Explorer Express bump stops

[swshawaii]

MuscleJunkie said:
I’m guessing the ones on the left are the EE ones? (Pic in post #12)

No, these were STOCK bump stops that I cut. Don's pic is the only one I've clearly seen the pointed tip. Don, those bump stops were at one time installed on my 3 inch lowered Trac in the Michelin/Ranchero thread last week. It's been riding without front bump stops for years. Bottom pic there's rust, but no sign of metal to metal contact.

 

[CDW6212R]

Your truck is lowered a good bit more than mine. That's about where I had mine as I tried various heights in 2006 with new suspension, 18" wheels, and 30.5" tires at one time. I ended up close to the same 2.5" lowered range of the X-Spec intended height. The bigger tire made me have the suspension up a little more than before with 29" 17's. I could bring it down a hair since I changed to 29" 18's later on(255/55/18). My 98 Explorer will have 275/55/17's, still a 29" tire.

 

[CDW6212R]

I recommend stiff shocks and springs as the height gets lowered more and more. You don't want it to bottom out very often.

 

[swshawaii]

That's the surprising thing. I don't EVER recall bottoming out after removing my front bump stops. I'm using Monroe OE Spectrum (formerly Sensatrac) shocks which are some the most "cushy" shocks available. They are designed for comfort, not handling. Also, and IIRC, John from EE mentioned 2003-05 Sport Tracs had much more rear travel clearance than earlier 2001-02 ST's. I recently loaded about 600 pounds of a cut up boat trailer in the bed and had 1-1/2" frame clearance from the rear bump stops. Felt like driving my old F1 outboard tunnel boat with a nose high attitude, albeit MUCH slower. LOL

 

[swshawaii]

Quite a few choices for universal poly stops. Only thing is poly is HARD compared to rubber.

Universal Bump Stops | Polyurethane | Several Styles and Sizes

www.suspension.com

 

[swshawaii]

Found another pic of the EE bump stops.

Stock F5TZ-3020A below. Do EE stops above look the same that were modified?

 

[CDW6212R]

Those rears look like they have a cut from the top surface. I think those fronts look molded that way, and I bet my two 98's are the same.

 

[swshawaii]

Probably right. Dremel with the correct bit(s) and some patience could come close for the front. Could swear EE said they were modified.

 

[CDW6212R]

I bet a decently thick piece of rubber could be bolted onto the bump stop pad, with some careful hunting. I'm imagining a 3/4" thick piece long enough to wrap around the sides of the frame piece. Bolt it on from the sides with large washers and bolts. The stock stops weren't intended to contact the arms much, the contact patch is fairly small. A larger area would be better if there was going to be regular contact there.

I think that side of the LCA there is close to where the aftermarket coil over shock mount brackets attach.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Question - are the front bump stops on the 99-01 Explorers with only rear air ride control and the bump stops of the older Explorers with 4 wheel ARC different? The reason I ask is Don said in a post from 2017

The front bump stops of the ARC Explorers are the shortest, that's what EE sold in their EE kits. I found two NOS a year ago but those are obsolete too.

 

[CDW6212R]

That's a good question, but I think there were only two different front bump stops made. The ARC Explorers were intended to be lower at normal height(the early models had the electrical feature in the shocks, to raise the height when 4WD was selected). I test drove a 95 Limited with a friend in about 1999, it had 22k on it, and it rode very nice. That would raise the ride height when the 4WD switch was turned, it was a good 2" higher in 4WD. I'll bet the Limited's had the shorter bumps stop due to that early feature, riding lower than other Explorers. It wouldn't be surprising to find that they never changed the bump stop application, and put them in every Limited through 2001.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Quote I found from John at Explorer Express from 2003 regarding their bump stops. Wonder what "factory style from a different application" is?

The bump stops we use are the factory style from a different application. There have a different profile than stock. They allow more travel than stock but they are more forgiving than the buttonhead type when you do bottom out.

The rear bumpers are made by Energy Suspension and then modified by Explorer Express. They are progressive (hollow in the center). These rear bumpers do make a difference.

We tried many different products and combinations. We were going for the best handling with the best ride quality possible. It is always possible to do it for less, but the results won't be the same. If you don't care about the ride quality I guess it does not matter.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Another photo I found of the Explorer Express suspension kit for those who care.

