RCD, or Race Car Dynamics, has always had an excellent name in suspension and were leaders in the industry with IFS knuckle kits. RCD kits have always been of the highest quality, and they were the first to work with Bilstein to offer 5100 shocks as standard kit equipment. RCD also had a nice traction-arm option made out of 304 stainless steel. The traction arm was designed to prevent axlewrap while not inhibiting any rear suspension travel. RCD did well during this program, finishing in the top three classes in every category except price, and showing us this kit was made for off-road abuse. We'd venture to say that the folks at RCD abused their own truck more than anyone else did, hammering it constantly in the dunes or on the dirt trails, confident that their equipment could take it. To us, that said a lot about the way the kit was designed: to take a beating and keep on wheelin'.
| New A-arms? | No |
| New CV shafts? | No |
| New knuckles? | Yes |
| New tie rods? | No |
Rear suspension Add-a-leaf,
block, and traction bars
CV-shaft bind? | No |
Steering correction Knuckle
New front sway-bar
links or brackets? | Yes |
Remote-reservoir or
dual shocks? | Yes |
Type Triple Bilstein 5100 shocks
Shocks included in kit? | Yes |
| Brake lines addressed? | Yes |
| Front skidplate included? | Optional |
Emergency brake cable
length addressed? | No |
| Cut fenders to fit tires? | No |
| Anything break this weekend? | No |
| Base price | $1,899 |
| Price as tested | $3,786 |
True additional height (measured
from center of hub to top of
fender in inches) |
5 5/8 |
| Claimed lift (in) | 6 |
| Ground to subframe (in) | 12 7/8 |
| Track width (in) | 69 1/2 |
Praises
* Impressive ball-jointed stainless sway-bar links that allow free movement
* Cool that the crossmember ties the shock hoops together
* Handles abuse no problem
Complaints
* Exposed diff due to lack of skid
* Bumpstops were too small
* Traction bars get in the way