About this bar and shackle thing...

[JOY]

New here but have viewed many posts by ya'll
I have a '97 EXPL SOHC, 2WD
Now about this torsion bar twist:
A)Do I have one on this machine
B)Do I have CV joints or whatever ya'll been mentioning.
C)If no CV, then can I twist the bar to the max.
D)If all is good, do I go by the post by: Andrew B about Torsion Bar Lift on Serious Explorations.
E)How about the ride after I do it, that is if I got one
E)If can't do this do I have any other options for the front, lift that is.
**Wondering because remember I have a 2WD '97 EXPL Sport and no experience with this - at all.

Warrior Shackles:
A)I have a class 3 hitch back there now so will it be in the way.
B)I take off to Georgia quite a bit to visit family and friends and cover alot of miles getting there. Plus this is where I get off the road to the extent of the vehicle's capabilities and was wondering about the ride I may expect from the shackles on/off-road.

Any other tips/info very welcomed.

R/
Joy

By the way thanks for the info on them BFG T/A KO'S,
d$$m good tire

 

[rock883]

Now I have a 91 but I can answer a few of the questions for ya.

A-Not 100% sure if you do, but I think you do.
B-No CV joints--2wd. CV joints are like the axles in your independent suspension.
C-You may be able to go the max, although the shocks and sway bar links may be a limiting factor in going the max
D--??
E-I think if you went all the way it would be pretty harsh
E (although it should be F)-Yes there is another option for your 2wd that the 4wd's don't have. Procomp offeres a 3" dropped spindle that will raise the front 3" and it comes with a 3" add-a-leaf for the rear, although that might make the ride pretty harsh in the rear. You could get a 1.5" add-a-leaf, and a warrior shackle for a less harsh ride. Or you could crank the torsion bars for about 1" of lift, put the spindles on, for 4" up front, and then get some skyjacker or similar rear lifted leaf springs for 4" in the rear.

The spindle lift works like this. Your tire is mounted on the wheel studs which are on the brake rotor. Beind the rotor and what the rotor is mounted on is the knuckle. The knuckle is where the steering links and stuff hook up to. The knuckle has a thing sticking out of it ( the spindle) which is where the rotor actually mounts to, and there are bearnings and what not in there, and when that spindle is lowered it places the tires lower which gives you more clearance for tires, and I tink if you just did the spindle lift the ride would stay the same. But the rear w/ the add-a-leaf would make it harsh.

Here's a link to the lift: http://www.explorerprocomp.com/frames2/ford2wdranger.html

I hope I described it to you so you could understand, but if not, sorry, and hopefully someone else can help you and describe it a little betetr than I. I think someone has done this, and you may want to search for it.

Ahh, crap..I just looked at the website, and it says 98-00 Ranger/Explorer..you may try e-mailing procomp and askign if it would work. I know they made some changes in 98 to the moutning of the torsion bars and stuff, don't know if it would affect being incompatible w/ your 97. Sorry about that, and hope it works out.

 

[2001ExpSport]

Look at your springs. You might have a mono leaf, if you do then you can only get the shackles. Get Warrior shackels, they have and extra weld for strength. As for the twist, I did mine 100%. If you have a leaf pack(3 leafs with a helper(flat) spring) then you can do the add-a-leaf. You should check on your door sticker to see what code your bars are. Since it's a 2wd, you will probably have the soft bars, code L. You probably won't get much of a lift with these after they settle even at 100% twist. I have code D bars which are the second strongest and I only got about 1.75" after 100% twist.

Go here to get the info on bar hardness and how to's.

Dead Link Removed

[Edited by 2001ExpSport on 08-21-2000 at 08:51 PM]

 

[Guerilla Biscuits]

I am a 2WD Sport and I have code B bars, I do believe.

 

[2001ExpSport]

I called my local Ford parts shop to order some B bars and the parts guy had no clue what I was talking about. "We have no way of determining the strength code, there is just one strength."

Oh really Mr. Parts man? I beg to differ!

Am I the only one that gets this crap?

Bisquits-B is the hardest Dead Link Removed

 

[JOY]

Preciate it to the ones who took their time to respond to my post.

Plus, I thought I would let ya'll know what I did.

a)Did the torsion bar adjustment gained approx. 1.25 inches,
job was not difficult at all. The left side is adjusted all the way - right side still 1/2 inch thread still showing. Decided not to remove left torsion bar and rotate to compensate because front is now even with rear because:

b)Did the Warrior Shackle and it raised the rear approx. 2.0 inches so the front and rear fender wells are just about even - looks great! Plus really no noticeable ride difference except the bigger feeling of looking down at the average vehicle - height-wise that is. Also the shackles cleared the class 3 trailer hitch with plenty of room to spare.

