Choices

[Hopefiend]

So im looking at 2 mountaineers tomorrow... one.is a 2000 4x2 with 5.0, the other is 1997 4x4 with 5.0...
Im trying to find stuff for these but not having alot of luck. Id like a suspension lift and a 3" body lift. Seems like when i type it in i get everything BUT what i typed in.
I k ow i wanna fit 33x12.50 on one of these... (is that even possible?) But i also need to k ow whats available so i ca decide which to buy.
Any input?

 

[J_C]

I don't see the point in a lift and 33" tires for a 4x2, but that's just me. The 4x2 will have a lighter front end, get slightly better gas mileage (but don't get your hopes up, these are old school bricks on wheels, big wheels if you get 33's), and slightly less maintenance due to no front drivetrain.

Otherwise, they are ~25 years old and a lot can happen in that time, so I'd thoroughly inspect both and pick the one in better condition if the mileage and price isn't much different.

As far as wheel and tire sizes vs lift, see this topic:

Solved - Lifts and Max tire sizes

Lift and tire size info for explorers Lifts and max tire and wheel sizes for explorers This is a quick reference guide I have put together based on information gathered from the Explorer Forum. Remember this is just a guide. You may have to do some fender trimming to fit these tires on your...

www.explorerforum.com

 

[Hopefiend]

Ended up buying an 04 with 4.6 and 207000 miles for 2000... 4x2 and needs diff bearings... overall its a pretty good start i think...
Im just partial to big tires and taller vehicles...

 

[Mbrooks420]

Ended up buying an 04 with 4.6 and 207000 miles for 2000... 4x2 and needs diff bearings... overall its a pretty good start i think...
Im just partial to big tires and taller vehicles...

Larger tires and a hard life would have probably had much better luck with the 5.0s. The 3rd gens will eat a set of wheel bearings fast on 33s.

 

[Hopefiend]

How fast? Like a set a year? Worse? Or more than a year? Under normal condotions... say 10000 miles...

 

[Turdle]

Wish I'd seen this sooner..

 

[Hopefiend]

Wish I'd seen this sooner..

Why is that?

 

[Turdle]

I'd have voted for the 97. But you acted too quick for answers.

 

[Hopefiend]

I like the 97 but i like the 04 too... and the 04 seems in better shape but the 97 had alot done to it already... water pump, heater core, res tanks, coil packs, and really good tho small tires.... it had bad ball joints, the trans stuttered shifting into 3rd...shocks bad, and terrible exhaust leak in the egr tube just above where it ties in to the manifold and oil pan gasket leak, and the air "just needs recharged", needed a new battery, needed front wheel bearings, and had been driven for the past 2 years by a kid who just finished highschool .. and $800 more...
The 04 has a few issuse as well... i believe it leaks oil around the oil filter mounting deal... it too has an exhaust leak but its where a pipe slides together and the clamp was never tight... why its not welded there idk...
It needs tires but ima upgrade anyway...
The headliner sucks... the stereo sounds good but its broken...it has good air and rear air for the kids... it runs great and shifts beautifully... 3rd row seating, 44000 miles less than the 97, needs a sway bar link, and the cruise control dont work... so far as i have found so far... i feel like i gotta lot for a little with the 04...
That my bite me in the a** later, it usually does...

 

[Mbrooks420]

How fast? Like a set a year? Worse? Or more than a year? Under normal condotions... say 10000 miles...

Depends on how expensive the bearings are and how good you are installing press in bearings. Many members here with larger tires eat up a set a year. The rear differentials are also prone to fail/be noisy.

 

[C420sailor]

That trans ‘stutter’ is typically torque converter shudder. Totally benign. Usually solved by changing the transmission fluid a couple times in rapid succession. Very common in the 4R70W, which is a VERY strong transmission.

The ‘04 is a nice truck, but the Gen 2 V8s are tanks. Indestructible. Gen 3 is, in my mind, when the Explorer line began its slow transition toward becoming a car vice a light truck.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Like anything else, if you can wrench you can keep it going. I spent a few years changing wheel bearings annually in my Escape.

 

[Squirrelmaster]

How fast? Like a set a year? Worse? Or more than a year? Under normal condotions... say 10000 miles...

I had 32" tires on my '04 Eddie Bauer, and I'd get about two years out of the wheel bearings (so around 10-12k) doing only normal paved-road driving. With that said, I ran Timken bearings which seemed of better quality than other brands, but I also was living in the upper midwest rust-belt which was rough on wheel bearings regardless of tire size - so basically there may be multiple variables that dictate the lifespan of your wheel bearings. The front hubs are a bolt-on affair, but like Mbrooks420 said, the rear wheel bearings require a press-fit.

