Extended Radius Arms - Ride quality

[RottenBanana]

Hey Folks,

My truck has a 3.5" suspension lift and a 3" body lift, with some 35s on it. Would a set of extended radius arms affect the on-road handling? I'd like a set of arms for the tire rubbing, but wondering if the cost is worth it. Duffs touts them as making a large ride quality difference, but it may be marketing

Thanks!

 

[Yeller]

Ride quality does improve, especially if combined with new springs. Of your springs are more than 15 years old, new ones along with shocks will be an improvement as well.

 

[RottenBanana]

Ride quality does improve, especially if combined with new springs. Of your springs are more than 15 years old, new ones along with shocks will be an improvement as well.

New 3.5" progressive springs and likely Bilsteins all around are on the menu. Maybe sway bars as well - depends what my bank account says

 

[bigmuddy]

I have then on my 2.5” lift with 2” body lift. Progressive coils.
Ride is better, I have more body roll with them though.

Sway bars are on my wish list but I’ve driven years without an issue.

 

[RottenBanana]

I have then on my 2.5” lift with 2” body lift. Progressive coils.
Ride is better, I have more body roll with them though.

Sway bars are on my wish list but I’ve driven years without an issue.

Did you add them after the lift? How much of a ride quality difference was there?

 

[Mark1911]

Good afternoon, I am running the James Duff long arms, and the ride is definitely softer, I am also running James Duff 3.5" lift coils up front and the new Wild Horses 3.5" rear leaf springs. I am also running ADS reservoir shocks with 130psi nitrogen charge, the ride is fantastic, control is good around corners, and I am very pleased. I WAS running the Duff rear Leaf springs, (which I believe are Deaver springs, I am sure someone will correct me on that) is due to the horrible ride quality (stupid back breaking, bolt jarring ride) and then to top it off started sagging really bad after only a few months, no top, no heavy bumper, no gear and no spare tire hanging off the back.

Definitely use at least a front sway bar.

 

[RottenBanana]

Good afternoon, I am running the James Duff long arms, and the ride is definitely softer, I am also running James Duff 3.5" lift coils up front and the new Wild Horses 3.5" rear leaf springs. I am also running ADS reservoir shocks with 130psi nitrogen charge, the ride is fantastic, control is good around corners, and I am very pleased. I WAS running the Duff rear Leaf springs, (which I believe are Deaver springs, I am sure someone will correct me on that) is due to the horrible ride quality (stupid back breaking, bolt jarring ride) and then to top it off started sagging really bad after only a few months, no top, no heavy bumper, no gear and no spare tire hanging off the back.

Definitely use at least a front sway bar.

This is excellent! Thank you!

Those shocks are NICE, but likely overkill and out of budget for me. I'm surprised you didn't like the Deaver spring packs. I thought they were pretty universally liked.

 

[Mark1911]

This is excellent! Thank you!

Those shocks are NICE, but likely overkill and out of budget for me. I'm surprised you didn't like the Deaver spring packs. I thought they were pretty universally liked.

The Duff springs (or Deavers) were soooo rigid and they were the "medium duty" spring pack. Anyway, the Wild horses spring pack was a complete night and day difference.
Yes, the ADS are way overkill and expensive but very well built and l like the smooth controlled ride.

If I was to do it over, (which I am not) Solo motorsports has an extended length rear spring set up that looks super nice with longer leaf springs which would deliver a softer ride.
They also offer extended radius arm set up.

 

[Bitch'nBronco]

Ride quality on the road is definitely better with long arms in my opinion. My only complaint is minor, the body roll around corners definitely increased but is still managble. The radius arms are probably my favorite upgrade so far.

 

[ntsqd]

Those of you familiar with reducing a force into its vector components should easily see that a longer radius arm results in a shallower approach angle, which reduces the vertical component of a bump.

Do we know for sure that those Duff's springs were made by Deaver? There are a quite a few leaf spring mfg's in the U.S. and the physical locations of Deaver & Duff's make it seem unlikely to me that Deaver is the mfg. The shipping alone would be problematic.
That said, Deaver will make the spring that you want, within reason. If the spec that they build to is wrong then whose fault is that?

The car that I learned to drive in heeled over like a sailboat when driven hard into a corner. Lack of roll resistance is not a concern for me.

 

[bigmuddy]

Did you add them after the lift? How much of a ride quality difference was there?

It was a nice change. Hard to quantify IMO.
As Mark said, I will say that the rear springs are where the ride quality shows itself. Even with the long arms, I still find in bumps and wash boards the rear end is harsh. Any of the vendors coils springs provide a decent ride with a quality shock IMO. Which is something I need to upgrade, I am still running the Cage shocks that were supplied with the long arms. (Cage used to work for Duffs and developed the early arms sold by them)

The rears springs available are better than what we had in the 70's-80's for sure but still ride is just OK but a lot of that is just a short length which effects ride quality.


The solo rear leaves system would be a great upgrade but I don't see myself doing it just based on price but certainly considering it at some point.
4 link would be great as well but again, I likely won't do it.
Kincer Chassis, well sure but again no that's never in my budget.

 

[toddz69]

Do we know for sure that those Duff's springs were made by Deaver? There are a quite a few leaf spring mfg's in the U.S. and the physical locations of Deaver & Duff's make it seem unlikely to me that Deaver is the mfg. The shipping alone would be problematic.
That said, Deaver will make the spring that you want, within reason. If the spec that they build to is wrong then whose fault is that?

Yes, they are. A set just arrived here a few weeks ago and they have Deaver stickers on them. Shipping on leaf springs is ridiculously expensive (comparing shipping costs from TN to AZ vs. CA to AZ).

Todd Z.

 

[ntsqd]

The shipping is what made me question it. Over half the cost of replacing the CTD's stock rear springs was shipping them to me.

 

[EPB72]

Hey Folks,

My truck has a 3.5" suspension lift and a 3" body lift, with some 35s on it. Would a set of extended radius arms affect the on-road handling? I'd like a set of arms for the tire rubbing, but wondering if the cost is worth it. Duffs touts them as making a large ride quality difference, but it may be marketing

Thanks!

even the duffs T Rex arms will give a better?softer ride ,and added body roll...and tire turning clearence as well,,,,, but will still need to deal with the head unit to arm bushings wearing over time,,, you will have good front axle drop, with a low pinion axle your pinion angle will be limiter for u joint bind,,,,,

rear leafs decided to give duffs a try {deavers} 2.5 heavy duty ,, after instll rear ride height 4 in over stock has dropped to 3.5 now would like if they settle in to 2.5 t0 3. inches .. so far there a little stiffer then prefered but need more time to determine ...front coils are some older duffs 3.5,, I like how the front is,, also running custom valved FOX 2.0 reservior shocks .

 

[ntsqd]

Don't be afraid to remove the shortest leaf. Or two. They contribute the least towards ride height and are the stiffest leaves in the spring.