R/
JOY
'97 EXPL SPORT 2WD
SAFARI BAR
K&N DROP IN
DYNOMAX MUFFLER
BFG T/A KO 30/9.50/15
TORSION BAR/WARRIOR SHACKLE





[Edited by JOY on 08-23-2000 at 10:06 AM]

 

[SCEXPLORER]

TORSION

I have a 1997 explorer sport and i was wondering if you followed the hint given at explorer express and only raised it two inches from the tire and fender well or did u just max it out. i heard maxing it out is harsh. Also, did you keep your stock shocks or did you change it?

 

[SCEXPLORER]

Re: TORSION

Oh yah do you have a picture of the lift?

 

[JOY]

Re: TORSION

Originally posted by SCEXPLORER
I have a 1997 explorer sport and i was wondering if you followed the hint given at explorer express and only raised it two inches from the tire and fender well or did u just max it out. i heard maxing it out is harsh. Also, did you keep your stock shocks or did you change it?

Not familiar with the hint on explorer express.
If your asking about the torsion bar twist - I used all the thread left on the bolt on one side. So I did max out but on the other side I had more thread on the bolt to keep pumping up the lift. I only tighten enough to equal the other side. And yes I did change my shocks, not because I had to but to receive only a better ride. Monroe Reflex is what I put on all the way around and they are great I recommend them highly.

 

[SCEXPLORER]

Re: Re: TORSION

Hey Joy, I have the same setup as you with 30X9.5 tires
and was wondering if you have a picture of your car so i could see how it looks. My shackles are on its way so I'm
waiting to lift it.

 

[4U2NV]

Re: Re: Re: TORSION

Originally posted by SCEXPLORER
Hey Joy, I have the same setup as you with 30X9.5 tires
and was wondering if you have a picture of your car so i could see how it looks. My shackles are on its way so I'm
waiting to lift it.

Hey SC EXP> i have 31x10.50s on mt explorer sport with aftermarket shackles & the torsion twist just DON"T turn them all the way 2" max you can check out my pics. on the before & after section of this site click on 4U2NV 00 exp sport

 

[JOY]

Re: Re: Re: TORSION

Originally posted by SCEXPLORER
Hey Joy, I have the same setup as you with 30X9.5 tires
and was wondering if you have a picture of your car so i could see how it looks. My shackles are on its way so I'm
waiting to lift it.

Sorry SCEXPLORER I do not have any pictures but I'll tell you this - you will not regret getting the shackles. They compliment the Explorer especially if you have a sag in the rear. No side-effects to date.

 

[njexplorer]

Where on the door sticker is the code for the torsion bar strength?
I just bought the add-a-leafs (two per side) for the 98 explorer and want to do the torsion twist and leafs at the same time.
Any idea what the torsion twist will do do the camber?

 

[Sinjin]

Joy,

What part of Texas are you in? Maybe you can join us TEXplorers out on the trail sometime. Quite a few of us in the Austin area.

 

[2001ExpSport]

First off, there is onlye ONE leaf per side. Do NOT put TWO leafs on each side.

Secondly, Sports have D bars and 4drs have B bars as a general rule.

 

[njexplorer]

Thanks for the info on the torsion bar ratings.
As for the add-a-leaf, the kit I bought from Explorer Pro Comp for the 4DR. 98 and up is EXP-13135 and it includes a short leaf and a long leaf for each side. Now I only hope I have enough thread on my u-bolts to install them.

 

[GJarrett]

Many (if not most) 4 drs also have D rated bars, so you cannot generalize and assume what you have. Your spring code is on your drivers side door tag. Under "Spr" will be two letters, such as DF. The first letter is your torsion bar rating and the second is your rear leaf rating.

[Edited by GJarrett on 01-31-2001 at 05:25 PM]

 

[jimbo74]

can anyone help me i have "nu" springs what does that mean? i think my explorer sits a tad higher than everyone elses

 

[SCEXPLORER]

Originally posted by GJarrett
Many, if not most, 4 drs have D rated bars also, so you cannot generalize and assume what you have. Your spring code is on your drivers side door tag. Under "Spr" will be two letters, such as DF. The first letter is your torsion bar rating and the second is your rear leaf rating.

WAit. Under "TR" it says D and under "SPr" it says HL. What kind of torsion bar do i have?

 

[GJarrett]

Originally posted by SCEXPLORER
... under "SPr" it says HL. What kind of torsion bar do i have?

Well, that would mean you have an H bar. I believed until now that they usually only came with air-assisted suspensions. That is the softest one. You can go a lot stiffer if you want to.

For the rear, L is the designation for those single leaf springs in your rear. The 4 drs have the multi-spring leaf pack and are designated F.