Greetings and salutations!

I recently picked up a set of EVO Rock star skids for my 2011 JKU. This weekend I decided to take advantage of the long Easter weekend and install them. I meticulously followed the instructions, as well as followed Robar's write up https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...-JK-Rock-Stars and ran into a problem. The Passenger side Rock Star simply would not go on... Upon first attempt at a "test fit" it peeled away any and all paint off both the R.S. skid and the freshly painted axle bracket.

I ended up having to make an angular cut on both brackets in order to accommodate the angle of the skid.


When this turned out not to be enough, I resorted to a deadblow hammer to force the driver side R.S. skid on, but again the passenger side was not going on. I started jerking it around and discovered there was a considerable difference between the inside width of the R.S. skid and the outer width of the shock bracket! In a moment of desperation, since this is my daily driver, I foolishly decided to use a C-clamp to compress the bracket to accommodate the skid plate. Even with the compressed bracket I had to hammer the dog squeeze out of the skid to get it to fit. I tightened down the bolts and went inside to face my lovely, now pissed, 6 month pregnant wife... After a long Easter day of church and family, I finally broke and pulled everything off and re-primered the brackets and measured each component.
Driver side:


Passenger side:



Ill be contacting Northridge4x4.com tomorrow and see if they can help me.

For anyone considering putting these on, two things:

First, these come highly recommended from several people I know, and I WILL get them back on one way or another! As well as my EVO oil pan skid, Evo gussets and skids for the front axle!

Secondly, before you go cutting stuff off your daily driver and making it unable to be driven, measure the piss out of things and make sure they fit, DO NOT wait for the test fit!

 

i had the same issue with these when I went to install them. I had to take off a huge amount of material to get them on, and still had to bring the BFH to the table to get them on. to make it worse, my teraflex arms wouldnt install (when on the ground) after the skids were on, so I had to install the skids with the arms in place (you can imagine the joys I had trying to get the 2 bolts and nuts into place with the control arms already in. took over an hour per arm). Wicked nightmare, and I'm sure it will rust like crazy because all the powder coat that came off with the install. I don't know if there is a tolerance issue, or if the QC on the rock stars is off, but as much as I love EVO products, after the problem with tolerances with the front bumper and stinger, and then the rock stars, I can't imagine myself getting another product from them. The powder coat is always crap, and I know the install will suck. I have the draglink flip kit sitting in my living room waiting to be installed, and I already am not looking forward to it because I can only imagine the tolerance issues I get to look forward too.

EVO stuff is sexy as hell, but unless someone else is doing the install, I would pass!

 

this is not the kind of stuff I want to be reading when I'm about to pull the trigger on their rear carrier. Which looks to be a PITA install to begin with.

 

Gonzo: Sorry to hear about your troubles. I'd call Andrew at EVO mfg and talk to him about any issues.

Sneck: I recently installed the draglink flip kit without trouble. The hardest part was getting the old one out and drilling the knuckle. Be sure to use a unibit to at least start the hole.

I'm ordering up their 1/4 pounder bumper and stinger tomorrow. Did you post up about the install difficulties you had?

 

one of my pics from my rockstar install. you can see LCA bolt is threaded through, and you can see the upper bolt hole is flush and lined up. but look at that lower bolt hole! The rockstar is clearly in place (because there isn't much wiggle room with that LCA bolt), and the specs are just way off.



the pic pretty much sums up the install for me!

and to the above poster, I did make a thread on it. The biggest issue with the install (something you have to call EVO to find out) is putting a big enough notch in the front facing plate on the frame, and just trying to be as precise as possible when you drill out the holes for the stinger (you have to drill the top holes yourself, which leaves the tolerance 100% in your hands). I would recommend doing a dry install first, to check the 1/4lber, and then to drop the stinger on to see how everything tightens up. andrew at evo recommended putting the stinger on the bumper and drilling out the holes, but I would assemble everything on the frame, and then drill out stinger bolt holes.

the instructions included for the install ( I ordered it last fall) were for 2010 or older; there was a change to the crossframe brace, so its also on you to figure out how to properly cut up the frame rails to mount the main bumper

 

and again, I do need to say, I love their stuff. it is sexy, it is beefy and bulletproof. the only downside is the install. if you have to do the work yourself, just be prepared. once its on, you will love it!

 

I have a new set waiting to get installed, let me know what you find out. I'm not installing these yet until my upper rear shock relocate brackets show up so I don't lose any travel.
What should I be looking for, different measurements ?!

 

I had no issues with mine, I wonder if this is a vehicle year specific problem or a certain batch of brackets. Mine were tight and required persuasian with a hammer but nothing serious. All the holes matched up beautiful and install was cake in my case minus having to shorten my sway bar links and fab up new shorter rear shock extensions.

 

I had to trim more than they suggested to get the brackets on, not a major deal.....just had to keep trying it until it fit. They were snug, but once the material was trimmed away, they went on ok

 

I just got off the phone with Sean @the Northridge. He's more than happy to send the information along to Offroad Evolution for me to get this problem rectified!! Here's one for customer service!

On a side note. I don't mind the extra cutting to make stuff fit. That's all part of fun of customized vehicles!