Radflo's Question

[Trail X]

$100 off would be a 10% drop, which seems like a fair bit. Let's hope Johny can talk with radflo about it and get them in on it. I think it would be in everyone's best interest to get a bunch of members running them. It could start a nice snowball effect.

Kyle, did you get to drive it offroad at all? I noticed a huge difference in how it handled potholes and dips. If I get them, I'd also feel comfortable getting rid of all swaybars.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Not offroad but I drive at 10% of the speed you do offroad. I am generally crawling around not hitting whoops. If they offered more flex it would be different but the travel does not change and that is all I ever want for offroad.

I don't need sway bars now. So that's a non issue.

I bet they are great, but I just can't see them providing anything I need at that price point. Maybe 500 but that is unrealistic and I accept that. If I was starting from scratch...it would be far more tempting. Selling my current setup wont get me much and I have not ever found myself saying...I wish I had the Radflo's. It may just be my use or driving style or whatever. Right now mine sits good and works good. Maybe its the combo of weight and whatever up front but I can bump around the two tracks at our property pretty quick without any issues. No one ever complains about the ride and some actually compliment it.

I guess if someone wanted my front 3 inch lift, 88s and HD Bilstiens for $400...I might be willing to give them a shot.

For the 2 sets out there....How much lift do you have? I do not want to lose any and know Mikes are ran at far less than my current setup is. I wonder how they preform up at my level.

[mikekey]

Thought these where adjustable or you can get them made up to 4 inchs in additional lift? I'm probably going to ask for at least 3.5.

[dvanbramer88]

Yes, you can adjust ride height.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I know they are adjustable, but I don't think either of them are running them up high. Not sure if it will affect performance or not.

[ErikSS]

Thought these where adjustable or you can get them made up to 4 inchs in additional lift? I'm probably going to ask for at least 3.5.

I want that too. Moots has his about 3/4 down (75% of lift) and it looks like just enough to me. However... I think my spongy soft front springs helped my articulation therefore climbing ability.

[Karo]

I have asked myself in the past if a bodylift could increase the amount of travel from the coilover, I mean that the chassis is higher with the dome mounts from the suspension, if that is the case you have to preload the coilover more then without the bodylift to get the same "stiffness" is that correct ?
I know that the length for the coilover is the same for the Trailblazer with or without body lift, but there must be a difference in the travel high or the stiffness or something I didn´t understand.

Karsten

[HARDTRAILZ]

Body lift does not affect suspension, just tire clearance.

[Karo]

Body lift does not affect suspension, just tire clearance.

I thought the lower control arms are mounted to the frame and the coilover is mounted to the lower control arm. The upper mounts of the coilover are mounted to the chassis (dome), when you have the bodylift installed you have more distance between frame and the chassis.

This picture is only a example for extending the upper mounting point for a coil over, but it is the same idea behind what I thought.

[bgwolfpack]

Body lift does not affect suspension, just tire clearance.

I thought the lower control arms are mounted to the frame and the coilover is mounted to the lower control arm. The upper mounts of the coilover are mounted to the chassis (dome), when you have the bodylift installed you have more distance between frame and the chassis.

No. The Dome Mounts are part of the frame, not body.

[Karo]

Body lift does not affect suspension, just tire clearance.

I thought the lower control arms are mounted to the frame and the coilover is mounted to the lower control arm. The upper mounts of the coilover are mounted to the chassis (dome), when you have the bodylift installed you have more distance between frame and the chassis.

No. The Dome Mounts are part of the frame, not body.

So I have learned something today! Thanks. But we could still extend the amount of travel with that kind of dome..

[The Roadie]

[Karo]

I´m an idiot, I´ll print that out..

[The Roadie]

I´m an idiot, I´ll print that out..

Not an idiot, but you need to spend more time on your back on the ground, memorizing the bottom of the vehicle.

Getting a body lift is also a good way to burn the design into your mind. (Plus get at the rear spark plug)

[bgwolfpack]

And the rear bolts for the intake! (what a bitch, stupid damn set-up)!!!

Mannyfooled!

[Trail X]

But we could still extend the amount of travel with that kind of dome..

Not really.

Our limitation isn't so much up, it's down. And we can't extend the downward limitation further due to the CV shaft bolting to the diff/disconnect.

If we could move the diff/disconnect down, we could increase the downward travel. The issue is that our diff/disconnect is bolted to our engine. It's hard to move an engine down.

[v7guy]

I know with my current setup the spindle/spring seems to be the limitation. With the wheel off and the suspension at full droop the CV still turns by hand easily and the spindle rests on the spring. With the spring/shock removed the suspension drops quite a bit more and then I run into CV at too high of an angle and the balljoint being maxed out. The smaller coil on the radflo would get me a bit more travel. I'd have to check to see what would limit it next.

I'm a big fan of the radflos since I've driven Matts truck quite a few times. The ride is smoother on and off road and despite having heavier springs than 89s it's more responsive. It's why I've been telling people to just pony up and get them. I think the vast majority of people would be much happier with the radflos.

[bartonmd]

The other reason Kyle didn't see much difference driving mine is because his has wider 35" tires at a lower pressure, and mine has stock width 30.5" tires at a higher pressure, so mine will ride rougher than his, anyway, all things being equal. This last spring's TECORE trip, I was able to keep up with James on the trail with no drama, fully disconnected, still running 30psi in the tires. Regardless of how one person's setup with Radflos compares to somebody else's completely different setup, I can tell you that they made a night and day difference in mine, off road.

Mike

[HARDTRAILZ]

I dont doubt they're better but I can't justify the cost when I am happy currently.

[bartonmd]

I dont doubt they're better but I can't justify the cost when I am happy currently.

I don't disagree with you at all! The reason I did them was because I needed to buy a lift, anyway. I'm just explaining to everybody else why you didn't think mine rode much better than yours.

Mike