Girl Friend got an 03 Explorer AWD... LIFT???

[YJcrawler]

My girl friend just purchased a 03 Explorer 4 door AWD 4.0 etc... can't find a lift anywhere I had a 4x4 ranger and found a 6" lift easy but can not find one for the explorer to save my life!!I think a nice like 2" block/spacer lift if there is one would be nice but its up to her, Im a Jeep guy and know nuthing about these things so if anyone has any info or pics of 2001-2005 Explorer lifted please send HELP! lol Thanks

 

[edgar_88]

You have 3 options for lifting:

Body lift: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219234

Spacers: http://www.roadbully-offroad.com/

Coil Springs: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200639

Currently i think the Spacers are the most popular, a lot of guys are doing the spacers along with the body lift. The coil springs kinda dropped off in popularity since the spacers came in, I think because of the price difference, and they tend to sag after awhile.

Check this out for pics of different explorers, so you can see some of whats available to mod these cars, good luck!

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243184

 

[Limited02]

Edgar 88 hit the nail on the head Post before and after pics of your friends ride when you get everything done.

 

[ExploringNC]

Once you start modding an Ex like a lift, tires, ect. you drastickly change the handling and performance of it. The rest of the suspension and chasis parts will wear more and faster so you will always be throwing parts at it. I would make sure your girlfriend is aware of what mods will do and affect on her new ride. It's very hard to get a ride back to stock and be the same as before the mods started. But if thats what she wants this is the place to find out how.

 

[1_v8_merc]

They really didn't make an explorer AWD.
It has 4x4 Auto, which engages once the truck has detected slippage.

But it's really not the same as the Mountaineer AWD system per say....which has a 65/rear 35/front power split, which is always engaged 24/7.


Just saying for future references.......im actually surprised nobody already mentioned it.

 

[IZwack]

They really didn't make an explorer AWD.
It has 4x4 Auto, which engages once the truck has detected slippage.

But it's really not the same as the Mountaineer AWD system per say....which has a 65/rear 35/front power split, which is always engaged 24/7.


Just saying for future references.......im actually surprised nobody already mentioned it.

There is an AWD transfer case for the third generation Explorers - the Borg Warner 4410 and, because it has the same pattern as the BW-4411, it is available behind the v6 engine.

 

[rhauf]

Was it her idea to lift it or yours?

if it was her idea, talk her out of it, its a bad idea. And if it was you're idea, a kick in the nuts for you, for trying to mod you're gf's car probably against her will (even if she plays along), and simultaneously making it more dangerous and handle worse.

 

[macknos94]

Was it her idea to lift it or yours?

if it was her idea, talk her out of it, its a bad idea. And if it was you're idea, a kick in the nuts for you, for trying to mod you're gf's car probably against her will (even if she plays along), and simultaneously making it more dangerous and handle worse.

i think that statement is like saying any orange juice causes stomach ulcers because its acidic. a little lift isn't bad just like a little OJ. now if you drink a few gallons a day or lift it 10 inches then yeah you can have some oh sh*t issues. 5 inches with the right tires wont hurt


i don't think its fair to assume that it handles worseuntill you have driven a lifted 3rd gen. when i did my body lift and put on the 265s it handles better then stock when it had the 245s. now if you lift it and keep stock tires i agree it handles worse. when i lifted mine with the 3/2.5 inch spacers with the body lift and the 265s it felt like i was riding around with the stock 245s and no lift. maybe its just the 12.5 inch wide tires with the 20 inch rim combo but it handles pretty well as it sits now. the spacers cause the ride to stiffen up a bit more so there is basically no body sway. the only thing she may complain about is how stiff the ride is(its the only thing my girl or my mom didn't like).
if you know the difference between driving a porsche and a truck/suv then you will be fine. my wife drives my truck just about everyday without any issues. i just look at it as when we got t-boned in the lifted mounty we were fine not one scratch on me or my girl. the officer said we were lucky the honda that hit us went under the frame and didn't really impact the body.

it is gonna put more wear on the suspension, half shafts, and other drivetrain parts but any mod you do to a vehicle can cause more wear. even just swapping a head unit can cause things to not work or brake. if she wants it done then i say go for it. just do as i did and warn her about the handleing, ride and parts wear before you do it. if you lived closer i would say have her take mine for a ride but thats a bit of a trip for you

 

[jrford]

They really didn't make an explorer AWD.
It has 4x4 Auto, which engages once the truck has detected slippage.

I got AWD, not common for sure.

 

[edgar_88]

Was it her idea to lift it or yours?

if it was her idea, talk her out of it, its a bad idea. And if it was you're idea, a kick in the nuts for you, for trying to mod you're gf's car probably against her will (even if she plays along), and simultaneously making it more dangerous and handle worse.

 

[shadowless127]

They really didn't make an explorer AWD.
It has 4x4 Auto, which engages once the truck has detected slippage.

But it's really not the same as the Mountaineer AWD system per say....which has a 65/rear 35/front power split, which is always engaged 24/7.


Just saying for future references.......im actually surprised nobody already mentioned it.

They are rare but AWD Explorers do exist. I know, I almost bought a red 03 EB w/ AWD and V8.

