ROCK HARD 4X4 Front Control arm skids.

[Chocolate Thunder]

At this point think I am going to wait to install them until I get my lift kit. Will then just do everything all at once.

However I will probably pick up a set of those pry-bars as those are way better then trying to use a long flat head screw driver. I thought about doing the ratcheting idea before, but my ratchet straps are pretty weak. I guess I will pick up a set of those as well.

Thanks for all the tips. Maybe if I get bored I will tackle this project before the lift kit.

Thanks,

Ken~

No, wait and do it with the lift kit. Don’t fight this thing only to have to turn around and fight it all over again. Trust me.

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[Yellow Cake Kid]

What is the purpose of the tabbed shim?

Are they intended to provide clearance for the shock mounts?

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

What is the purpose of the tabbed shim?

Are they intended to provide clearance for the shock mounts?

Yes. They’re a spacer between the wall of the skid and the shock mount. Here’s a photo of how they fit.

 

[Yellow Cake Kid]

Could the spacer be welded on the skid to simplify aligning all the pieces parts, or does the spacer(s) need to be loose so that you may clear the shock mounts when installing the skid plate?

It seems difficult to imagine why installing these plates would be any more complicated than installing the control arm, which seems to be affirmed by the Rocksport claim that they install in minutes.

Not trying to argue, just trying to learn more about these parts as they appear to be a useful addition to a Jeep.

Thank you!

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

I don’t see why you couldn’t tack the shim in place on the skid, but I don’t know why you’d want or need to. They’re not difficult to put into place at all. You’re holding it as you insert the bolt with the other hand, very easy to move it as needed to slip the bolt through.

 

[Windshieldfarmer]

So I did some more diagnostics this weekend and it turns out the culprit was not control arm bolts but my track bar. So ROCK HARD 4X4 was right. Edited my previous post so I don't confuse anybody and undermine a great product.
Still cant explain how over tightening control arm bolts helped with creaking for a short time, but I guess it was some weird coincidence.
Still it would be nice to know why ROCK HARD 4X4 recommends just 100f/lbs of torque instead of 190.

I have the same question...Rock Hard is a sponsor...I would appreciate a response.. I’m getting ready for an install of these skids and am surprised by the much reduced torque level...

 

[the.jl.adventure]

So I did some more diagnostics this weekend and it turns out the culprit was not control arm bolts but my track bar. So ROCK HARD 4X4 was right. Edited my previous post so I don't confuse anybody and undermine a great product.
Still cant explain how over tightening control arm bolts helped with creaking for a short time, but I guess it was some weird coincidence.
Still it would be nice to know why ROCK HARD 4X4 recommends just 100f/lbs of torque instead of 190.

Agreed, I'm in the same boat. Would love to know why 100 ft/lbs insted of 190. I definitely have creaking from the LCA now, a bit better once I thoghtened it up to 140 ft/lbs, but not all the way gone. I would love to go up to the full 190 ft/lbs but am nervous the bolts may snap.

Hoping we hear back from ROCK HARD 4X4 on this issue.

Will

 

[ROCK HARD 4X4]

Different bolt than OEM, so different torque spec.

 

[OBJLU]

Agreed, I'm in the same boat. Would love to know why 100 ft/lbs insted of 190. I definitely have creaking from the LCA now, a bit better once I thoghtened it up to 140 ft/lbs, but not all the way gone. I would love to go up to the full 190 ft/lbs but am nervous the bolts may snap.

Hoping we hear back from ROCK HARD 4X4 on this issue.

Will

Those are big bolts they won’t snap I went to 190 and haven’t had an issue

 

[Jeep&dogs]

I have torqued mine to 190 several times already also. Haven’t had any issues.

 

[the.jl.adventure]

Different bolt than OEM, so different torque spec.

Sounds like this is an issue many have had due to the LCA bolt not being tightened down enough. Seeing that the provided bolt with the kit is 10.9 and 16mm thick, wouldn't the max nm be 335 ( being about 245 ft/lbs max ) ?

