happen to be Rusty's. They claim that when they took the shocks off, the rattle went away.

Anyone else experience this with Rusty's Shocks? They came with some washers, which I took to be spacers and installed on the top shock mount.

I was going to call Rusty's yesterday, but there was a fire down the road from me and it burned up the phone lines! The phones were out all over the neighborhood...

krazz1e · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:18 pm

I have what sounds like a rattle on mine too. It actually is way worse in the winter when it's cold. But it usually is only noticeable going over speed bumps. From what I have gathered it is normal, however this may not be what is going on with you and maybe you do need the washer installed.

dirtykj · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:58 pm

Tighten the rear shocks and you'll be fine.

Original Bigfoot · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:00 pm

The phones were back up this morning, so I called Rusty's. He said it sounded like the bushings were bad already. Don't know how in about 1000 miles with maybe 35 miles of dirt road. He is sending me a new hardware kit with new bushings and washers and sleeves and stuff. We shall see.

I did use the washers on the upper shock mount...maybe I just have to add more washers. I will have them when the new hardware kit arrives.

Spike6901 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:19 pm

Torque em down and they will stop rattling. I do it about every 3 months. I guss the bushing just keeps getting smaller

Talon 1 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 08, 2005 5:50 pm

Yup, what they said. I had the rattle at winter time and we then traveled up to Mich. Went to my gf`s uncles and tightened them and it hasn`t done it since. May want to check it every 3 months though as suggested above.

Mike

Original Bigfoot · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2005 9:32 am

Thanks folks, I will see about stuffing some more washers in there first so I don't deform the mount too much, just in case I ever go to another shock.

I tried to bring up the "more washers" and "tightening" issues on the phone with Rusty's, but the fellow insisted the only thing that would cause a rattle or clunking noise is bad bushings...at least I will have plenty of them.

Who makes Rusty's shocks, anyways? Anyone know? I have seen photographs of them with the Rusty's logo on them, but mine were just plain white, with no dust boots or anything.

RockinKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2005 2:33 pm

Who makes Rusty's shocks, anyways? ----

Tenneco, is at least on company that manufacturers for Rusty's, check out their webpage. (http://www.tenneco-automotive.com) They also manufacture for Monroe, Rancho, and several other brands. I'd guess each brand has the option of specifying things like valving, etc., and I always wondered why Rusty's didn't specify the right size mounts for the KJ, instead of messing around with washers, etc. Guess they must fit some higher volume application too.

skrracing · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2005 2:48 pm

Yea Rockin KJ is right...Not to take away from Rusty's kit but the upper shock mount is not the correct dia or width for the KJ. The reason that guys have to keep tighening down the uopper mount is becasue the dia is too large for the bolt and when torqued down enough it will not move for a while.

After a time the body fit moving around lets the upper shock mount move some move. At some point the upper mount will flatten out against the rubber bushing and then it will start eating that away.

The Rusty's kit is good but I wish they would have taken just a few more steps to get it right for the KJ guys. The rear shock they are using is just a shock that happen s to fit a lot of things but the upper mount is not the right one. Hope that helps. Later...Clint

GIJOE4LIFE · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2005 3:42 pm

so if they are not the right size is there a way to fix it so it will not damage anything or make noises. the rusty's kit is the one i wanted to get also

brian

skrracing · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2005 3:56 pm

I do not know of a fix but just be sure they are always tight. But JUST to be ...the Rusty's kit is still an outstanding kit. Later...Clint

PitViper · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2005 8:36 pm

I have a question about the mount and the bolt. I have never seen rusty's kit so this may seem stupid. You say that the bolt hole is to big for the bolt? Maybe you guys can talk somone into making sleaves/bushings that fits over the bolt where the mount makes contact. Or maybe drill out the shock bushing so you can use a bigger bolt? One more question, does anyone know if the rancho's would have the same problem. I think that they would but I could be wrong.

Original Bigfoot · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:15 am

Heeheehee...Rusty's Kit is outstanding except for the stuff that doesn't fit right? :lol:

It would seem that it would be pretty cheap to make a new bushing and sleeve and at least get that part right.

After installing a Rusty's "Budget Boost" and finding that several of the threaded bolts welded to the upper part of Rusty's spacer did not line up with the holes in my KJ's fender (which required a lot of "hammer work" to Rusty's strut spacer to make fit). And then this Rusty's shock thing..(the shocks don't fit quite right, use washers, etc). I believe I will stay away from Rusty's stuff next time, no offense intended. Just my personal opinion from my experience. I know a lot of folks have had good luck with Rusty's stuff.

RockinKJ · **Posted:** Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:12 am

Yea, Rusty's is still a good kit in my book

, at least the all-coil, (no experience with the spacers) but I wish I'd known to ask for different rear shocks when I ordered. Live and learn!! I understand from other posts that Rusty will suppy other brands of shocks with the kit, ( Bilstein, Rancho, ?) probably with an upgrade charge I suppose. Or else get the kit without the rear shocks and just order what you want. I haven't had a rattle problem yet, but I wish I'd orderd the kit with Ranchos. I've used them on other 4X4s and have always been happy with them.

Anyhow, my advice, if you get a rusty's all coil, get different rear shocks.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:32 am

I did not have any problems installing Rusty's but I am getting a little metallic *ting* noise which almost sounds like a loose muffler (which it is not after checking it and the muff's mounts). I guess I better check my shock's mounts.

EagleVT94 · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 9:52 pm **Posts:** 64

Is the Rancho RSX17004 designed for the KJ? Or does it potentially have the same problem?

Thanx!

KJ Willy · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:02 pm

With the rusty's kift wht would be the recommendd rear shocks to get with it??

Cards81fan · **Posted:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:11 pm

The only shocks I have seen which fit correctly are the Ranchos

BUT:

Any word on the OME?

krazz1e · **Posted:** Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:48 pm

Quote:

After a time the body fit moving around lets the upper shock mount move some move. At some point the upper mount will flatten out against the rubber bushing and then it will start eating that away

Hmm interesting to know and good info for future lift buyers.

I will have to tighten mine up and eventually look at replacements.

Rusty, Rusty, Rusty. Charge us an extra $50 and put full working shocks with the product. :roll:

LostRenegade · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2005 7:55 pm

I think I might have blown one of my Rusty shocks. One shock is clean except for rust spots and the other shock is all covered with grime and dirt. I have about 10K on my lift and installed it last December.

Rusty's Shocks

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