Purchased an '03 Raptor at the beginning of the season. Looking for easiest ways to improve handling without replacing A-arms or rear axle. Thanks

 

A good set of tires should help out, they will let you slide easier and will take away some of the tippyness that everyone talks about.

 

You could use spacers for the rear wheels as a cheap way to widen its stance... but I have heard people say that its not without risk as it could damage the wheel bearings or worse.

 

Wheel spacers work very well for widening the stance but there are some problems that you could run into. Your shocks, axle and a-arms were built to accomodate the original width. When you add spacers, they act as a lever and you will find yourself bottoming out much easier on jumps and hard bumps. The problems I have seen are broken shock mounts in the front and bent or broken axles in the rear. If you take it moderatly easy, you will be ok.
Your cornering ability will increase considerably. You should only use them on a temp. basis until you can afford wider a-arms and shocks up front and a longer axle in the back.

 

Thanks for all the input. I have decided to go with a lonestar axle for a start. I was told they were more expensive then they actually are.

 

How wide is the axle you are looking at?

 

the excaliber that can be adjusted to +4. Is this good? I read one of the other threads and it seems it is between the Lonestar and the RPM axle.

 

That's a very good axle, you're not going to be dissapointed.