Seems like this is a nessasary amount of torque to keep these control arm bushings from creaking and making noise.

 

[Buddy Lee]

I recently installed the Lower control arm skids. I was not comfortable torquing the front lower bolt to 100ftlbs when the stock ones are double that. I was concerned about it possibly causing a death wobble issue by not applying enough torque. I went ahead and torqued it to 190ftlbs. It did slightly bend the bracket ears as the provided spacers were not wide enough to prevent it from bending. I have not taken it off-road yet but, I am not confident in the bolts strength. I don't see why they don't include grade 8 hardware for the price point. It's both stronger and provides corrosion protection. I will be changing them out myself soon.

 

[the.jl.adventure]

UPDATE:

So I went in and worked on these bolt on LCA skids again today. There were at 100 ft/lbs as stated to due so in the instructions, but had a very clear creaking sound coming from them. (it definitely is not old bushings on the control arms, as they are fairly new control arms, only been on the Jeep for 5000 miles).

Went in and torqued the bolts down to 140 ft/lbs, took it for a test drive and this improved the noise greatly, but did not fully remove it, still sound but it took more LCA movement to make the noise happen.

(When torqueing down to 140 ft/lbs, i did notice that the @ROCK HARD 4X4 skid plate does squeeze together a bit and the large tabs on the skid where the bolt goes through does squeeze slightly inward. This right here shows that either the spacer tabs they provide are not quite thick enough, or the toque recommendation needs to be higher.)

Went back under the Jeep and tightened the bolts down to 175 ft/lbs. test drove it, and NO MORE CREAKING! very happy about getting that bothersome sound taken care of. I didn't feel the Need to go all the way to 190 ft/lbs as some others have stated they have done ( I just didn't want to over do it on those bolts) , but likely will go up that high if they creak any more later on.

I hope that @ROCK HARD 4X4 takes a look at this thread and makes some adjustments on their instructions for this product, 100 ft/lbs is just not enough for this bolt to squeeze everything together properly. I would recommend anything between 175 ft/lbs and 190 ft/lbs personally.

The feedback from @ROCK HARD 4X4 had felt kind of defensive on this thread so far, just kind of feels like that are pointing fingers at other things and not giving consideration that it very well could be a issue on their end. The response I got directly was that it is different hardware and that's why its only 100 ft/lbs (with no other info), and others have been told it must be their bushings or other suspension components. @ROCK HARD 4X4 should be listening to their customers when they are bring up an issue with the product and not trying to push off the blame.

That all being said, I love the product, it is a great bolt on skid that will definitely provide the protection needed. Install was easy as could be. It just needs a higher torque to hold it all together.

 

[jetfixer]

I bought the front control arm skids and tried to install them over the weekend. I do have the Mopar longer lower control arms and those were a breeze to put on, but when trying to get these skids on I just could not get the control arm bolt holes to line up. I pushed and pulled the Jeep many times, even tried to lift the front end some. I finally gave up and just put back on the Mopar arms.

I may try again this weekend, but really need some pointers on how to align the bolt holes better. I was able to get a long screw driver in the hole to twist it some to align, but of course when trying to push the bolt through nada

Maybe I need to set the e-brake and somehow lock the wheels so the Jeep can't move when undoing the front arms? I did do only 1 at a time. As I mentioned installing the longer Mopar arms were a breeze and took all of 15 minutes.

Ken~

I used a ratchet strap to help line it up.

 

[WAOLIFE]

So I did some more diagnostics this weekend and it turns out the culprit was not control arm bolts but my track bar. So ROCK HARD 4X4 was right. Edited my previous post so I don't confuse anybody and undermine a great product.
Still cant explain how over tightening control arm bolts helped with creaking for a short time, but I guess it was some weird coincidence.
Still it would be nice to know why ROCK HARD 4X4 recommends just 100f/lbs of torque instead of 190.

Probably to overcome manufacturing tolerances, they make them loose so they can move. That is my best guess, I'm going to loosen mine to the 100fp in hopes of eliminating my creaks.

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