Best Gen 3 Raptor
Suspension Upgrades:
Kits, Bump Stops & Billet Parts
The Gen 3 F-150 Raptor and Raptor R leave the factory with more power than the chassis can use. Here is exactly what to change, in what order, and why — from the shop that built the first Raptor to race the Baja 1000.
Short Answer: What Are the Best Suspension Upgrades for a Gen 3 Ford Raptor?
Start with springs. New front and rear springs are the single best first suspension upgrade on a Gen 3 Raptor — they change ride height, ride quality and how the truck carries weight more than any other part at that price.
From there the order is: billet front upper control arms plus half tie rods with support sleeves, then rear bump stops and the front bump stop kit with limit strap, then the full front mid travel kit with billet rear links and panhard bar, then long travel rear suspension. If you still want more after that, the +3" wider front kit is the last jump.
Every Foutz part below is designed, laser cut, CNC bent, machined, MIG welded and finished in-house in Mesa, Arizona, and fits the 2021-2025 Ford F-150 Raptor and Raptor R.
The Gen 3 Raptor gave us a 5-link coil rear end, live-valve Fox internal bypass shocks, and — in the Raptor R — 720 horsepower. Ford built a genuinely great chassis. But it is still a production truck built to a price, and the places it gives up are predictable: soft factory springs, stock upper control arm bushings that bind, tie rods that bend, and a front end that runs out of travel long before the driver runs out of nerve.
At Foutz Motorsports we have been building and racing Ford off-road platforms since 1998. We built the very first Ford Raptor to run the Baja 1000 back in 2009. We do not guess where these trucks break — we have watched it happen, on our own rigs and on customers' rigs. Every part on this page exists because we saw a specific problem and built a specific fix.
The First Three Moves on a Gen 3 Raptor
Gen 3 Raptor Springs — The Best First Upgrade
Why Springs Before Anything Else?
Because springs set everything else. They determine ride height, how the truck sits with a bumper and a bed full of gear, how much of the shock's stroke you are actually using, and how the truck feels on every mile of road between you and the trail. No other single part changes as much for the money.
Factory Gen 3 Raptor springs are tuned for a compromise — comfortable empty, soft loaded, and sitting lower in front than most owners want. Replacing them fixes ride height and ride quality in one move, without spacers, without preload tricks, and without touching the factory live valve shocks.
Geiser +2.5" Springs — Our Primary Recommendation
The GEN 3 Ford Raptor +2.5" Geiser Spring Kit — Front and Rear is the one we point most customers to. Geiser builds springs for race trucks, and the +2.5" rate and height give the Gen 3 a level stance and a noticeably better ride with weight on board.
If you only want to change one end, the Geiser +2.5" Front Springs and Geiser Rear Springs are sold separately. Most people start with the fronts.
Eibach Pro-Lift-Kit — The Value Option
If the Geiser kit is more than you want to spend, the 2021-2024 Raptor Eibach PRO-LIFT-KIT Coil Springs (Front & Rear) is a genuine improvement over stock at a lower price. Also available front only and rear only.
| Gen 3 Raptor Spring Option | Coverage | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Geiser +2.5" — Front & Rear | Both ends | The complete fix, and our first recommendation |
| Geiser +2.5" — Front Only | Front | Levelling the nose, the most common starting point |
| Geiser — Rear Only | Rear | Trucks that carry weight or tow |
| Eibach Pro-Lift — Front & Rear | Both ends | Best improvement per dollar |
| Eibach Pro-Lift — Front Only | Front | Budget front levelling |
| Eibach Pro-Lift — Rear Only | Rear | Budget rear levelling |
Billet Front Upper Arms, Tie Rods & Top Hats
Why Billet Aluminum Instead of Stamped Steel?
Factory suspension arms are stamped steel with rubber bushings. Rubber bushings bind as the suspension cycles — they fight the shock instead of letting it work, and they load the mounting points every time the arm moves through its arc. They also wear out, and when they do the only fix is a whole new arm.
