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Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 2:20 pm
by IIIOIISTER
Anyone here running the Carli Radius Arms for their PW? Been debating getting those and the 3" Carli front coils for my '17 PW, which current has 1/2" Thuren coils and Carli King 2.5 (used to have Thuren King 2.0). I didn't go with Thuren because of an upcoming road trip plus Carli is less than two hours away. Still waiting on a reply from Carli but I think I already know the answer.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:22 pm
by DamageWagon
Why do you want to run their radius arms? This is a case I would actually say that is a DOWN grade. Your stock arms will flex better than the Carli's will. There's literally zero upgrade, the stock arms are great. Get them powder coated and put some stickers on if you want bling. Or I'll sell you some weld-on radius arm reinforcements if you want them to be unique. You're literally paying only for an item to say "Carli" with those arms, unless you're just trying to get a radius arm drop, which you don't need at your height.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:27 pm
by OffroadTreks
What Marcus said, makes zero sense to run their radius arms, not an upgrade. Their 3 inch coils are the same height as Thuren's FYI. Thuren's Hemi coils are 3 inches, he just lists them as 1 inch and 1 1/2 inch in the PW section.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:33 pm
by Colibri
The Carli arms are beefy but don’t have provision for the power wagon articulink. You will have more roll resistance and less flex than stock. Wouldn’t recommend it.

I’ve been thinking about buying a new dually tow pig, and would consider them for that, only because I wouldn’t lift it and so would probably scrape and beat the stock arms to shit in short order towing things up and down my hill.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:44 pm
by IIIOIISTER
Sorry for the confusion gents I meant radius arms drops, to compensate for the taller-than-stock coils.

And yes I'm tracking that the 1/2" is actually about 2" lift over stock 2500.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 6:04 pm
by olyelr
MikeKey wrote:
Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:27 pm
What Marcus said, makes zero sense to run their radius arms, not an upgrade. Their 3 inch coils are the same height as Thuren's FYI. Thuren's Hemi coils are 3 inches, he just lists them as 1 inch and 1 1/2 inch in the PW section.

I thought he sells 1/2” lift coils and 1.5” lift coils, over a stock power wagon. The OP has the 1/2” ones and wants to upgrade to the 1.5” ones (thats the way i read it).

To the OP, i dont think the drop brackets are needed personally. Your only gonna be 1.5” taller than stock. All it would do is give you something else to drag on.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 6:16 pm
by IIIOIISTER
olyelr wrote:
Wed Nov 08, 2017 6:04 pm
MikeKey wrote:
Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:27 pm
What Marcus said, makes zero sense to run their radius arms, not an upgrade. Their 3 inch coils are the same height as Thuren's FYI. Thuren's Hemi coils are 3 inches, he just lists them as 1 inch and 1 1/2 inch in the PW section.

I thought he sells 1/2” lift coils and 1.5” lift coils, over a stock power wagon. The OP has the 1/2” ones and wants to upgrade to the 1.5” ones (thats the way i read it).

To the OP, i dont think the drop brackets are needed personally. Your only gonna be 1.5” taller than stock. All it would do is give you something else to drag on.
I agree, don't really think an extra inch and a half are going to warrant dropping the radius arms. Just curious to hear from anyone that had to actually use a radius drop for the lift.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 9:54 pm
by olyelr
If you are looking for a performance upgrade, as far as off road goes, I have a feeling a 4 link setup like this http://www.pure-performance.biz/product-p/pp05712.htm would work better than the factory radius arm setup. May not be as good for on road, though... Im not sure.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:48 am
by IIIOIISTER
Just installed the Carli 3” front coils. Despite what the trolls have been claiming in the past, radius arms geometry changes ARE definitely necessary as there is a bowl in the coils as a result of sharply angled coil buckets.

Does anyone here ACTUALLY have the Carli 3” installed? The Carli 3” is not the same height as the Thuren 3” (or 1-1/2” for PW). Here’s a direct quote from Don when I asked him if there is a difference between Carli’s and his coil springs:

“Yes mine are about 3/4" shorter at ride height. Carlis coils lift the truck 3.5" or so, and mine are 2.75" lift.”

I’d really appreciate it if some one that owns the 3” Carli would step forward and share his experience in terms of what other components were necessary to run those coils properly.

@MikeyKey, buddy you honestly don’t think I read the fine prints before I purchased my 1/2” from Thuren? What coils are you currently running that makes you so confident that you don’t need any changes to the radius arms to run the 3” Carli properly? I’d love to see your perfectly straight coils sitting on a “stock” PW with no mods to the radius whatsoever.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:40 am
by DamageWagon
I've never heard someone running a 3" kit need new radius arms. Ever. I've only seen guys get new arms for the 5"+ kits. Was it Dan or Radio that told you you HAVE to spend tons more money with them or your truck will fall to pieces in the middle of the road?

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:44 am
by olyelr
The stock coils bow on all ram 2500s with the radius arms. Including the power wagons.

Check out reloaderguys build thread. He has a good picture of the stock coils bowing like a boomerang.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 3:04 pm
by OffroadTreks
IIIOIISTER wrote:
Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:48 am
Just installed the Carli 3” front coils. Despite what the trolls have been claiming in the past, radius arms geometry changes ARE definitely necessary as there is a bowl in the coils as a result of sharply angled coil buckets.
Are you now calling us all trolls?
IIIOIISTER wrote:
Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:48 am
Here’s a direct quote from Don when I asked him if there is a difference between Carli’s and his coil springs:

“Yes mine are about 3/4" shorter at ride height. Carlis coils lift the truck 3.5" or so, and mine are 2.75" lift.”
Ok, guess I was wrong, I was falsely under the impression they were the same. That's a sizable difference to boot.

