1996 AWD Ride Height

[josh39553]

I want to check the ride height of my explorer. I bought it used and want to see if a TT was done to it. What is the best way to check it and what should it be on a 1996 AWD stock explorer.

 

[Yomie]

Gautier? (pronounced Gow-Chea or Gow Shea) LOL just messing with ya man, I Gradiated from Biloxi High School! Whats up man? Welcome to the site!

Now get under your truck where your Tortion Bar adjusters are at and see if they have been 'screwed all the way in' From the factory the bolt should only be in there about half way, it should stick out about 1.5-2 inches. When the TT is done what your doing is 'tightning' this bolt, thus making it go in further. When you look at the bolt if it is sticking out more than an inch or so, the TT has not been done, if the bolt is all the way in there, then it has been done.

Now i am assuming you know where the adjusters are, if not, let me know. Do you have a 4X4?

Your profile doesn't have your age on there, i was wondering how old you were, to see if your around my age, if you you prolly know my cousin.

 

[Yomie]

Originally posted by Yomie
Do you have a 4X4?

YOMIE! your such a dumb A** look at the topic Yomie! It is AWD, man stop asking stupid questions!




I really neet to stop talking in third person!

 

[Robert]

An easier way to check is to see if you have aftermarket shackels. If you do, then the front would have had to have been raised as well (via torsion bars). The two most common aftermarket shackels are Warrior and Autozone generic. The Warrior shackels would be very thick steel, painted either gun-metal gray or gold. The Autozone generic shackels are brass colored and have two extra holes in each shackel. If your shackels are a thin steel (1/8"), one-piece and painted black they are probably the original Ford shackels which means that a torsion lift was probably not done.

It would be very difficult for someone to tell you the height of a stock '96 since it varies by the size of the tires, whether or not it has the air-ride system and by how much the suspension has sagged.

 

[josh39553]

It is 4x4 or AWD (which ever you want to call it) I am not entirely where the adjusters are for the Torsion bars. Are they in the front or in the rear of the bar. And the gap you describe-- should it be between the bolt head and the plate, or between the plate and the bar (haven't looked at it yet obviously)

The reason I am even looking into this is I bought it used and any time you turn the wheel there is a lot of popping from the front end. I had the ball joints replaced (my lower ones had some play in them) but the popping reappeared after a couple of days. I was reading on here that if you go to far with a TT you will get the exact same symptom. If someone saw those bolts and decided to tighten them down without knowing what they were, then that could be my problem.

I did not think about sagging suspension throwing off the measurement, but if the sagging would through it off then would it not be good to twist them back into original height. Is there a measurement from the center of a hub to the edge of the wheel-well or something? The books I have checked simply say check ride height to the ground before changing Torsion bars, and duplicate it when you put replacements in.(not much help if you need to set the ride height because it is wrong) I do know to raise the front suspention off the ground before adjusting to make the bolts turn easier, and to get realigned afterwards to adjust the toe and camber.


I am 24 and actually am living in Moss Point now.

 

[Ryan1]

That popping when you turn might be a CV joint going out.

And as you stated above that somebody else was having that same popping problem after their torsion twist. The torsion twist puts a lot of stress on the CV joint because it increases the angel of the front drive axels.

I know that doesnt really answer you origional question but it might help you figure out whats up with the popping


Ryan

 

[Yomie]

Ahh Moss Point, got some friends there too. But anyways the gap i am talking about it between the bolt head and the plate it is threaded into. I have the TT done on my truck and i have 31" tires, but my gap between the top of the tire and the fenderwell is 7". But yeah i would have the CV's checked that sounds like your problem

 

[bigfatsnook]

cv joints

Josh,
I lived in Gautier back in the 80's, off Graveline rd. (if I remember) in the Seacliff subdivision. Graduated from 'Goula in 86'. Anyway, my 96 AWD has the tt lift my measurements (with stock 235/75/15 tire) from the center of the wheel to the fender lip is 20 1/2 inches. I have 6 3/4 from the lip to the top of the tire. How many miles does your X have? Mine has 57,000 and I haven't replaced cv joints yet. My guess is yours need replacing. I doubt that the previous owner lifted it---most explorer owners have no idea, don't need it, etc...

 

[justin146]

where is Gautier, MS? I was born in Biloxi and lived between there and Ocean Springs (on the Beach). I now live in Batesville,MS. The high school here (South Panola) and Moss Point High School is the biggest Football rivalry in the state--maybe the nation.

 

[Yomie]

Gautier is between Ocean Springs and 'Goula on HWY 90, funny you ask where is Gautier, yeah it really is that small! Yeah, but Moss Points high school Football team was the Shizznit, back when i was in high school, SP wasn't too bad either. I lived on HWY 90 in Biloxi up untill '00 which was when i moved here, but by next year i will be back down there, Hopefully. Class of '98 (LMAO yeah i'm still young) Biloxi High!

 

[justin146]

South Panola High class of 2001. I am younger than you.

I do know where it is. I just didnt realize it is spelled that way. Didnt recognize it by the spelling. GOOSHAY is how we say it.