Our billet parts are CNC machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and run serviceable uniballs or Ultra-Flex joints. They do not bind, they let the shock do its job, and when the joint eventually wears you replace a low-cost bearing instead of the entire component.
Billet Upper Control Arms
The Gen 3 Raptor Billet Upper Arm Kit — Stock Length is a direct bolt-on replacement for the factory upper control arm and the part we pair with new springs on nearly every build. Stock length means no change to track width and no fender work, but you get corrected geometry, a serviceable uniball, and an arm that will not fold. If you want a fully fabricated alternative, the Fabricated Upper Arm Kit covers 2019-2025 applications.
Half Tie Rods and Support Sleeves — Buy Them Together
Factory Raptor tie rods bend. They have bent on every generation and the Gen 3 is no exception, especially on 37s. The pairing we recommend at this stage is the Billet Half Tie Rod Kit together with the Tie Rod Support Sleeve (16mm). The half tie rod replaces the vulnerable inner half with billet aluminum; the support sleeve reinforces the remaining factory section against bending. Together they cover the whole assembly for far less than a full replacement.
If you are already running real desert speed, skip ahead to the Full Billet Tie Rod Kit, which replaces the complete assembly.
Heavy Duty Billet Top Hats — The One to Buy
The factory front shock top hat is a known failure point on hard-used Raptors, and it is the part we get the most calls about. Our answer is the Heavy Duty Billet Top Hat — Stock Height. It is CNC machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and runs the larger FK WSSX14T uniball instead of the standard bearing — more load capacity, a longer service interval, and far more margin when the front end takes a big hit.
If your Gen 3 Raptor sees dirt at all, buy the heavy duty version. The price difference over the standard top hat is small compared to what a failed upper shock mount does to the rest of the front end. The Standard Billet Top Hat — Stock Height uses the same billet housing with the smaller FKS12T uniball, and is the right pick only for street-driven and light-duty trucks.
Heavy duty top hats are also available with built-in preload lift. For 2021-2023 trucks, the Heavy Duty 1.5" Lift Top Hat (Phase 1) and Heavy Duty 2" Lift Top Hat (Phase 2). For 2024 and newer, the Heavy Duty 1" Lift (Phase 1) and Heavy Duty 1.5" Lift (Phase 2).
One more small part worth adding here: the Lower A-Arm Slot Block Kit locks your alignment shims so camber does not walk after a hard hit. If you have ever come home from a trip with the alignment gone, this is why.
Gen 3 Raptor Bump Stop & Limit Strap Kits
Why Does a Gen 3 Raptor Need Aftermarket Bump Stops?
Because almost every expensive suspension failure happens at the ends of the stroke, not in the middle. When the suspension runs out of compression travel, the energy has to go somewhere — into the coil bucket, the lower arm pocket, the frame. When the shock tops out on the extension side, it slams the shock shaft and the upper mount.
A bump stop kit gives the suspension a progressive hydraulic cushion before it reaches metal. A limit strap stops it from ever fully extending. Together they protect everything you bought in steps one and two.
Rear Bump Stops First
Start at the back. The Gen 3 Raptor Rear Bump Stop Kit is tunable to your spring rate and how much weight you carry, which matters a lot on a truck that hauls fuel, tires and recovery gear. Add the Rear Limit Strap Kit to control the droop side and protect the rear shocks and links.
Then the Front Bump Stop Kit With Limit Strap
The Front Limit Strap & Bump Stop Kit for Stock Lower Arm is the complete front answer: hydraulic bump control on the compression side, a limit strap on the extension side, all bolted to your factory lower control arms. If you only need to stop topout, the Front Limit Strap Kit is the standalone version.
The Cheapest Suspension Insurance You Can Buy
Bump stops and limit straps cost a fraction of what they protect. A single coil bucket repair, a bent lower arm pocket, or a blown-out shock costs more than the front and rear bump stop and limit strap kits combined.
They also let you actually use the springs and arms you bought in the first two steps, instead of babying the truck to avoid a big hit.
