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This is an idea I've had since HRG first let me know about their 2.5" lift kit and combines parts of that with Flatout coilovers and adds in an idea I've had about improving spring travel and articulation.
First, I will say, HRG is very easy to work with and Ben has confirmed he is willing to sell parts of his 2.5" lift kit separately. So the idea is to take the parts that are unique to the HRG lift kit and combine them with Flatout coilovers. The HRG parts, I'm thinking of, are the 1" front subframe drop and the brake line relocation parts, for the front and rear, though there may be more, that a better eye can identify, from his installation video or perhaps talking to him.
Second, the idea is not to make this a Super/monster lift of >3" but to maximize the lift, while still maintaining the better suspension geometry of a 1-1.5" lift. Flatout states their lift range is 1-3" and they have done a good job, at the rear, of correcting the resulting suspension geometry, with their 1.5" subframe drop and their Toe arm spacers but offer no front sub frame drop to mitigate the resulting suspension geometry of a 2.5-3" lift, though they do have both camber bolts and camber plates.
For any one who has witnessed or installed Flatout coilovers themselves you will know that the Brake lines are stretched to their max during the installation process and I envision HRG's Brake line kit helping with that.
Third, I still don't think Flatout has optimized suspension travel for a 2.5-3" lift, even though they have now, after my installation with 14" barrel front springs, on my Badlands, started to include them, on their badlands kits.
Maybe some explanation is necessary. The higher you lift the BS, with springs, of any given length, the more you compress them, thereby reducing their available bump travel, of the spring, while you are simultaneously increasing that of the shock. So, what is the solution to this problem? Longer springs! Though it adds a further complication, to the installation, I am suggesting, that if you are planning to lift your BS Badlands 2.5-3", you may want to get 16" barrel springs for the front and 14" for the rear. To that end, in order to give you the option of a 2.5" lift, with 16" springs, I'm suggesting you opt for a 175-185lbs front spring rate, as staying with Flatouts 200lbs front comfort spring rate would then mean a minimum ride height of 3", based on my installation with 14", 212lbs springs, in front and 12", 250lbs springs in the rear. The suggested 175lbs springs would also increase articulation in the front, a little, though these will never be articulation monsters, every little bit will help, off road. (Edit, If you have Flatout's newer front strut design, with the welded on end link mount, instead of the thread on mount, I have, I don't think a 16" spring will work for anything less than ~3" lift.
The further complication, You will now need to install the springs, on the front struts, with a spring compressors, as 14" is the longest that will go on them, without first compressing them. It gets a little worse in the rear, as to install the springs there, you would probably need to install them, on the car, while they are compressed. If opting for overload springs, in the rear, you would probably want to stay with 12" springs.
As I am wearing out the friendship of the person that has been installing my suspensions, for the last 20 years and works 60+ hours every week, I'm nominating and hoping @Meanderthal , will take up the gauntlet, I'm throwing down and tackle this with his usually great documentation, on his Olive build thread, as he is waiting for his coilovers to arrive.
I can also see the possibility of this being and add on kit that HRG or Flatout might be willing to sell, in some sort of collaborative effort or maybe just part of a further development by Flatout, of their setup, as they have continued to add items to their kit, since I was the first one to order one.
HRG's Brake line relocation kit pics.
First, I will say, HRG is very easy to work with and Ben has confirmed he is willing to sell parts of his 2.5" lift kit separately. So the idea is to take the parts that are unique to the HRG lift kit and combine them with Flatout coilovers. The HRG parts, I'm thinking of, are the 1" front subframe drop and the brake line relocation parts, for the front and rear, though there may be more, that a better eye can identify, from his installation video or perhaps talking to him.
Second, the idea is not to make this a Super/monster lift of >3" but to maximize the lift, while still maintaining the better suspension geometry of a 1-1.5" lift. Flatout states their lift range is 1-3" and they have done a good job, at the rear, of correcting the resulting suspension geometry, with their 1.5" subframe drop and their Toe arm spacers but offer no front sub frame drop to mitigate the resulting suspension geometry of a 2.5-3" lift, though they do have both camber bolts and camber plates.
For any one who has witnessed or installed Flatout coilovers themselves you will know that the Brake lines are stretched to their max during the installation process and I envision HRG's Brake line kit helping with that.
Third, I still don't think Flatout has optimized suspension travel for a 2.5-3" lift, even though they have now, after my installation with 14" barrel front springs, on my Badlands, started to include them, on their badlands kits.
Maybe some explanation is necessary. The higher you lift the BS, with springs, of any given length, the more you compress them, thereby reducing their available bump travel, of the spring, while you are simultaneously increasing that of the shock. So, what is the solution to this problem? Longer springs! Though it adds a further complication, to the installation, I am suggesting, that if you are planning to lift your BS Badlands 2.5-3", you may want to get 16" barrel springs for the front and 14" for the rear. To that end, in order to give you the option of a 2.5" lift, with 16" springs, I'm suggesting you opt for a 175-185lbs front spring rate, as staying with Flatouts 200lbs front comfort spring rate would then mean a minimum ride height of 3", based on my installation with 14", 212lbs springs, in front and 12", 250lbs springs in the rear. The suggested 175lbs springs would also increase articulation in the front, a little, though these will never be articulation monsters, every little bit will help, off road. (Edit, If you have Flatout's newer front strut design, with the welded on end link mount, instead of the thread on mount, I have, I don't think a 16" spring will work for anything less than ~3" lift.
The further complication, You will now need to install the springs, on the front struts, with a spring compressors, as 14" is the longest that will go on them, without first compressing them. It gets a little worse in the rear, as to install the springs there, you would probably need to install them, on the car, while they are compressed. If opting for overload springs, in the rear, you would probably want to stay with 12" springs.
As I am wearing out the friendship of the person that has been installing my suspensions, for the last 20 years and works 60+ hours every week, I'm nominating and hoping @Meanderthal , will take up the gauntlet, I'm throwing down and tackle this with his usually great documentation, on his Olive build thread, as he is waiting for his coilovers to arrive.
I can also see the possibility of this being and add on kit that HRG or Flatout might be willing to sell, in some sort of collaborative effort or maybe just part of a further development by Flatout, of their setup, as they have continued to add items to their kit, since I was the first one to order one.
HRG's Brake line relocation kit pics.
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