Replaced my broker Rusty's flare

[mizedog]

My broken flare finally broke off while on vacation. In case you're interested, here are some pics of the replacement. The new part is much lighter inside than the old one. Maybe just new vs old. Also, the new one came with black rivets. I really had to stretch the flare to get it on as the PO spread it out as much as possible to get good tire coverage. I'll probably paint the rivets of the other three soon.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/P1010026-2.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/P1010027-1.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/P1010028-1.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/P1010030.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/P1010031-1.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/P1010032.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/P1010033.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/P1010034-1.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/P1010036-3.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/P1010037.jpg
Let me know if I need to get rid of some of the pics

[Melissa]

Let me know if I need to get rid of some of the pics

No way!! You can never have to many pictures!!! :D

Looks good :)

[muddeprived]

Rusty's flares are probably the nicest thing he makes. They are better than the Bushies that crack and cheaper too. This is on my list of to-do's.

[mizedog]

Rusty's flares are probably the nicest thing he makes. They are better than the Bushies that crack and cheaper too. This is on my list of to-do's.

Interestingly enough, they are made by a company in Australia, not Rusty. Shouldn't be too surprising. What was surprising is that one part covers both the left and right side. I think it's funny how the Rusty's rep carefuly repeated "one RIGHT rear flare..." when it's a the same as the left.

[_StationWagon_]

My broken flare finally broke off while on vacation. In case you're interested, here are some pics of the replacement. The new part is much lighter inside than the old one. Maybe just new vs old. Also, the new one came with black rivets. I really had to stretch the flare to get it on as the PO spread it out as much as possible to get good tire coverage. I'll probably paint the rivets of the other three soon.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/Mizedog/P1010026-2.jpg


I guess it's not so "flexy" huh? Is that a gasket?

[muddeprived]

I guess it's not so "flexy" huh? Is that a gasket?

I don't think he has the flex flares. There are standard and flex. The flex ones are real flexy.

[muddeprived]

Interestingly enough, they are made by a company in Australia, not Rusty. Shouldn't be too surprising. What was surprising is that one part covers both the left and right side. I think it's funny how the Rusty's rep carefuly repeated "one RIGHT rear flare..." when it's a the same as the left.

Well thank god! :rotfl2: At least it wasn't from China like everything else. Australia makes good stuff. I thought the rears would be different cuz they are cut to outline the rear quarter covers?

edit: oh wait, i saw your pictures and they are both the same on both ends. Interesting..

[Mudderoy]

I don't think he has the flex flares. There are standard and flex. The flex ones are real flexy.

Yeah I was wondering about this too. When I was considering flares I looked at Rusty's. The picture had them all twisted. I was thinking that maybe they got stiff and brittle over time.

If I had a trail rig only it would either be no flares, or something very flexible.

[BlueXJ]

Well that looks good. There might just be something that "Rusty's" sells that I would put on my Jeep.

[kmanxj]

Rusty's all the way!!! and imagine that everybody is downing them!!!! how many of you have actually owned rusty's parts?

[muddeprived]

Rusty's all the way!!! and imagine that everybody is downing them!!!! how many of you have actually owned rusty's parts?

I have their 3" HD coils. :o

[Mudderoy]

Rusty's all the way!!! and imagine that everybody is downing them!!!! how many of you have actually owned rusty's parts?

You have a very good point. If you have used/use Rusty's and your happy that is great. I personally won't buy anything from them because of all the bad publicity. I don't think there is a conspiracy and people are lying about their Rusty's products. I mean the only reason a customer would embellish anything about a specific product would be the product itself, or the company that sold it pissed them off. Either way that's enough of a warning for me.

When I was buying my 4.56 gears I went to Rusty's first. Their gear and master rebuild kits were in line with others, but there shipping was outrageous! That alone is enough of a reason for me not to buy from Rusty's.

Read the reviews of "Rusty's" at http://www.jeepreviews.com/where-to-buy-jeep-accessories/79/rustys-offroad-reviews/ WOW!

