Differences between 97,98,99 Ex's

[oldskool95max]

I would actually lower the car, how much would that cost to have someone do? I'd lower it for rollover, safety reasons.

I guess i'll go with the 99, 4 door, XLT because i see a lot for sale and can get them under 10k. Any opinionns

 

[taxx]

lowering is easy and you can do it yourself with very few tools. explorer-express sells a lowering kit of 1.5"s I believe.

 

[oldskool95max]

thanks taxxman, i actually had this conversation in a previous post, i can't afford those kits as of now. thanks tho

 

[Robb]

No need for a kit. Do a torsion twist in the front and put some blocks in the rear. Prolly about 20-30 bucks. Of course, you will need an allignment when done, so add on another 40-60. For under $100, you can lower your truck 2".

Robb

 

[Stephen]

You're very concerned with safety, I find that very interesting for someone so young.

Lowering the truck will help to reduce the center of gravity, but it does also detract from the other safety plusses of owning an SUV like the Explorer such as its ability in the snow and its high ground clearance. This isnt meant as anything against the streeters here that lower their trucks, but personally I dont much see the point of forking out the extra money in gas, insurance and repairs over a standard car when you're going to lower it and remove its positive attributes. Just pointed this out because I know you were looking at cars too.

 

[oldskool95max]

Stephen, you are correct. I am 21 and very concerned with safety. I guess it is because of the recent accident and the fact that i have other priorities as compared to peole my age. When i was on the stretcher and had the neck brace and they were doing tests to see if i was parallyzed the nurses kept commenting on the fact that i could give a **** how my car was and was more concerned with the status and health of the other gentleman who was 30 years my senior. The differences in ever humans understanding of the world has prevented me to call or send this man a card or letter of sympathy because my insurance company will be afraid of lawsuits. In the accident, i was driving back to my dorm on Long Island at 4:30 p.m. Out of nowhere i blacked out, for no apparent reason, then swerved into oncoming traffic and had a head on collision. I was not under the influence of anything, just driving the speed limit with light traffic and listening to good ol' Zeppelin. Fortunately my prayers were answered and the older man was alive with similar injures to mine. Hopefully in a year i can put into words the regret and horror i experienced.

anyway, to get back to the topic. I am curious to know how lowering the center of gravity an inch or two will lessen its ability to use 4x4, its ability in the snow, lower my gas mileage, raise my insurance and increase the price i will pay in repairs? I thought that it would have no negative effect as long as i had a good shop to an alignment and had someone adjust the suspension or change the shocks? Plus i was curious to know what kind of shop would lower the truck and for how much, also i was curious if it would be better to bring it to ford and tell them what i wanted to do and get a quote? Thanks Stephen and everyone else for being so generous with their opinions and information .

 

[taxx]

If you only lower it 1.5" or so you should have nop problems with the 4x4. As far as finding someone to do it you'll just have to call around. I would be willing to bet the dealler will not touch it. You best bet would be a ricer shop or a performance shop[, maybe even a 4x4 shop. Like said before all you need is blocks for the rear, you can get them cheap from an autoparts store, and in the front losen the torsion bar adjuster bolts. With a simple set of hand tools, a jack and a couple of stands you can to it in a mater of an hour or so.

 

[Stephen]

Glad to hear that you came away from that accident with no serious injuries. Did they ever discover why you blacked out? Even after an accident most people your age don't feel that sense of a brush with death, definately a good thing that you do.

You misunderstand me about the lowering, it wont increase your gas mileage raise your insurance or anything like that. What I was saying was you will pay more for gas, insurance and repairs on an SUV than you will on a car like the Impala or Taurus. The 4WD and the vehicle's ability offroad and in snow is always the tradeoff. Lowering the truck lessens its ability offroad and in the snow. It wont reduce the effectiveness of the 4WD, but it will reduce the ground clearance meaning the level of snow you can get around in is lessened etc. Lowering the truck should actually help the gas mileage somewhat.

My point was that if you'rte looking to lower it for more safety, and dont have so much of use for the multiroad ability, then maybe you should still look into a car.

 

[expo5.0]

no one has ever had a problem with a lowered explorer and 4wd or awd. people always say that it could be a problem but quite a few have lowered trucks as much as five inches and still used 4wd. personally, i'd suggest the V8. the tranny is indestructable despite what alec says (mine should have died about 10 times by now the way i treat it and its still perfect) and the awd is awesome. i will never buy a vehicle without awd in the future (although most likely i will buy cars- to save money in the near future)

 

[taxx]

if you want 4x4 and something that handles like a car why not get a WRX?

 

[Stephen]

Sure they can still use 4WD, but they have very little ground clearance, so it makes it more like an Outback etc.

Taxx, I think thats out of his price range

 

[expo5.0]

why not get a wrx? because they are so damn ugly! i'd much rather have a 2.5rs or a whole host of cars from other manufacturers. i know by the time i'll be in the market (around two years from now assuming i get a job after graduation) i will be looking for a 330xi with 40-60k on it. should be about the same price as a new wrx... might get a really good deal and pick one up from my mom, but i got to talk her into buying it first. shes torn between a tahoe, an expedition, a 330xi, and a m3. i wish my parents would just decide which one of them is going to drive the trucky vehicle so that they could buy the other.

 

[taxx]

I know the WRX isn't pretty but I love that car.

sorry to change the subject.

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by Ray Lobato
If you ever want to lift your Explorer, it would be easier to get a 98+ model. The torsion bar brackets were changed in 98 and that's what all the manufactures built their lift kits for. It can still be done, but you have to modify the rear torsion bar brackets on the lift kit.
By a 98+ model. Just my $.02

That isn't necessarily the case anymore at least with whichever lift Klowns had put on his (can't remember if it was Trailmaster or Superlift). The torsion bar brackets just bolted on over the original brackets. From what I saw, I didn't notice any cutting or welding on his '96.

 

[Alec]

WRX?

In most driving conditions on the street I'm faster; and I get better traction even with only 2wd.

With good tires on the X and AWD or auto 4x4, you'll get better traction than a Subaru.

 

[taxx]

Originally posted by Robert
That isn't necessarily the case anymore at least with whichever lift Klowns had put on his (can't remember if it was Trailmaster or Superlift). The torsion bar brackets just bolted on over the original brackets. From what I saw, I didn't notice any cutting or welding on his '96.

correct. you just have to buy the isolator pads for a 97 or earlier