Carli Suspension Fabricated Radius Arms | CS-FARA-LVL-05 | 0.5°–2.5° Caster Correction | 17-4 Stainless Spherical Joint | 37" Tire Clearance | For 2.5"–3.5" Lift | 2005–2022 Ford F-250 / F-350 Super Duty 4WD

Verified Fitment

Does NOT fit:

• 2023 and newer Ford F-250 / F-350 Super Duty — the 2023 Super Duty is a new platform generation with revised front suspension architecture; this kit is confirmed for 2005–2022 only
• Ford F-250 / F-350 2WD / RWD — radius arm suspension is 4WD-only on the solid front axle Super Duty
• Ford F-150 — different front suspension platform
• Lift applications under 2.5" or over 3.5" — for 4.5"–5.5" lift applications, see Carli SKU CS-FARA-45-05; the CS-FARA-LVL-05 is specifically designed and caster-indexed for the 2.5"–3.5" lift range
• 2WD Ranger, Explorer, or other Ford platforms — radius arm design and geometry are Super Duty 4WD solid axle-specific

Lift range is a mandatory compatibility gate: The CS-FARA-LVL-05 caster correction geometry is calibrated for 2.5"–3.5" of lift. Installing these arms under a different lift height produces incorrect caster — either under-corrected or over-corrected. Confirm your total lift height before ordering.

Component Specifications

Why fabricated steel over factory stamped arms: The factory radius arms on the 2005–2022 Super Duty are stamped steel with large rubber pivot bushings at the frame mounting point. Stamped steel arms flex under the dynamic loading of off-road use, aggressive driving, and heavy payloads — producing front axle positioning variation that the solid-axle Super Duty's handling cannot compensate for. The CS-FARA-LVL-05's fully boxed 3/16" plate steel construction with full-length internal gusseting eliminates that flex. Carli's description — "bulletproof" — reflects the structural margin these arms carry over factory components under the same loading conditions.

17-4 Stainless Steel Spherical Joint — why it replaces rubber: The factory radius arm bushing is a large rubber block that deflects slightly under heavy acceleration and braking loads — causing the axle to walk fractionally forward or backward under dynamic loading. Over time and mileage, rubber bushings compress and crack, increasing that deflection further. The 17-4 stainless spherical joint is a metal-on-metal precision bearing that eliminates deflection entirely — the axle stays precisely positioned regardless of load or direction. The joint is serviceable, meaning when it eventually wears, only the bearing is replaced rather than the entire arm.

Caster correction and death wobble: Death wobble on solid-front-axle trucks is a steering instability where the front axle oscillates violently at highway speed — triggered by a bump or road imperfection. A root cause is insufficient positive caster — the tendency of the steering geometry to return the wheels to center when disturbed. Lifting a solid-axle Super Duty reduces effective caster angle. The CS-FARA-LVL-05's 0.5°–2.5° of adjustable caster correction at the axle mount restores the positive caster needed to maintain steering stability at the lifted ride height.

What Is and Is NOT Included

Radius Arm Drop Brackets — companion product advisory: Carli's product description explicitly states the CS-FARA-LVL-05 "Combines with Radius Arm Drop Brackets for 2.5"–3.5" Carli Systems." The drop brackets relocate the radius arm frame mount to accommodate the changed geometry at the lift height. For a complete installation at 2.5"–3.5" of lift, the appropriate Carli radius arm drop brackets must be sourced separately. Text (469) 407-7538 with your specific lift height and we'll confirm the correct companion bracket set before you order.

Limit straps — why they're included: At 2.5"–3.5" of lift on the solid-axle Super Duty, the factory shock has a finite amount of extension travel. If the shock reaches full extension during hard off-road articulation, it limits the suspension droop travel — and the impact at the shock's end of travel is transmitted directly to the shock mounts. The 12-inch limit straps prevent the suspension from dropping past the shock's designed travel range, protecting shock mounts and extending shock life.

