RTE-FAB Question

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
Gentlemen,

Has anyone recently placed an order with RTE-FAB within the last few months? Just looking for customer feedback before I order some 3 degree castor corrected radius and trailing arms.

I called the other day...he said he could get them out in 3 weeks, but needs to fab them.

Unless anyone knows of a set for sale, 3 degree C.C. radius arms only would be fine.

Thanks for any feedback.
 

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,163
62
Raleigh, NC
I recently bought coil springs from them. They shipped within two days. A couple years ago. I ordered their shock towers. It took them almost 2 months to get them to me. Different story every time I called. I wanted their springs at the time, but they said 4-6 weeks out. Which probably meant 8-12 weeks. The person that worked there at the time no longer works there.. so maybe that was the issue?🤷‍♂️
 

pdogg

Well-known member
Jul 18, 2005
1,216
29
Phoenix, AZ
Simon is a good guy, but dealing with supplier issues like anyone else.. his radius arms are made from old units that are cut/bent/boxed and rewelded .. often people don't return their old ones so he's left with no cores...
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
Simon is a good guy, but dealing with supplier issues like anyone else.. his radius arms are made from old units that are cut/bent/boxed and rewelded .. often people don't return their old ones so he's left with no cores...
Yes. When I talked to him the other day, he was very interested in having me return some standard cores,.
 

boostedt0y

Member
Dec 23, 2020
14
4
Bay Area, California
I installed RTE front and rear radius arms, watts link, f/r dislocation cones, HD steering and drag bars, sway bar QDs, spring retainers, front lower shock mounts, shock towers, Bilstein 7100 shocks back in April. The truck has been transformed. It drives so much nicer than the TF stuff I pulled out.

Simon has been great and a wealth of knowledge. Some of the parts he had in stock so it shipped right away whereas other parts (radius arms, shock towers etc) took much longer.

All in all it took 3 month or so to get all of the parts. Well worth the wait
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
I installed RTE front and rear radius arms, watts link, f/r dislocation cones, HD steering and drag bars, sway bar QDs, spring retainers, front lower shock mounts, shock towers, Bilstein 7100 shocks back in April. The truck has been transformed. It drives so much nicer than the TF stuff I pulled out.

Simon has been great and a wealth of knowledge. Some of the parts he had in stock so it shipped right away whereas other parts (radius arms, shock towers etc) took much longer.

All in all it took 3 month or so to get all of the parts. Well worth the wait

Sounds like you wheel it pretty hard.
Good info, thanks
 

boostedt0y

Member
Dec 23, 2020
14
4
Bay Area, California
I hope to! In the process of the build right now as I recently purchased the D2 earlier this year. Waiting for my arb/regear diffs from GBR to come in then I’ll bring it out
 

DiscoClay

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
433
84
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Gentlemen,

Has anyone recently placed an order with RTE-FAB within the last few months? Just looking for customer feedback before I order some 3 degree castor corrected radius and trailing arms.

I called the other day...he said he could get them out in 3 weeks, but needs to fab them.

Unless anyone knows of a set for sale, 3 degree C.C. radius arms only would be fine.

Thanks for any feedback.
Yes.

The new owner is a nice guy, seems like a straight shooter.

I purchased their *very durable* stainless drag link and steering arm kit.
Note: RTE taps the threads properly (unlike Land Rover for my model year anyways) with a LEFT thread on one side and a RIGHT thread on the other... The factory drag link is threaded with Right-hand thread for BOTH sides (wth were they thinking?). I noticed this after (of course) I ordered replacement tie-rod ends.

I have previously owned this kit on a 1996 2.8VNT converted diesel NAS Disco that was a river chasing desert crawler.. You can hang the truck from those things. What a beast...man I miss that wagon :)

I am referring to (and recommending) these: https://rtefab.com/product/hd-steering-bars-ss/
 

DiscoClay

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
433
84
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Yes.

The new owner is a nice guy, seems like a straight shooter.

I purchased their *very durable* stainless drag link and steering arm kit.
Note: RTE taps the threads properly (unlike Land Rover for my model year anyways) with a LEFT thread on one side and a RIGHT thread on the other... The factory drag link is threaded with Right-hand thread for BOTH sides (wth were they thinking?). I noticed this after (of course) I ordered replacement tie-rod ends.

I have previously owned this kit on a 1996 2.8VNT converted diesel NAS Disco that was a river chasing desert crawler.. You can hang the truck from those things. What a beast...man I miss that wagon :)

I am referring to (and recommending) these: https://rtefab.com/product/hd-steering-bars-ss/

A fresh update:

I just spoke with Simon at RTE. He said originally thought the whole pandemic situ would end the business... but then something odd happened:

He started getting even MORE orders.

He is backlogged on certain parts simply because the supply squeeze in steel and other metals has been crazy. So if you order something, give him a call and have some patience as he grinds through the list. :)