Air Ride ?'s...yes I have searched. (CROSS-POSTED)

[hydroxy]

has anyone tried messing w/ the 4x4 auto switch so that they can lift it without having to put it in 4x4 low?

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

here it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it work's too!!!!!!!!!!!..i will do a rightup on how to do it soon..you can lift or lower by messin with this..it's only one sensor for all 4 bag's

 

[expHendrix47]

Question about ARC

I have a 97 XLT V8 AWD, how do you know if it has ARC or not? or do only regular 4x4's have it?

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

only LIMITED and EB explorer's have it..it was not a option on XLT explorer's
v8's had it as a option to but only EB and LIMITED

 

[hydroxy]

instead of doing a TT to lower... you think you could just extend the bracket on the sensor so that it lowers it itself?

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

i kinda explaned it in my post "HOW TO:lift with ARC" down the page a little in this forum

 

[hydroxy]

for lowering... do you think that it would be better to TT or try and get the shocks to lower the vehicle?

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

You have to do the TT... if you remove the shocks, the truck's weight will be on the torsion bars. Ride height is determined by the T bars only.

 

[hydroxy]

No, the air shocks can adjust the ride height. I wouldn't be removing them, I would simply be expanding the sensor for them, so that they would lower the ex themselves. Arg, I wish my ex wasn't in the shop so that I could go out and try this.


By doing the TT, you loosen the torsion bar, which in my understanding would make the ride less stiff.... that is the only reason why I would think lowering via shocks might be a better way to maintain ride quality.

 

[hydroxy]

Ok, I just looked in my Haynes manual... I have no clue why I didn't look at this before... the rear height sensor is located roughly in the middle of the rear axle. If you go underneath, you can see it. I've seen it numerous times before, just had no clue what exactly it was. I'm guessing you'd want to also adjsut that sensor as well for your lift.

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

huh..my rear has been lifting with just the front sensor..but i will go check it..

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Originally posted by hydroxy
No, the air shocks can adjust the ride height. I wouldn't be removing them, I would simply be expanding the sensor for them, so that they would lower the ex themselves. Arg, I wish my ex wasn't in the shop so that I could go out and try this.


By doing the TT, you loosen the torsion bar, which in my understanding would make the ride less stiff.... that is the only reason why I would think lowering via shocks might be a better way to maintain ride quality.

True, the air shocks do augment the torsion bars and lead springs when it comes to ride height, but the torsion bars will "set" the lowest the truck can go. Go try it - if you disconnect the air ride system the truck will not be on the ground. Remove your t-bar bolts and it will. On an air-ride equipped X, ford most likely set the t-bars to a lower ride height than non-arc Xs. The shock can only apply compresson between the frame and the lower control arm/rear axle. It cannot apply tension to pull them together.

Less torsion bar height will make the ride more supple because it gives the suspention more potential to drop the tire when going over bumps. When the t-bars are cranked, the suspention's "home" position is closer to its lower limit. However, it will be closer to the upper bump stops. Again: the suspention has a limited range of motion. Cranking t-bars or adjusting the air shocks just sets the vehicle to a point in this range.

By making the air shocks take the weight of the X, rather than the T-bars and Leaf springs, you will lift it. Its the same as using a jack to lift the X. Yea it will work, but it's not the proper method of lifting your vehicle.

 

[atl]

i thought i read on this site that there was a rear sensor....sure enough, it is a bit on the right side from the center of the rear end.....

 

[hydroxy]

right, your ex will not be on the ground if you disconnect the system, b/c the shocks maintain their current pressure... HOWEVER - the suspension parts for the explorers w/ ARC are not set as high... they depend heavily on the air shocks for support. I've talked to John V. over at explorer express, and when you want to drop an ARC explorer... for the rear, you dont even need blocks - you just take out the air shocks and put in normal ones, and you get about a 2" drop just by sag (the rear air shocks have springs in them).

I howerver, do not like the idea of getting drop b/c of sag... I want all suspension parts to be normal, but to have it be lower (which is why I'm planning on using blocks). Also, b/c the front suspension probably does rely on the air shocks for support, if you lessen the support it gives, it won't help the Torsion bars as much, which *should* lower the vehicle.

Before I do any TT or blocks, I'm going to try messing with the sensors to see what happens. If I could get 1-2" of drop by reducing the pressure in the shocks, I might just opt to stick with that (assuming the ride quality isn't horrible).

I've asked this question before, but I'll throw it out there in this thread... can you upgrade the compressor? It would be cool if you could get the shocks to lower/raise the ex in like 20-30 seconds then the current 4ish minutes it takes.

V8BoatBuilder: btw... I wasn't arguing w/ your post... just commenting on it

 

[hydroxy]

LTD - I'm guessing that the rear raised as well, because the overall design of the ARC system is to keep the vehicle level... When it raises the front b/c of the sensor, it must also raise the rear to keep the ex level.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Originally posted by hydroxy
V8BoatBuilder: btw... I wasn't arguing w/ your post... just commenting on it

I know - sorry if it came out like I was. I just wanted to post some facts about suspentions

 

[hydroxy]

nah, I didn't think you were arguing... infact you brought up some really good points. Hopefully we can put this to rest when someone does the TT and the shocks and compares...

or just wait until mon-tues for me to get my ex back and I'll be the one who does the comparison.

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

ok im gonna go out and look at it now..

 

[WNP 2]

I have a 96 Limited with the Automatic Ride Control. Here is how it works and why:

The truck will sit at normal ride height when driving around town in 2wd. When you put the truck in 4wd Auto it will raise the body 1 inch. When you put the truck in 4wd low, it will raise 2 inches and lock the shocks in firm.

Once you exceed 58MPH regardless of 4wd mode the truck will drop to its lowest setting, this is for handling and fuel economy, the truck raises again if the speed falls below 30MPH for one minute.

This system should not be thought of a raise and lowering slave, but as an actual ride control, the system dampens shocks depending on the road and steering inputs.

The system will drop to its lowest setting when the truck is turned off.

What was this all for? The regular explorer has a pretty good ride to begin with.

A friend of mine who worked for Ford motor company said it focused on one major issue. The trucks handling at high speeds, and handling in emergency maneuvers. Ford explored the possibility of putting this on all explores but in the end decided that it was to costly. The Explorers with the ARC System should handle better in high speed maneuvers do to the fact of the lower body height and lower center of gravity.

 

[hydroxy]

but it CAN be used as a lowering/raising slave =P