01-05 Sport Trac 4x4 Lift Options Discussion

[MidnightRebel07]

Lol, it's cool. Gotta learn new things as we go.

 

[Gse Brent]

Haha wish i never started mine would rather pay someone to do it but it is a learning experience.

 

[Gse Brent]

Anybody have any pictures of the spacer blocks on the body lift? Just wanna see the blocks on top of the bushings

 

[Gse Brent]

Finished the body lift tonight, while putting it back together ran into a makor problem with lowering the radiator. Could only get one side off at a time on the lower cradles. Any helpful hints? And on the new hardware what now supports the lower radiator? Its not hanging on by just those 2 upper bolts is it?

 

[OffTrac]

I remember that being the only thing that I really got hung up on. I don't remember exactly what the problem was, what I was doing wrong or how I corrected it, but when I figured it out I couldn't believe I spent so much time trying to figure it out. It went extremely smoothly after realizing what I was doing.

Sorry, I know this is an incredibly useless post but just know that once it "clicks" in your mind, you've got it. Maybe someone else with a better memory and a similar issue will chime in.

 

[OffTrac]

And I can maybe get pictures tomorrow evening of the radiator support tomorrow evening after work if you haven't gotten it by then.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

There should be four C channel drop brackets for the rad support IIRC. I'll check first thing in the morning when it's light out, trying to get my two month old to sleep right now or I'd do it.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Ok, so there are two straight drop brackets for the top and two C channel brackets for the bottom.

 

[Gse Brent]

Yup figured it out and got it all together. Only thing is there is one hose that nearly hits the fan belt lower left. Its kind of a pain to move. Really thick too.

 

[Gse Brent]

I think this may be the hose.....
http://www.explorerforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=41046

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Yep, that's the one. I used two big zipties to hold it back away from the belt.

 

[OffTrac]

I used enormous zip ties but have been meaning to get something a little more stout for peace of mind.

 

[Gse Brent]

I have 15x10 wheels with 4" backspacing. Does anyones calipers come this close to the rim?

 

[shooterdude199]

^thats pretty crazy man. I have 15x8s with 3.75" or 4" backspace and fit fine but that's why I didn't go 15x10

 

[Gse Brent]

Yea when i first put the tires and wheels on i noticed a metal screeching sound coming from the front wheels and i thought it was the front wheel bearings. Now the sound has gone away so i'm thinking it may have been the wheel weights hitting the retainer. If i could do it all over again i would have went with 15X8's. Didn't really start asking questions on here til after i bought my wheels. Oh well still learning.

 

[LONO100]

im sure there is a sensible way to remedy that. go ask the sport trac yodas aka ncranchero or midnightrebel

 

[Gse Brent]

Yea i'm sure they'll respond to it in this thread

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Brent if you had the stick on wheel weights they are no longer there, I had the same problem. I didn't get a full turn of the wheel before they were knocked off. I ended up taking them all off and getting wheel bead weights installed on the inside of the wheel (didn't want the weight showing on the outside ar screwing up the powder coating).

I took my grinder and shaved down the retainer clips some to clear the wheels. That screeching sound was the clips.

 

[Gse Brent]

I thought so, when i looked today i noticed how close those retainers were to the wheel itself. The rear wheels have the wheel bead weights in them but the fronts had stick on wheel weights on the inside of the wheel. I noticed the screeching went away so i guess the wheel weights are no longer there, i'll have to take a look tomorrow. I'm getting an alignment on monday, i'll see about fixing the front wheel situation then. As always thanks alot.

 

[Gse Brent]

Whats a good tire size for the stock 15x7 wheels? I dont want to run these mud grapplers all year round just mainly in the winter. I see that they offer the goodyear wrangler duratracs in 31x10.50rx15. Or a 265 or 285? I'd like an average AT tire.