The first thing the OP should do is shave off that ridiculous looking over the top AWD logo they toss on the AWD Explorers.

 

[Limited02]

They really didn't make an explorer AWD.
It has 4x4 Auto, which engages once the truck has detected slippage.

But it's really not the same as the Mountaineer AWD system per say....which has a 65/rear 35/front power split, which is always engaged 24/7.


Just saying for future references.......im actually surprised nobody already mentioned it.

I have a friend who bought an AWD Explorer. So they are out there Now maybe Mounty's are only AWD, but I almost think I have seen one that said 4WD. (as in has auto 4x4, not full-time)

 

[rhauf]

i think that statement is like saying any orange juice causes stomach ulcers because its acidic. a little lift isn't bad just like a little OJ. now if you drink a few gallons a day or lift it 10 inches then yeah you can have some oh sh*t issues. 5 inches with the right tires wont hurt


i don't think its fair to assume that it handles worseuntill you have driven a lifted 3rd gen. when i did my body lift and put on the 265s it handles better then stock when it had the 245s. now if you lift it and keep stock tires i agree it handles worse. when i lifted mine with the 3/2.5 inch spacers with the body lift and the 265s it felt like i was riding around with the stock 245s and no lift. maybe its just the 12.5 inch wide tires with the 20 inch rim combo but it handles pretty well as it sits now. the spacers cause the ride to stiffen up a bit more so there is basically no body sway. the only thing she may complain about is how stiff the ride is(its the only thing my girl or my mom didn't like).
if you know the difference between driving a porsche and a truck/suv then you will be fine. my wife drives my truck just about everyday without any issues. i just look at it as when we got t-boned in the lifted mounty we were fine not one scratch on me or my girl. the officer said we were lucky the honda that hit us went under the frame and didn't really impact the body.

it is gonna put more wear on the suspension, half shafts, and other drivetrain parts but any mod you do to a vehicle can cause more wear. even just swapping a head unit can cause things to not work or brake. if she wants it done then i say go for it. just do as i did and warn her about the handleing, ride and parts wear before you do it. if you lived closer i would say have her take mine for a ride but thats a bit of a trip for you

So you're saying it's you're idea.. gf gets a truck and you decide how to modify it. Well i can see where you're coming from, (i have different ideas on how my GF's mustang should be modified than she does, for instance) but i've learned to let her make her own decisions, instead of forcing mine on her. I'd let her decide what to do with it on her own... just my 2c.

although.. it is good practice at keeping her in-line in the woman's roll in life (being told what to do by her man, and obeying) so now that I think about it... good idea!

 

[edgar_88]

Macknos isnt the original poster. . . . .

So you're saying it's you're idea.. gf gets a truck and you decide how to modify it. Well i can see where you're coming from, (i have different ideas on how my GF's mustang should be modified than she does, for instance) but i've learned to let her make her own decisions, instead of forcing mine on her. I'd let her decide what to do with it on her own... just my 2c.

although.. it is good practice at keeping her in-line in the woman's roll in life (being told what to do by her man, and obeying) so now that I think about it... good idea!

.........WOW........

 

[alexk]

I have a friend who bought an AWD Explorer. So they are out there Now maybe Mounty's are only AWD, but I almost think I have seen one that said 4WD. (as in has auto 4x4, not full-time)

I think I remember reading on here someone got cluster from a mounty that was 4x4 and that they were rare.

 

[macknos94]

actually i bought the mountaineer and started to mod it. then after my girl saw how it was coming out and what its going to look like she fell inlove with it and completely forgot about the yellow FJ she was looking at. i told here she can have it because its all payed off. figured no high monthly payment and i would find a cheap vehicle for me. well i looked for a jeep wrangler at first then a superduty but they were both too much even used. then i bought the H1 hummer now thats my new vehicle and she has the mounty. i think i made out pretty well just need to finish a little sheet metal work to the rear end. thanks to my unit helping me out i am gonna use the panels off a totalled hummer over here and put them on my H1.

 

[Limited02]

So you're saying it's you're idea.. gf gets a truck and you decide how to modify it. Well i can see where you're coming from, (i have different ideas on how my GF's mustang should be modified than she does, for instance) but i've learned to let her make her own decisions, instead of forcing mine on her. I'd let her decide what to do with it on her own... just my 2c.

although.. it is good practice at keeping her in-line in the woman's roll in life (being told what to do by her man, and obeying) so now that I think about it... good idea!

This is why relationships/marriages fail.

 

[IZwack]

What happened to this thread!?

rhauf - let us try not to tell people how to run their lives and relationships with their significant other. I'm sure YJcrawler is fully aware of the risks involved in lifting a vehicle - he has had a lifted Ranger before.

 

[rhauf]

What happened to this thread!?

rhauf - let us try not to tell people how to run their lives and relationships with their significant other. I'm sure YJcrawler is fully aware of the risks involved in lifting a vehicle - he has had a lifted Ranger before.

you didn't even realize i was joking? seriously.. lighten up a little.

and an infraction for that? That could be considered ethnocentric to some.... where male dominance is part of the culture

 

[IZwack]

No I didnt - and neither did another member.,