Here's a couple of pictures from before I installed the OME springs:

http://home.att.net/~sponge1000/images/b4ome1.jpg

http://home.att.net/~sponge1000/images/b4ome2.jpg

I already had the BFG tires, and had a mild shackle lift in the back, but after doing Moab, even those didn't even things out any more.

Here's a couple of pics after I installed the OME springs. Note the increased clearance between the tires and wheelwells:

http://home.att.net/~sponge1000/images/aftome1.jpg

http://home.att.net/~sponge1000/images/aftome2.jpg

My gain in height is about 2" in the back and just over 1" in the front. The rear sits slightly higher than the front now, which I like. On a 4-door which weighs a bit more, things would probably be even.

The variance in color is due to the use of different film for the two sets of pictures.

[Edited by Tom Wilk on 07-18-2000 at 05:27 PM]

I don't want to frustrate you, Tom, but I don't get any pictures :( just ugly white squares with a not less ugly red X ...

Forget everything I just wrote, I see them, nice and clear. Looks good :D

Try again, I forgot the http:// stuff. :)

Michael-sometimes you just have to hit REFRESH/RESTART to see the pics, then it'll load, I don't know why but it works for me. :)

Thanks, I'm freshly started :D

That looks great Tom! Too bad they didn't come like that from Ford.

It looks just like mine, except one year newer, and alot bigger :D I hope to one day get a lift....

Paul is right, that is how they should look right out of the factory.

Hey Tom,
Looks good! :D Those OME's definetly do the job
Now all you need is a winch and the Ramsey Serria wraparound winch mount. :)

Looks great! What size bfg's are those?

He's wearing 265/75r16's.

The great thing is that people have actually noticed. I pulled up in the gas station the other day and went in to pay. The two guys working there were noting that it looked higher than other Explorers.

Then, the guy at the parts store asked me how much lift I had.

I only wish that the pictures were more similar to one another. It's a bit hard to see the different clearances in the front. I'm still gloating a bit, so don't mind me....

Tom,
I understand how it is, Last week I was at a gas station and the guy on the other side of the pump noticed the BFG 265/75r16's I have on it, he said that they fit on the truck Very Nicely. Of course I said thanks, and informed him that they are larger then what is supposed to be able to fit on the Explorer's, and informed him of the small plastic piece that we all have had to cut so that we don't have any rubbing. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif

Tom:, did you gain a full 2" with the 265/75/16's ,inother words,3 1/2 - 4" of total lift tires/ome-twist,I have a buddy at work that may take my bfg 255/70/16's,so I can get the same ones you guy's have. :)
I am just wondering what a good/fair price is on the 265/75/16's, bfg T/A ko I was quoted $160. each,mounting /bal included.what did you guy's pay ???
thanks,

I paid roughly 147 per tire for the tire, mounting, and balancing. 137 per tire w/out labor is the average price out there so 160 is pretty high.

wo just called sams and they had only 2 in stock :( but at only $109.:) but it would take at least 15 days to get them :(.
how can there be such a price difference on this tire,???I thought this was a set price item.
this is driving me crazy,the guy that wants to buy my 255's needs tires soon,

William, first about the springs. The OME's gave me a good 2" of lift in the rear by themselves. I have the front raised about 1-1/2" by twisting the torsion bars. The tires gave me 1" of increased height as well, going from a 30" to a 32" tire. So the total increase from chassis to ground is 2-1/2 to 3" depending on which axle.

As far as price, BFG controls the tire price. I doubt if you'll see anything lower than $140 per tire for the 265/75-R16's and nearly all dealers will be close to the same on that. As far as mounting and balancing, each dealer sets their own price there. Shop around, I had a local Kelly tire dealer that would mount and balance for free, but he only sold Kelly tires.

I paid $155 per tire including mounting and balancing at NTB, but it appears from the ads in Four Wheeler magazine that the price of the tires has risin a few dollars since then. $160 is acceptable, but you can do better. On the other hand, I can get mine balanced and rotated free for...well, for I don't know how long, but they did it once already after I lost a wheel weight in New Jersey.

William, make sure that Sam's is selling you the AT-KO tires; at that price, they may be the old models. Not that that is the end of the world; in fact it may be worthwhile to save a good number of bucks. :)

ok, i am confuse. the OME springs are jsut put on the stock explorer? that way it lifts up the truck? so we dont have to do any twuisting of bars and stuff? if that is the case, that is too cool. all i need to get is 4 OME springs and new shocks and i can get a little lift and fits bigger tires? i ama newbie, so all this are new. bare with me.

William,
I got my BFG 265 75 R16's from NTB, and the Grand total for all 4 tires, lifetime rotation, lifetime flat repair was $699.97. that was a month ago.

swak6287, you will still need to level the truck once you do the ome (rear leaf-spring repacement)by either twisting the adjusters of the torsion bars.I replaced the bars with the stiffer b-code due to the fact I have a full manik bar on the front,as well as a custom 4 tube rod holder bolted to the holes on that,found that my bilsteins are working much better, truck rides fantastic,the bars were $48. each. rear springs were $200. each,4 new rear spring bushing's were $80.
all I can say is what a huge improvement,

schumaker, so what u think is the total number of things that i need for a 99 4x2 4 door if i want to install ome on it? this is just a suspension upgrade, right? u think it is a pretty easy job? if u can help me list parts that i will need, sure appreciate it.
thanks.