Critical Compatibility

Lift range is the primary technical compatibility gate. The CS-FARA-LVL-05 caster correction geometry is engineered specifically for 2.5"–3.5" of total front lift on the 2005–2022 Super Duty. The caster correction angle built into the arm's axle mount assumes that specific lift range. Running these arms at 4.5" of lift produces insufficient caster correction for that height — which is why Carli makes a separate SKU (CS-FARA-45-05) for 4.5"–5.5" lift applications.

2023+ Super Duty requires confirmation. The 2023 Super Duty redesign changed the front suspension architecture. The CS-FARA-LVL-05 is confirmed for 2005–2022 only. Do not order for a 2023+ truck without confirming with Carli or contacting OFAS.

Radius arm drop brackets are required for 2.5"–3.5" Carli systems. These are not included in the CS-FARA-LVL-05. The complete installation requires the CS-FARA-LVL-05 arms plus the appropriate drop brackets. Confirm bracket selection with your specific Carli lift system before ordering.

Total system context: These radius arms are most commonly installed as part of a complete Carli Super Duty suspension system (e.g., Carli Commuter, Backcountry, Pintop, or Savage system). They can also be installed as a standalone upgrade to replace factory stamped arms on an existing 2.5"–3.5" lifted Super Duty. Either way, confirm total front lift height before ordering.

Installation Notes

Skill level: Advanced — professional installation required. Replacing radius arms on a solid front axle Super Duty requires proper axle support, caster verification, and torque sequencing. This is not a beginner or intermediate installation.

Tools required: Heavy-duty floor jack and axle stands rated for Super Duty weight, torque wrench, alignment equipment (or alignment shop access), and basic socket set. Spring compressor may be required depending on complete lift system configuration.

Radius arm drop bracket installation: If radius arm drop brackets are being installed as part of this upgrade, the bracket must be installed at the frame mount before the Carli radius arm is attached. Confirm bracket selection and mounting sequence with the Carli installation instructions specific to your lift system.

Caster adjustment — dial-in at installation: The CS-FARA-LVL-05 provides 0.5°–2.5° of adjustable caster correction at the axle mount. During installation, the caster is set by the mounting position at the axle. Confirm the correct caster setting for your specific lift height per Carli's installation documentation — achieving 4.5° of positive caster is Carli's stated target for death-wobble prevention at 2.5"–3.5" of lift.

Post-installation mandatory steps:

1. Professional front-end alignment — mandatory after any radius arm installation.
2. Caster verification — confirm positive caster is achieved at the alignment appointment.
3. Torque verification — torque all fasteners to Carli specification with the vehicle at ride height; do not final-torque with suspension at full droop.
4. Limit strap routing — install the included 12-inch limit straps before use; do not drive without them installed.

Common Questions

What is the difference between CS-FARA-LVL-05 and CS-FARA-45-05?
Lift height application. The CS-FARA-LVL-05 is designed and caster-indexed for 2.5"–3.5" of lift. The CS-FARA-45-05 is designed and caster-indexed for 4.5"–5.5" of lift. The caster correction geometry built into the axle mount is different between the two. Using the wrong arm for your lift height produces incorrect caster — either insufficient to prevent death wobble or over-corrected, causing its own handling deviation.

What is "death wobble" and how do these arms prevent it?
Death wobble is a violent front axle oscillation that occurs on solid-front-axle trucks at highway speeds when the steering geometry is destabilized by a road imperfection. Insufficient positive caster is a primary contributing factor — lifted solid-axle trucks reduce effective caster angle, creating conditions that allow the wobble to initiate. The CS-FARA-LVL-05's 0.5°–2.5° of caster correction at the axle mount restores positive caster to the geometry, which provides the self-centering tendency the steering needs to resist oscillation.

Why does the 17-4 stainless spherical joint matter over a rubber bushing?
The factory rubber bushing deflects under load — causing the front axle to shift slightly during acceleration, braking, and cornering. That deflection is amplified by the long lever arm of the radius arm. Over time, rubber bushings also harden, crack, and develop play that increases the deflection. The stainless spherical joint is a metal-on-metal precision bearing — zero deflection under any loading condition, fully serviceable when worn.

