Carli Steering R&D - Skunk Works

[MCRTREMOR]

For those of us that have the Apex kit and failed to save our oem components and want to switch over to this when they come out, will we need to source replacement middle linkage bars for the carli endlinks or do you think they will be additional option add ons with orders?

Same question

 

[BLACKCHERRY]

For those of us that have the Apex kit and failed to save our oem components and want to switch over to this when they come out, will we need to source replacement middle linkage bars for the carli endlinks or do you think they will be additional option add ons with orders?

We're going to offer it as a complete system with a new, factory style tie-rod and adjustment collar. Only thing different than OEM will be the (hopefully) carli logo in the part, but they'll be interchangeable with OEM parts so customers can keep their OEM for backup. @Optimus🤖 can throw the OEM units in the tool-box for a trail fix should someone end up blasting the tie-rod.

 

[Optimus🤖]

We're going to offer it as a complete system with a new, factory style tie-rod and adjustment collar. Only thing different than OEM will be the (hopefully) carli logo in the part, but they'll be interchangeable with OEM parts so customers can keep their OEM for backup. @Optimus🤖 can throw the OEM units in the tool-box for a trail fix should someone end up blasting the tie-rod.

Let's have a couple beers at SEMA and you can test fit the system on my setup. I'll buy the beers of course .

 

[BLACKCHERRY]

Dan, this is exactly the kind of deep dive we were hoping for. Thank you for taking the time to address the concerns.

To answer your question about my setup: I'm running a BDS 9-inch BDS 4-link kit on my '22. It utilizes a dropped pitman arm and a track bar relocation bracket to account for that much height and keep the angles as close to factory parallel as possible. I’m spinning 40-inch MTZs on 20-inch wheels with a -18mm offset, and I'm currently running Fox dual steering stabilizers to keep it all tame. Given that dropped geometry, it sounds like your drag link setup should still play nice with my components, provided I don't exceed the misalignment limits of that lower passenger side joint.

100% - With your dropped geomtery, you won't have any issues. Even if your passenger side drag link short tie rod is close to the end of travel, the additional misalignment from ours will ensure they're no issue and plenty of breathing room.

Your logic on the factory tie rod being the intentional weak link makes total sense. I'd much rather limp off the trail with a bent tie rod that I can adjust to get home than completely shear the sector shaft off the gearbox and be left stranded. Originally, I wanted to replace the tie rod with the Kryptonite to match the other components, but the alignment shop said the OEM is fine. They last a long time.

The split approach to the joints is super interesting. Using a greasable proprietary ball-stud for the drag link (where the severe oscillation happens) and a sealed PTFE CUB joint for the tie rod is a smart way to allocate resources. That Pro-bearing in your last photo looks like a seriously beefy unit compared to the typical off-the-shelf stuff.

Thanks again and looking forward to seeing what else Carli can do to stiffen my ball joints .

We have a lot of tools here. The drag link and tie-rod operate in two totally different environments and each are optimized differently. That's one of the big things we pay attention to as a manufacture - there's no "one size fits all" approach.

 

[BLACKCHERRY]

Let's have a couple beers at SEMA and you can test fit the system on my setup. I'll buy the beers of course .

I'm hoping to make it out to SEMA this year, but we'll see as there's a LOT going on. If i end up there, I'll absolutely let you buy me a beer! haha.

 

[Poor White Boy]

First photos...

Driver's side tie-rod end:
View attachment 267016

On the bottom, you'll see the retention tab inclusion for the factory adjuster:
View attachment 267017

Passenger pass-through tie-rod end:
View attachment 267018

Long Drag Link/Upper Pitman Tie-rod end:
View attachment 267019
View attachment 267020
View attachment 267021

Passenger side short, drag-link tie-rod end:
View attachment 267022

Overall:
View attachment 267023

I would be interested in purchasing all those steering parts for more than one 2025 f350
2 Questions not really related but shown in photos
Those front stabilizer links look totally different then what I bought just 6 months ago for a couple of my trucks

Second question is Carli going to make a operating bracket or connection for these newer Ford trucks with carli radius arms installed ,to connect front weight scales, ?? For both leveling kit and the 4.5 -5.5 kits

On another note I've been using Carli everything in the fronts of my ford super duty,etc tremor trucks
Since 2014

Thank you

 

[DTX2023Tremor]

I would be interested in purchasing all those steering parts for more than one 2025 f350
2 Questions not really related but shown in photos
Those front stabilizer links look totally different then what I bought just 6 months ago for a couple of my trucks

