1st gen Upgrades?...

[KarmicFlea]

Hi All,

I'm considering various upgrades to my X.

I have a '93 Explorer. She is my DD but I'd like to do something special for it. I don't have a lot of currency to throw at it. However she needs a suspension rebuild. I want to put a lift kit on her. I mean really, if I'm going to go through the work why not lift her. What is the max I can lift her without changing the diffs?

Thanks in Advance,

KF

 

[Centaurious]

You should post this in the Modified 1991 - 1994 Explorer forum.

 

[RangerX]

Moved it for ya.

 

[Kiliona]

The lift doesn't affect your diff's, but bigger tires will change your final gear ratio. I've found in mine that came stock with 3.73's that 31" tires give a nice final drive ratio.

Off the top of my head (more research is required, but this may be a good rule of thumb) I believe after 3" of lift you probably want a drop pitman arm and oversized camber/caster bushings, 3-5" you need to worry about driveshaft angles, 6"+ nothing lines up and lots of headaches ensue. So for just a lift with no further modifications probably stick with 1-3" of lift. However, on mine which is lifted about 2" I still required the oversized camber/caster bushings which I got at the local carquest for around 14-20 dollars each side.

On mine I lifted it 2" using skyjacker lift coils in front, add a leaf in back, and then rancho shocks all the way around for a total between $400 and $500.

EDIT: be sure to factor in the cost of an alignment which is necessary for safety and so you dont destroy the tires you put on it, probably ~$80

 

[kristinandq]

Everything the poster above me says. I loved my 2 inch with skyjacker coils and add a leaf in the rear. Finished a new build needed to have my rear drive line extended and extended brake lines. i still need longer ones made. If i could go back i would go with the skyjacker again.

Mine is cut and turned beams extended radius arms 4 inch coils and spring over axle. Rides like a marshmallow. Take it where they know how to do a TTB alignment 2 shops in my area would not touch it.