superlift installation

[Infragate]

Got a question for you guys running the 5.5 superlift. Begun installing mine and now have the passenger side all done minus tires, and im wondering how close to the top of the extended radius arm the shock is really suppose to be? it also kind of sits arched a bit, like this / . Now i know once i put the tires on and get it on the ground it should even out but it just seems to me that the bottom of the shock should be mounted a bit closer to the axle beam. I have it all installed correctly and everything else looks good, but im just a little curious if any of you have had this thought or experienced something similar. Dan

 

[j602]

The shock is tilted? Sure you're not talking about the coil spring? The coil spring will arch, but the shock should never do that.

 

[Infragate]

Yeah i mean the shock. The coil spring is fine and does exactly what it should. Im not having any problems with the axle being to far back neither, the brackets are mounted where they should be and everything lines up correctly, i also did not make the mistake of putting the radius arms on the wrong sides. But the shock has a bit of an arch / . Now granted, this is what i see with it jacked up off of the ground but even under load i could not see it straightening out enough to correct the arch. I was thinking i may need to remount the shock mount to the arm by drilling some new holes to correct the arch problem. Anyone else with this sort of issue? Please let me know, i would appreciate the input. Dan

 

[Infragate]

I see that Alaskan Jack had the same issue with his Radius arms. Seems the Lower shock mount on the arms does not line up with the mount in the tower to hold the shock completely vertical. As a result the shock sits slightly angled like this / but not as drastic.

 

[j602]

Ah, I see what you're saying. I have no experience with extended RA's so I can't really help you there. Know how to weld? If so, cut the shock mount bolt and reweld.

 

[410Fortune]

thats why your shocks have bushings up on the top stud, for the angle.

Some radius amrs are worse then others
get creative

 

[Infragate]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I have decided to do a bit of modifications to the truck to have it all the way i want it, so the shock issue will be taken care of, but funny thing happened last night. I had bolted the beams back into the truck and began reassembling the passenger side drive axle into the yoke and.... damn, it won't go in all the way, i needed like a half an inch to be able to stick the spindle on the knuckle. So i had a look at the pivot brackets and turns out, the one on the driver's side is out by an inch and a 1/4. I had heard here on the board that sometimes these brackets don't always line up and fit, and i figure im not going to waste my time with superlift but just rework the bracket myself and make it a bit stronger too.

 

[j602]

That's stupidlift for ya.

 

[jrgaylor]

I went and looked at alaskanjacks superlift radius arms and he had fitment issues also.

 

[410Fortune]

The d side axle pivot bracket is off by 1-1/4"???

Thats way too much, something is wrong.
What generation of that bracket do you have?
I suggest contacting superlift for the most recent updated bracket, it is a good piece.

Unless you want to fabricate the bracket yourself, thats cool too.
I would like to see how you have things installed. Is there any damage to the frame or engine cradle on this truck? Are you sure you had the slip yoke all the way compressed when you put the outer shaft in?

 

[Infragate]

Hey guys,
Yeah i had the slip yoke bottomed right out but it was not enough. There is no frame damage or anything like that, the truck is ok. I never had the issue while the stock brackets were on so i became suspicious of the superlift brackets and looked into it. I compared the superlift brackets to the stock ones and found that the lower hole on the drivers axle pivot bracket(superlift bracket) was out 1 1/4" from the stock bracket which was holding the axle closer to the passenger side creating the issue at hand. I have seen in some pictures on this site that the D side bracket on alot of other lifts has a bit more angle towards the drivers side so i suspect that this bracket is not correct for my vehicle. I contacted superlift yesterday and he said he would exchange the bracket with the correct one if this one is not right, but first we have to take measurements etc... fair enough. But now i phone today and he is not in today and damn it, my truck is on stands! So i figure i cannot wait and will fab this bracket. I have access to whatever i need here in the machineshop, doing so will not be hard, infact this bracket should be alot stronger when i finish with it.
As for the shocks, well im going to get the tires on then let her down and see how they sit while the suspension is loaded. Cause right now i have to really load up that bottom shock bushing to be able to line it up with the hole in the tower, and i find that the shocks are about 1/8" away from the radius arms while my suspension hangs but that should straighten out when it is on the ground, i have to consider the fact that i will have more articulation now so things are going to angle more now that the axle can pivot further. I appreciate the input thus far guys, and will keep you posted on my results etc.

Dan