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Ford Explorer 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
Alright Robb! Thanks a whole lot. I might just stick with the big 33s. I will messege you sometime to tell you exactly what I plan on doing. Thanks again Robb.
I personally think you will have no problem with 7" of lift. That said, you could always go with 34" Super Swamper Trxus MT's. They measure around 34" in diameter. Also, 35" Dunlop Mud Rovers only measure 34" in diameter.
I also had to do some trimiming in the back. I never said I did not do any trimming in the Back. I have the same fender flares as Gerald. So you can not see how much I had to cut. To include the inner wheel well plastic. I also said that I still rub at full compression. As soon I can barrow a digital Camrea I will take pics. Hopefully by September I will have installed New front fenders. And when I am ready to repaint truck, Door and Qaurter Panels from Mcneil Racing. That should end my rubbing. Also because of lift constrants. When I return to the states from Germany I can not have more than a 3" suspendsion Lift. or customs will make me take it off. Fenders from McNiel Racing is a less expensive option. The Rubbing I have now is livable.
I just got a PM about this and guess I need to clarify what I thought I made very clear. Nowhere in this post did I say that you cannot put 35" tires on, many of us have done exactly that. However, when Drew first asked his question, he mentioned that he didn't want to cut sheetmetal, and the first thing that happened was that people who had NOT put 35" tires on their Explorers told him that he could do it. Also that sheetmetal trimming wasn't needed with just a 3" body lift and TT. That's where I drew the line and said no way.
Before Drew went out to spend well over $1,000 based on the uninformed opinions of those who weren't running 35" tires on their own vehicles, I thought it prudent to warn him that he was taking a big chance spending all that money if he didn't want to trim sheetmetal, and others who actually do run 35" tires are saying the same thing.
Hope that clears some of this up. When I ask a question on this board that may involve my spending a huge amount of money, I'd like to hear from people that have already done it and I would give their opinion more weight than the opinions of those who haven't done it. I was merely trying to give Drew that courtesy. Maybe with another 2-3" lift above a TT, he could do it without trimming sheetmetal. But it's no certain thing by any means (and I still assert that it will certainly still hit untrimmed sheetmetal hard during any turn/bump), and that is a LOT of money to spend without knowing.
GJarratt - Thanks for the post. Hopefully it'll clear everything up for you. My lift with be 7" consisting of a 4" suspension and a 3" BL (maybe even a TT). But, I Really don't think I will be able to fit 35s, so what I am doing is buying Super Swampers TruXus tires, the 34s. It's sort of a compromise, I know I can fit 33s, but maybe not 35s, so why not just work with 34s. Thanks to everyone who gave me a post and I will be sure to update everyone with the 34 deal after I'm done (which will hopefully be at the end of august). Thanks again.
I'm currently striking for 35's too, I have a 3" body and a 5.5" superlift kit. See I want to run 15x10 rim to addition to my 1.5" wheel spacers I already have. Wide rims on a high truck look so cool. I don't want to trim either as I just added on mud flaps. Oh and sorry to get off subject but If I was to rarely put my ex in 4wheeldrive like when it only snows (thank you limited slip), would I still have to frequently repack my bearings?
You've got an early model with even less fenderwell clearance than our 2nd generation models. Gofast had a 6" suspension lift + 3" body lift on his early model and when he put 35's on before trimming, he rubbed hard on any turn and every bump, but it did (barely) clear. He didn't have spacers though. With the spacers it would be stretching to think you could turn very well without cutting up some sheetmetal.
on my gen 1 ranger which is essentially the same in the front as the gen 1 sploder with 5 in lift, 3 in bodylift and 4 inches of whacked fender will tolerate worn 38 1150 on 8 in wheels with 3.75 b/s.....but still rub bad..
my 15 35 15 swampers on 10's rub the radius arms bad and hit the fenders when romping on it..they rub worse the the 38 1150's .but the super sort ht's in 35 12/50 on the same wheels fit no problems. go figure.
with a 3 in bl and 2 in tt...tires like my ht's will fit the front on the gen 2 but the rear ay not...the gen 1 will be screwed with a 2 in spacer and 3 in bl...
i had 35's on my 95 explorer with a 3" body lift and a TT but i also had a wide body kit that the fenders flared way out and just had to hammer a corner of the body seem where the factory fender would have monted near the bottom of the front doors
