I'm always working on something new, and of course, any good businessman will tell you that unveiling a product before it's debut, is not business-like. Well, that's why I don't think a corporate giant ever can compete in a specialized motorsports field for very long without losing it's customer base. It takes the enthusiastic customer input to make a good product better, and without that, the product will just be something to fill the pages of some catalog. Even though a few people may pickup up on this patent pending design and reproduce it, we're in it for the long run. What we end up with is far beyond just a design… it's a combination of application, ultra-high quality components, precision machining and unmatched quality control. Only the best of the best dealers and retailers are selling these components. Therefore, only after extensive testing, rigorous use and the last refinement can be made, will I release a new product to the market. That's just the way it is at Performance Unlimited. The wait is always worth it! I think I can trust anyone here who has the key to the back door, anyway.

The initial idea was to create a "poor man's" flexible suspension for the Ford 1/2 tons  and Bronco's. After careful investigation it was evident that by simply lengthening the radius arms, or using heim joints at the ends of them was not going to produce significant gains in suspension travel and flexibility. The "C" bushing area turns out to be the limiting factor, almost acting like a built in anti-sway bar when trying to force it to twist, with one wheel in an upward motion and the other downward. Rather than wasting any time on a second rate 'band-aid' to cure a bigger problem, it was decided to just go ahead and cure the whole problem at one shot. Several designs are being investigated, and the ultimate winner will assuredly be a "Tru-Bolt on" system with minimal modifications, and maximum performance exceeding that of most other vehicular limitations.

This graphic illustration of the "C" bushing's hindrance in the suspension travel and articulation potential of the OEM design is evident. Note that the above photo shows the Bronco setting on the ground with weight being distributed to all four wheels. A closer look reveals that the driver side HAS NO COILS installed! There is nothing holding up this side of the Bronco, other than the torsion effect of the "C" bushings being transmitted through the axle to the other spring location, where the entire weight of the front end is being supported. A special solid checking rod (yellow arrows) replaced the coil mount at the other side in order to elevate any influence from the opposite spring's deflection from the added leverage applied. Longer radius arms can slightly improve articulation by further amplifying any usable bushing deflection, but not at all elmintate the "C" bushing restriction. Softer "C" bushings can allow more twisting motion, but at the same time, potentially increasing front end wobble and axle shake while under power or hard braking. Heim joints at the ends of the radius arms gain very little performance in this situation, unless being compared to overly tightened and stiff Radius arm donut bushings.

Even so, you have to admit, the Bronco's OEM suspension, in all of it's archaic glory, works pretty darn good as it is! With that in mind, just imagine how a fully "unrestricted" suspension, with out the "C" bushing factor, would perform. That's exactly what I'm doing. Even so, there is an mountain of other considerations to address in order to produce a Tru-Bolt on suspension… that works! It's an everyday process that is certainly going to be a reality soon. But not before it's perfected in every way. "

"Simple, Strong and Reliable" are the rules for this project, while "Easy to install, Easy to maintain, and providing Maximum performance" are the ultimate goals. If I didn't think all this would be possible, and worth while, I would never be wasting any time on it. In looking at the preliminary tests and models, I believe the results are going to be worth every drop of sweat in creating this mechanically engineered system. Like all of our other products, "this will be the best that anyone could possibly offer.

I'll report on the progress of this system as it unfolds, and post photos when we have a finished prototype. Preliminary forecasts suggest that the entire Tru-Bolt on© 5-Link Suspension© kit will replace both radius arms, and work directly with our Bullet Proof© Steering and track bar systems. No welding will be required, and a 3 hour installation time is expected. Even though I'm working on it every day, I suspect delivery date of a finished and packaged product won't be until sometime at the end of 2003. Pricing will depend on the level of options with the kit, and should come in at under $950. What was the preliminary travel of this suspension? Let's just say it couldn't be measured on a yard stick… even though the maximum travel may be unusable due to other mechanical limitations, I'm working on that, too. Once the potential is there, sky's the limit!