Mid Travel Front Kit, Billet Rear Links & Panhard Bar
Gen 3 Raptor Mid Travel Front Suspension
This is where the truck stops being a modified Raptor and starts being a purpose-built desert truck. The Mid Travel Front Suspension Kit with Billet Upper Arm is our most popular Gen 3 Raptor suspension kit. It pairs our fabricated lower control arms with a CNC machined billet upper arm running a serviceable uniball, opens up front wheel travel, and lets the shock actually use its stroke.
If you prefer a fully fabricated front end, the Mid Travel Front Suspension Kit with Fabricated Upper Arm is the same architecture with a welded tubular upper. Either way, add the Front Sway Bar Kit for Fabricated Lower Arms, which is sized for the new arms. Mid travel keeps the truck at stock width with no fender modification.
Billet Rear Links and Panhard Bar
Do the rear at the same time. The Gen 3 Raptor's 5-link rear end is a good design held back by rubber bushings. The Billet Rear Lower Suspension Arms with Ultra-Flex Joints replace the factory links with machined billet aluminum running rebuildable joints that articulate without binding. If you prefer uniballs, the Billet Aluminum Rear Arms — Uniball Version covers both upper and lower links in one kit.
The panhard bar locates the rear axle side to side, and the factory unit is the weak link. The Billet Panhard Bar with Ultra-Flex Joint is the direct upgrade. For adjustable setups there is a Heim Joint version and a Johnny Joint version.
Gen 3 Raptor Long Travel Rear Suspension
Two Different Kits — You Pick One or the Other
This is the part people get wrong, so read this carefully. Foutz builds two separate long travel rear suspension kits for the Gen 3 Raptor. They are alternatives. You choose one or the other — you do not run both.
The difference is where the shocks live, and that decides what happens to your bed.
| Long Travel Rear Option | Where the Shocks Mount | What Happens to the Bed |
|---|---|---|
| Long Travel Rear Cantilever Kit | Cantilever, under the bed | Bed stays fully intact and usable |
| 5-Link Rear Bed Organizer (Through-the-Bed) | Up through the bed floor | Shock towers occupy bed space by design |
Option A: The Long Travel Rear Cantilever Kit
The Long Travel Rear Suspension Cantilever Kit gives the Gen 3 Raptor 19 inches of rear wheel travel using a cantilever linkage that keeps the shocks below the bed floor. The headline benefit: your bed stays completely intact and usable. No towers coming up through the floor, no cutting, no losing your cargo space.
If you want to carry spares and gear on top of that, add a standard bed organizer such as the Modular Bed Organizer, which mounts in the intact bed and configures for a spare tire, fuel jugs, a jack and recovery gear. That is the correct pairing — cantilever kit plus a bed organizer for storage. It does not pair with the through-the-bed shock kit.
Option B: The Through-the-Bed Shock Kit
The 5-Link Rear Bed Organizer for 3.0x16 Coilover or 3.5x16 Bypass Shock is a different rear suspension kit, not an add-on. Here the shocks mount up through the bed floor into an integrated organizer structure, which is the traditional prerunner and chase truck layout. You give up bed space to the shock towers, and you get a rear end built around larger race shocks.
Choose this one if you are running big coilovers or bypasses and you are happy trading bed room for shock package. Choose the cantilever kit if you want the travel without giving up the bed.
There is also the Adjustable Rear Suspension Kit with fabricated trailing arms, Johnny Joints and a panhard bar if you want a fabricated rear end without going full long travel. Long travel builds should also add the 41.5" Long Travel Adjustable Panhard Bar, the Rear Link Frame Mount Gusset Kit and the Rear Axle Gusset Kit.
Gen 3 Raptor +3" Long Travel Front Suspension
If you have done everything above and still want more, this is the last jump. The +3" Long Travel Front Suspension Kit adds three inches of width per side and a substantial increase in front wheel travel over mid travel. It uses fabricated upper arms and is designed around aftermarket coilover and bypass packages.
Understand the trade before you buy: +3" requires fiberglass or bulged fenders and changes the truck's footprint. It is the right call for prerunners, chase trucks and dedicated desert builds — and overkill for a Raptor that also has to fit in a garage and a parking space. Trucks at this level should also be running the Fabricated Ultimate Strength Front Spindle Kit and the Full Billet Tie Rod Kit.