For example:
I would rate my experience 0 stars if possible.
Date: Sep 20, 2007
Reviewer: A JeepReviews.com User from (USA)

I ordered many parts from Rustys Offroad for my project ZJ. I wish I would have done my research 1st! On the phone Rusty was really helpful & made some suggestions during my order. I purchased gears, lockers, the ZJ Long Arm Upgrade, Heavy Duty Adjustable Trac-Bar and Frame Mount and the Upgraded Steering Package with beefier tie rod ends.

The items arrived timely and well packaged. I decided to have the steering and lift kit professionally installed by a reputable and well known company who specializes in building custom chassis and suspensions in Phx, AZ. After the install was complete, the front drive shaft would not clear the new crossmember because the notch was off by about 4 or 5 inches! I called Rusty and he told me that was impossible. He basically called me a liar. So I had the owner of the shop (in this business all of his life) call him. Rusty told him that he wanted to take some measurements on his Grand Cherokee and then call him back. Of course, he never returned the call. I had many conversations with him about the design flaw and he refused to stand by the product. He offered to renotch it at no cost if I paid for the shipping both ways, not to mention the labor to remove and reinstall it! I spent well over $2000 on my order. The cost of labor for the install and the custom work to fix Rusty's kit, which was advertised as "bolt on", was nearly as expensive! Rusty is firm on his no refund policy, regardless of the situation.

The 2nd problem I had was with Rusty's steering upgrades. The new tierods are beefy, but the tierod ends are junk. They had to be replaced within the 1st 500 miles... not offroading miles either! I didn't have a front drive shaft, remember????

Horrible products, dishonest owner and terrible customer service. This project cost me more money than it was really worth in the long run. If your looking to save money, Rusty's is the wrong place! Good luck to you and happy wheeling!

[mizedog]

Their gear and master rebuild kits were in line with others, but there shipping was outrageous! That alone is enough of a reason for me not to buy from Rusty's.

This is a standard, paintable non-flexy flare. I would guess it weighs less than one pound and they still charged my $35 in shipping!! Unfortunately, I had to match the other three.

[Mudderoy]

This is a standard, paintable non-flexy flare. I would guess it weighs less than one pound and they still charged my $35 in shipping!! Unfortunately, I had to match the other three.

I understand shipping cost money, but frankly there has to be a good reason for me to ORDER something and WAIT for it to be delivered. Otherwise I'd just go locally and get it. Why would I want to pay more in shipping than the cost of my time and gas to go pick it up? Convenience? That's fine up to a point. See $35 seems outrageous to me. It might be interesting to find out how much you were charged for shipping and how much you were charged for handling.

Quadratec did this to me recently. I bought KC lights, covers and a jeep seat cover. $25 shipping. That's fine, until I found a place that sold the same stuff with free shipping. To Quadratec's credit, when I called them to complain they offered to refund my shipping. I pointed out that I couldn't get the seat cover from the other company but they refunded the entire shipping amount anyway. Furthermore they told me to call them at their 800 number for future orders and they'd match price and shipping costs of anyone else.

This was great, but the next set of KC lights I ordered I just got from the company that didn't charge shipping. No hassle of calling, waiting, and explaining the situation. Just order and wait, then install. Companies don't seem to consider this when they put polices in place. Of course I am sure they are also hoping that most people will just eat the additional cost, or shipping.

[muddeprived]

This is a standard, paintable non-flexy flare. I would guess it weighs less than one pound and they still charged my $35 in shipping!! Unfortunately, I had to match the other three.

that's weird. You paid $30 for one and when I set up to order four, it's $27.

$347 is the total for all four standard flares shipping.

[xjjeepthing]

I have Rustys steering box brace and Lower control arms. No issues. If i put flares back on it will be Rustys Flexy flares.

[muddeprived]

I have Rustys steering box brace and Lower control arms. No issues. If i put flares back on it will be Rustys Flexy flares.

Do you know if their flexy flares look identical to their standard flares?

[xjjeepthing]

Yep they look identical

[muddeprived]

Yep they look identical

Why would anyone not get the flex flares then?

[xjjeepthing]

These will show what the flexys look like.
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=974291
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=997100