IIIOIISTER wrote:
Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:48 am
@MikeyKey, buddy you honestly don’t think I read the fine prints before I purchased my 1/2” from Thuren? What coils are you currently running that makes you so confident that you don’t need any changes to the radius arms to run the 3” Carli properly? I’d love to see your perfectly straight coils sitting on a “stock” PW with no mods to the radius whatsoever.
:roll: Whose just randomly buying things here? Cough Cough King 2.0's.


Here is Reloaderguy's first from his own thread

http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... =13&t=3845
Here are how the factory coils look brand new.
Image
Thuren Gas Coils 1 1/2
Image
What is that?

Believe it or not, I seem to have not taken a photo. But I have Thuren's 1 1/2 inch coils on my truck, DamageWagon watched me install them. Most of my photos are of me actually wheeling my truck. :popcorn:



But you're the expert, so why are you asking questions? Just buy Carli's radius arms already. We're all stupid. I'm a troll. I have no further input for ya. Sorry for offering any input at all. :run:

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 3:35 pm
by nts007
I found carli 3" coils on my truck were only 1.75" gain over stock. The Thuren's were just shy of the 3" advertised. I have another set of carli coils not installed that are 3". Who knows. Maybe they will be closer to 3" for someone and much farther for another.
A lot of aftermarket parts seem to act differently for different trucks. It's weird. Just when we think we got it nailed down someone comes out with a must have part and an expert on trolls has to make a big deal about it. We witnessed reloderguy being a first adopter on the wagon with thuren coils. And many of us have an excellent understanding on how suspension link points and pivots work. Not ragging on ya just chill

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 10:55 pm
by ramv
On my second gen, I am running 7" Skyjacker coils with stock four link lower brackets. Uppers are from a Skyjacker 5" kit. Lower links are custom, uppers are from the Skyjacker 5". Obviously all the sideways stuff (steering, trackbar etc is Thuren.)

My thought is the stock mounts keep the control arms out of the rocks better than drops/long arms. I destroyed the Skyjacker and stock lowers on rocks, so had to build stronger lowers. I can't imagine I would want to drop them. On the 4.5 gens with the super long radius arms, I can't see how a drop on the arm helps with anything other than perhaps the spring angle. It's just going to hinder off road performance.

Edit:
Should have read this thread more. It's hilarious. 3/4" of an inch? Stock options, wear and tear, fuel versus empty, winch/no winch, snow plow, etc will make more difference. Drop brackets for a tiny lift will only hurt performance.

I personally wouldn't consider any drop brackets unless the lift was 6" or more.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 11:40 am
by rkgzx9leftcoast
There is a place called Lewis Built performance that makes some really beefy looking Arms that have a second set of points and have correction for lift, they are in the same price range as Carli...may want to check them out. I know Carli is pretty adimant abount using thier drop brackets with thier springs. The carli arms alone dont add any angle from stock for lift from what I understand.

I did see in a post from Don somewhere that he is brain storming 4 links for our trucks, not sure if orwhen they may be a reality ??

Not sure whats needed or not , I have dons front springs... from what I have dealt with him, and what I have heard from others, he is the man to ask....

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 3:00 pm
by Reloaderguy
rkgzx9leftcoast wrote:
Sat Dec 02, 2017 11:40 am
There is a place called Lewis Built performance that makes some really beefy looking Arms that have a second set of points and have correction for lift, they are in the same price range as Carli...may want to check them out. I know Carli is pretty adimant abount using thier drop brackets with thier springs. The carli arms alone dont add any angle from stock for lift from what I understand.

I did see in a post from Don somewhere that he is brain storming 4 links for our trucks, not sure if orwhen they may be a reality ??

Not sure whats needed or not , I have dons front springs... from what I have dealt with him, and what I have heard from others, he is the man to ask....
I would love the adjustability of those arms but they look like a nightmare. The JJ radius links are going to bind up the arms under flex.

I'm not convinced you don't need radius arm drops. The suspension seems incapable of absorbing the small bumps from freeway expansion joints. Don's explanation is excessive unsprung weight. I'm uncertain that is true and not just excessive radius arm angle. I don't believe the bow, or the absence thereof, in the coils indicates the need for the drops. I think it mainly gives consumers an observable condition that can be contributed to the benefits, or lack thereof, of a product. In other words, my coils were bowed from the factory and the suspension worked fine; my coils are now straight and have trouble absorbing small rhythmic bumps. The problem is I don't want to just install drops and no one around here has a Carli lift.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:06 am
by DamageWagon
A 3/4" drop for radius arms seems like a joke that's not going to do anything for your angle. What is the angle of your arms now, and what would it be if you changed that by moving one end by 3/4"? Sounds like an easy money gimmick. The radius arms on the Power Wagons should be viewed more as a premium part than as a crappy OEM part waiting to be replaced. The earlier 4-link suspensions have poor geometry and that changes heavily with lift heights, the current suspension is very nice and is fairly flat. Id bet you'd see a better improvement by dropping tire pressure by 3psi than by dropping your radios arms by 3/4". On top of that, adding another part between the frame and a suspension link is just adding a mode of failure, albeit slim.

The Lewis Built arms are very cool, but I see them as a downgrade for the Wagons. You're taking out a huge bushing and in its place you are using a heim joint, which is dead solid. You're going to lose flex.

Re: Carli Radius Arms

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 8:51 pm
by Reloaderguy
I don't think the radius arms are as flat as they look. The have clearance built into them, if you run a string-line from bolt to bolt you can actually see how steep they are. I don't know if Carli drops would improve anything, I'm only saying that the PW does nothing to correct the radius arm angles from a stock 2500 and adding another 1.5" of lift only compounds the angles. I am running 35/30psi, dropping the tire pressure further causes the truck to handle poorly.