Hi guys

Any news from Ford USA about a lift kit for the 2003 model explorer ??? I am desperate to lift mine and I know the previous kits can't work on the 03 model due to the different springs set up.

Any suggestions would be gratrefully received.


Cheers


Louise.

If i am not too mistaken i believe there is no lift kit available for the 3rd gen's as of yet.

Superlift makes lift kits for 2003 Explorer Sport Trac. About $2,200

jus adapt a body lift to work with it. thats 3" right there

Superlift makes lift kits for 2003 Explorer Sport Trac. About $2,200

Not that it would work on a 2003 Explorer. The 2003 Explorer and Explorer Sport Trac have different suspension setups.

HI Scott

Many thanks for that, I'll contact Superlift and see if they can give me any advice.

Thanks again

Cheers

Louise.

No problem.

BTT. Any news? I've got an 04

None as yet. I keep getting the info that a Ranger kit will fit an Explorer, however you need to be careful to make sure all is OK. As I live in Australia, I really need to be sure all will be OK before I get one imported. So, no joy as yet. I did lift it 15ml with new tyres (whooopeee). Only 4 odd inches to go....

Keep in touch if you find anything.


Cheers


Louise.

Superlift makes lift kits for 2003 Explorer Sport Trac. About $2,200

Yep, Here's the link:
http://www.superlift.com/suspension/ford/96-EXPLORER.asp

I've been looking for this for a long time for my 2003 Exporer Sport 4X4.

THANKS FOR THIS INFO! :thumbsup:

All this Sport Trac and Ranger talk is errelevant, considering he has an 03 XLT. Those will not work. And don't hold your breath for a lift kit for the 02+, I don't see it happening.

I don't see how it would be possible for a lift kit to made for '02 & up Explorers. If I remember right the rear axle shaft passes through a hole in the frame.
The only thing that might be possible is a body lift as hiridin mentioned.
Damn the soccer moms & yuppies for wanting more comfort & rugrat room :fire: :fire: :fire:

It's possible, but the problem is it will be too expensive (like most IFS/IRS kits) for companies to make and they will not sell enough of them in the Explorer market to turn a profit.

Yea, I can imagine how much one would cost. I'm sure it would be cheaper to do a front & rear SAS.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161687

Hey everyone, I was reading everyone's reply's and saw that the 2003 Explorer Sport-trac lift kit from SuperLift will work and then someone said it won't work on the 2003 Explorer XLT 4-Door. So is it true that there just isn't a lift kit for this Explorer?

Well I live in Illinois and there's this lift kit shop by me called Attitude Performace and I'm going to call them tomorrow and ask them if they know of a lift kit for the 2003 Explorer XLT 4-Door and I'll let ya'll know if there is. Later...:exp:

there is a 2" now avalible for the third gen 4-door.

There is only a 2 inch lift from Rancho and it is a quick lift. It works with the shocks. Other than that NO LIFT for the 3rd gen and I can say that with 99% confidence and probably never will be. OH the Rancho lift system is about $800 for all four shocks. I may get one next spring/summer if I'm lucky.

One more thing there is NO LIFT for 3rd gen Explorers other than a Sport Trac.

Awesome, thanks SkanlaxJMO and Rammer24. I'll check out Rancho's site and take a look at their shocks. Later...:exp:

other than the rancho quicklift or buying ur own springs, theres no other lift available unless u fab ur own

(2 inches up front)
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2456000-2456999/2456765_44_full.jpg
(Vs stock)
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2456000-2456999/2456765_51_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/8/web/2456000-2456999/2456765_54_full.jpg

you could do a body lift...but it would have to be "custom" it would work though. The only real "custom" parts would be the bumper brackets you could probably use a ranger kit or something and then buy different sized bolts if needed.

you could do a body lift...but it would have to be "custom" it would work though. The only real "custom" parts would be the bumper brackets you could probably use a ranger kit or something and then buy different sized bolts if needed.

its actually alot more complicated than it looks... the front bumper's lower connecting spots would have to be cut and rewelded because of the way the bumper cover wraps around it rather than just being over it... also, the main steel bar across the front under the bumper cover would have to be completely removed because it fits tightly in the upper portion of the cover... the rear bumper is quite similar... it wraps around the hitch reciever and the hitch would either have to be removed or refabbed... its quite different than the ranger which has a straight metal rear bumper ontop of easy brackets and a front bumper that goes up easily

Word!

