After market sway bar links

[NYCTRD]

I do too much hi-way driving to disconnect my sway barz...plus, I'm used to driving sports cars so i'd probably get in trouble...

What dd you "hard core" off-roaders recommend for after market LINKS? I've seen some questionable comments about some not fitting and articulating properly...

 

[Toledo FJ]

I'm using the AllPro Sway bar links and collars and I'm happy with the performance so far. No problems yet and they have seen plenty of abuse.

 

[Corey]

Toledo, do you have the upgraded ones?
I bought a set when they first came out like quite a few did over at the big FJ site, and they are the ones that end up coming apart and ripping the CV boots to shreds.

I never bothered to get the "fix it kit" that All Pro released for them later.

 

[NoHandleBars]

Toledo, do you have the upgraded ones?
I bought a set when they first came out like quite a few did over at the big FJ site, and they are the ones that end up coming apart and ripping the CV boots to shreds.

I never bothered to get the "fix it kit" that All Pro released for them later.

I heard about this too. And apparently All-Pro decided not to warranty them on quite a few customers, thus screwing them over...not the first time I've heard of that company doing that either. Not a very good reputation.

 

[NYCTRD]

Nice!

Maybe I'll weld the OEMS!

 

[Corey]

Here is the thread.

 

[Toledo FJ]

I just got mine about a month ago, so I'm hoping I have the updated version. Do you think I need to worry?

 

[NYCTRD]

Hmmm

Here is the thread.

In the pics they don't look like they align up very well.

I was going to replace them and use some heavy duty hose clamps on the the front sway bar to keep it from sliding back and forth sideways in the rubber bushings...

I don't wheel real hard, I just don't want to hear that "ping-snap"
on one of the few times I'm deep in the Virginia hills...

 

[RiverWalker]

More Details Please

I heard about this too. And apparently All-Pro decided not to warranty them on quite a few customers, thus screwing them over...not the first time I've heard of that company doing that either. Not a very good reputation.

You have made a statement about All Pro that we all should be told about. Who did they screw over and what were the circumstances? This sort of comment should be fully explained so we all know what to expect from All Pro.

I came back from Hemet a couple of weeks ago. They did some work on my FJ. The work was fantastic!!!!!! Just before I was going to leave, they found one tiny drip from a Walker Evans shock. They replaced both of them with upgrade models all under warranty. So tell me NoHandleBars what I am missing. Whenever I have had a problem I have phoned or e-mailed Terry and got an answer or the part that I damaged in the mail. So why is it that me, a Canadian, gets such great service from All Pro and others don't?

I recommend that anyone who has a problem or wants to know anything about All Pros products to phone them directly and not to spread rumours that are not founded in fact. And be prepared to back up any allegations.

If I have written anything that upsets someones sensibilites and caused them to get their knickers in a knot, then I apologize. I deal in facts not suppositions. El Toro Poo Poo is still Bull **** to me.

River Walker

 

[Toledo FJ]

So far I've had no problems from AllPro. I have a number of their products: Upper and lower pro links, shock mount and link mount skids, ultimate sway bar links, sway bar collars, and most recently, the weld on spindle gussets. My only complaint with all pro is that they don't send ANY instructions for installation maintenance with any of their products. They really need to fix that issue. Otherwise I'm happy with all their stuff.

 

[NoHandleBars]

You have made a statement about All Pro that we all should be told about. Who did they screw over and what were the circumstances? This sort of comment should be fully explained so we all know what to expect from All Pro.

I came back from Hemet a couple of weeks ago. They did some work on my FJ. The work was fantastic!!!!!! Just before I was going to leave, they found one tiny drip from a Walker Evans shock. They replaced both of them with upgrade models all under warranty. So tell me NoHandleBars what I am missing. Whenever I have had a problem I have phoned or e-mailed Terry and got an answer or the part that I damaged in the mail. So why is it that me, a Canadian, gets such great service from All Pro and others don't?

I recommend that anyone who has a problem or wants to know anything about All Pros products to phone them directly and not to spread rumours that are not founded in fact. And be prepared to back up any allegations.

If I have written anything that upsets someones sensibilites and caused them to get their knickers in a knot, then I apologize. I deal in facts not suppositions. El Toro Poo Poo is still Bull **** to me.

