96 Explorer Sport Rear lowering blocks OEM?

[DiscoStu]

I have a 96 Explorer Sport. Ever since I've gotten the truck the rear has always looker like it has sagged a little bit. All "Sports" do, the wheel well height in the front is greater than in the rear. When I got underneath the truck it apeared to have 4 quarter to half inch spacers with long u bolts between the springs and shocks where you'd find lift blocks. These appear to be used the "wrong" way and look like they accually lower the truck almost 2". I would think that by removing these I would gain 2" and by placing them on top I would gain near 4". Is that right?? I've looked under many Explorers and the Sports i've seen have had them but the 4 doors have not. I wonder if anybody can confirm or deny this. I can kinda see the reason, much more weight hangs on the rear springs on a 4 door. Thanks.

"Keep both feet on the wheel!!"

 

[Guerilla Biscuits]

I have no answer......I though Disco Stu doesn't advertise?

 

[Guerilla Biscuits]

Ok, enough, Tomfoolory, I really hope you are right...It would be a great inexpensive lift...free is inexpensive, right? Try flipping the blocks....take pics, and tell how it went out...

 

[Guerilla Biscuits]

Anyone have any ideas on this?

 

[Tom Wilk]

Those aren't lowering blocks on the sport, they are merely spacers. You could stack the spacers all the way to the ground, but it won't change the height of the vehicle. But if you put the spacers between the spring and the axle, you would lower the vehicle.

The opposite is true on vehicles with the spring mounted over the axle; if you put the spacers between the spring and the axle, you will raise the vehicle. What's important in this case is the distance between the spring and the axle.

Why are they there? I'd guess that they perform 2 functions; First, to place the lower end of the shock at the correct position. If they weren't there, Ford would have to use shorter shocks on the Sport or else you would bottom the shock out before the axle hit the rubber stops on the frame. Good way to break a shock.

The other reason is so that Ford doesn't have to use two different lengths of U-bolts. The spacers simulate the multi-leaf thickness of a 4-door Explorer. It would cost more to have to use two different sizes of U-bolts (and the same is true for shocks) since they would have to stock both items. Automakers are cheap.

 

[Guerilla Biscuits]

And here I was, hoping for a cheap way to lift the rear of the sport...