I am in a predicament with my Raptor front end. I have +3 Houser LT a-arms and with Yamaha bolt pattern 3/2 Hipers, I am too wide without cranking up the preload on my Elka SSD shocks. To get 4/1 Hipers, I've got to buy Honda bolt pattern hubs (I already have $400 Baldwin hubs). Or, I can buy Houser LT +2 a-arms and keep my hubs and Hipers. Or, I can try to cut 1" off my +3 a-arms and reweld them. New Houser LT +2 a-arms are $950 and I can probably sell my +3 LT a-arms for $400 or so. New Honda pattern hubs and 4/1 Hipers will cost about $750, I can probably sell my Baldwin hubs and 3/2 Yamaha pattern Hipers for $400 or so. If I cut 1" off my +3 a-arms and reweld them, it won't cost anything but I'm not sure about the new shock angle and whether my MIG welds will be as strong as the factory TIG welds. Any suggestions?

 

Probably sell your +3 A arms and get some +2's. But then you would need to get your shocks re valved wouldn't you??? Then different hubs would be the only reasonable way I think...

 

I am not sure if I have the answer you need but here is some things to think about.

Since you have the quad rates matched up with the stk reworked rear shock you may have a shot at just updating to the elka rear. I dont know exactly what spring rates and ride heights you have etc but there were many of the quade rate shocks that were sprung a little too soft and that allowed the front to sag, and some a whole lot. I know that the orig set up on mine (out of the box) allowed so much more sag in the front than the rear that I could have prob cranked the preload half way down the damn shock. So depending on your "race sag" and bias from front to rear you may be able to get the elka rear that has more stroke than the rebuilt stocker and then you may be able to dial in the sag better while also raising the front height and moving the width closer etc.

Not sure this is the case and remember raising the ride height will affect the handling also so understand that this is just a long shot etc.

If I remember correctly the Houser LT +3 for the raptor would allow right around 50" with the stock offset wheels. The hipers have added an extra 1" to 1.5" or more to the width and since this is the real issue you should look to fixing this first.

Maybe if you sold off the current hubs and rims etc you would recoup most of the expense.

Just a few quick questions, what is your width now, is your situation anything close to the shock reference earlier, why would you expect only $400 for your used lt a-arms, are you honestly able to do the cutting and welding accurately enough and whats wrong with running honda sized hubs?

Hope you figure it out soon.