S-3 Forward A-Arms

[oneal]

I purchased these out of necessity, my 35's rubbed hard. I had installed forward arms on two previous Rangers and never had any negative effects to CV jointer axles.
There are just a few brand choices for the 1500, I based my decision not on brand notoriety but solely on the materials they used to construct them.
S3 had no instructions written or online so probably not a task for beginners. If you do decide to take this on and do not have access to a press I I reccomended purchasing them with ball joints already installed.
It took me close to a day but I learned you have to remove the front bumper and winch to remove a couple of the pivot bolts, plus I don't get up off a creeper like I once did.
I knew I would have to realign it so I done it the old fashioned method and checked it measuring between to four foot straight edges held against the wheels. You have to adjust both sides to keep the steering wheel centered but I matched my previous measurements and drove perfectly.
These have been installed for six months now and the machine drives like a limo as before. I do not notice the 2" increase in the wheel base related to turning radius but I think it would have to.
Here are a few pictures

 

[Mr.C]

That’s helpful info knowing ahead of time that the front bumper and winch would have to come off. I’m just running 32’s so n need for me to switch. I installed 2” offset A-arms on my 2020 XP because of a lift and 30’s. It rode great to me and other passengers thought the same for it being a UTV.

 

[Clubin]

I purchased these out of necessity, my 35's rubbed hard. I had installed forward arms on two previous Rangers and never had any negative effects to CV jointer axles.
There are just a few brand choices for the 1500, I based my decision not on brand notoriety but solely on the materials they used to construct them.
S3 had no instructions written or online so probably not a task for beginners. If you do decide to take this on and do not have access to a press I I reccomended purchasing them with ball joints already installed.
It took me close to a day but I learned you have to remove the front bumper and winch to remove a couple of the pivot bolts, plus I don't get up off a creeper like I once did.
I knew I would have to realign it so I done it the old fashioned method and checked it measuring between to four foot straight edges held against the wheels. You have to adjust both sides to keep the steering wheel centered but I matched my previous measurements and drove perfectly.
These have been installed for six months now and the machine drives like a limo as before. I do not notice the 2" increase in the wheel base related to turning radius but I think it would have to.
Here are a few pictures

View attachment 2267View attachment 2268View attachment 2269View attachment 2270

Great write up

 

[Big Red]

Great write up

I agree with Clubin, thanks for sharing. Looking at your pictures you should invest in a Badlands Offroad Jack, they are excellent for our type of machine. Worth every penny IMHO.

 

[oneal]

I agree with Clubin, thanks for sharing. Looking at your pictures you should invest in a Badlands Offroad Jack, they are excellent for our type of machine. Worth every penny IMHO.

Don't disagree but to say my old floor jack has lifted mucho stuff and those oak blocks are as solid as the concrete the jack is riding on.

 

[Big Red]

Don't disagree but to say my old floor jack has lifted mucho stuff and those oak blocks are as solid as the concrete the jack is riding on.

I'm sure everything you have is everything you need, that's how I did it for years. That said I'm a little bit of a tool nut and can't resist the urge to upgrade when something new catches my eye, that's how I ended up with the Badlands. Walked by it in the store, saw it, touched it, had to have it.......my wife says I have a tool fetish, and I tend to agree with her.

 

[oneal]

That said I'm a little bit of a tool nut and can't resist the urge to upgrade when something new catches my eye, that's how I ended up with the Badlands. Walked by it in the store, saw it, touched it, had to have it

In preparation of future extended rides I purchased a spare tire/wheel and based on your recommendation of the badlands I read a few months back am considering one to mount in the bed.

 

[oneal]

That said I'm a little bit of a tool nut and can't resist the urge to upgrade ......my wife says I have a tool fetish, and I tend to agree with her.

Well, it now appears not only do you and I have things in common,,so do our wives.
Maybe a tool thread???

 

[Big Red]

We'll have to come up with something tool related to talk about.......there's not a week that goes by that something doesn't find its way home. Last week I bought the new Milwaukee 5" cordless sander, I already have the old one and 5 Festool sanders that I use with my dust extractors. By the way it's way better than the older Milwaukee sander and as smooth as my Festools.

 

[oneal]

We'll have to come up with something tool related to talk about.......there's not a week that goes by that something doesn't find its way home. Last week I bought the new Milwaukee 5" cordless sander, I already have the old one and 5 Festool sanders that I use with my dust extractors. By the way it's way better than the older Milwaukee sander and as smooth as my Festools.

Love Festool, hate paying for them. Have two of their sanders, compound miter, vaccum, oscillating tool (which is identical to Fein), and plunge track saw with up to 9' rail.

 

[Big Red]

I'm a Festool Fan as well, some of their tools I'll pony up for, some I will not. I had the Kapex and it died on me, I thought when I spent the $1400 it would be the last one I had to buy. Couldn't bring myself to spend $800 to fix it or another $1600 to replace it. Sold it with a smoking motor for $600 and bought a Makita on sale for $500 that is almost as good. I had several other Fastool's that I sold the CTX, Jig Saw, Track Saw, and others that I replaced with Milwaukee cordless tools. I still have 6 sanders, 2 dust extractors, several Sustainers, and the MFT that I use all the time. I still like Festool but I'm not willing to get their cordless tools, I don't want to have to support 3 cordless platforms.

 

[oneal]

I'm a Festool Fan as well, some of their tools I'll pony up for, some I will not. I had the Kapex and it died on me, I thought when I spent the $1400 it would be the last one I had to buy. Couldn't bring myself to spend $800 to fix it or another $1600 to replace it. Sold it with a smoking motor for $600 and bought a Makita on sale for $500 that is almost as good. I had several other Fastool's that I sold the CTX, Jig Saw, Track Saw, and others that I replaced with Milwaukee cordless tools. I still have 6 sanders, 2 dust extractors, several Sustainers, and the MFT that I use all the time. I still like Festool but I'm not willing to get their cordless tools, I don't want to have to support 3 cordless platforms.

My Kapex is 17 years old and thought same as you that it would be the last, maybe I should check the brushes (if it has any). Mine is regularly used but not at a commercial frequency.

By the sound of your arsenal wood working is either your career or strong passion.
I agree on staying with few as possible battery platforms. My Dewalt grease gun recently had something internal happen and won't put out proper pressure, it made me happy as I have been wanting the Milwaukee for years.
Still have older Bosch cordless drills and impacts that battery charges aren't lastly. I have Milwaukee duplicates already in use.

 

[Big Red]

Woodworking has never been my job, but I used to build a lot of projects to make money for more tools. I no longer need the side hustle for the money, so I rarely build anything except for close friends and family. That said I'm building a BIG bourbon cabinet right now (6 foot long) for a guy that I don't know very well, kind of a friend of a friend favor if you will. It's the type of job that he's willing to spend whatever it cost to get what he wants, no firm timeline, and he gave me a lot of freedom to do it as I think it should be done. I'll post some pics when I get it complete.

 

[oneal]

Woodworking has never been my job, but I used to build a lot of projects to make money for more tools. I no longer need the side hustle for the money, so I rarely build anything except for close friends and family. That said I'm building a BIG bourbon cabinet right now (6 foot long) for a guy that I don't know very well, kind of a friend of a friend favor if you will. It's the type of job that he's willing to spend whatever it cost to get what he wants, no firm timeline, and he gave me a lot of freedom to do it as I think it should be done. I'll post some pics when I get it complete.

Look forward to the pictures