Tom,

The Xplorer looks great. Where did you purchase your OME springs? I am having trouble finding a web site. I am going forward with the torsion bar twist and OME springs, while I watch what develops with Trailmaster.

Thanks for the info,
Alan
98 Xplorer

Alan, here's the number for ARB US:

1-888-427-2872

I got the number out of a Fourwheeler Mag ad. They'll set you up with a nearby dealer.

I have 15" stock rims, and I'm planing on doing the torsion twist. Is it possible to get a tire that is just as large, and wide as Tom's on a 15" stock rim? What would be the size? Thanks for the help..

Jason

You could use a 32X11.5 R15 BFG KO's They run about $10.00 more per tire than the 31X10.5 R15's. That's about $110.00 per tire.

Thanks for the tip, Ray. I appreciate your quick response! Those will give me a much more aggressive look than my puney p235/75/r15's do. I can't wait! Thanks again.

Jason

the only thing I'd be cautious on with the 32x11.5's is rubbing at full lock. Mine are about 32x10.4 equivalents. The extra width may rub when turned to full lock. Check that before you drive home from the tire store.

Otherwise, I did just a bit of trimming on my front wheel wells. I had to cut back the plastic trim just a bit at the back of the wheel wells right at the bottom. It's inside the wheel well and cannot be noticed unless you are deliberately comparing against an untrimmed one side by side.

I was wondering how can i find a place to order the OME spring. I looked all over the intenet. Never found a place that carries the OME springs for the explorer. So if anybody knows where i can get some that whould be great.

Marc D,

Cruise up a couple of posts and you will see a post from Tom Wilk. He gave the number to the manufacture of OME(ARB). Hope that helps.

Tom,

I have another question. I have seen the OME springs listed as firm or soft for other vehicles, did you have the same choice and if so what did you go with? :cool:

Thanks,
Alan
98 Xplorer

Alan, the OME springs for the Explorer do not allow the choice of firm or soft. They come in one flavor. They are slightly firmer than stock (at least on my Sport), but seem to offer much more control. Their shocks are designed to go with these springs, and they work well together. It is very tight over large bumps, the rear end stays in line, and there is virtually no after bounce. I love 'em!

Thanks Tom,

Alan
98 Xplorer

Tom,

I have some tire size questions. You have 265/70R/16 BFG's on the Xplorer and according to the National Tire specs. they are of 31.75" dia and 8.62" tread width. Correct me if I am wrong

I am not sure what size rims I want to get yet 15" or 16", but if I go with the 15x8's the equivalent BFG tire to yours would be 32x11.5R15 and they measure 31.8 dia by 9.27 wide.

Do you think this increased tire width will be a problem as far as rubbing goes? I can get Mickey Thompsons in 32's which measure 31.7" by 8.6" which appears to be closer to your width tires.

How much noise do the BFG's produce compared to the Crapstones? Have you driven in the snow with the BFG's?

I would assume that your rims are 7" wide, do you think 8" wide rims would add to any potential rubbing problems?

Sorry about all the questions, but this purchase is going to cost me a lot so I have to get it right the first time.

Thanks,
Alan
98 Xplorer

Alan,
I can tell you that buying tires for a 16" rim will cost you alot more money than buying tires for a 15" rim.
The BFG's are very quite for being a off road tire. I commute 160 miles a day and alot of times I don't play the CD. It's quiet enough to do that and not get a headache.
I liked them so much that my new 35's are BFG KO's.
If you have to do any trimming at all, it won't be that much. This is assuming that you have the Torsion Bar Lift and OME springs, Warrior Shackles, or Add-A-Leafs.

Alan, Ray's right on about the BFG's. The tires for the 16 inchers are a good bit more expensive than for the 15" wheels. If you have the 16" rims already, go for the 16" tires. If you are going to change wheels, you'll probably want the 15" ones since the tires are cheaper.

The equivalent tire to mine would be a 32X10.5 if you bought 15"ers. The 11.5 width may present a bit more rubbing potential, but not much. I had to trim some plastic on the rear of my front wheel wells, but it only rubbed slightly on the passinger side. The clearance now, with the torsion twist and the OME rear springs is better than it was when I first had put them on. I had essentially no lift up front when I put these tires on the car. 8" rims would probably add a little width to the sidewalls, so it will increase the chances of rub on some suspension component. But, if the new wheels have a bit more offset (stick out a bit farther), you will make up for the increased sidewall width.

Noisewise, they are about the same or a bit quieter than the 'Stones. I haven't had the opportunity to try them in the snow yet, but winter's right around the corner. I can't help but think that with the tread design they have, they'll do very well. They LOOK like snow tires.

Hey man, like the upgrade, just don't think I would do that to my Explorer. I don't know, I kinda like driving lower, remind me of driving a Bimmer or something!

HaHa, any way, later man, nice mod!