can i move the leafs?

[MudRunner90]

i got a 93' explorer and was wanting a lift but dont have the money for a big lift. is there any way i could move the leafs to sit on top of the rear axle and if so what could i do to the front to level it out?

 

[RaveDigger]

I don't know much about the front end of the 1st gen Explorers, but in the back, I think 1st and 2nd gen Explorers can be lifted by doing a spring over axle conversion. Just search the forums for "spring over axle" or "SOA".

 

[Dannyboy]

got your PM, sounds like you found my thread. Deeper in that thread it discusses your options for the front as well.

 

[Anime]

If you don't have the money for a big lift, you won't have the money for the big tires or gears you'd need to go with the SOA.

Best budget option is a 2" lift with either front spacers or 2" lift springs, and shackles in the rear. Gives lift, looks ok with stock tires or 30-31's.

 

[rhauf]

if you put the axle under the rear spring it'll lift it about 6 inches. i did this on my 1 ton explorer to fit 37" tires.

for the front, unless you are very good with metal working, you can't lift it very much without spending money on stuff like drop brackets, brake lines, lift springs etc.

you're lowest cost lift IMO would be 2", you can use shims or something on the front to fix the camber, then all you'll need is 2" lift springs in the front, and add a leaf's in the rear.

you know you can clear 31's without a lift at all...

 

[MudRunner90]

yeah i know i can fit 31's but i want to make it into a trail truck so when my dad gets his bronco fixed we can wheeling together. and where can i get, lift IMO would be 2", you can use shims or something on the front to fix the camber, then all you'll need is 2" lift springs in the front, and add a leaf's in the rear.

 

[rhauf]

summit would proably have most of the stuff you need... or just use google. you can probably find a cheap 2" kit somewhere that includes everything

do you have lockers yet? if you don't have lockers, i'd be thinking about lockers before a lift. at least a rear locker (Detroit is my locker of choice) a stock truck with lockers will spank a lifted truck on big tires.

 

[davidhicks16]

Skyjacker 132x coils 1.5-2'' coils 150$ autozone shackles drilled out a bit 12$ and an alignment 50$, it clears 32 11.5's with minimal rubbing

 

[MudRunner90]

ok so ive been looking into the soa and i think it will cost to much for the short time i want to be working on it. so i was thinking of gitting a 4" lift from roughcountry, http://roughcountry.com/suspension/4wd-ford/ranger_83-97_4.html . the kit for the explorer is kinda a lot b/c of the leafs and wanted to know, if i got the one for the ranger with the blocks, if it would work on the front and just get an add-a-leaf and shacles for the back to lift it. and try to sell the blocks o keep them for, something...

 

[Anime]

The add-a-leaf and shackles in the rear won't get you 4" to match the front.

If you want cheap, go used. Plenty of people on here sell their old drop brackets, springs, etc.

Otherwise you can do the 2" spring/shackle lift like davidhicks16, then add spacers on the front and add-a-leafs on the rear for another 1".


Your time/cost issue is still tires and gears. Anything larger than 31/32's isn't going to be too happy with stock gears, and that's if you have the lower 3.73's.

4" lifts look pretty silly with small tires.



The 2" lift shown above, or the 3" optional lift is the hot setup for cost and time, just putting on larger tires, and using existing gears.

 

[maroon_4.0]

Skyjacker 132x coils 1.5-2'' coils 150$ autozone shackles drilled out a bit 12$ and an alignment 50$, it clears 32 11.5's with minimal rubbing

wish my explorer was in that nice of shape around my gas door is f**ked

 

[fordexplorerd]

how much difference is 31s compared to 235/75/r15?? height wise that is?

 

[NJoffroader]

about 2"