Tech Info

Fabtech offers a variety of products for various suspension types. To obtain a better understanding of what each suspension type is and how it functions brand has provided the following images and descriptions. These descriptions should be considered general in nature to provide an overview of suspension types to increase product application knowledge. The listed descriptions are derived from stock type suspension design. Fabtech offers product for these suspension types along with hybrid suspensions, such as 4 Link Coilover designs for increased offroad suspension performance.

Front Suspension

Front: Leaf Spring Solid Axle

The Leaf Spring Solid Axle configuration uses a multiple leaf spring-pack, on each side of the axle housing to position the axle and to support the vehicle load. The leaf springs are mounted to a hanger bracket at one end, running longitudinally along the frame-rails, with a pivoting shackle at the opposite end. This simple design locates the axle on a specific axis and supports the weight of the vehicle. A track bar is sometimes used to help center the axle on heavy duty applications.

Front: Radius Arm Solid Axle - 4WD

This design incorporates a solid drive axle using radius arms for front-to-rear positioning of the axle and coil springs to support the vehicle's weight. The front of the radius arms are attached to the axle housing and run longitudinally along the frame rails, mounting to a single pivot point on the frame. A "track bar", mounted to the axle housing on the passenger side and the frame-rail on the driver side, keeps the axle centered side-to-side. The track bar and steering draglink geometries are matched to avoid excessive bump steer. The front axle experiences caster (the front to rear tilt of the spindle) change as the suspension cycles, which can have slight adverse effects on steering quality.

4 Link Solid Axle

The 4 Link Solid Axle design also incorporates a solid drive axle and coil springs, but uses two parallel links per side, instead of radius arms, for front-to-rear positioning of the axle. The 4-link's arms run parallel from the axle housing, longitudinally along the frame-rails, mounting to pivot points on the frame. This design allows the axle to move in a specific axis reducing the effect on caster and pinion angles. A track bar is also used to keep the axle centered.

Front: A Arm Torsion Bar - 2WD / 4WD

Torsion bar IFS designs incorporate the same SLA configuration, except torsion bars are used in place of coil springs. A torsion bar is a round bar, made of spring steel, mounted longitudinally along the frame rails. The front of the torsion bar attaches to the pivot point of the lower control arm and the other end of the bar is secured to a frame crossmember. Ride height is set by preloading, or twisting, the torsion bars rear mount until the bar supports the weight of the vehicle. As the suspension travels up, the bar is further twisted, increasing the spring force. The ride height of the vehicle can be increased by further preloading the torsion bars, but there are limitations due to suspension travel, CV joint angles on 4 wheel drive models and alignment capabilities.

Front: A Arm Coilover - 2WD / 4WD

Coilover independent front suspension (IFS) vehicles incorporate unequal length upper and lower control arms (SLA, "Short Long Arm") supporting the steering knuckle/spindle using ball joints. This configuration allows for large amounts of articulation while still maintaining proper suspension geometry. To maintain ride height, the coil spring is mounted on the shock absorber, using it as the coil spring mount. The lower control arm supports the load of the vehicle and the upper arm maintains the position of the steering knuckle, allowing the steering system to turn the knuckles left or right. Steering movements are achieved with tie rods positioned to reduce geometry change during suspension travel, also known as Bump Steer.

Front: A Arm Coil Spring - 2WD

Coil sprung IFS designs also incorporate the SLA configuration, but maintain ride height using a coil spring positioned between the frame and lower control arm. Both sides of the coil spring mount in formed pockets and usually incorporate rubber insolators to reduce noise. The lower control arm supports the load of the vehicle while the upper arm maintains the position of the steering knuckle. This allows the steering system to turn the knuckles left or right. Steering is achieved with tie rods positioned to reduce geometry change during suspension travel, also known as Bump Steer.

Rear Suspension

Rear: Leaf Spring Solid Axle

The most popular rear suspension uses a multiple leaf spring-pack, on each side of the axle housing, to position the axle and to support the vehicle load. The leaf springs are mounted to a hanger bracket at one end, running longitudinally along the frame-rails, with a pivoting shackle at the opposite end. The leaf spring design is used in heavy duty application with the addition of overload and helper leafs built into the main spring pack for additional weight capacity.

Rear: 4 Link Solid Axle

The 4 Link Solid Axle rear suspension design incorporates a solid drive axle and coil springs, with two parallel links per side for front-to-rear positioning of the axle. The 4-link's arms run parallel forward from the axle housing, longitudinally along the frame-rails, mounting to pivot points on the frame. A track bar is used on non-triangulated designs to keep the axle centered.

Uniball Upper Control Arms

Fabtech's Uniball Upper Control Arms are designed for severe duty use with stock and most aftermarket suspension systems. These Arms replace the thin stock upper control arms that are prone to flex and ball joint failure with heavy duty construction that is designed for aggressive offroad driving.

Fabtech Uniball Upper Control Arms directly replace the factory upper control arms for use on stock, aftermarket or Fabtech suspensions providing additional strength and reliability to the vehicle.

Enthusiasts that desire a mild lift height suspension with increased damping and wheel travel Fabtech offers the Uniball Upper Control Arms with Dirt Logic 2.5 Coilover front shocks and Dirt Logic 2.25 rear shocks as a complete system. These matched systems allow for up to 10" of wheel travel for high speed offroad use.

1. Uniball Gusset

All Arms feature a welded gusset that reinforces the Uniball cup to the Chromoly Arm tubes for exceptional strength.

2. Uniball

Large 1" ID Stainless Steel PTFE lined American made FK Uniball bearing is indexed to the Arm to allow for increased travel when utilizing Dirt Logic Coilover shocks.

3. Barrel Gusset

Bushing barrels and Chromoly Arm tubes are strengthened by welded gussets to distribute load across both parts rather than at just the point of the welded barrel.

4. Bushings

Greaseable polyurethane bushings provide a smooth connection to the frame without squeaks.

5. Barrel

Thick 0.250" wall DOM tubing is used on the bushing barrels to alleviate the possibility of failure in severe duty use.

6. Tubing

Arms are constructed with .120" wall 4130 Chromoly tubing that is used in Trophy Truck fabrication for unsurpassed strength. GM vehicle Arms feature 1.50" OD tubing while all others are 1.25" OD.

7. Nameplate

Look for the embossed nameplate as the signature of Fabtech quality.

8. Pin

Heat treated 17-4 stainless steel Uniball Pin is super strong and allows installation without modification to the spindle. Arms can be removed and returned back to stock without issue.

9. Misalignment

Constructed of 17-4 stainless these misalignments allow the Uniballs to travel without interference to the arm or spindle while adding strength to the cross section of the Pin.