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Radius Arms after leveling, do I need anything else?
Guys,
I leveled my truck and mounted 37x12.5's on my factory 20" wheels. I ordered 2" spacers to make sure I dont rub, unfortunately they sent me the wrong spacers. So for now I have some rubbing on the radius arms at full lock. So now Im thinking about replacing the radius arms instead of running spacers. My question is, if I go to an aftermarket radius arm will that eliminate the rubbing? And if so is there anything else I need with the radius arms?
Thanks
I would give the guys at CJC a call. This seems to be one of their specialities.
Originally Posted by MDK993
Guys,
I leveled my truck and mounted 37x12.5's on my factory 20" wheels. I ordered 2" spacers to make sure I dont rub, unfortunately they sent me the wrong spacers. So for now I have some rubbing on the radius arms at full lock. So now Im thinking about replacing the radius arms instead of running spacers. My question is, if I go to an aftermarket radius arm will that eliminate the rubbing? And if so is there anything else I need with the radius arms?
Thanks
You are almost certainly rubbing on your sway bar too, whether you are noticing it yet or not. Pictures below to illustrate from before I replaced my sway bar.
If I had to do it over I would be looking at Carli sway bar and Lewis built radius arm (provided Lewis returns calls and gets a shipment out - people have been having problems there).
You are almost certainly rubbing on your sway bar too, whether you are noticing it yet or not. Pictures below to illustrate from before I replaced my sway bar.
If I had to do it over I would be looking at Carli sway bar and Lewis built radius arm (provided Lewis returns calls and gets a shipment out - people have been having problems there).
Your truck is what inspired me to go to 37's. I was trying to save the money and just go with spacers but now that Im mid build I think its gonna be better long term to do radius arms as well. I have been looking at the Carli sway bar as well to improve the ride. I guess lll just have to go find a few extra $$'s!!
Other than rubbing off some paint, what other damage can be done by rubbing the sway bar and/or radius arms? I put 170K mikes on an '01 F350 lifted 2wd with 35's on stock wheels and they rubbed. No other problems other than an occasional annoyance when turning at full lock.
True. I think that's why Section179's been saying to throw the tires on and see how you like it. It's sound advice that I plan on doing myself. I may not care, or I may end up replacing the radius arms and sway bar too.
Something else I'd wondered too is if we can definitively say the aftermarket radius arms and sway bar are much better quality than OEM. If that's the case, you may be able to sell it to yourself as preemptive maintenance since the OEMs may need replacing down the road?
Yes my standard advice definitely is put the tires on and go from there. If you do a bunch of stuff all at once you’ll find yourself wondering where the issues crept in if you had them. Starting with tires is a great place to start on these trucks. Being at risk of crinkling fenders would scare me (not an issue with OEM wheels on these trucks, but I’ve gotten close with other vehicles), but sway bar and radius arm rub only at steering angles you do at slow speeds is only an irritation. No real risk of damage. If you can acclimate to it and aren’t too **** it’s a fine way to drive. As I’ve said in other threads I took it as an engineering challenge as much as anything... and wouldn’t fault anyone for not going all of the way.
I think that’s what the OP meant when he referenced spacers... but yeah let’s clarify this. Don’t ever put spacers on these trucks that aren’t hub centric, and ideally do 1” or 1.5” including cutting studs if you have to. Absolutely nothing wrong with hub centric hub spacers. I’d consider 2” unnecessary and at risk of increasing offset enough to risk fender trim interference, but if you address that they’d also be fine...
I think that’s what the OP meant when he referenced spacers... but yeah let’s clarify this. Don’t ever put spacers on these trucks that aren’t hub centric, and ideally do 1” or 1.5” including cutting studs if you have to. Absolutely nothing wrong with hub centric hub spacers. I’d consider 2” unnecessary and at risk of increasing offset enough to risk fender trim interference, but if you address that they’d also be fine...
Yep I was planning on 2" hub centric spacers but they sent me the incorrect size. They wouldnt fit over the hub.
Question on trimming wheel studs...how is that done and how do you go back to stock in the future?
Yep I was planning on 2" hub centric spacers but they sent me the incorrect size. They wouldnt fit over the hub.
Question on trimming wheel studs...how is that done and how do you go back to stock in the future?
Angle grinder.
The studs come out the back with 2 taps with a hammer on the front, and go in like new with one hammer tap from the back and a lug tightened over the front. If you need to go back you replace.
The studs come out the back with 2 taps with a hammer on the front, and go in like new with one hammer tap from the back and a lug tightened over the front. If you need to go back you replace.
That's what I'd use. If you don't have an angle grinder a hacksaw would work but you'd work up a sweat lol. You'll also probably need to clean up the threads at the cut so lug nuts will thread properly.
To clarify what Section179 said, you'll replace the studs entirely. Hammer out the old and hammer in the new.
So options are either deal with/ignore the rubbing at full crank, $350-400 spacers, $1200+ wheels, or $2500-3000 in radius arms/sway bar. All depends on what your end goal is and budget. I went with 295/65/r20 this round just to clear with no issues, but next time think i will be going 37x12.5 and doing some spacers.
So options are either deal with/ignore the rubbing at full crank, $350-400 spacers, $1200+ wheels, or $2500-3000 in radius arms/sway bar. All depends on what your end goal is and budget. I went with 295/65/r20 this round just to clear with no issues, but next time think i will be going 37x12.5 and doing some spacers.
I think all you need are 1/4" spacers, but there was concern that you couldn't get these hub centric, which they should absolutely be. I think the minimum hub centric are 1". I'm still debating this myself and the only reason I'm considering it is because the most payload I'll have in the truck is probably about 1600 - 1800 lbs. That's a light 5th wheel (900 lb pin weight), 4 occupants, and some gear. Most of our gear is in the 5th wheel storage.
I think I've been back and forth on spacers or paying up for the radius arms and sway bar a million times. I doubt I'll like the rub, and my truck is a CCLB, so I'll need as much turning radius as I can get.
I think all you need are 1/4" spacers, but there was concern that you couldn't get these hub centric, which they should absolutely be. I think the minimum hub centric are 1". I'm still debating this myself and the only reason I'm considering it is because the most payload I'll have in the truck is probably about 1600 - 1800 lbs. That's a light 5th wheel (900 lb pin weight), 4 occupants, and some gear. Most of our gear is in the 5th wheel storage.
I think I've been back and forth on spacers or paying up for the radius arms and sway bar a million times. I doubt I'll like the rub, and my truck is a CCLB, so I'll need as much turning radius as I can get.
I pull a heavy 5th wheel so I also debated using spacers but after doing some research if you go with a quality spacer you should be ok. I may look into a 1" and shorter studs and see how that goes. Or maybe Ill get lucky and come across a used set of wheels for sale.
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