Question about Tuff Country Extended Radius arms

[Foggman]

I was looking at buying a set of Tuff Country Radius arms and noticed that the ends of them are just a hinge, not the bushing style like the stock and some of the other RAs I'v seen. My question is since it is just a hinge will they bind up if you flex one side of the front suspension? I would think there needs to be a little bit of twist neccessary for them not to bind..Any thoughts?
Tuff country's RA's

My other question is..would a set of Bronco/F150 radius arms fit the Explorer D35? I know the Bronco/F150 uses a D44 but I wasn't sure if they were same dimensions where the RAs connect.

Thanks
Lance

p.s. I searched here and didn't find any comments concerning the hinge design..

 

[Byrd91]

There is a bushing in there. It is different than Fords design, I think maybe better and it allows for caster adjustment which is great. You want the ranger arms not the fullsize ones.

 

[Foggman]

HOw does that allow for caster adjustment?

Also, are the Tuff Country arms any good to begin with? or should I spend the extra $100 on Skyjacker arms?

Even though the Tuff COuntry arms say for 4" lift kits would it be all that bad to use them as they are for a 5.5" - 6" kit? or would I need to make a drop 1.5" drop bracket for them?

Thanks
Lance

 

[Byrd91]

If you look at the brackets there are slots where the bolts go through...the bolts shown are eccentric which moves the end of the arm up and down (as well as forward and backward), but the up and down gives you a little bit of caster adjustment. I've always wondered myself about the arms, the don't look very rugged in the picture but I like their different bushing approach...I'd be tempted to spend the extra $100 on james duffs new arms.... http://www.jamesduff.com/broncoII/radiusarms.html These would be my choice if I did it again (I currently have the original jamesduff arms. Probably you could get away with 6" on the Tuff country, JDs are good for 4", probably more would start to loose too much caster for good steering feel.