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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
For anyone that has installed a PA 3" body lift (Specifically on 1st gen. Explorers) - I was wondering how it came out and how long it took to put in. Does it look good? Also, on the 1st gen. stock 15x7 rim, what is the biggest tire you can put on that rim? 32x11.5? Thanks for the help.
It will take a day or maybe 2 depending upon how much help you have and how rusted the bolts are. Its looks just fine, I have one. Some people run larger tires on that size rim but I think its recommended not to run larger than a 11.5" tire.
I've got 33x10.50 on my stock 15x7, but I think you would have to do a 2"-3" lift to keep the tires from rubbing. You could always trim the fenders too, but I didn't want to cut mine. I don't think you are supposed to put anything lager that 10.50 on a 7" wide rim, but I could be wrong. Also, the body lift on the explorer looks good, you can't see the frame like you can on a chevy. I didn't want my frame to show like my buddy's s-10, so I went with the 2" kit, but I could have gone with the 3" body and still been ok.
Oh ya, only took me a few hours by myself. The body bolts have locktite on them form the factory, so if you can hit them with some heat to "melt" the locktite off before you start, you will save alot of time and effort. Lifting the bumpers to match the truck was another weekend at my friends house with a welder.
Oh ya, only took me a few hours by myself. The body bolts have locktite on them form the factory, so if you can hit them with some heat to "melt" the locktite off before you start, you will save alot of time and effort. Lifting the bumpers to match the truck was another weekend at my friends house with a welder.
That was my next question. I was thinking about it and realized the bumper's connected to the frame, and I have a brush guard on my bumper, so thats not gonna be good. I thought the kit came with bumper brackets to get the bumper up to the new height? Later.
The 3 inch P.A. kit and the 2 inch kit both come with bumper brackets but they will not work with the 2 inch kit. You have to drill holes to make it work with the 2 inch kit. I'm not sure how you're brush guard will work. You may have to fab up some brackets of your own. If you just want 3 inches of lift, I highly recommed the James Duff kit. It was only $450 for the stage one kit and I got 3 inches out of that alone and easily cleared 31x10.50 on my stock rims, 32's shouldn't be a problem. You could also try the 2 inch kit on e-bay for $89. They give you an add-a-leaf for the back and 2 inch spring spacers for the front. You may be able to clear 32's with this set up, but again, you may have to trim a little. Hope this helps.
The 3 inch P.A. kit and the 2 inch kit both come with bumper brackets but they will not work with the 2 inch kit. You have to drill holes to make it work with the 2 inch kit. I'm not sure how you're brush guard will work. You may have to fab up some brackets of your own. If you just want 3 inches of lift, I highly recommed the James Duff kit. It was only $450 for the stage one kit and I got 3 inches out of that alone and easily cleared 31x10.50 on my stock rims, 32's shouldn't be a problem. You could also try the 2 inch kit on e-bay for $89. They give you an add-a-leaf for the back and 2 inch spring spacers for the front. You may be able to clear 32's with this set up, but again, you may have to trim a little. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the info. I'm already clearing 31x10.5's with stock height, so 32's won't be a problem w/ any lift I get. As far as the James Duff lift goes, I'm trying to spend as little money as possible, which is why I'm going w/ the 3" body lift. But you say the PA 3" BL does come with bumper brackets? My brushguard is just connected to the bumper, so wherever the bumper goes my brushguard will go w/ it. Thanks. Later.
Ya, go for the 3" PA body lift then. It comes with brackets to lift the bumper as well. If you do a search for bumper brackets somebody at some time has posted the dementions of these brackets. They are easy to install. If you are clearing 31's now, 32's will be no problem. Just make sure your local tire shop will install them on your stock rims. I had some problems with a few shops not wanting to put 11.50 on a 7 inch rim. Also just to let you know, some tire shops don't want to work on trucks with body lifts. I had to fight with a few shops to get them to install my tires for me. I went to a used tire shop that didn't care, as long as I had cash...
