custom lift kit.... whats involved?

[brandon_matt02]

ok my dad and i are trying to design a lift kit for the 3rd gen, but i dont know what all needs to be changed. i have tried to compare this to other lift kits, in hopes to find out what all i have to replace, or what i can still use... unfortunately, there all different in their own way.
i mainly have been trying to base it off of the expedition lift from rize ind.

when i started this, i thought that i would still be able to use most of the stock parts, like the lower a arm, but why do some kits come with a longer a arm and then others dont????

i know the coilovers will be replaced(duh.), but what else?:scratch: any suggestion on what kinds to replace with??

so far i have a pretty good design for the front(ive only been working on this for about a week). i havent started on the rear, but i figure i would be on the same basis as the front, right??:scratch:

my father works as a contractor for Garrison Steel and "Fabricators", so if i can get a good design, i can have every piece cut for free, or real cheap(besides cost of supplies).

i know im a newb to this forum, so let me tell you a little bit about myself and why i want to do this. first of all, i have a 03 explorer that i want to lift over 3 inches. and also i am a math major in college, and i am slowly leaning toward changing to civil engineering. this kind of stuff is really interesting to me.

all input will be appreciated, good or bad... i tell my self its not a waste of time, until you do it and it dont work... so thats why im just trying to perfect the design... i try and plan to get on autocad every afternoon and work at it, but this doesnt always happen, with homework and a job and all...

 

[IZwack]

If you really want to build a custom "lift-kit", get the vehicle up in the air and remove the suspension. Then you can start measuring lengths, angles, and limitations. Wait wait, actually before you do that, weigh each corner so you can calculate spring rates

 

[FROADER]

Gonna have to be something like the Rize Industries Kit for the Expedition.

http://www.rizeind.com/03products/02suspension/suspen_ford01.html

 

[brandon_matt02]

If you really want to build a custom "lift-kit", get the vehicle up in the air and remove the suspension. Then you can start measuring lengths, angles, and limitations. Wait wait, actually before you do that, weigh each corner so you can calculate spring rates

I plan on taking off at least the front this weekend, hopefully both(Ill have to get up bright and early saturday morning ). But so far i have been able to get under the truck and make some basic measurments.

whats all do i have to do to calculate the spring rates... when you say weigh, do you mean that i need to go get the scale out of the bathroom and put it under every tire??? LOL. Sorry im no real mechanic!

 

[brandon_matt02]

Gonna have to be something like the Rize Industries Kit for the Expedition.

http://www.rizeind.com/03products/02suspension/suspen_ford01.html

This is what i have been basing it on... it probably wont be as nice looking as it, but all im looking to do is make something that is functional....

 

[IZwack]

whats all do i have to do to calculate the spring rates...when you say weigh, do you mean that i need to go get the scale out of the bathroom and put it under every tire??? LOL. Sorry im no real mechanic!

Nevermind all that, I forgot you're just moving the front axle down, not actually doing an entire suspension.

 

[FROADER]

This is what i have been basing it on... it probably wont be as nice looking as it, but all im looking to do is make something that is functional....

Good because that BS is ugly.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

you got Froader involved. you're in for it now! lol. good luck with it man, i wish i was that smart and ballsy to try it.

 

[brandon_matt02]

does anyone know if the front suspension for the explorer is the same on the sport trac... i know the rear is different, i just dont know about the front.

 

[bigapple]

does anyone know if the front suspension for the explorer is the same on the sport trac... i know the rear is different, i just dont know about the front.

yea the suspension on a 3rd gen is different... sport tracs and sports use independent control arms with torsion bars and a solid axle in the rear as opposed to coilovers all the way around for the 3rd gen

 

[brandon_matt02]

i was able to get all the measurements for the front suspension this weekend. i really didnt have to take any thing apart or off the truck.. once i got it lifted, it was pretty simple measuring it on the truck. i will try to put all of it into autocad sometime this week and hopefully post a pic to give everyone an idea of what i plan on doing..

question: i havent really put much thought into how high of a lift i should make.... i see a bunch of 4" and 6" suspension lifts, but would it be safe to make a lift higher than that (besides the tires)

 

[jutgin]

I think if you could just fab a strut tower spacer we would all love to buy a set to level the front!!! I don't under stand why it hasn't been done yet, if you get a chance look at the one for the expedition. it just bolts on then the spacer part then 3 extra bolts on top to mount to the truck. Thats not that hard to make. If you could make those in quanity you could sell them hand over fist.

 

[97awdx]

My guess is that this was a little harder than was first thought, or is their a real lift kit I don't know about.

 

[RoadBully]

My guess is that this was a little harder than was first thought, or is their a real lift kit I don't know about.

There is no "real lift kit", you haveto do coilspings, or rancho quick lifts, to lift your suspension.