Do I need radius arm drop brackets?
Yes — Carli explicitly states the CS-FARA-LVL-05 "combines with Radius Arm Drop Brackets for 2.5"–3.5" Carli Systems." The drop brackets are a separate purchase. Text (469) 407-7538 with your specific Carli lift system and we'll confirm the correct bracket set before you order.

Can these replace my factory radius arms on an existing lifted Super Duty?
Yes — if your Super Duty is lifted 2.5"–3.5". These are a direct replacement for the factory stamped radius arms at that lift height, providing caster correction, improved arm stiffness, and the spherical joint upgrade. Confirm your total front lift height is within the 2.5"–3.5" range and that the appropriate drop brackets are in place.

The Obsidian Take

The CS-FARA-LVL-05 is Carli's foundational suspension upgrade for the 2005–2022 Super Duty at the 2.5"–3.5" lift range — and it addresses two distinct failure modes of the factory radius arm system simultaneously.

The first failure mode is structural. Factory stamped steel radius arms flex under dynamic load. On a truck that is used for off-road driving, heavy towing, or repeated hard articulation, that flex produces front axle positioning inconsistency that degrades handling precision and accelerates bushing wear. Carli's fully boxed 3/16" plate steel arms with full-length internal gusseting eliminate the flex. The arms are structurally overbuilt for the application — Carli's "bulletproof" framing is accurate when compared to what they replace.

The second failure mode is the factory rubber bushing. The large rubber pivot bushing at the frame mount of the factory radius arm deflects under every significant load input. At stock ride height, that deflection is minor and manageable. At 2.5"–3.5" of lift, the altered geometry amplifies the effect of that deflection on steering behavior — and the longer the bushing has been in service, the worse it gets. The 17-4 stainless spherical joint replaces that deflection with zero movement, and when it eventually wears, only the bearing is replaced.

The caster correction is what ties both upgrades to the death wobble issue that plagues lifted solid-axle Super Dutys. Positive caster — the tendency of the steering to return to center — is the geometric property that prevents wheel oscillation at highway speed. Lifting a Super Duty reduces it. These arms restore it. That's the engineering rationale for building adjustable caster correction directly into the arm's axle mount geometry.

This SKU is for: 2005–2022 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty 4WD owners running or planning 2.5"–3.5" of front lift who want to replace the factory stamped radius arms with fully boxed 3/16" fabricated steel arms, eliminate the factory rubber bushing with a serviceable 17-4 stainless spherical joint, correct 0.5°–2.5° of caster at the axle mount, and clear 37-inch tires at near-stock backspacing — as part of a Carli system or as a standalone upgrade.

This SKU is NOT for: Trucks with 4.5" or more of front lift (order CS-FARA-45-05), 2023+ Super Duty owners (not confirmed for new generation), 2WD Super Duty owners, anyone who hasn't confirmed companion radius arm drop brackets, or anyone expecting a complete lift system in this package (these are radius arms only).

Manufacturer Data Disclaimer
Product specifications, fitment data, and feature details are sourced from Carli Suspension manufacturer documentation and verified third-party technical references current at the time of publication. Carli Suspension reserves the right to modify product specifications without notice. Confirm 2005–2022 model year, 4WD drivetrain, total front lift height (2.5"–3.5"), and companion radius arm drop bracket selection before ordering. OFAS is not responsible for incompatibility resulting from incorrect lift height applications, missing companion brackets, 2023+ platform applications, or 2WD configurations.

Prop 65 Warning
⚠ WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead and lead compounds, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.p65warnings.ca.gov.

Non-Returnable Notice
This item is non-returnable once installed. Verify 2005–2022 model year, 4WD drivetrain, and lift height (2.5"–3.5") before ordering. Questions before ordering? Text (469) 407-7538.