Idler arm - An idler arm is found on IFS vehicles that have a centerlink. The idler arm supports one end of the centerlink while the pitman arm supports the other.
IFS - Acronym for Independent Front Suspension. With this type of suspension, the wheels travel independently of each other. The IFS covered in this catalog are either control arm types or Ford TTB.
Knuckle - A casting at the outboard ends of the axles that the spindle / hub / wheel assembly connects to. Replacement knuckles are used on lifted IFS vehicles when the lower control arms are lowered, but the upper control arms are not.
Military Wrap - Featured in some leaf spring designs, the second leaf plate wraps around the spring eye (called the main leaf) to form a double-wrap. This design element transmits less stress to the main leaf during extreme articulation. It also lessens the odds of spring separation in case of main leaf failure, and provides greater strength, support, and durability as a whole.
Nodular Iron - What Superlift knuckles are made from. The material's composition does not mean squat to 99.99% of Earth's population; just trust us when we say that it is great stuff.
OEM (or OE) - Acronym for Original Equipment Manufacturer. In this catalog an OEM is the actual vehicle manufacturer like Ford, GM, etc.
Pitman arm - This steering component splines onto the steering sector output shaft. The opposite end connects to a drag link or centerlink, depending on steering system design. With a dropped pitman arm, the drag link attachment point is moved down to reduce link angle.
Pre-set coil springs – Pre-setting involves fully compressing the coil spring (so that the coil wraps are actually touching each other) in the manufacturing process. This reduces the amount of coil sag and extends coil service life.
Progressive rate coils - Most coil springs have rates that are constant; if it takes 400 pounds to compress the spring the first one inch, another 400 pounds will compress it the second inch, and so on. With a progressive rate coil, the initial couple of inches of compression require less spring rate than the remainder of compression. This improves your "Sunday drive" ride quality, yet rate increases when you're in "Banzi mode". With progressive rate coils the first few coil wraps are more closely spaced than the remaining coils, or the entire spring is slightly conical (cone-like) in shape.
Radius arm - The arms (one per side) run basically parallel with the frame rails. They locate the front axle housing and prevent fore and aft axle movement. Common vehicles factory equipped with radius arms are 1966-79 Fords with coil spring / solid axle suspension, 1980-96 Fords with coil spring TTB and 2005 and newer Super Dutys. Caster angle must be addressed when lifting vehicles with radius arms.
Rock Fink - Superlift's "spokes rodent" was a collaborative effort of Superlift President Bret Lovett and Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. It was Bret's idea and Ed's artistic genius that brought Rock Fink, first cousin to Rat Fink, to life. Big Daddy, a legend in the automotive industry, died on April 4, 2001. Rock Fink was one of his latest and greatest, creations. Rock Fink apparel and prints are available.
Roll and yaw - The problem exists on lifted vehicles that have incorrect track bar length and / or severe track bar angle. When lifted, the track bar needs to be lengthened or binding occurs as the suspension travels… if unaddressed, the frame and axle housing will continuously "tug" against each other. This is most noticeable when the vehicle is being driven in a straight line, going through highway dips at speed. The sensation compares to the side-to-side oscillations of a boat. A certain amount of "steering wheel kick" normally accompanies roll and yaw.
Solid axle - A one-piece axle housing design that has rigid axle tubes all the way out to the knuckles. Good examples of vehicles with solid front axles are the 1966-79 Fords and the 1969-87 GM trucks.
Spring rate - A measurement of force (in pounds) required to compress a spring a given distance (in inches). Be careful when comparing rates since all manufactures do not use the same measuring procedures.
Steering arm - This forged steel component bolts to the front axle knuckle. Its opposite end attaches to the drag link. A raised steering arm is taller to reduce drag link angle. Normally, a slight amount of steering wheel kick is noticeable on lifted leaf sprung / solid axle GM vehicles equipped with any raised steering arm.
Steering wheel kick - This malady is most noticeable when you are driving in a straight line and the suspension compresses, like when going through a highway dip at speed. The steering wheel will move slightly, but the vehicle continues to track straight ahead. If the vehicle has a track bar, the problem is related to incorrect track bar length (too short) and / or incorrect phasing. "Incorrect phasing" exists when the track bar arc-of-movement is not in phase with the drag link arc-of-movement. Incorrect phasing can result when a dropped pitman arm is used, but the track bar is not lowered. A certain amount of phasing miss-match is acceptable, but at some point "kick" will occur.
Normally, a slight amount of steering wheel kick is noticeable on lifted leaf sprung / solid axle GM vehicles equipped with any raised steering arm.
Stud bind - When a tapered stud, found on a tie rod or track bar end, over-extends its pivot capability. This is a byproduct of excessive operating angles.
SUV - Stands for Sport Utility Vehicle. These are usually multi-passenger wagon type rigs, not pickup trucks.
Tie rod - A section of steering linkage. One thing that all tie rods have in common is that the outer end always attaches directly to the knuckle..
Toe angle – A steering geometry term; see diagram here.
Track width - The measurement from outside of tire-to-outside of tire.
Track bar - Found on basically all coil spring equipped rigs that have solid axles; some leaf spring equipped vehicles also have track bars. The bar helps locate and stabilize the axle housing. Generally, when lift exceeds 2", the bar must be relocated and / or replaced with a longer, adjustable unit.
TTB - Acronym for Twin Traction Beam, Ford's Independent Front Suspension system found on most 1980 to 996 models.
Turning radius - A measurement of the distance required to turn a vehicle.
Upside down and on fire - Where you do not want to be.
Wheel travel - See "Suspension travel".
Wrap-up - Referred to as both rear spring and rear axle wrap-up. As power is applied, torque load causes the rear pinion to pivot upward. Once this load reaches a certain point the leaf springs begin to deform, and wheel-hop is induced. The "fix" is to increase spring strength, reduce leverage by decreasing lift block height and / or install Superlift traction aid devices.