ARB/OME quality concerns (1 Viewer)

[stockmax]

So I went ahead and bought the full ARB OME suspension lift for my 40, something I’ve wanted to do for years but never made it happen, only to be completely let down with the quality of their products on assembly.

I went ahead and bought their shackles even though they’re quite spendy with the thought that the full kit will tie it all together. Upon first assembly I realize that they didn’t even cut thr threads on the pins and they absolutely will not thread into the side plates even with the help of my vice. As you can see, there appears to be some sort of heat treatment going up the thread body and I confirmed with my thread gauge that yes, this isn’t going to fit.

The front shackles went together fine as did one of the greasable pins. However, for the second pin kit the damn pins won’t even start in the plate.

Now I’m frustrated because this was my plan for my long weekend, possibly the only time in the near future I’m going to have to get this project done and it’s dead in the water before I turn a single wrench on the truck. I guess it’s my fault for not assembling these before hand but I figured with brand new parts this wouldn’t be an issue.

I now have concerns with how the remainder of the install is going to go because of this failure right off the bat. Has anyone else had this experience with ARB? I was going to buy one of their shock packages for my tundra next but that’s right out the window now.

 

[stockmax]

 

[franklin40]

do you have a tap you could chase the threads with? or is it so far out that that won’t work?

 

[stockmax]

do you have a tap you could chase the threads with? or is it so far out that that won’t work?

I’m working on finding one in my town the right size. Hardware stores don’t carry anything above m12 at the moment. No where that would carry anything larger is open on the holiday weekend.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Sad. People that care usually do nice work. Tapping/dieing threads with good lube and techniques will produce good threads and the tools last longer. Running them dry wears them out quickly.

Buy a proper tap/die and chase the threads. I like AncorLube. Boeing lube was great stuff too but expensive.

 

[wngrog]

Probably some clown screwed those up and sent them back and they got restocked.

Is that only one shackle worth that's damaged or all?

 

[stockmax]

Probably some clown screwed those up and sent them back and they got restocked.

Is that only one shackle worth that's damaged or all?

So far, it’s one rear shackle kit and one of the pin kits that are bad, which isn’t good odds. The one shackle has 3 of the 4 pins with bad threads.

I pretty much know my next steps here but just needed to vent because this was incredibly frustrating and disappointing from such a big company.

 

[JohnnyC]

X2 somebody F’d the threads and returned it … do you have a shop near you … there’s a shop near me I bring stuff I can’t have time to do … they would easily do it for just a few bucks

 

[firemanj92]

Give them a call/email, they will answer and/or warranty them out. I recently had an smaller issue and it was addressed. They will want the invoice/sales receipt copy and pics.

 

[stockmax]

X2 somebody F’d the threads and returned it … do you have a shop near you … there’s a shop near me I bring stuff I can’t have time to do … they would easily do it for just a few bucks

I think this is more that they didn’t cut the treads right in the first place. If you look at the photo, the ones (3 have the same issue) that don’t thread have a thicker thread cut which could mean worn out tooling. Any way you look at it, it’s crap quality control and for the other plate to not thread as well means they are statically terrible at threaded processes.

Super disappointing for a product they’ve made for decades.

 

[stockmax]

Give them a call/email, they will answer and/or warranty them out. I recently had a smaller issue and it was addressed. They will want the invoice/sales receipt copy and pics.

Sent all of that in and waiting for them to reply which will surely be after the weekend. Fortunately I bought directly from ARB so no retailer middle man to go through.

I’m hoping they do address it properly but am still super frustrated since I honestly don’t know when I’ll get the time to get this project knocked out with summer and a kitchen remodel on the horizon.

 

[charliemeyer007]

The only sure things are death and taxes. Hopefully they will make good on the parts quickly.

 

[White Stripe]

One option is you could always buy a plane ticket for Australia tonight. Go to ARB headquarters and epoxy yourself to the building in protest with the bad pins.

 

[javelinadave]

I gave up on Old Man Emu many years back after several broken shocks. Kind of like Optima batteries, they were great till they weren't.