Thoughts on Solo Motorsports Rear Suspension kit?

[FirstTimer67]

Last year the guys from Solo Motorsports released a new rear suspension setup. Talking to them and seeing their videos it looks pretty solid but also a fair amount more expensive than any of the other kits out there. I prefer leaving the shocks outboard of the frame so really it's just the springs I'm curious about. What do you guys think of the new extended design? Is it a significant enough improvement to spend the extra money on the kit plus the fabrication needed to install versus the other springs out there?

My end goal is more desert/trail go fast offroad capability and not so much rock crawling. Current plans are Solo radius arms, king smooth body reservoir shocks, and 2.5" WH coils for the front. Just need to get the rear sorted.

 

[JB Fab]

I cant comment on the performance of the specific product. I can tell you their their stuff is top notch in the way it is fabricated, and it is built for racers by racers.
When it comes time for us to something to our 6th Gen. we will call them first.

 

[FirstTimer67]

I've heard the same. Their reputation is stellar but at $2,250 for the rear spring kit plus another $1-2k to weld on new mounts, am I crazy for thinking about spending 4x versus all the other big names out there?

Seeing them jump in the desert shows that it's a serious bit of hardware and they're reporting 16" of travel with the new hangers, shackles, and springs. Any idea how much of an improvement that is over the WH springs?

 

[JB Fab]

I would love to know too.......

 

[ntsqd]

I run their beams, rear damper mount, and specifically valved Fox dampers on my FSB. Standing on the side where you are it is hard to justify some of these desert racing derived suspension parts. After you've ridden in a rig fitted with them in the rough it's really hard to justify anything less.

Would I hesitate to spend that kind of money? Yes. Would I do it anyway? Yes.

 

[FirstTimer67]

I run their beams, rear damper mount, and specifically valved Fox dampers on my FSB. Standing on the side where you are it is hard to justify some of these desert racing derived suspension parts. After you've ridden in a rig fitted with them in the rough it's really hard to justify anything less.

Would I hesitate to spend that kind of money? Yes. Would I do it anyway? Yes.

Great insight, thank you. That last sentence is exactly how I'm feeling right now. On one hand there's always something else on our trucks to spend the money on, but also buy once, cry once.

Some searching did suggest that suspension travel on lift springs with the factory hangers/shackles is around 11" so increasing that by almost 50% is pretty incredible. I'm thinking this is the route I take but it would be great to hear some first hand accounts if there are any out there.

 

[1969]

I’d rather put that money towards a rear 4 link but that’s just me.

 

[ntsqd]

A 4 link in an Bronco (of any vintage) involves a bunch of compromises that most aren't willing to make.

 

[FirstTimer67]

A 4 link in a Bronco (of any vintage) involves a bunch of compromises that most aren't willing to make.

What kind of compromises? All things equal I thought 4-link is unanimously better, but a 16” travel leaf vs 12” travel 4-link I bet is a different story.

 

[ntsqd]

Exhaust routing, cutting large holes in the tub for the coil-overs, intrusive structure to support those coil-overs, rear seat fit, sometimes fuel tank fitment. Those are what I can think of right-quick.

I'd rather have a well designed and built leaf spring system than a poorly designed 4 link system. Most trips that I take the Bronco on are at least 500 miles and some have been 2000 miles. Road manners are important to me. A pure crawler is going to have a different set of judgement criteria.