Radius Rods installed....WOW!!! - Diesel Forum

TexasExcursion · 07-06-2005, 09:32 PM

I've had the radius rods installed now for a few weeks and have evaluated them towing for about 1000 miles. The axle wrap problem has been fixed; it is especially evident while towing over expansion joints on interstate bridges. Prior to the rods, the back end of the X would have a tendency to jump around--scary when you've got 11k behind you. Now, however, the back end stays where it should making for an easier tow.

On our recent trip to Niagara Falls this weekend (800 miles round trip), the truck towed remarkably better. Stability was much better than before. The suspension was much firmer--like a truck should be. This firmness accentuated some driveline vibrations that'd been occuring prior to the rods installation. But the vibration was not caused by the rods...they're just motivating me to get it taken care of.

Only two products that I've ever purchased have lived up to their hype: the Hensley Arrow and the radius rods. If you're considering purchasing them but are apprehensive because Ken makes them in his garage, consider that the quality was better on the rods than on the sway bar I got from Hellwig, the instructions were better than those on my Airlift airbags (which were damned good instructions, by the way), and the customer service from Ken was better than anything I've experienced from any company. If you don't have them on your X, you're missing out.

Bruce

turbodave · 07-07-2005, 07:49 AM

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I've had the radius rods installed now for a few weeks and have evaluated them towing for about 1000 miles. The axle wrap problem has been fixed; it is especially evident while towing over expansion joints on interstate bridges. Prior to the rods, the back end of the X would have a tendency to jump around--scary when you've got 11k behind you. Now, however, the back end stays where it should making for an easier tow.

On our recent trip to Niagara Falls this weekend (800 miles round trip), the truck towed remarkably better. Stability was much better than before. The suspension was much firmer--like a truck should be. This firmness accentuated some driveline vibrations that'd been occuring prior to the rods installation. But the vibration was not caused by the rods...they're just motivating me to get it taken care of.

Only two products that I've ever purchased have lived up to their hype: the Hensley Arrow and the radius rods. If you're considering purchasing them but are apprehensive because Ken makes them in his garage, consider that the quality was better on the rods than on the sway bar I got from Hellwig, the instructions were better than those on my Airlift airbags (which were damned good instructions, by the way), and the customer service from Ken was better than anything I've experienced from any company. If you don't have them on your X, you're missing out.

Bruce

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For those of us that are ignorant on this item. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Do you have any links or info or photo's etc.

Hoowasat · 07-07-2005, 08:29 AM

You can read about them at the following link:
http://www.fordexcursions.com/articl...le_1/index.php

jward · 07-07-2005, 10:11 AM

[quote the instructions were better than those on my Airlift airbags (which were damned good instructions

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I was under the impression that radius rods could not be installed with the airbags [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

turbodave · 07-07-2005, 01:46 PM

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[quote the instructions were better than those on my Airlift airbags (which were damned good instructions

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I was under the impression that radius rods could not be installed with the airbags [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

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You're correct. I was just under mine looking around, and my 01 4X2 does not have the traction bar mentioned in the article and also doesn't have the metal bump stops mentioned in the article. My rubber snubbers must have used the axle tube as a bump stop.

Those things must be a 4X4 thing.

Also, with my Ride Rite air springs, there's no way that radius rod axle clamp will mount, so guess I'm out of luck, because there's NO WAY I'd give up the ride rite's. I love what they've done for the ride and towing stability.

TexasExcursion · 07-07-2005, 04:16 PM

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I was under the impression that radius rods could not be installed with the airbags [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

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Radius rods CAN be installed with airbags. Perhaps different brands of bags proclude using the rods, but I've got Airlift bags and the two products work simultaneously without problems. If you've got bags, get the Gen I kit; it connects to the axle outboard of the springs. The Gen II kit connects to the axle on either side of the spring and will not work with bags.

If you've got questions, visit the link a few posts up. Ken has a very good instructional packet that'll answer your questions and will tell you which kit is best for your truck.

boatpuller · 07-07-2005, 05:02 PM

What TexasExcursion said.

I've got the rods, the bags, and the Helweig, and they all play well together. Some years' brakes prevent that from happening, and Ken works hard to disclose that.

scottginfla · 07-07-2005, 05:28 PM

where to buy and how much?

erlong · 07-08-2005, 01:38 AM

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where to buy and how much?

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Purchase info here. I have them on my Excursion and the difference is incredible. The constant adjusting of the steering wheel on highway trips and just "around town" driving would create fatigue. I can drive for much longer on a trip now because there's significantly less effort in keeping the X in a straight line down the road.

While I never towed a lot without the radius rods installed, I must say that the 7K+ load I pulled this past weekend for a 3+ hour road trip was a breeze. I found myself thinking about the radius rods as I went over bumps in the road at 70+ MPH without the steering wheel budging at all. I love 'em.

Vindicator · 07-08-2005, 04:31 AM

Do traction bars do the same thing as radius rods?

Clevelandjim · 07-08-2005, 08:43 AM

Has anyone installed Roadmaster Active Suspension on their Excursion?

jward · 07-08-2005, 10:35 AM

My X has a pretty rough ride with Bilsteins , Airlift bags and Hellwig Anti sway bar . Did the radius rods add stiffness to the ride ?

Hoowasat · 07-08-2005, 10:37 AM

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Do traction bars do the same thing as radius rods?

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The 4WD X already has OEM snubber-type traction bars. The radius-rods work more like ladder bars ... keep the rear wheels in a controlled arc. Unlike ladder bars, the r-rods are geared more towards X's that have not been lifted into the stratosphere.

Hoowasat · 07-08-2005, 10:41 AM

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Has anyone installed Roadmaster Active Suspension on their Excursion?

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Call Roadmaster and ask if their product does anything to resolve axle-wrap in the X's rear suspension. Axle-wrap is the ailment from which a lot of X suspension-woes originate ... bumpy ride ... feeling uncontrollable in washboard curves ... wandering.

Snowman269 · 07-08-2005, 03:24 PM

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My X has a pretty rough ride with Bilsteins , Airlift bags and Hellwig Anti sway bar . Did the radius rods add stiffness to the ride ?

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The ride is better with Radius rods, not stiffer.

I found expansion joints on the expressway no longer buck the X. The rear suspension just does it's job like it should have from the factory. Radius Rods really work!