Super Speak... a Glossary of 4-Wheel Drive and Superlift Terminology.

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Anti-sway bar links - The anti-sway bar assembly consists of two primary parts: a "U" shaped tubular body that spans from one side of the vehicle to the other, and two links (one per side) that connect the body to an anchor point. With some suspension lift designs, the bar body is relocated or longer links are used to compensate for a lift system.

Anti-sway bar pre load - As lift height increases the sway bar body pivots and begins to pre load. This pre load puts extra stress on the links and reduces suspension flexibility. Proper bar geometry is restored by relocating the body or by using longer links.



Articulation - As in suspension articulation. This is how well each axle, or each wheel, will travel and "twist-up" when traversing an extremely off-camber obstacle. When offroad, you want as much articulation as possible to keep the tires on the ground and getting traction. As suspension manufacturers, we search for the right balance of off-road articulation and on-road stability.

Bump steer - Caused by a number of alignment problems, bump steer is when a vehicle darts or wanders excessively when operated on a less than ideal driving surface... in other words, it takes a concentrated effort to keep the vehicle in a straight line.

Camber angle - See diagram here. Camber is impacted the greatest when lifting a vehicle with Independent Front Suspension (IFS).

Caster Angle - See diagram here. Caster is impacted the greatest when lifting a vehicle that has radius arms, like the 1969 to 79 one-half ton Fords, and the TTB family of Fords.

Centerlink - A centerlink is found on IFS vehicles that have upper and lower control arms. It is a piece of

steering linkage that connects the pitman and idler arms. A tie rod connects to each end of the centerlink. On some lifted trucks, the Original Equipment (OE) centerlink is replaced by a "dropped" centerlink.

CNC - Stands for "Computerized Numerical Control". Term describes a type of control system used on a piece of manufacturing equipment. CNC machines offer unsurpassed accuracy and repeatability.

Coming soon - A term associated with new product introduction that informs you that we are working on it, or will be "soon", without painting ourselves into a corner by actually giving a concrete available date. In reality, this period of time can range from three weeks to 48 months. "Oh, in about sixty days" is the verbal equivalent of "coming soon".

Compression travel - A measurement of the amount the suspension will compress before it bottoms-out against its travel stop. This travel stop is also called a "bump stop" and "jounce stop".



Control arm - Control arms, also called "A-arms" because of their shape, are found on all IFS suspensions listed in this catalog except for the Ford TTB. There is one upper and one lower arm on each side. They have a balljoint on the outboard end and connect to the frame on the inboard end.

CSS - Stands for Centerlink Stabilizing System. A dropped centerlink tends to pivot fore and aft excessively when turning force is applied. The CSS uses one or two links to tie the centerlink to a crossmember and prevent this excessive movement.

Curb weight - How much the vehicle weighs when loaded with normal compliment of passengers, fuel, gear etc..

CV axle - Stands for Constant Velocity axle. With a control arm style IFS, they are the rubber or plastic booted axle shaft assemblies (one per side) that bolt to the differential housing flange on the inboard end, and mate to the hub / knuckle on the outboard end.

DOM - Stands for Drawn Over Mandrel. The term specifies a certain type of tubular steel that has exceptional strength, forming, and welding characteristics.

DOT - Stands for (Federal) Department Of Transportation.



Drag link - A piece of steering linkage that connects to a pitman arm on the upper end and a tie rod or knuckle on the lower end. On lifted vehicles, sometimes an Original Equipment (OE) drag link is replaced by a "dropped" drag link to reduce linkage angle.

Driveability - The sum of the vehicle's driving traits and mannerisms. Handling, steering traits, and ride quality are the major categories that influence driveability. The question is how will a particular suspension alteration impact driveability?

Driveshaft angle - The angle of the driveshaft in relation to the pinion yoke (at the differential) or the output yoke (at the transfer case). Driveline vibration, bind-free driveshaft operation and shaft length are influenced by driveshaft angle.

Extension travel - A measurement of the amount the suspension will extend before it tops-out against it's travel stop.

GVWR - Stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. This information is provided by the vehicle manufacturer and is located on a tag generally found on the driver side door jamb. It tells you how much total weight, including occupants, fuel, bed load, etc., the vehicle is rated to carry.

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 - Stands 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 - An iron or steel 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 cannot be lowered.

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.

OE or OEM - Stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. In this catalog an OEM is the actual vehicle manufacturer like Ford, GM, etc..

Organic gardening gone wrong - You'd just have to see it.

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. On a dropped pitman arm the drag link attachment point is moved down to reduce link angle.

Pre set coil springs - Pre setting means 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.



Radius arm - These are found on 1966-79 Fords with coil spring / solid axle suspension, and 1980-96 Fords with coil spring TTB. The arms (one per side) run basically parallel with the frame rails. They locate the front axle and prevent fore and aft axle movement. Caster angle must be addressed when lifting a radius arm equipped rig more than 2".

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. It's opposite end attaches to the drag link. A raised steering arm is taller to reduce drag link angle.

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. On vehicles with a track bar, this is caused by the track bar and drag link arc of travel being out of phase with each other. 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 it's 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 - A steering alignment term.

Track width - The measurement from outside of tire-to-outside of tire.



Track bar - Found on both coil and leaf sprung rigs, it helps locate and stabilize the front axle. Generally, when lift exceeds 2", the bar must be relocated or lengthened.

TTB - Stands for Twin Traction Beam, Ford's four wheel drive Independent Front Suspension system from 1980 to 1996.

Turning radius - A measurement of the distance required to turn a vehicle.

Wheel travel - A measurement of the total amount of available suspension travel; from full compression to full extension.

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, which stresses numerous driveline components. The "fix" is to increase spring strength, via add-a-leafs, or install Super-trac traction bars.

Rear spring in static position

Spring "wrap-up" under torque load

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