Thoughts on Teraflex Long Arm Kits?

[Concentric_Killa]

I have been scouring the internet trying to find info on why people hate teraflex. It seems like the JL community likes them and then others say they are complete garbage without any explanation. Some comments mention a 'harsh' ride. They don't give an explanation about the entire suspension setup. It seems like people jump on the band wagon of 'hating' a brand without giving actual feedback.

I am mainly interested in a 3.5 Teraflex long arm kit with the extended travel shocks. The youtube videos seems pretty well put together and the bushings look like they will hold up to salt roads. I am in utah so keeping the bushing maintenance down in the long run is a plus. I used to have Stainless uniballs on my previous rig and the salt roads destroy them.

Why do people hate Teraflex? What is the long term opinion? I plan on keeping my JT for years and only want to lift it once. Many people say they outsourced to China. Well let me break it down to you. Every major company in the US has overseas manufacturing. I don't mind overseas manufacturing as long as it is quality. I know several american brands that pump out crap products that are 'Made in the USA' .

How is the quality of a more expensive lift? I am talking $3K-6K.

I want a long arm kit for the following reasons:
- I used to have a Long travel IFS rig with 14" of travel up front and 18" in the rear. I like going fast offroad.
- more predictable ride quality
- Geometry correction and better manners vs. short arm
- Overall cost is still cheaper than going long travel with an IFS rig.

Looking for honest opinions and not 'Tera-crap'.

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[darkhorse13]

I can't speak to Teraflex quality because I don't have anything from them, but their front long arm kit has always been on my list. WFO and Metalcloak have long arm kits too.

I think most (if not all) of the Rebel Off Road shop rigs run Teraflex long arm stuff... maybe you could reach out to them? Might not be the most unbiased review though.

 

[bleda2002]

I have been scouring the internet trying to find info on why people hate teraflex. It seems like the JL community likes them and then others say they are complete garbage without any explanation. Some comments mention a 'harsh' ride. They don't give an explanation about the entire suspension setup. It seems like people jump on the band wagon of 'hating' a brand without giving actual feedback.

I am mainly interested in a 3.5 Teraflex long arm kit with the extended travel shocks. The youtube videos seems pretty well put together and the bushings look like they will hold up to salt roads. I am in utah so keeping the bushing maintenance down in the long run is a plus. I used to have Stainless uniballs on my previous rig and the salt roads destroy them.

Why do people hate Teraflex? What is the long term opinion? I plan on keeping my JT for years and only want to lift it once. Many people say they outsourced to China. Well let me break it down to you. Every major company in the US has overseas manufacturing. I don't mind overseas manufacturing as long as it is quality. I know several american brands that pump out crap products that are 'Made in the USA' .

How is the quality of a more expensive lift? I am talking $3K-6K.

I want a long arm kit for the following reasons:
- I used to have a Long travel IFS rig with 14" of travel up front and 18" in the rear. I like going fast offroad.
- more predictable ride quality
- Geometry correction and better manners vs. short arm
- Overall cost is still cheaper than going long travel with an IFS rig.

Looking for honest opinions and not 'Tera-crap'.

Main reason is that they went from a USA based small business to being bought by wheel pro's and having some of their products outsourced to china. They make perfectly fine parts that are typically well engineered and tested.

Have you checked out metal cloak long arm kit? Their bushings are superior imo both for standing up to salt as well as articulation, and their products are well tested/engineered as well. They dont have a long arm for the rear yet though but the JT's long wheel base and control arms in the back already have good angles.

 

[Concentric_Killa]

Main reason is that they went from a USA based small business to being bought by wheel pro's and having some of their products outsourced to china. They make perfectly fine parts that are typically well engineered and tested.

Have you checked out metal cloak long arm kit? Their bushings are superior imo both for standing up to salt as well as articulation, and their products are well tested/engineered as well. They dont have a long arm for the rear yet though but the JT's long wheel base and control arms in the back already have good angles.

Gone are the days of being a small company and being able to fully produce in America. Some will eventually sell out to VC america. Its basically the same as Bestop aquiring Baja Designs, and Softopper, which then is owned by Kinderhook Industries. Kinderhook is some NY VC firm.

I will check out metal cloak, but I kinda want an all in one kit. I am in the early stages of research and want to buy once and cry once. I don't want to buy multiple lifts in hopes of getting it right eventually.

Having more travel in the rear makes a huge difference compared to the front when hitting bumps at speed.

 

[22EcoDs]

What about iron rock? They're made here. Not sure how high speed their stuff is though. I think it's more meant for crawling.

 

[bleda2002]

Gone are the days of being a small company and being able to fully produce in America. Some will eventually sell out to VC america. Its basically the same as Bestop aquiring Baja Designs, and Softopper, which then is owned by Kinderhook Industries. Kinderhook is some NY VC firm.

I will check out metal cloak, but I kinda want an all in one kit. I am in the early stages of research and want to buy once and cry once. I don't want to buy multiple lifts in hopes of getting it right eventually.