Second question is Carli going to make a operating bracket or connection for these newer Ford trucks with carli radius arms installed ,to connect front weight scales, ?? For both leveling kit and the 4.5 -5.5 kits

On another note I've been using Carli everything in the fronts of my ford super duty,etc tremor trucks
Since 2014

Thank you

For those with auto leveling headlights / bed scales, I recommend reaching out to Wicked MFG to figure out which of their replacement parts would work with the lift you have on the truck

Wicked Trucks

Wicked Trucks

www.wickedtrucks.com

 

[Poor White Boy]

For those with auto leveling headlights / bed scales, I recommend reaching out to Wicked MFG to figure out which of their replacement parts would work with the lift you have on the truck

https://www.wickedtrucks.com/2023+-...et-ball-&--arm-bracket-replacement/p2337[/URL

http://

For those with auto leveling headlights / bed scales, I recommend reaching out to Wicked MFG to figure out which of their replacement parts would work with the lift you have on the truck

Wicked Trucks

Wicked Trucks

www.wickedtrucks.com

I already purchased the needed parts from Wicked .Very nice products . I am waiting on Carli to come up with their solution for my 25 and newer platinums with 5.5 carli suspension and carli Radius arms before drilling holes in the radius arms .I was told by CJC that Carli is working on a solution

 

[DTX2023Tremor]

http://

I already purchased the needed parts from Wicked .Very nice products . I am waiting on Carli to come up with their solution for my 25 and newer platinums with 5.5 carli suspension and carli Radius arms before drilling holes in the radius arms .I was told by CJC that Carli is working on a solution

Ah, yeah. That will be interesting to see what solution is developed. For my '23, the only solution from Carli (which is what I have installed) is the brackets that lock the headlights into place. It would be nice to have that functionality restored. I don't use the bed scales, so not missing that feature (which would be moot anyways when I get the leaf springs replaced with the Carli progressive ones).

 

[Poor White Boy]

Ah, yeah. That will be interesting to see what solution is developed. For my '23, the only solution from Carli (which is what I have installed) is the brackets that lock the headlights into place. It would be nice to have that functionality restored. I don't use the bed scales, so not missing that feature (which would be moot anyways when I get the leaf springs replaced with the Carli progressive ones).

 

[Poor White Boy]

maybe off topic ,but these rear greaseable shackles are now under every tremor/super duty I own.MAJOR difference in ride quality in rear of truck

 

[majorbison]

Finally dude - I was shopping CJC for steering shit, held out and glad I did.

 

[BLACKCHERRY]

I would be interested in purchasing all those steering parts for more than one 2025 f350
2 Questions not really related but shown in photos
Those front stabilizer links look totally different then what I bought just 6 months ago for a couple of my trucks

Second question is Carli going to make a operating bracket or connection for these newer Ford trucks with carli radius arms installed ,to connect front weight scales, ?? For both leveling kit and the 4.5 -5.5 kits

On another note I've been using Carli everything in the fronts of my ford super duty,etc tremor trucks
Since 2014

Thank you

We're still working on them, but yes, they're underway! We thought we had a solution, and we do for the front, but the rear is a different animal in adding the amount of travel we have and eliminating the factory block; thus changing the height of the sensor mount and extending it's usable range. We had them on a truck through several offroad trips, then i took it out to our local desert to test something else and partied hard enough to break both rears. If it can't survive me in a Dominator, it's not ready for the market.

The scales will never work. You're changing the spring rate and there's no way to change the algorithm that calculates drop to spring rate to calculate the load. This isn't a huge deal to us as the scales only function when static and most agree it's a gimmick that's not worth maintaining at the expense of the ride quality. Our goal is to optimize the headlight function, but ensure they're aimed properly for the 3.5" and 5.5" lift to not blind oncoming, loaded or unloaded.

For those with auto leveling headlights / bed scales, I recommend reaching out to Wicked MFG to figure out which of their replacement parts would work with the lift you have on the truck

Wicked Trucks

Wicked Trucks

www.wickedtrucks.com

Their solution is simple. With how complex ours is to ensure the travel works, I can't imaging theirs would last one trip on my truck. I've not tested it, but have thoroughly tested a solution that outtravels theirs and it didn't work. That said, I can't offer anything better at the moment, so take it for what it's worth... LOL

 

[DTX2023Tremor]

We're still working on them, but yes, they're underway! We thought we had a solution, and we do for the front, but the rear is a different animal in adding the amount of travel we have and eliminating the factory block; thus changing the height of the sensor mount and extending it's usable range. We had them on a truck through several offroad trips, then i took it out to our local desert to test something else and partied hard enough to break both rears. If it can't survive me in a Dominator, it's not ready for the market.

