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GEN 1 (2010-2014) Ford SVT Raptor Forums
Ford SVT Raptor General Discussions [GEN 1]
RPG's "Stage 3 Kit": National Spring Leaf Springs
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<blockquote data-quote="BigJ" data-source="post: 147363" data-attributes="member: 62"><p>The filler neck needs to drop with the tank. As its dropping, it needs to be rotated 90 degees to clear the fenderwell and other parts. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]187239[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>The passenger side has similar clearance issues with the exhaust, so dropping it makes things much easier</p><p>[ATTACH=full]187240[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]187241[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]187242[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>The kit comes with new U bolts (top). The new bolts are slightly smaller, but also its good practice to never reuse U bolts. They’re what’s called “torque to yield” bolts, meaning that when you torque them down, they deform and stretch by design. When you remove the nuts, they don’t spring back to the shape they were pre-torquring; they stay stretched. So if you were to reuse them and torque down back to spec, you’re stressing/stretching them beyond design, and you run the risk of them snapping under stress out on the trail.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]187243[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p>Here’s a good look at the stock bump pad and lift block. You won’t be reusing these.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]187244[/ATTACH]</p><p>See why? <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]187245[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]187246[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]187247[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Here’s one of the unique features RPG demanded; a double wrap eyelet for serious strength and longevity (shown left) vs just a single wrap like the stockers have (right). The upshot? This is a far stronger design that helps prevent stretching or sagging. Its also a great way to minimize axle wrap.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]187248[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>And in they go</p><p>[ATTACH=full]187249[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Here are the stock U bolt groves. This is how Ford stopped the U bolts from walking up or down the spring. This works, but under serious stress its not as solid as it could be</p><p>[ATTACH=full]187250[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>RPG’s hardware actually captures the U bolt above the axle, and reuses the factory hardware below. This virtually eliminates any walk, making for a much more solid coupling of the spring to the axle. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]187251[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]187252[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]187253[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]187254[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>And done!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]187255[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>As for ride height, here’s the ‘before’</p><p>[ATTACH=full]187256[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Here’s the immediately after</p><p>[ATTACH=full]187257[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>And here’s after about 500 on road miles</p><p>[ATTACH=full]187258[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>PS: Here’s where I’m sitting up front with the Truxxx spacer (that is coming out soon, in favor of the middle perch mod. See here as to why: <a href="http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/40k-mile-suspension-checkup-binding-blown-shock-bent-frame-10550/" target="_blank">http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/40k-mile-suspension-checkup-binding-blown-shock-bent-frame-10550/</a> )</p><p>[ATTACH=full]187259[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Looks like I’m up about 1 1/8" in the rear thanks to this install (after accounting for the new slightly taller tires)</p><p></p><p>So how does it feel? Of all the descriptions of mods I’ve ever done, describing the change these springs have made to the ride is turning out to be the toughest. Added to the difficulty is that I haven’t had a chance to get the truck off road yet with the springs, so all I can really do is try to articulate how its different on the road. And even so, everyone I’ve talked to about this mod has said the same thing; the only way to ‘get it’ is to drive it. No amount of typed words can sum it up. Bah... that’s never stopped me from trying before <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p><p></p><p>If I was forced to boil it down, I’d have to say the truck just feel more planted, or stuck to the ground. On a way tiny scale, the difference kinda feel to me like holding a magnet by your fingertips and passing it over a block of wood. Casually move that magnet up and down over the wood and your fingers freely lift and lower the magnet. Now hover over a block of metal, move down and just as causally try to move up; your fingertips are held down ever so slightly... you can feel the resistance as the magnet fights to hold you close to the metal. Now blow that up and try to translate it to driving a truck over rough roads, and you can kinda get a sense of the difference these springs are making.</p><p></p><p>Or let me try another analogy. Have you ever drag raced? The difference feels like drag racing on an unprep’d track vs a well prep’d track. Or cold tires vs warmed up tires. Or street tires vs slicks... its not so much in the application of the power to the ground that I’m trying to descibe, but rather the lack of hop, or rear end lift when you might otherwise consciously (or unconsciously) have expected it to be there. </p><p></p><p>As I was driving home, I was tired from the long day and not really paying attention as I was rockin out to some Heart. Just as I was about to scream out Ooooh Baracuda! I hit a strip of pavement I’ve been over in the Raptor easily 200 times. Before I knew it, my perfect harmony with Ann was interrupted. I found myself automatically lifting just a touch out of my seat in anticipation of a particularly nasty bump, but there was no seat that came up and met me. The seat stayed down, aka the truck stayed down and hugged the bump the whole way, leaving me hanging mid air and gaping open mouthed.