tiessen
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- February 16, 1999
- Messages
- 406
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Vancouver, BC
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '92 XLT
I have a 5.5" Superlift in the front end of my Exploder.I have gone SOA in the rear and replaced the Exploder leafs with a full set of Ranger leafs (much thinner). I now have more travel in the rear of my truck than I know what to do with!
Now the front end. Like everyone else with the Superlift (with Superrunner arms) I am disappointed with the lack of front end travel. I would like to know what will enhance front end travel. These are my findings so far. Please add to this so we all can figure this out. Just as a starting point, my truck ramped 730 on a 20 degree when the Exploder leafs were still in. I will update the ramp score with the Ranger leafs.
- I don't have the time or money to cut and turn my axles like Gloria's rig.
- I can't run Hiem joints in the radius arms (like Gloria) because they are illegal where I live.
- I don't have the Superrunner steering.
- Superlift coils are too stiff (450lbs/in) but I don't think this is the problem.
- At full droop, I can pop out the coil quite easily but after doing so the axle does not drop any more, even with when forced down.
- Things that could be limiting articulation:
- Swaybar - NO - disconnected
- Steering linkage? I doubt it because Autofab's (www.autofab.com) cut and turn kits for Rangers utilize stock steering and get 16" of travel; therefore long travel is possible with stock steering (other than dropped pitman)
- Axle pivots - I don't think so, they are the same as the long travel kits and they are aligned in the direction of droop and compression.
- Radius arm bushings/mount - maybe; because the radius arms bushings are mounted perpendicular to direction of movement, they may limit articulation. But, Autofab uses the same setup, so do solid axle Bronco's etc which get great travel.
- Shock length - probably not - my shocks are plenty long, unless I really increase my travel
- Axle pivot brackets - I think so - coventional lifts only drop the pivot points to maintain alignment. The difference between cut and turn and drop brackets (besides strength) is the location of pivot point in relation to the pivot point of the radius arm. Does this make a difference? Rick's rig also get GOOD travel up front and he uses 5.5" coils and 3.5" drop brackets (and uses big cams to align) thus making his setup more like the cut and turn lifts.
QUESTION: Will moving the axle pivot point up higher (as in Rick's rig or Gloria's cut and turn) allow greater articulation?
Should those of us with 5.5" Superlifts move the pivot points to the 4" pivot holes (if you have a new bracket set) to get better travel and use bigger cams to maintain alignment?
Please help me. I am going nuts after spending big $$$ on my front end and having crappy travel.
Thanks
Dale
Now the front end. Like everyone else with the Superlift (with Superrunner arms) I am disappointed with the lack of front end travel. I would like to know what will enhance front end travel. These are my findings so far. Please add to this so we all can figure this out. Just as a starting point, my truck ramped 730 on a 20 degree when the Exploder leafs were still in. I will update the ramp score with the Ranger leafs.
- I don't have the time or money to cut and turn my axles like Gloria's rig.
- I can't run Hiem joints in the radius arms (like Gloria) because they are illegal where I live.
- I don't have the Superrunner steering.
- Superlift coils are too stiff (450lbs/in) but I don't think this is the problem.
- At full droop, I can pop out the coil quite easily but after doing so the axle does not drop any more, even with when forced down.
- Things that could be limiting articulation:
- Swaybar - NO - disconnected
- Steering linkage? I doubt it because Autofab's (www.autofab.com) cut and turn kits for Rangers utilize stock steering and get 16" of travel; therefore long travel is possible with stock steering (other than dropped pitman)
- Axle pivots - I don't think so, they are the same as the long travel kits and they are aligned in the direction of droop and compression.
- Radius arm bushings/mount - maybe; because the radius arms bushings are mounted perpendicular to direction of movement, they may limit articulation. But, Autofab uses the same setup, so do solid axle Bronco's etc which get great travel.
- Shock length - probably not - my shocks are plenty long, unless I really increase my travel
- Axle pivot brackets - I think so - coventional lifts only drop the pivot points to maintain alignment. The difference between cut and turn and drop brackets (besides strength) is the location of pivot point in relation to the pivot point of the radius arm. Does this make a difference? Rick's rig also get GOOD travel up front and he uses 5.5" coils and 3.5" drop brackets (and uses big cams to align) thus making his setup more like the cut and turn lifts.
QUESTION: Will moving the axle pivot point up higher (as in Rick's rig or Gloria's cut and turn) allow greater articulation?
Should those of us with 5.5" Superlifts move the pivot points to the 4" pivot holes (if you have a new bracket set) to get better travel and use bigger cams to maintain alignment?
Please help me. I am going nuts after spending big $$$ on my front end and having crappy travel.
Thanks
Dale