The scales will never work. You're changing the spring rate and there's no way to change the algorithm that calculates drop to spring rate to calculate the load. This isn't a huge deal to us as the scales only function when static and most agree it's a gimmick that's not worth maintaining at the expense of the ride quality. Our goal is to optimize the headlight function, but ensure they're aimed properly for the 3.5" and 5.5" lift to not blind oncoming, loaded or unloaded.

Their solution is simple. With how complex ours is to ensure the travel works, I can't imaging theirs would last one trip on my truck. I've not tested it, but have thoroughly tested a solution that outtravels theirs and it didn't work. That said, I can't offer anything better at the moment, so take it for what it's worth... LOL

Agree, I don't think the Wicked solution will work for anyone who needs full articulation. For those who lift their trucks and are only driving on roads, their solution accounts for the added lift height, and it seems would give a similar range of articulation as the OEM design provides at factory heights.

Basically, if you're a mall crawler or use this for work/commutes, the Wicked solution is likely fine. If you're doing the types of off road runs that you do, then I don't know if their solution work.

 

[Poor White Boy]

Agree, I don't think the Wicked solution will work for anyone who needs full articulation. For those who lift their trucks and are only driving on roads, their solution accounts for the added lift height, and it seems would give a similar range of articulation as the OEM design provides at factory heights.

Basically, if you're a mall crawler or use this for work/commutes, the Wicked solution is likely fine. If you're doing the types of off road runs that you do, then I don't know if their solution work

We're still working on them, but yes, they're underway! We thought we had a solution, and we do for the front, but the rear is a different animal in adding the amount of travel we have and eliminating the factory block; thus changing the height of the sensor mount and extending it's usable range. We had them on a truck through several offroad trips, then i took it out to our local desert to test something else and partied hard enough to break both rears. If it can't survive me in a Dominator, it's not ready for the market.

The scales will never work. You're changing the spring rate and there's no way to change the algorithm that calculates drop to spring rate to calculate the load. This isn't a huge deal to us as the scales only function when static and most agree it's a gimmick that's not worth maintaining at the expense of the ride quality. Our goal is to optimize the headlight function, but ensure they're aimed properly for the 3.5" and 5.5" lift to not blind oncoming, loaded or unloaded.

Their solution is simple. With how complex ours is to ensure the travel works, I can't imaging theirs would last one trip on my truck. I've not tested it, but have thoroughly tested a solution that outtravels theirs and it didn't work. That said, I can't offer anything better at the moment, so take it for what it's worth... LOL

Do you all have something just for the front ? I need only fronts on two f350 platinum srw. Mainly for the headlights auto adjustments not scales,not rear. In rear I just used 2019 f350 srw blocks etc to level truck .I hate to drill holes in radius arms if you have something Carli I can purchase that will work

Thank you

 

[Nics410]

Ah, yeah. That will be interesting to see what solution is developed. For my '23, the only solution from Carli (which is what I have installed) is the brackets that lock the headlights into place. It would be nice to have that functionality restored. I don't use the bed scales, so not missing that feature (which would be moot anyways when I get the leaf springs replaced with the Carli progressive ones).

I could be wrong but I think sages truck has some type of prototypes on it for this…

 

[Poor White Boy]

I could be wrong but I think sages truck has some type of prototypes on it for this…

i saw that photo as well, would buy those today if available

 

[JTredway]

still combing through this, looks great, some of us are coming up on some age with our trucks the 2020-2021 guys so would be nice to have a more robust OEM + style rebuilt in the near future without being like $30k. This is awesome.

 

[Tugboat]

@BLACKCHERRY what would you see as the benefits for Tremor running 37x12.5x18 with just 1 inch lift?
What you're describing as a kit, I think is amazing. Changing to a forging process along with the attention to detail retaining serviceability by alignment shops is incredible.
Looking forward to seeing the product released, thanks for the update.

 

[BLACKCHERRY]

I could be wrong but I think sages truck has some type of prototypes on it for this…

i saw that photo as well, would buy those today if available

Yup - the front is pretty much figured out. Our engineered figured out a way a ratio-match our travel to the factory stroke in both lift heights, but it required a complete rework and many revisions to get it dialed. We're on the rear now.