does a 5" suspension lift look like much?

toddious · February 29, 2004

i've been thinking very heavily about putting a 5" lift onto my explorer limited, and it's something i can't get o ut of my head. today , however, as a little tease to myself, and to get a taste of whats to come, i pulled the ole " put the truck in 4x4low, lift it up on the suspension, and then cut the air ride" maneuver.

now, i've heard different stories about what kind of results you can expect from this air ride lift (mostly people agree on about 3-4" of lift when in 4x4 low). after i let it rise t hough, and i cut the switch, it doesn't seem to me to be lifted very much, i mean, it's definately bigger bu t.....

i guess my question is, will the 5" suspension lift that i'm thinking about make a more noticeable difference in ride height and more importantly GROUND CLEARANCE? even after the air ride lift, i co uldn't make it over a small rock!haha! it's just seems to me that for the $1000 i'm sure it's gonna cost me at the least to raise the truck, i just want to know that i'm getting something worth it, and at least something i can look at my truck, and notice. opinions?

XplorerKid · February 29, 2004

cant really help ya, but thoguht i would throw this info in, A Lift Kit will not Gain you ground clearance. It will give you the room to install bigger tires which inturn will Give you more ground clearance. what size tires you want to run? 33"s? or maybe even a 35". (35" would rewuire trimming and/or Body Lift)

PEACE

sapogmxr · February 29, 2004

Heres my truck with 5inches of lift and 33's. I have no problem getting around..The train tracks will help give you an idea of what you can go over. I have alot of room..

toddious · February 29, 2004

yeah, i'm sorry, i don't know what i was thinking about the ground clearance, you're right. i'm thinking about running 33's, but basically am going to use whatever i can find a deal on. anyone know the answer to the first question though?

toddious · February 29, 2004

Originally posted by sapogmxr
Heres my truck with 5inches of lift and 33's. I have no problem getting around..The train tracks will help give you an idea of what you can go over. I have alot of room..

so what all is done to the truck then (as far as lift)? i see you have a 3" body lift, do you have a 2" suspension lift then? and how much tt? thanks for the help, i think your ex looks great, a lot like what i'm looking for, so i really appreciate your help

XplorerKid · February 29, 2004

His lift compromises of 3" Body Lift, 2": TT**(biggest recomended for 4x4) upfront, and Shackles and AAL's(add a Leafs) in the back...

ALso to do a TT im pretty sure you will have to Remove the air shcoks(replace with regualrs), and definately if you go with this suspension lift, you will need to get new shcks, Non air shocks.

And if you are woundering about good shocks i would recomend a Rancho, i have not ran them personally but lots of people around here seem to be happy with them.

** TT = Torsion twist, which is where you twist your torsion bars, it makes the rade a little harsher.

(Just incase you didnt know

)

toddious · February 29, 2004

what are "shackles" (and please don't rip on my stupidity), and what do they do? i understand add-a-leafs...... you can fit 33's under an ex with only 3" body and a TT? i didn't know that, i'm still going for the suspension lift, in the front, and SOA in the back

XplorerKid · February 29, 2004

Im not gunna rip on ya

(im usily not that mean)

Shackles, it is what connects the rear of the Leaf pack to the fram in the back, Warrior Makes an Extended one for the explorer ( Part number War153) and IT gives arpoxmently 1.5" of lift. Some can fit 33"s with only a body lift and tt/shackles/AAL's, and soem others will Need to trim some. If you have the cash, i would say get the Suspensionlift, Also you can always crank your Torsion bar after you do the regualr suspension Kit for 2 more Inches......

sapogmxr · February 29, 2004

Damn XplorerKid you are quick!!! Thanks for answering.. In regards to the Rancho shocks i have the 9000's and love and recomend them. I also agree with XplorerKid with the suspension kit. If you have the money go for it.. Those are a bit to expensive for me.. Good Luck with it..

toddious · February 29, 2004

what about a front suspension, the one from pmpnurgirl and then doing SOA in the back. can i do the shackles then on top of SOA? and what about AAL's after SOA? Yeah, about TT i will probably only use that to level out the vehicle after the suspension lift.

XplorerKid · February 29, 2004

Both Shackles and AAL's can be done in conjunction with SOA......

sapogmxr · February 29, 2004

That would put you pretty high!

XplorerKid · February 29, 2004

Originally posted by sapogmxr
That would put you pretty high!

True, it would be around 8 - 9" with SOA/Shackles/AAl's

I would suggest getting the 4" Front lift, doing SOA in the rear, and cranking the torsion bar upfront to level it out. Remember with the 4" front lift, i tihnk you will need a new Front Driveshaft, that Superlift offers. And you should clear 33"s Fine, possibly 35"s with soem trimming, or you can do the above, and run a 3" Body Lift, and Run 35"s

Bigger is Better

Doug · February 29, 2004

Personally I wouldn't buy any 2nd gen suspension lift, they don't reeally give you much more ground clearance due to all the drop brackets, dropped torsion bars etc and they're alot of money. You can riun 35s with a torsion twist, shackles, and a 3" body lift with some trimming. Do a Search And you'll find all the info you could want on lifting a 2nd gen. Also I dunno about lifting with the air ride.. That's basically like doing a 4" torsion twist and that puts alot of strain on all your front end components. Granted It's only while in 4 low but lift with out larger/better tires is worthless.

toddious · March 1, 2004

can you do SOA on ARC? and would the shackles and AAL's work together to give me more lift?

Doug · March 1, 2004

Honestly if you're going to lift your truck do away with the air ride, it's just going to be a headache in the long run, just get some regular shocks. You can go soa but with out some sort of suspension lift up front you're going to have a severe rake.

toddious · March 1, 2004

i'm planning on the 4" superlift up front, what i need to know is can i then do the SOA in the rear? or do i have to buy regular shocks (since i currently have ARC)?

Doug · March 1, 2004

You can go SOA in the rear with the superlift and you will have to do away with the air ride, the superlift comes with new, extended length shocks.

toddious · March 1, 2004

i'm only buying a superlift kit for the front though, so do i need to buy shocks for the rear?

does a 5" suspension lift look like much?

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