Chassis Reinforcement, Lift & Leveling
Where the Gen 3 Raptor Chassis Cracks
Three areas show up again and again on high-mileage desert Raptors: the front coil bucket, the lower control arm pocket, and the rear 5-link frame mounts. All three are fixable before they fail.
Up front, the Coil Bucket Reinforcement Plate Kit gets ahead of the problem; if yours is already damaged, the Fabricated Coil Bucket Replacement Kit repairs it properly. The Front Shock Tower Support Ring Kit stiffens the tower itself.
At the lower arm, the Lower Control Arm Pocket Replacement Kit restores a torn-out pocket and the Lower Arm Rear Pivot Reinforcement Brackets bolt on to prevent it. The Fabricated Lower Control Arms — Stock Width are also sold on their own as a direct replacement for bent or fatigued factory arms.
Lift and Leveling Without New Springs
New springs are the right way to set ride height, but if you have already sorted springs and want to fine-tune, the Front Leveling Collar Kit gives 1.5" or 2" of front lift by adjusting preload on the factory coilover — no spacer stacking, no topout damage. For 2024-2026 trucks there is a 3" Front Spring Collar Lift Kit. Out back, rear spring spacers level the stance in 1/2", 3/4" and 1" increments.
Staying on the factory lower arms? Use the Front Sway Bar Kit for Stock Arms.
Every Gen 3 Raptor Suspension Part, By Step
| Product | Step | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Geiser +2.5" Springs — Front & Rear | 1 · Springs | The best first suspension upgrade on a Gen 3 |
| Geiser +2.5" Springs — Front Only | 1 · Springs | Levels the nose, common starting point |
| Geiser Rear Springs Only | 1 · Springs | For trucks that carry weight or tow |
| Eibach Pro-Lift Springs — Front & Rear | 1 · Springs | Value alternative to the Geiser kit |
| Eibach Pro-Lift Springs — Front Only | 1 · Springs | Budget front levelling |
| Eibach Pro-Lift Springs — Rear Only | 1 · Springs | Budget rear levelling |
| Billet Upper Control Arm Kit | 2 · Billet | Machined uppers with serviceable uniballs |
| Billet Half Tie Rod Kit | 2 · Billet | Billet replacement for the vulnerable half |
| Tie Rod Support Sleeve — 16mm | 2 · Billet | Reinforces the factory rod, pairs with half kit |
| Heavy Duty Billet Top Hat — Stock Height | 2 · Billet | Larger WSSX14T uniball — the top hat for dirt |
| Heavy Duty Top Hat — 1.5" Lift (21-23) | 2 · Billet | HD mount plus 1.5" preload lift in one part |
| Heavy Duty Top Hat — 2" Lift (21-23) | 2 · Billet | HD mount plus 2" preload lift in one part |
| Heavy Duty Top Hat — 1" Lift (24+) | 2 · Billet | HD mount plus 1" preload lift, 2024 and newer |
| Heavy Duty Top Hat — 1.5" Lift (24+) | 2 · Billet | HD mount plus 1.5" preload lift, 2024 and newer |
| Standard Billet Top Hat — Stock Height | 2 · Billet | FKS12T uniball, street and light-duty use |
| Fabricated Upper Arm Kit | 2 · Billet | Welded tubular upper control arms |
| Lower A-Arm Slot Block Kit | 2 · Billet | Locks alignment shims so camber holds |
| Rear Bump Stop Kit | 3 · Bump Stops | Tunable rear bump control for your load |
| Rear Limit Strap Kit | 3 · Bump Stops | Controls rear droop, protects shocks and links |
| Front Limit Strap & Bump Stop Kit | 3 · Bump Stops | Controls compression and extension, stock arms |
| Front Limit Strap Kit | 3 · Bump Stops | Stops front shock topout |
| Mid Travel Front Kit — Billet UCA | 4 · Mid Travel | Adds front travel, keeps stock width |
| Mid Travel Front Kit — Fabricated UCA | 4 · Mid Travel | Fully fabricated mid travel front end |
| Front Sway Bar — Fabricated LCA | 4 · Mid Travel | Sized for the fabricated lower arms |