Word!

haha im glad some of the long-time members on here understand the sophistication that would need to be put in... its a pretty tough task

well...you know what would solve that...cut them off and make a couple tube bumpers :P

well...you know what would solve that...cut them off and make a couple tube bumpers :P

hey man if ur precise enough to be able to remount metal brackets or cut them off and add a steel bar for rigidity be my guest.. thats the whole issue with it... too complicated, too expensive, and too time consuming, thats y we've only seen about 2 or 3 of them actually lifted on the net... cuz theyre one of a kind and probably had extensive work done

I wonder how they lift all of these 3rd gens.


http://www.autotrader.com/dealers/dda/inventory.jsp?dealership_view_name=www.buyfromgoodguys.com&dealer_id=27533256&advanced=&result_car_id=null&make=FORD&make2=&model=EXPLOR&start_year=1981&end_year=2008&min_price=&max_price=&search_type=both&transmission=&engine=&drive=&doors=&fuel=&max_mileage=&color=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&keywords_display=&sort_type=priceDESC&x=48&y=11&suppressStyle=null

i have driven past there a hundred times, i'm gonna go check......

most obviously not body lifts im impressed.... u can see in the first one on the list that it has a spacer on the coil cuz they have an upclose picture... they may have rebuilt the lower control arms cuz the uppers r very moved... or maybe they have just spacers all the way around... they look pretty nice though

Do they look like rubber spacers? That has got to be the way. seems like somebody connected to this site would have the resources to fab something. I bought the TRUXXX kit for my 06 expedition 3" up front 2"back thing is the spacer isn't 3 inches and u get three inches of lift. I guess the angles and such must be figured out or some trial and error work can be done. here are a couple of shots of the truxxx sapcers prior to install
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w16/seadawg727/P1070589.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w16/seadawg727/P1070585.jpg

Have just lifted mine just over one inch front and rear, standard shocks retained, main reason is for sand dune work as I plan to run 265/70/17's on some extra rims I have

Do they look like rubber spacers? That has got to be the way. seems like somebody connected to this site would have the resources to fab something. I bought the TRUXXX kit for my 06 expedition 3" up front 2"back thing is the spacer isn't 3 inches and u get three inches of lift. I guess the angles and such must be figured out or some trial and error work can be done. here are a couple of shots of the truxxx sapcers prior to install
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w16/seadawg727/P1070589.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w16/seadawg727/P1070585.jpg

yea the spacers seem rubber but the issues are the fact of the CV shafts in the rear going thru the frame and the ball joints and steering connections in the front going out and wearing down quickly... they look like large rubber spacers though and it looks like a deecent solution as is any other spacer lift on another truck... the issue is the IRS on the 3rd gens... if anyone lives near this place and could ask them, that would be the biggest help

The expedition has IRS as well, thru the frame. 2 " lift on the rear seemed to make little dif as far as axel frame clearence since the travel stays the same u just end up with less downward travel. which is ok since i aint trying to get air or anything.

The expedition has IRS as well, thru the frame. 2 " lift on the rear seemed to make little dif as far as axel frame clearence since the travel stays the same u just end up with less downward travel. which is ok since i aint trying to get air or anything.

haha i agree... air isnt a goal... but i see what ur saying... the stock control arms will only extend so far... so ur saying if the shock is completely decompressed on the rear with 2" more clearance that there shouldnt be any CV-to-frame touching?

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/guitarfrk741/explorer.jpgyeah heres ur up close pic

hope it helps

great photo man

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/guitarfrk741/explorer.jpgyeah heres ur up close pic

hope it helps

that shows a good view of the front but the rear is the biggest concern... any other photos with rear suspension included?

nope cant find any other pictures...

but i want these spacers haha...BADD

and if you think about it the rear shouldnt be too much of a problem because you can probably get close to like 2in clearance without worrying about axle to frame contact...i mean if rancho was gonna go to 2.5 the theres obviously not TOO much of an issue

nope cant find any other pictures...

but i want these spacers haha...BADD

and if you think about it the rear shouldnt be too much of a problem because you can probably get close to like 2in clearance without worrying about axle to frame contact...i mean if rancho was gonna go to 2.5 the theres obviously not TOO much of an issue

yea u got a point... im sure that would be the easiest way to not have to worry about all that going over 3 inches or so... i wonder if these guys fabbed their own or used ones from another vehicle

Look at the balljoint angle in that pic. You'll be replacing them every 6 months.

would it really be that often??

and theres still the bl as an alternative

i mean if you think about it thought there really isnt too many complications into the body lift ..ik you say that there is extensive fabrication needed and i respect that and that may very well be true..but still...

