Squeaks, Wobbles, and Weird Handling — What They’re Really Telling You

You’ve probably heard it before, a faint squeak when you hit a bump or turn into a climb. Or maybe your rig just doesn’t feel as planted in the rear end as it used to.

While it's easy to blame tires, shocks, or even bushings… that weird handling, clunking, or squeaking could actually be your radius rods talking back. 

What Do Radius Rods Actually Do?

In a UTV, radius rods (also known as trailing arms or control arms in some setups) are part of the rear suspension system. Their job? Simple but critical:

• They keep your rear wheels aligned as the suspension moves

• They control toe-in and toe-out to make sure your machine tracks straight

• They absorb lateral forces when turning, jumping, or getting rocked sideways

If one gets bent, even slightly it throws everything out of sync. You might not notice it immediately, but over time it wears out other parts, such as:

• Rear tires (from uneven contact)

• CV joints and axles

• Bushings and heim joints

• Your patience

Signs Your Radius Rods Might Be the Culprit

Let’s break down some real-world symptoms that could point to a bad or bent radius rod:

• Weird rear-end wobble or “floating” feel during high-speed runs

• Squeaking or creaking when the suspension flexes (could be worn or dirty heim joints)

• Unusual tire wear on one side or accelerated wear on both

• Clunking noise when cornering or landing

• Machine pulling left or right even after checking alignment

Why OEM Radius Rods Fall Short

Most factory radius rods are built from thin, hollow tubing. It’s cheap, light, and fine for basic trail use but it’s not made to handle:

• Bigger tires

• More power

• High-speed cornering

• Repeated impacts from racing, crawling, or desert riding

And once one of them bends? Everything connected to it starts to wear unevenly. That’s when your ride goes from dialed to unpredictable.

Why We Built Race Spec

For riders who expect more out of their rig, Demon Powersports Race Spec Radius Rods are overbuilt by design:

• Aircraft-grade 7075 billet aluminum for unmatched strength and flex resistance

• Hard anodized finish to fight corrosion and wear

• PTFE-lined 3-piece chromoly heim joints, heat-treated and rated for 18,000 lbs static load

• Right and left-hand threaded ends for fast on-the-fly adjustment

• CNC machined for precision fit

• High-clearance design for better rock and trail clearance

• Stainless hardware and spacers included

• Direct bolt-on — no mods, no fab, just install and go

This is the kind of setup built for long-travel suspensions, oversized tires, high-horsepower rigs, and anyone who’s tired of trail fixes and bent tubes.

Final Thought

If your machine’s making more noise than usual…
If it’s pulling left on a straight trail…
Or if you’re just tired of cheap parts bending before the fun even starts…

It’s probably time to check what’s underneath.

👉 View Demon Race Spec Radius Rods

Because sometimes the most important part is the one that’s barely visible.