River Walker

Yeah, head over to the FJ Cruiser Forums and ask. Lots of people have problems with service\warranty and even how the product arrives, and how they handle it. Look around and do you're research on that forum, and you'll find exactly what you're questioning. Oh, and btw, just because YOU haven't had any problems, dosen't mean FLOODS of other people don't. You said you're middle paragraph as if, if it doesn't happen to you, it doesn't happen. I guess if you goto 4-wheel parts and have great service, that means clearly anyone else who talks about bad service\bad reputation is committing blasphemy

FYI, What I said about all-pro is from hands on experience with my buddy. If you want to hear about what happened to him, and how big of a jack ass Terry was, just ask. It's quite a story. Summary? Defective walker evans, trying to charge him for replacement parts, saying is mounts were in stock when he ordered the shocks (they aren't and he had to wait three weeks), charging him for shipping via paypal for the parts installation parts they didn't include when he got his items, and claiming they refunded it but never did, then said they would the next day...and the next day..then the next week..until a threatened charge-back made them set things straight.

All-Pro is known to be all nice and cuddly until a big warranty is needed, or until they are told they didn't include a part for installation and have to ship it off...as I said...head over to FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM and snoop around.

Sorry that you like All-Pro so much that you can't even believe a bad experience (or above bad) experience. Just going to hurt that much more when YOU get screwed over down the road. On a side-note, no company is perfect, that's obvious, but the complaints are out there, and in large numbers. OH, and I just noticed that THEY installed it. Yeah, no **** they are going to replace it\help you if THEY did it, but MOST fj cruiser owners out there buy the gear and install it themselves, which subjects them to the "raping" by All-Pro when they get a defective product. Just another thing to think about.

 

[Toledo FJ]

I don't disagree .... AllPro does have a crappy reputation for customer service from what I can tell. I can only speak about my experience with them, and so far, so good. I do know a guy who has had lots of problems with their bumpers and the WE suspension. If I have an issue with them or their products in the future, I just won't buy anymore goods from them. For now, I'm happy though.

 

[NoHandleBars]

I don't disagree .... AllPro does have a ****py reputation for customer service from what I can tell. I can only speak about my experience with them, and so far, so good. I do know a guy who has had lots of problems with their bumpers and the WE suspension. If I have an issue with them or their products in the future, I just won't buy anymore goods from them. For now, I'm happy though.

Thank you for showing me that I am in fact, not in the Twilight Zone.

 

[FlyNdrive]

I have heard from a lot of forum members that talk about bad experiences with A-P. I have had quite the opposite.

One of the Johnny Joints on an upper rear link was cracking and got loose. I called up Terry with a good attitude and he told me to send them back so he can replace the ends. He sent them back and the deal was done.

I think that A-P may have had problems with some employees in the past, but once your rep on the forums are trashed you are done for so if there was a problem A-P has changed. It is the people who throw up a flaming post and expect mountains to be moved that tend to get the rough treatment. I have seen several threads on the Blue Room that start with a flamethrower trashing A-P. Several posts down Terry will chime in and ask why no one ever called in to get it fixed.

I recommend calling Terry with an open mind to discuss it before flaming. He is aware of the problems some parts have and is willing to fix things to make satisfies customers.

-Ben

 

[NYCTRD]

I ordered the ALL PRO's

I have heard from a lot of forum members that talk about bad experiences with A-P. I have had quite the opposite.

One of the Johnny Joints on an upper rear link was cracking and got loose. I called up Terry with a good attitude and he told me to send them back so he can replace the ends. He sent them back and the deal was done.

I think that A-P may have had problems with some employees in the past, but once your rep on the forums are trashed you are done for so if there was a problem A-P has changed. It is the people who throw up a flaming post and expect mountains to be moved that tend to get the rough treatment. I have seen several threads on the Blue Room that start with a flamethrower trashing A-P. Several posts down Terry will chime in and ask why no one ever called in to get it fixed.

I recommend calling Terry with an open mind to discuss it before flaming. He is aware of the problems some parts have and is willing to fix things to make satisfies customers.

-Ben

I'll see how they work out...still haven't coughed up the $$ for the Rasta Skids yet...it's tempting, but 1 grand is a bite when I want so many other things!

 

[NoHandleBars]

I'll see how they work out...still haven't coughed up the $$ for the Rasta Skids yet...it's tempting, but 1 grand is a bite when I want so many other things!

Rastas's look like the best option out there right now...they are apparently flexible, but VERY sturdy (won't bend) and are far, far lighter. Not too shabby in price either.

