add-a-leaf and a selfadjusting rearend

[NedFlanders]

Add-a-leaf and auto leveling in the rearend

Hi you all!
Since there are no modified Xprorers in Norway (correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't seen any modifications on any, except for one that had a brushguard), I think it's time to do something about that.

I have a '96 model, guess it's a XLT, but I'm not sure, it doesn't say anything on the truck, neither in any of the papers or books that came with it.. The tires are 255/70-16, don't know what that would be in US-inches, but they look okay, for now...

Anyway, as for a start I've more or less decided to go for the add-a-leaf and torsion twist, to give me the two " I can get out of that. Don't want to lift it any more(at least not yet), since it's my daily driver, and I don't want to loose any performance onroad.
But I came to think of my rear susp. It has some kind of "automatic leveling system" that will raise the rear end if I put in a lot of load or have a heavy trailer. Will that complicate things when I try to add the rear leafs or doesn't it matter? Are they standard on all Xplorers, or what? They are labeled explorer anyway.

Another thing. Do any of you guys know a way to make the tires "stand out" more? What I mean is: I have some plastic "things"(no idea what they're called) on the side of my truck around the wheels(if you look at the picture of the truck from the shop you'll see what I mean) that makes the truck look like it's "to wide" for the tires.. You know if I have to switch the rims(isn't that what the metalpart in the tire is called)? Or can I just put in some kind of "spacingplates" between the tires and the axle? And will that make the truck behave differently onroad? Guess it would just make it more stabile.

If any of you have any before/after pics of just a 2" susp. lift I would appreciate to have a look! Thanks!

Rune
Playing around in the snow

By the way. Anyone who knows how to change my profile info and enable the smilies again? for some reason smileys are disabled in my posts, and most info in my profile are lost, and when I try to change it back it says it's saved, but the next time I check it's not! Any ideas?

 

[Flounder]

I can't help you with your question, as I am in the same boat as you are, but I love your XLT. I posted a message once before about the European XLT Sport Group. It's great looking, and I like the side marker light. I wish one of those older ones would make its way over here. I'd either buy it or buy the trim from it in an instant.

 

[Anime]

eh

Well I wouldnt do much if any suspension lifting on your air adjustable self-leveling suspension from Ford. Of course you can always scrap the air and just lift it anyway.

Best bet is to just do the small 1-2 inch lift with the torsion twist up font like you want and maybe warrior shackles (part# WAR153) or small add-a-leaves in the rear ($30 from summit)

That should be ok with stock air leveling suspension..someone correct me if it wont.

Dont do anything about spacing your tires out more unless you get new rims and tires to do it. Your fender flares are good for looks and the stock tires look nice tucked in there..if you space out the tires so the hit the flares when they travel up youre gonna have bent fenders. They make wheel spacers to do what you want but I dont think they belong on a 4WD or anything really unless you need an adapter to make a diferent wheel fit.

 

[NedFlanders]

hey guys!

Yes, I guess there are some differences btw. the European en us models. As for for the sidemarkers. In Norway(don't know about the rest of Europe) we have to have them. But if you want, it's no big deal to install, just drill a hole in your fender and put it in. At least here we can buy them in every little carshop, and even on gasstations sometimes.
I also wonder if some of the explorers over here have bigger tires on delivery than what's stock. Have seen a couple of them with smaller tires than mine.. Except for that I think the fenderflares, limited slip and towhook is more or less standard here.. Not sure, but it seems most Explorers have them.

To bad about the wheelspacing-thing. I've heard elsewhere to that it's not recommended using them on trucks or SUVs. And I like my rims, would be a shame to get rid of them. But I guess the truck will look much better from just getting a 2" lift from twisting the torsionbars and adding an additional leaf, if that's going to work with the loadlevelingsystem. Talked to the guy that's going to import my leafs(Ford doesn't have them of course), and he was 99% sure it wouldn't affect it.

 

[ChrisHeapy]

Hi Rune,

Guess I'm in the same position as yourself, I recently bought some new shocks for my '97 (ProComp ES9000) but have not fitted them yet. I was going to last weekend but when I looked it seemed to me that the lower part of the front shocks would foul the driveshaft. The stock Ford shocks have a narrow stem at the bottom to avoid this problem. I talked to the supplier, who then faxed ProComp, who replied that although it was tight they do actually fit. They also said they were designing some new ones for the job but these would not be available for another 3 months or so.

As to the rear end, mine also has the level control shocks (with the disable switch in the rear sidewell). The ES9000 don't have this capability so I will just tape the lines up and leave the system switched off. I won't be loading it heavy anyway.

I get the impression driving my Explorer that something is, well, sort of 'loose' down there. I can't put my finger on exactly what it is but I think either the suspension bushes are worn or maybe it's the shocks (which is why I'm changing them). It really clatters over an uneven road surface - yet it's smooth as silk on the highway and the steering feels good. With being able to compare with a new one (or any other one come to that...) I can't be sure that anything's wrong.

Chris

 

[NoBoundaries]

Hey Chris. Just wanted to let you know that I have heard some people on the site running into problems with I believe these exact same shocks. May want to look around about it.