Here’s a great tech article along with a video from our friends at Mud and Guts Offroad
FAQ
Mud and Guts Offroad Installs Racer Tech RZR S 2″ Lift Kit
Saturday, February 23rd, 2013How to Determine Custom HD Tie Rod Length
Thursday, February 14th, 2013Racer Tech offers custom length tie rods for all models and arm kits. If you have a competitors arm kit but want a more serious tie rod solution you’ve come to the right place.
For more info on our HD Tie Rod Kits click the link for your model UTV below:
RZR 800 / RZR S / RZR 4 800 / RZR 570
RZR XP 900 / RZR XP4 900 / RZR XP 900 Jagged X
Ranger XP 700/800 09′+
You can order TWO ways - Ordering custom length tie rods from Racer Tech is easy. We’ve developed a simple mathematical equation we use here in-house to calculate the exact length needed to work with any arm kit you could ever possibly run on your UTV. We also save previous custom designs and add common sizes to the site here as well.
Measurement Generated - Measure your tie rods as shown in the pictures below. We only need the dimension from the shoulder to the center of the bolt. Once you determine your measurement. Place your order and make sure you select the CUSTOM option. When checking out, put the measurement in the COMMENT box. We will see this and build custom length tubes per your measurement.
“Pre-Designed” - We’ve been doing this for years so there’s a really good chance we already have the custom length kit saved in our system. Just look on the “custom” tab on the appropriate kit listing for your UTV and see if you’re version is available as a “pre-designed” kit. Then just follow the instruction for ordering.
• Measure from the shoulder of your OEM inner pivot ball joint cup. This is the surface which tightens against the rack bar of the steering rack.
• You will measure from the shoulder to the center of the outer mounting bolt head. Make sure the bolt is perpendicular to the tie rod shaft for the most accurate measurement.
• This is the measurement we need to design custom length tie rods for you. We use this dimension to plug in to our equation which considers the “stack up” length of all of our replacement components vs. the OEM components. Then the equation calculates what length the tube needs to be overall to make our kit match the same overall length of what your custom arm kit requires. The equation calculates the overall length of the final kit and builds in 1/4″ of exposed threads per side of the tube at the calculated length which allows up to 1/2″ of adjustment to a shorter length or over 1″ of adjustment to a longer length if needed during alignment.
How to Determine Your Spring Rates
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013This is a VERY common question we get here on a daily and even hourly basis. Right now we are working on a new widget for our website which does this calculation for you and even points you to the correct kit for your model but it’s not quite ready yet so I thought I’d share the formula for everyone to at least work with for now.
Here’s what we tell everyone now days. It’s a simple formula we’ve developed through years of experience with these machines and our kits. The weight listed refers to TOTAL driver, passenger, accessory and cargo weight. We recommend using your most average weight to figure from since it’s obviously how you use the machine the majority of the time.
Plows and other part-time gear/accessories can make this calculation complicated but there is much more effective adjustment in our spring kits than the OEM springs due to proper design. All threaded body type shocks seem to have enough preload adjustment to compensate temporarily for these additions without a spring rate change so the formula below still applies. If the preload adjustments don’t give you enough adjustment on a STD 50″ RZR w/ Sachs shocks (non-threaded body) when adding the temporary or seasonal weight we do offer these Spring Shims which add 1/2″ per shim to the preload and are stack-able.
This formula has been proven to work on ALL of our springs kits for all models. We’ve actually been collecting data and experimenting with this for years now. A lot of people don’t know this but we’ve been selling replacement springs for the RZR models for over five years as of now. This is substantially longer than any other mfg. in the industry. Our experience and expertise speaks for itself when you get a chance to ride on the finished product.
- To determine your rate choice you must add up ALL of the weight you carry on your machine. This should include anything that makes the machine weight more than OEM weight. This weight should also include average driver/passenger weight (you can play with this weight a little later).
- Next, if you have our lift kit or plan to run one, take 200 lbs. OFF your total number. If you have wheels, wheel spacers or anything that makes the wheel offset 2″ or more from the original wheel/hub relationship ADD 100 lbs. to your total.
- If your total number equals OVER 600 lbs. you need the HEAVY rate springs. Anything UNDER 600 lbs. will work best with the MEDIUM rates.
- If you end up really close to the 600 lb. line you can play around with the driver/passenger weight a little bit and reconsider your most average conditions. Also, if you consider yourself a moderate driver you can err to the lighter side. If you’re an aggressive driver err to the heavy side. Furthermore, if you are the type of person who considers a smooth ride the most important then go on the lighter side. If you would rather have support and height over a Cadillac ride then go towards the heavy side.
One of the several major advantage Racer Tech has over all our competitors is we can fine-tune your system with you by simply swapping out the long springs from our dual rate kit for a fraction of the cost of making you buy a whole new kit. Adjustability is one of the bigger advantages of dual rate springs but I’m not here to debate designs right now.
Note: This formula applies to our lift kit and springs ONLY. We make it a strict policy to refuse comments about the performance or relationships of any competitor’s products to ours. We know our parts, are convinced they are the best, and have no time to consider alternatives. It’s not worth wagering a guess if something else will or will not work with our products when we have complete kits available.
Also, this formula does NOT GUARANTEE you a perfect setup. RT will not be held responsible for miscalculations or liable to send you new springs until your heart’s content. We feel very confident in this formula but this is ONLY an advanced method of guessing. There are FAR too many variables in the final equation to say this is right for every single person. We do work very hard to work with everyone as individually as possible though. If we can help with cost we will but our policy is to change $50 per two springs for an exchange. There is NO exchanging custom colors.