 

[Toledo FJ]

People have bent the Rasta skids. Hit anything hard enough and it will bend. They do look like a great set of skids and I know some folks on the blue board have shown them some serious abuse and had no problems. That said, I have no regrets about going with BudBuilt. There is actually a review of the Rastas in the most recent Toyota 4WD owners magazine. They make some nice stuff in the promised land.

 

[Singha]

Luv mine. Zero problems. Nice scratches, Zero dents.

 

[Rockrawler]

Hi, Terry from All Pro here - I will personally guarantee you we do not charge anyone for warranty on defective parts. If any part is defective, not abused - defective, we will get it covered. Many times we will get parts covered that are out of warranty to help out the customer because we have pull with certain manufacturers. Occasionally on items like shocks where the vehicle is a daily driver we will offer to send a rebuilt shock out as a replacement for the bad shock so the customer doesnt have to down his/her truck, and we have to charge them a deposit on it until the bad shock is returned. If its defective then we refund the full deposit. If it is damaged (like a rock pitted shaft that scrapes away at a seal until it leaks, this is not considered a defect) then we refund less the repair cost the manufacturer incurs to us. This has been appreciated by nearly every customer we offer it to, however there are still some people that demand a new shock at no charge to replace a year or more old damaged or defective part, and thats just now how a warranty works. It would be like having a water pump go out on your FJ and demanding a new motor - its not going to happen, you rebuild or replace the defective part.
Since you say your experience is through your friend I suspect you listened intently to the one side of the story you heard and were not concerned about the other, or actual facts. I'd be happy to research the incident in question and reply with what actually happened - if we screwed up I'm up front enough to admit it. I do my best to make sure every customer is happy and would buy from us again. Occasionally that doesnt happen, and for that, if its my fault, I sincerely apologize. We have had a couple of prior employees that helped destroy a hard earned reputation, I was brought in to help turn that around, and while everyone can make a mistake (hey, I'm not close to perfect) I will do whatever it takes to make a wrong situation right as long as its a fair solution. I am in the office every day, first one in and last one out - if anyone has a problem call me directly and I will make it right.

As far as the OP question went, we do manufacture a heavy duty sway bar link - it replaces the weak factory link. BUT the main problem with the design that Toyota came up with is the poor sway bar centering collars. They allow the sway bar itself to float side to side and if it ends up all the way over & it reaches full compression, its enough force to break the stock link (as has been posted by many on the "blue forum") and even the heavy duty heim joints in our setup. The solution for this problem is better centering collars which we also came up with - these are far more important that the link ends themselves. If you run the collars with good stock links it is likely you wont have the link problem to begin with. If you already have bent or broken links, then we offer stronger units to replace them with, but you still need to run the collars to stop the source of the problem.

Terry
All Pro

 

[Rockrawler]

FYI, What I said about all-pro is from hands on experience with my buddy. If you want to hear about what happened to him, and how big of a jack ass Terry was, just ask. It's quite a story. Summary? Defective walker evans, trying to charge him for replacement parts, saying is mounts were in stock when he ordered the shocks (they aren't and he had to wait three weeks), charging him for shipping via paypal for the parts installation parts they didn't include when he got his items, and claiming they refunded it but never did, then said they would the next day...and the next day..then the next week..until a threatened charge-back made them set things straight.

All-Pro is known to be all nice and cuddly until a big warranty is needed, or until they are told they didn't include a part for installation and have to ship it off...as I said...head over to FJCRUISERFORUMS.COM and snoop around.

After re-reading this I know who your friend is, and I guarantee you dont know all the facts.
For everyone else, here are the facts: The Walker Evans shocks in question were not defective - they were damaged by UPS in transit, the shop it was sent to confirmed that fact, and provided pictures of the torn up box to prove it. The end result was we replaced the coilovers after the others were returned and we handled the UPS claim process. There was a credit that did take longer than it should have, that was an error on our part, but even after that the customer did a chargeback on the entire sale because there were 4 - 50cent hose clamps missing out of the original box (from being torn open by UPS). We were never told these were missing until we called to find the reason behind the chargeback. We then sent out the hose clamps and were authorized to re-charge the sale. In the end we were now blamed on 2 forums for a problem that was UPS fault.
Its difficult to keep a good reputation when accuasations are made based on second hand stories without the facts present and stated plainly for everyone to read!