yes i understand the bumpers are wrapped around the hitch and front bumper..

but i was looking and they are MOUNTED to the body (i know the front mounts to the frame but its also mounted to the body pretty good)

and it seems like if you only went 3 inches or so it wouldnt stick over too much ..

and for the hitch...i could deal with removing the hitch until i could get one custom fabbed

so would it really need as much fabbing as you suggested?

for example...this is a bl and the hitch went untouched and im assuming so did the front end..and all is still good
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z115/aficachi/Xlifted2.jpg

if u look at it tho, he obviously did something to the front cuz its level... and theres a little more to it than that... yea everything is wrapped around and whatnot, but the front bumper is more than u would expect... where the fog lights and such go have a perfect gap and would be almost completely covered when body lifted and u mite have trouble getting to the lights (this is with XLTs, L, and EB that have fogs)... the part where it mounts to the frame below it would have to be cut or hanging out the bottom to work.. ur radiator may have to be brought up too cuz it would be hanging out the bottom and would be getting less air... plus, the steel beam inside ur front bumper would have to be removed cuz where it connects to the frame with stock body height, it fits rite in the grove above the opening... basically it can be done and it can be fabbed as stated before, its just sacrificing safety for looks... if someone is willing for the tradeoff, it would be a project

I was just rotating my tires and thought of this. Let me know what you think. This will only work for the front as the back shock is diff. The bottom of the shock comes to a shaft, then to the mount it self. Cut the tube then insert a steel spacer tube. It will need to over hang lets say 1.5" on ether end for strenght and must be a strong weld. I assume that the fluid is not in that portion and that is only an extension. Extend this shaft and you have lift. A couple of hurdles, the shock shaft is tapered top to bottom and can this be made strong enough with proper profesional welding? Here is a rudimentary drawing. Let me hear your thoughts please. Mainly y you think it wont work.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w16/seadawg727/P1070654.jpg

thats pretty much the same concept of a strut spacer..the strut spacers just alot easier/practical...no welding no fabricating..just removing the strut and remounting it with the spacer

thats pretty much the same concept of a strut spacer..the strut spacers just alot easier/practical...no welding no fabricating..just removing the strut and remounting it with the spacer

the only thing about the strut spacer is that theres not one specifically made for the explorer, which is why he suggested that... i think if the weld is strong enough and u dont cause a fluid leak, u should be good to go... the weld needs to be like perfectly straight though and it has to match up with the 3 bolts for the strut tower

Right on bigapple. If I could buy a strut spacer it would be a done deal.
The alignment will be the issue. Also like i said about my expedition the spacer isn't 3" it's 1 7/8 but after it was mounted I had 3" of lift. Geometry yikes! If I can get my hands on some used struts for experimentation that would be good.

junkyards are your best friend :)

Right on bigapple. If I could buy a strut spacer it would be a done deal.
The alignment will be the issue. Also like i said about my expedition the spacer isn't 3" it's 1 7/8 but after it was mounted I had 3" of lift. Geometry yikes! If I can get my hands on some used struts for experimentation that would be good.

yea the reason for that is because ur increasing the size of the strut and increasing the compression... make sure if u do it with the explorer to get a realignment and get ur camber and toe adjusted properly to keep ur steering and suspension rite on

if u could get a block of metal and shave it down to the rite diameter and such u could probably fab it to work... its just like where can u possibly get a round hunk of metal haha... one thing though, if u do either the spacer or u do the cutting and welding deal, ur actually lengthening ur strut so re-installation is a little different than putting in a larger spring like i did... i put in a larger spring that was compressed on the strut so the size of the strut didnt change, just the compression of the spring cuz it was stronger and it resulted in a lift... i recently installed spacers on my friends tundra and it was a pain but the instructions had a very good method... u had to disconnect the control arm from the spindle and disconnect the sway bar from the lower control arm to have some free range of motion with it... then put the strut with the spacer on the top back on the truck and connect the bolt all the way at the bottom on ur lower control arm to the strut... then put a jack under the control arm and use the weight of the car to compress the strut to reconnect the upper control arm to the spindle and the sway bar to the lower control arm... if u dont understand this wordy crap just let me kno and ill draw a diagram in paint haha... i dont mind and good luck with ur stuff

The expedition had to be realigned. Truxxx provided the numbers, though I took it to a 4x4 alignment shop. The guy never said if the Truxxx #s were on or not. I dont think he ever looked at them. They also mounted my tires, 285 revos.
Bigapple did you by chance measure the springs prior to your installation or compair the hight to the stock ones?

