R
Rick
I just did the "Zimmerman" mod to my rear suspension. Many of you have probably already seen the awesome rear (and front) wheel travel on the Zimmermans page www.4x4central.com/zims.htm
I went to the boneyard and picked up a set of leaf springs from an 89' Ranger for $90.00. I pulled apart the spring packs and tossed everything except the main leafs. Next I removed the spring packs from my Explorer and brought them to FST so they could hack off the spring eyes from the Explorers main leafs. They cut the spring so that the cut off end would fully support the new main leaf from the Ranger. The spring packs were then reassembled using Trailmaster centerpins which were cut to size.
After the springs were installed the back of the truck came up about an inch. When we checked the driveshaft slip yoke we found that the shaft was now to short when the suspension was maxed out.
I brought the driveshaft into Dicks Driveline in Phoenix. Bernie told me that the splines were shot and showed me how much play there was. I hadn't even bothered to check and never noticed a problem.
Anyway, I had a new driveshaft built with a heavier yoke larger diameter tube and coarse splines in the slip yoke. Overall much stronger and it only cost $200.00 with new U-joints and everything.
When the driveshaft was finished I drove back over to FST where Torrey cycled the rear suspension. After the mod my rear shocks were 3" to short. So he fabricated new lower shock mounts. I now get maximum droop and compression.
I tested out the setup on there 24deg. ramp where it scored 788 with the tires at street pressure. My previous best was 703 with aired down tires. I bet it's really close to 800 now with the tires aired down.
Anyway the mod really helps get more droop out of the rear suspension. I will hopefully have some photos of the suspension at work during the upcoming Arch Canyon run.
------------------
Rick Horwitz
explorer@4x4central.com
Editor
www.4x4central.com
I went to the boneyard and picked up a set of leaf springs from an 89' Ranger for $90.00. I pulled apart the spring packs and tossed everything except the main leafs. Next I removed the spring packs from my Explorer and brought them to FST so they could hack off the spring eyes from the Explorers main leafs. They cut the spring so that the cut off end would fully support the new main leaf from the Ranger. The spring packs were then reassembled using Trailmaster centerpins which were cut to size.
After the springs were installed the back of the truck came up about an inch. When we checked the driveshaft slip yoke we found that the shaft was now to short when the suspension was maxed out.
I brought the driveshaft into Dicks Driveline in Phoenix. Bernie told me that the splines were shot and showed me how much play there was. I hadn't even bothered to check and never noticed a problem.
Anyway, I had a new driveshaft built with a heavier yoke larger diameter tube and coarse splines in the slip yoke. Overall much stronger and it only cost $200.00 with new U-joints and everything.
When the driveshaft was finished I drove back over to FST where Torrey cycled the rear suspension. After the mod my rear shocks were 3" to short. So he fabricated new lower shock mounts. I now get maximum droop and compression.
I tested out the setup on there 24deg. ramp where it scored 788 with the tires at street pressure. My previous best was 703 with aired down tires. I bet it's really close to 800 now with the tires aired down.
Anyway the mod really helps get more droop out of the rear suspension. I will hopefully have some photos of the suspension at work during the upcoming Arch Canyon run.
------------------
Rick Horwitz
explorer@4x4central.com
Editor
www.4x4central.com