Considering getting back into an explorer...

[ricersrule]

I've been away from explorers for a while now and since the 1991-1994 explorers are getting pretty old now i can find them pretty cheap in my area. So i am thinking about getting either this or a jeep cherokee (i know i know jeep is a four letter word around here)... Now i can still find good lift kits for the cherokee but not so much on the explorer. Is there still any good lift kits for the explorers? I mostly only find very mild lifts.

 

[Anime]

There's plenty of lifts from many major brands (Superlift, Skyjacker, etc.) and lots of many Ford-only brands like James Duff. There's everything from mild 2 inch lifts to replace-everything 4-inch lifts to spring-over-axle 5.5 inch lifts. With the 5.5 and a body lift (and some fender trimming), it's easy to fit 33's, 35's or even go bigger.

Generally 33-35 is as big as you want to go on the stock TTB though, a lot of those who have gone that big or bigger do a solid axle swap on the front, and use the appropriate lift springs or get custom ones for the application, and just SOA the rear. There are Explorers with huge wild lifts runnng 44's and more.

Bolt-on or custom, Explorers can be lifted and modded pretty well.

 

[4x4junkie]

35" tires is typically considered the upper limit for the D35 TTB front axle, though a couple here are running 38s on it without too many issues, and I think there's a guy over on TRS running 39.5" Swampers, though I think he does nothing but mud with it.
Swap on a set of Warn #37780 Jeep hubs and the Spicer 5-760X cold-forged u-joints and you should be set.
The 8.8" rear axle is similarly good for 35-37" tires no prob.


For suspension lifts, hands down, Skyjacker has the sturdiest components.
James Duff is good too, though I've been seeing a few failures of their extended radius arms cropping up lately (not sure if they're still working on a redesign or not).
Ones to stay away from are Superlift, BDS, and Rough Country. None have exceptionally sturdy brackets and RC & BDS use a drop extension plate that's known to bust open the front differential housing (can ruin a day of wheeling pretty quick).

Hope that helps.

 

[ricersrule]

Very good info guys thank's for the help!

 

[ricersrule]

So i was looking for skyjacker 5.5 lift and i'm not finding anything bigger than two inches... Is there anywhere special i should be looking?

 

[4x4junkie]

Look under Rangers for kits (everything except the rear lift parts is identical).

You can go with a 6" lift and do a rear SOA swap on yours, or if you go 4", get it with 6" rear leaf springs so you'll have a full 4" lift for your Explorer (there's about a 2" height difference between Ranger & Explorer leaf springs).

Also, with 6" of lift (any brand lift), be sure to get a Skyjacker #FA600 drop pitman arm too. The one most kits come with isn't dropped enough to keep the steering linkage angle acceptable (don't ask me why though, I haven't a damn clue ).
You may be able to substitute the FA600 for the FA400 arm in a Skyjacker kit and just pay the cost difference (couldn't hurt to ask anyway).

 

[Maniak]

Another option is to get the kit from BTF (vendor here). Its using a cut/turned front beams so you don't need axle drop brackets. IIRC, they have extended Radius arms too..

Now that I think about it, it might not be a true "kit" as I don't remember how much you can buy from them.

~Mark

 

[bats]

Another option is to get the kit from BTF (vendor here). Its using a cut/turned front beams so you don't need axle drop brackets. IIRC, they have extended Radius arms too..

Now that I think about it, it might not be a true "kit" as I don't remember how much you can buy from them.

~Mark

I haven't viewed that thread in a while, but the last I read the were working on a 'kit' that included front shocks and springs as well as the beams. With core it was something like a grand and change?

 

[Maniak]

Yup.. its > $1k for everything on the front except shocks. The rear is expected to be a SOA.. Your getting a higher end kit than any of the others.. Heim ends and cut/turn beams and your choice of 4" or 6" coils.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2814048&postcount=18

~Mark

 

[ricersrule]

Thanks guys that is the kind of info I was looking for! So the BTF kit would be a better way to go than the skyjacker kit?

 

[4x4junkie]

Depends what you plan to do with it.

If you like speed (blasting through the desert, etc.), then BTF (or any good-quality kit that uses camber-modified axle beams) is certainly the way to go. Greater clearance when hitting dips & jumps is the big advantage with these kits (your front axle pivot drops won't hang down as low during suspension compression, possibly striking a rock or ?).

If you're just looking to do some trail riding or rock crawling however, you might be better-served by a bracket kit that retains the stock beam geometry (Skyjacker, James Duff, etc.). Your handling at slower speeds is better due to less narrowing of the frontend's track width if the suspension unloads while climbing a steep off camber hill, etc. (less instability from jacking as well). You can still gusset your beams & brackets for strength like is often done on the modded-beam kits, and put a set of higher-end shocks on it for the same go-fast ability, though you'd have to be more careful of any hazards in the middle of the road while doing so.

 

[ricersrule]

Good info i really appreciate it! I want to get it pretty high with good size tires on it. It will see more street time than trail and will not be flogged on even then.... I remember watching Tbars build wanting to do something like that i just know i love the look of a first gen explorer with a big lift....