The expedition had to be realigned. Truxxx provided the numbers, though I took it to a 4x4 alignment shop. The guy never said if the Truxxx #s were on or not. I dont think he ever looked at them. They also mounted my tires, 285 revos.
Bigapple did you by chance measure the springs prior to your installation or compair the hight to the stock ones?

i didnt do exact measurements but i remember when i put them side by side the only difference was the size of the coils and possibly a tad taller but not even an inch... the main thing that made it a lift was the fact that the spring had more strength cuz the coils were bigger so it doesnt compress as much and it results in a leveled look

I just talked to a guy at 4wheel direct in SD and he said they make a 5" lift kit for the 2003 explorer sport. I'm calling him tomorrow to find out the specifics and cost etc. but I called a few different fab shops and this seems legit. So I'll let u know what i find out.

Yeah, but I don't think the sport guys are having the problem. It's the regular 4 doors that are S.O.L. (unless you get springs like bigapple).

To clarify, that kit won't work for your model.

ok, talked with 4 wheel direct. And they make their own kit for the 2003 explorer sport xls 4wd. They do alot of fabbing at their shop so it's not a problem. They do appx. 2" of suspensin lift, and they'll do a 2" or 3" body lift. So you can get a 4 or 5 inch lift total. $1495 They set up the lift angle exactly how u want it. Good stuff.

ok, talked with 4 wheel direct. And they make their own kit for the 2003 explorer sport xls 4wd. They do alot of fabbing at their shop so it's not a problem. They do appx. 2" of suspensin lift, and they'll do a 2" or 3" body lift. So you can get a 4 or 5 inch lift total. $1495 They set up the lift angle exactly how u want it. Good stuff.

yea but thats different... the chassis of the exp sports and sport tracs r completely different... torsion bars and a solid axle vs. IFS and IRS... the body lift pucks would work on just about anything... its the fact of rerouting all the wiring and steering and such

of course. The lift is not for a sport trac, its for an explorer sport. The wiring and steering issues are all addressed with this fabbed up kit. They have lifted these before. They custom make the parts for the parts for the lift, nothing is ordered except probably the lift blocks.

of course. The lift is not for a sport trac, its for an explorer sport. The wiring and steering issues are all addressed with this fabbed up kit. They have lifted these before. They custom make the parts for the parts for the lift, nothing is ordered except probably the lift blocks.

well yea im just comparing the suspension layouts of the sport/sporttrac to the 3rd gen 4-drs... the 4-drs have independent suspension all the way around... as opposed to the sports and sporttracs that have torsion bars up front and a solid axle... much easier to lift than the 3rd gens... sounds like a good deal tho... good luck:thumbsup:

thanks man. we'll see how it goes, if it goes haha.

See, Central 4 Wheel Drive would have a kit if they were shown an incentive - by the locals - meaning, if enough of us passed by there, they would try something. But like how we have oversized coils + body lift, kits aren't likely to happen. The kit money is not in the 3rd+ gen Exs 4dr. Most 4dr owners are very happy with what comes on the vehicle, or they just add rims and tires and done.

:dunno: Whoops. Assumed from the "'03 XLS 4X4" that you had a 4 door. I guess that would work for you.

May muddy fenders find you, sir!

ok, having some trouble and would appreciate some help. Everyone has told me that my 03 sport has IFS/IRS well i looked under my truck today and noticed that i have a solid rear axle. what am i overlooking?

best angle, so i hope it works...

I'll put up pics this evening for some input. But yeah mines definetly a Rear Solid Axle with leaf suspension. To clarify, I have a 2003 sport XLS 4x4, is that Normal? from what i've heard the 02+ year sports are IFS/IRS

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g177/antwn_5k/02-01-08_1117.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g177/antwn_5k/02-01-08_1116.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g177/antwn_5k/02-01-08_1115.jpg

you have a a sport, the sports are the same as the 95-01 platform, wich is a short arm long arm (sla) ifs setup in front, and a solid rear. the 4 doors went independant on all 4corners with the platform change in 02

Thanks man, i was seriously confused.

I just wanted to know where i could get spacers that would fit an 02 xls explorer??

I just wanted to know where i could get spacers that would fit an 02 xls explorer??

u could get some universal crap spacers but theyre made of rubber and will eventually dryrot and ull be off worse than before the spacers... getting custom coil springs is pretty much the only way