</p><p></p><p>All kidding aside, I’m a beliver now that in order to really ‘get’ what these leafs can do for you, you just need to feel it. But if my ramblings above make sense to ya, you’ll have a good idea of what you’re in for if you go this route. That rear of ours goes from sometimes feeling like a bucking bronco, to a fine speedboat riding the rolling waves. I can’t wait to get ‘er off road and back out to those world famous Death Valley washboards, or Mojave whoops, or Anza Borrego sandy washes... And when I do, I’ll definitely keep this updated with my thoughts as they evolve.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BigJ, post: 147363, member: 62"] The filler neck needs to drop with the tank. As its dropping, it needs to be rotated 90 degees to clear the fenderwell and other parts. [ATTACH=full]187239[/ATTACH] The passenger side has similar clearance issues with the exhaust, so dropping it makes things much easier [ATTACH=full]187240[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]187241[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]187242[/ATTACH] The kit comes with new U bolts (top). The new bolts are slightly smaller, but also its good practice to never reuse U bolts. They’re what’s called “torque to yield” bolts, meaning that when you torque them down, they deform and stretch by design. When you remove the nuts, they don’t spring back to the shape they were pre-torquring; they stay stretched. So if you were to reuse them and torque down back to spec, you’re stressing/stretching them beyond design, and you run the risk of them snapping under stress out on the trail. [ATTACH=full]187243[/ATTACH] Here’s a good look at the stock bump pad and lift block. You won’t be reusing these. [ATTACH=full]187244[/ATTACH] See why? ;) [ATTACH=full]187245[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]187246[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]187247[/ATTACH] Here’s one of the unique features RPG demanded; a double wrap eyelet for serious strength and longevity (shown left) vs just a single wrap like the stockers have (right). The upshot? This is a far stronger design that helps prevent stretching or sagging. Its also a great way to minimize axle wrap. [ATTACH=full]187248[/ATTACH] And in they go [ATTACH=full]187249[/ATTACH] Here are the stock U bolt groves. This is how Ford stopped the U bolts from walking up or down the spring. This works, but under serious stress its not as solid as it could be [ATTACH=full]187250[/ATTACH] RPG’s hardware actually captures the U bolt above the axle, and reuses the factory hardware below. This virtually eliminates any walk, making for a much more solid coupling of the spring to the axle. [ATTACH=full]187251[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]187252[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]187253[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]187254[/ATTACH] And done! [ATTACH=full]187255[/ATTACH] As for ride height, here’s the ‘before’ [ATTACH=full]187256[/ATTACH] Here’s the immediately after [ATTACH=full]187257[/ATTACH] And here’s after about 500 on road miles [ATTACH=full]187258[/ATTACH] PS: Here’s where I’m sitting up front with the Truxxx spacer (that is coming out soon, in favor of the middle perch mod. See here as to why: [url]http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f5/40k-mile-suspension-checkup-binding-blown-shock-bent-frame-10550/[/url] ) [ATTACH=full]187259[/ATTACH] Looks like I’m up about 1 1/8" in the rear thanks to this install (after accounting for the new slightly taller tires) So how does it feel? Of all the descriptions of mods I’ve ever done, describing the change these springs have made to the ride is turning out to be the toughest. Added to the difficulty is that I haven’t had a chance to get the truck off road yet with the springs, so all I can really do is try to articulate how its different on the road. And even so, everyone I’ve talked to about this mod has said the same thing; the only way to ‘get it’ is to drive it. No amount of typed words can sum it up. Bah... that’s never stopped me from trying before ;) If I was forced to boil it down, I’d have to say the truck just feel more planted, or stuck to the ground. On a way tiny scale, the difference kinda feel to me like holding a magnet by your fingertips and passing it over a block of wood. Casually move that magnet up and down over the wood and your fingers freely lift and lower the magnet. Now hover over a block of metal, move down and just as causally try to move up; your fingertips are held down ever so slightly... you can feel the resistance as the magnet fights to hold you close to the metal. Now blow that up and try to translate it to driving a truck over rough roads, and you can kinda get a sense of the difference these springs are making. Or let me try another analogy. Have you ever drag raced? The difference feels like drag racing on an unprep’d track vs a well prep’d track. Or cold tires vs warmed up tires. Or street tires vs slicks... its not so much in the application of the power to the ground that I’m trying to descibe, but rather the lack of hop, or rear end lift when you might otherwise consciously (or unconsciously) have expected it to be there. As I was driving home, I was tired from the long day and not really paying attention as I was rockin out to some Heart. Just as I was about to scream out Ooooh Baracuda! I hit a strip of pavement I’ve been over in the Raptor easily 200 times. Before I knew it, my perfect harmony with Ann was interrupted. I found myself automatically lifting just a touch out of my seat in anticipation of a particularly nasty bump, but there was no seat that came up and met me. The seat stayed down, aka the truck stayed down and hugged the bump the whole way, leaving me hanging mid air and gaping open mouthed. All kidding aside, I’m a beliver now that in order to really ‘get’ what these leafs can do for you, you just need to feel it. But if my ramblings above make sense to ya, you’ll have a good idea of what you’re in for if you go this route. That rear of ours goes from sometimes feeling like a bucking bronco, to a fine speedboat riding the rolling waves. I can’t wait to get ‘er off road and back out to those world famous Death Valley washboards, or Mojave whoops, or Anza Borrego sandy washes... And when I do, I’ll definitely keep this updated with my thoughts as they evolve. [/QUOTE]
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GEN 1 (2010-2014) Ford SVT Raptor Forums
Ford SVT Raptor General Discussions [GEN 1]
RPG's "Stage 3 Kit": National Spring Leaf Springs
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