Having more travel in the rear makes a huge difference compared to the front when hitting bumps at speed.

If you want to buy once, cry once, the Evo trailing arms with coil overs is what you want. Nothing will touch that kit for high speed whoops on the market.

Long arm in the rear isn't going to make a huge amount of difference in ride because the JT is basically already long armed in the rear. More importantly is going to be the shocks, to have any chance of competing with the ifs truck you'll need some serious bypass shocks to control the extra weight and bump of the SFA and even then, it probably won't hold a candle to a well built ifs at high speeds.

 

[Chief_jeep]

If you want to buy once, cry once, the Evo trailing arms with coil overs is what you want. Nothing will touch that kit for high speed whoops on the market.

Long arm in the rear isn't going to make a huge amount of difference in ride because the JT is basically already long armed in the rear. More importantly is going to be the shocks, to have any chance of competing with the ifs truck you'll need some serious bypass shocks to control the extra weight and bump of the SFA and even then, it probably won't hold a candle to a well built ifs at high speeds.

The evo trailing arm kit with coilover and bypass is north of 15k in parts for the rear alone and a very intensive build. It even requires a fuel cell and you have to chop up your bed.

 

[bleda2002]

The evo trailing arm kit with coilover and bypass is north of 15k in parts for the rear alone and a very intensive build. It even requires a fuel cell and you have to chop up your bed.

It's the only thing that is going to remotely compete with the crazy modified IFS he's coming from. The SFA is inherently terrible for the high speed running he wants (physics always wins), and just adding bypass shocks and off the shelf long arms isn't going to get him anywhere near what he gave up. Even the kits hes looking at are going to be north of 12k by the time he adds bypass shocks.

 

[Chief_jeep]

It's the only thing that is going to remotely compete with the crazy modified IFS he's coming from. The SFA is inherently terrible for the high speed running he wants (physics always wins), and just adding bypass shocks and off the shelf long arms isn't going to get him anywhere near what he gave up. Even the kits hes looking at are going to be north of 12k by the time he adds bypass shocks.

Possibly but that’s just the rear. Pair an evo long arm and double throwdown to match the rear and it’s close to a 30k lift with parts and labor costs.

 

[bleda2002]

Possibly but that’s just the rear. Pair an evo long arm and double throwdown to match the rear and it’s close to a 30k lift with parts and labor costs.

Not quite that much, should be about 20k all in.

At the end of the day, 3-6k is not a realistic budget for what he's looking for. Long arms aren't a magic bullet for high speed on SFA, and while they can help, your shocks will make way more difference than the arms will and those shocks get expensive stupid fast. On top of that, our stock axles with fad weak point are not great options for this either, so add in 600 bucks for truss gussets and try to avoid the big whoops.

 

[Chief_jeep]

Not quite that much, should be about 20k all in.

At the end of the day, 3-6k is not a realistic budget for what he's looking for. Long arms aren't a magic bullet for high speed on SFA, and while they can help, your shocks will make way more difference than the arms will and those shocks get expensive stupid fast.

3-6k is not a realistic budget. You’re going to spend more than that on good coils and bypasses.

this is well over 20k
rear is 15k.
front double throwdown is $6500
You still need a front long arms and 30hours of labor unless you are skilled enough to take on a project of this size.

I know this because I am trying to do something similar but without the trailing arms.

 

[bleda2002]

3-6k is not a realistic budget. You’re going to spend more than that on good coils and bypasses.

this is well over 20k
rear is 15k.
front double throwdown is $6500
You still need a front long arms and 30hours of labor unless you are skilled enough to take on a project of this size.

I know this because I am trying to do something similar but without the trailing arms.

I'm interested in where the extra is on the rear? The parts are 5k plus your double throwdown so like 9-10k Is the rest labor?

 

[Chief_jeep]

I'm interested in where the extra is on the rear? The parts are 5k plus your double throwdown so like 9-10k Is the rest labor?

If you’re looking online that’s the “wrong” price. I called Evo on Monday and found that out. It’s basically just for the trailing arms. You still need to buy the shock towers and bypasses and a few extra things. I stopped listening when they told me the price.

 

[bleda2002]

If you’re looking online that’s the “wrong” price. I called Evo on Monday and found that out. It’s basically just for the trailing arms. You still need to buy the shock towers and bypasses and a few extra things. I stopped listening when they told me the price.

Oh haha. I mean I can't say I'm surprised given that it's basically a fully re-engineered rear end racing type rear end, it did seem kind of reasonable to me at the 9-10k it appeared to be.

 

[Chief_jeep]

Oh haha. I mean I can't say I'm surprised given that it's basically a fully re-engineered rear end racing type rear end, it did seem kind of reasonable to me at the 9-10k it appeared to be.

Exactly, it’s not a huge number when you add it all up. It could be worth it for the right person but not most. I am trying to do something similar but without the trailing arms. I’m already on a teraflex long arm

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