| Billet Rear Lower Arms — Ultra-Flex | 4 · Mid Travel | Rebuildable rear links that do not bind |
| Billet Rear Arms — Uniball | 4 · Mid Travel | Upper and lower billet links in one kit |
| Billet Panhard Bar — Ultra-Flex | 4 · Mid Travel | Locates the rear axle without deflection |
| Adjustable Panhard Bar — Heim Joint | 4 · Mid Travel | Adjustable axle centering |
| Adjustable Panhard Bar — Johnny Joint | 4 · Mid Travel | Adjustable axle centering, rubber-isolated |
| Long Travel Rear Cantilever Kit | 5 · Long Travel Rear | 19" rear travel, bed stays fully usable |
| 5-Link Rear Bed Organizer (Through-the-Bed) | 5 · Long Travel Rear | Alternative kit — shocks mount through the bed |
| Modular Bed Organizer | 5 · Long Travel Rear | Pairs with the cantilever kit for tires and gear |
| Adjustable Rear Suspension Kit | 5 · Long Travel Rear | Fabricated rear end short of full long travel |
| Long Travel Panhard Bar — 41.5" | 5 · Long Travel Rear | Adjustable bar for long travel geometry |
| +3" Long Travel Front Kit | 6 · +3" Front | Maximum front travel, requires fender work |
| Fabricated Front Spindle Kit | 6 · +3" Front | Ultimate strength replacement spindle |
| Full Billet Tie Rod Kit | 6 · +3" Front | Complete billet steering assembly |
| Coil Bucket Reinforcement Plate | Reinforcement | Prevents coil bucket cracking |
| Fabricated Coil Bucket Replacement | Reinforcement | Repairs a damaged coil bucket |
| Front Shock Tower Support Ring | Reinforcement | Stiffens the front shock tower |
| LCA Pocket Replacement Kit | Reinforcement | Restores a torn-out lower arm pocket |
| LCA Rear Pivot Reinforcement Brackets | Reinforcement | Bolt-on prevention for the pocket |
| Fabricated Lower Control Arms | Reinforcement | Stock-width replacement for bent arms |
| Rear Link Frame Mount Gusset Kit | Reinforcement | Reinforces the 5-link frame mounts |
| Rear Axle Gusset Kit | Reinforcement | Strengthens the rear axle mounts |
| Front Leveling Collar Kit — 1.5" / 2" | Lift | Preload lift without spacer stacking |
| Front Spring Collar Lift — 3" | Lift | Maximum preload lift, 2024-2026 |
| Rear Spring Spacer Lift Kits | Lift | 1/2", 3/4" and 1" rear levelling |
| Front Sway Bar — Stock LCA | Sway Bar | Sized for factory lower arms |
Current pricing for every part above is on its product page. If you want a package quote for a full build, call us at (480) 718-9800 and we will put it together.
The Gen 3 Raptor Build Path, In Order
Almost every Gen 3 Raptor owner we talk to asks the same question: what is the right order. Here it is, exactly how we tell people to stage it.
Most owners are happiest somewhere around step three or four. Steps five and six are for people building a dedicated desert truck, and there is no shame in stopping before them.
Gen 3 Raptor Suspension FAQ
Built from Race-Proven Experience
Foutz Motorsports has been making off-road great since 1998. We built the first Ford Raptor to race the Baja 1000 in 2009, and our founder Greg Foutz has won countless races in production stock trucks. That is not marketing history — it is the reason we know where a Gen 3 Raptor is weak before most owners find out the hard way.
Every kit we make is engineered around how these trucks are actually used, then cut, bent, welded, machined and coated in our own shop in Mesa, Arizona. If you are not sure which parts fit your build or what order to do them in, call us. Our team has more hands-on experience with the Raptor family than anyone else on the planet.
Build Your Gen 3 Raptor
Shop the full 2021-2025 Gen 3 Raptor suspension lineup or call us about your build.