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Here are my cut stock bump stops

 

[swshawaii]

^ Real question is WHY does @MuscleJunkie want to replace his existing bump stops? Front contact in second pic above looks normal with the usual rubber wear. He mentioned his front stops were cut and may even be the same part as mine shown in posts #12 and #18. My cut bump stops were bottoming out hard as seen in post #18 in the second pic. Unless his front is bottoming hard I see no reason to replace them.

Rear bump stop in first pic looks like minimal axle contact judging by the witness marks. Again, unless bottoming hard see no reason to replace them.

@CDW6212R what thinks you?

 

[MuscleJunkie]

Real question is WHY does OP @MuscleJunkie want to replace his existing bump stops? Front contact in second pic above looks normal with the usual rubber wear. He mentioned his front stops were cut and may even be the same part as mine shown in posts #12 and #18. My cut bump stops stops were bottoming hard as seen in post #18 in the second pic. Unless the front is bottoming out hard see no reason to replace them.

Rear bump stops looks like minimal axle contact judging by the contact points. Again, unless bottoming hard see no reason to replace the rear.

My thinking comes from a conversation that I had with John from Explorer Express several years ago when I first lowered Big White.

During the lowering process when the bump stops were cut - it was not done with any precision or measurement - just eyeballing so never was really sure if I had done enough or too much at the time. I definitely know it was a huge improvement because before that I was riding on the bump stops constantly after lowering and before cutting.

John went on to explain regarding the EE rear bump stops that instead of being completely solid, his have the hollow center which he claimed provide overall better handling than my solid cut stock pieces.

This was something that I was considering at the time but I never got around to it. Since I’m going to have everything tore apart during this new project phase I figured I might as well address the decision once and for all. Always looking to improve something if it makes any sense and leads to possible improvements.

 

[CDW6212R]

Good morning guys, it's Saturday and I got the day off, I'm pleased.

I think I know where Jim is going with the truck, the XP8's and their ride height is low enough to need "shorter" bump stops. I agree though that so far it looks like the wear suggests it may not need much change to the bump stops. I have been satisfied with my EE parts and the lowering I did. My bottoming out has been mainly from the softest springs that are installed in the Mercury and ARC/Limited's. I replaced my front "springs" with stiffer "B" bars, which aren't the stiffest of all, close I think.

I also went as large as possible with sway bars, I have the only 1.5" front bar, and it helped some with front body roll. I would say the 1.5" is a hair large, trying really large rubber end links has been a thought, or half(two of one end is my idea).

I would suggest installing the ES rear bump stops and see if that isn't great with them cut like the EE part. The front I would try any OEM Limited bump stops you can find, and see if that's the right size etc. I'd do that and then drive it for long enough to learn if it's perfect, or needs a change. It may need more stiffness in the springs, or the sway bars, or end links etc.

 

[CDW6212R]

That's where we all want to be, at the last stage of fine tuning the handling items. The bump stops should be a minor item, the worst case limit of downward wheel travel.

The rear suspension is a big issue for handling, as it is, it's bad for the ride and handling. Let me suggest a wild new subject, a panhard bar.

 

[swshawaii]

Off topic, but just sent MJ this link.
IMO, a nice beneficial add on for a buck and a quarter + shipping.

Deerfield Precision Braided S/S Brake Lines

Hate beating this dead horse, but figured it to be useful to people who may come across the topic. As we know WRXtra is now known as Deerfield Precision. I ordered a full set front and rear for my 2nd Gen over two weeks ago and have heard absolutely nothing from them. My order went to...

www.explorerforum.com

 

[MuscleJunkie]

That's where we all want to be, at the last stage of fine tuning the handling items. The bump stops should be a minor item, the worst case limit of downward wheel travel.

The rear suspension is a big issue for handling, as it is, it's bad for the ride and handling. Let me suggest a wild new subject, a panhard bar.

I remember reading one of your old posts were you were talking about that. As you know on Big White (lowered 2000 Limited AWD with rear ARC) I’ve really contemplated if I should do anything further with the rear suspension. I totally want to keep the factory rear ARC and would be open to doing something to enhance the rear without losing that factory feature. When I lowered the truck I replaced the rear air shocks (per your suggestion) and I feel this contributed to the improvements that I saw as it was discovered the original ones I had were worn. If I were to add this piece that you speak of what would be the improvement that should be expected and is it something that can even be done with the rear ARC or the Explorer?