Rough Country
Rough Country brought a unique No Torsion Bar Drop (NTD) kit out for us to play with for the weekend. The kit uses the common knuckle-replacement design and stayed within stock-style suspension parameters, but the company made a few impressive changes that set this kit apart. The torsion bars and crossmember were not dropped, and instead had a third pivoting arm and link that attached to the end of the torsion bar and the lower A-arm (the torsion bar usually slides into the lower A-arm). We really liked two of Rough Country's kit options; new billet upper A-arms and new CV shafts which could be adapted to almost any suspension kit, stock or not. The billet-aluminum upper arms were stock style but stronger, much more appealing, and able to take a triple shock setup. The CV shafts are something that we have been waiting for someone to make since Chevy came out with IFS trucks. With the triple shock setup, it felt like there was a bit too much valving to give a smooth ride in the rough dirt, but it made the on-road ride and handling incredible.
Specs
| New A-arms? | Yes |
| New CV shafts? | Yes |
| New knuckles? | Yes |
| New tie rods? | No |
Rear suspension Rear block
CV-shaft bind? | No |
Steering correction Knuckle
New front sway-bar
links or brackets? | Yes |
Remote-reservoir or
dual shocks? | Yes |
Type Triple Fox emulsion shock setup
Shocks included in kit? | Yes |
| Brake lines addressed? | Yes |
| Front skidplate included? | Yes |
Emergency brake cable
length addressed? | Yes |
| Cut fenders to fit tires? | No |
| Anything break this weekend? | Bushing was squished and replaced |
| Base price | $1,990 |
| Price as tested | $3,600 |
True additional height (measured
from center of hub to top of
fender in inches) | 5 1/8 |
| Claimed lift (in) | 6 |
| Ground to subframe (in) | 16 |
| Track width (in) | 71 1/8 |
Praises
* Completely bolt-on suspension with options like billet A-arms
* Good ground clearance
* Like how the torsion bars are dropped and new CVs are offered
Complaints
* Too stiff on dirt roads
* Bushing on NTD link got wasted
* One shock touches A-arm at full droop