 

[C420sailor]

I wonder why they’re so hard on bearings?

 

[Fix4Dirt]

So im looking at 2 mountaineers tomorrow... one.is a 2000 4x2 with 5.0, the other is 1997 4x4 with 5.0...
Im trying to find stuff for these but not having alot of luck. Id like a suspension lift and a 3" body lift. Seems like when i type it in i get everything BUT what i typed in.
I k ow i wanna fit 33x12.50 on one of these... (is that even possible?) But i also need to k ow whats available so i ca decide which to buy.
Any input?

4x4 you can do a 2" torsion twist in the front and shackles add a leaf old man emu CS042R (iirc thats what theyre called) lead aprings and rough country makes a 5" lift for rangers you can use the front lift from it and for the rear put the lead spring over the axle

4x2 TT shackle still applies but the rough country wont fit. ranger edge lift spindles work for iirc a 3"(?) lift from maxtrac

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I like the 97 but i like the 04 too... and the 04 seems in better shape but the 97 had alot done to it already... water pump, heater core, res tanks, coil packs, and really good tho small tires.... it had bad ball joints, the trans stuttered shifting into 3rd...shocks bad, and terrible exhaust leak in the egr tube just above where it ties in to the manifold and oil pan gasket leak, and the air "just needs recharged", needed a new battery, needed front wheel bearings, and had been driven for the past 2 years by a kid who just finished highschool .. and $800 more...
The 04 has a few issuse as well... i believe it leaks oil around the oil filter mounting deal... it too has an exhaust leak but its where a pipe slides together and the clamp was never tight... why its not welded there idk...
It needs tires but ima upgrade anyway...
The headliner sucks... the stereo sounds good but its broken...it has good air and rear air for the kids... it runs great and shifts beautifully... 3rd row seating, 44000 miles less than the 97, needs a sway bar link, and the cruise control dont work... so far as i have found so far... i feel like i gotta lot for a little with the 04...
That my bite me in the a** later, it usually does...

change the trans fluid in the 04 since the 5r55w (i think thata the trans behind yours) like the 5r55e benefits MAJORLY from good fluid change maintainence and being kept cool. good purchase. disregard my previous post about the gen 2.

 

[Hopefiend]

I dont know if i need to start a new thread... first thanks for all you guys replies...
2nd is there a body lift for the 04?
Im finding the spacers but i may need a little more than that 3/2 offered by the spacers ...also found out... i think that rear diff is about shot... it whines alot but am told thats about normal... whats not normal is the 1/2 inch side to side movement in the cv where it goes into the diff.... i founf a diff for 150$ but looks hella fun to swap out !

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I dont know if i need to start a new thread... first thanks for all you guys replies...
2nd is there a body lift for the 04?
Im finding the spacers but i may need a little more than that 3/2 offered by the spacers ...also found out... i think that rear diff is about shot... it whines alot but am told thats about normal... whats not normal is the 1/2 inch side to side movement in the cv where it goes into the diff.... i founf a diff for 150$ but looks hella fun to swap out !

I believe there is a BL for 3rd gens theres one on here its gray/silver lifted with I want to say Traxda spacers and a 3" BL. Its got green or blue LEDs on it I think. Ill see if I can find it. I believe Rancho makes a quicklift that might be better than spacers, but maybe thats the 4th gen. Im getting my gens mixed up here maybe.

 

[Hopefiend]

I looked up that rancho quicklift and dont see it for my 04....2" for a f-150 tho.... will the f-150 strut work on my 3gen?
Thes are for front only... what is available for the rear? Im assuming thats gonna be a bit of an issue since it has independent rear suspension and doesnt look much like that diff has anywhere to drop down to...
(I did see a no brand mentioned on ebay that claims 3" lift using my factory coil spring...
Do thise really work?)

 

[Hopefiend]

I suppose if i could get a 2-3 BL with 2" quicklift front and 2" spacers rear, that would give me what i need to get 32" tires... then i have to figure what would be the widest rims.
I like 32x11.50 on a 10" rim... i like a nice wide stance... im not sure what offset/back spacing i would need... its tight in there backside of the tire to the upper part of the knuckes/spindle bracket...
Getting room on the back side and still clearing the fenders when turning looks like a challenge and maybe a compromise...