Help w/ small lift and shocks...

[FMExplorer]

Hey gang,
I am going to be putting in a small suspension lift - I am looking for 1-1.5" as I do not want to replace my brand new Rancho 5000's (will work up to 1.5" of lift). I also need to add a leaf to the back as I do some pretty heavy hauling once a month and would like the extra weight capacity. What ways would you recommend to get the desired lift, stiffer rear end AND get my desired 31x10.50's on the stock rims? Am I asking too much?

Jon

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Jon McLeod
'93 XLT
K&N Drop-In
Modified Airbox
Kenwood Audio
(Am/Fm cassette head + 6-disc changer in the center console)
Rancho RS5000's

 

[Tommy2000]

if you take a look at the tires/wheels forum, jason was recently able to fit 31 10.5's on with stock height, I believe...
Dead Link Removed

Hope this helped.

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93 Sport 4X4, 150k Mi, Llumar Metallic Tinted Windows, GTS Taillight Covers, Sony CD and Boston Acoustics Audio

 

[FMExplorer]

Tommy2000,
Thanks for your help. I had read Jason's post about that earlier this month. My main concern is the ability to stiffen the rear up a bit without going over 1.5". Will an add-a-leaf work for that? If so - is it an easy install?

------------------
Jon McLeod
'93 XLT
K&N Drop-In
Modified Airbox
Kenwood Audio
(Am/Fm cassette head + 6-disc changer in the center console)
Rancho RS5000's

[This message has been edited by JonM (edited 03-20-2000).]

 

[Hank]

Hi Jon,


I really liked the way the shackle and coil spring lift worked out. See the really long "cheap way of lifting post".

The shackles were 39.99 and the springs were 129.00. Any way you go you will need an alignment with shims.

How much are you towing? I have not had any problems with a 3000 lb load and no add a leaf. I also have the lousy 3.08 gears.

The add-a-leaf is fairly easy but the shackle switch is much eaiser.

If you recall I got the 31's on my stock rims before the lift, so you should not have a problem. Also note that at this point I am still running the stock shocks so your Rancho's should be fine also.

We'll hook up when I get back in town so you can take a look.

Best regards.
hg

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'91 EB, 4dr, 2wd
www.grimmick.com
hank@grimmick.com

 

[Rob O]

Jon,

Doing an add-a-leaf in the rear is the best way to acheive your specific goals. There are many manufacturers that offer a 1.5"-2" add-a-leaf for the Explorer, and in that application you almost always net closer to 1.5" after settling. Plus, many add-a-leafs increase stock load capacity by 200-500 lbs so loading up the rear won't automatically cause "droopy-ass". Shackles may be easier to install, but you don't get the benefits of greater load rating and the longer shackles become a bit unsightly hanging so far below the bumper.

------------------
Rob O

'98 EB 4.0 SOHC 4x4
Twisted w/leafs
Edelbrock IAS
WAAG Brush Guard w/FET Landmaster 190 Hi\Lo's
Thule rack & bike trays / Yakima RocketBox
265/75/16 BFG A/T KOs coming soon

'94 XLT 4x4
WAAG * FET * 30x9.5 BFG * Doetsch Tech * Thule * Hella * Kenwood

 

[FMExplorer]

Hey guys,
Thanks for the input. I think I wil go the add-a-leaf route as I have a friend who's dad owns a heavy-equipment suspension shop locally. I can get his shop and help on the weekend (free shop and labor - not bad Dead Link Removed ) and even get the everything cleaned and put back right. Gotta love it<G>

Jon M

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Jon McLeod
'93 XLT
K&N Drop-In
Modified Airbox
Kenwood Audio
(Am/Fm cassette head + 6-disc changer in the center console)
Rancho RS5000's

Next project: Headers, 1.5" lift (add-a-leaf and spacers), 31x10.50's

 

[Hank]

Hi Jon,

If you are pulling frequent heavy loads, it sounds like you might need to go the add-a-leaf route. Note that I pull 1500-3000 loads several times a month and have no problems with just the shackles.

However, using the voice of experience, let me try one last time to try to talk you out of using the coil spring spacers.

#1. The labor involved with spacers or spring replacement is the same.

#2. The most you will get with the spacer route is 1". If you go with an add-a-leaf or the shackle route, you rear will be noticably higher than the front.

#3. Spacers will not take out the side to side lean that most of our old models have.

#4. I noticed a little more body sway and wobble after putting in the spacers as you are putting more of a load on your springs when you go higher. This went away with the spring replacement and would probably be ever better with an add-a-leaf.

#5. If you go with 1" spacers you will have to discard the lower spring seat and spacer. This was a bit of a pain to get the spring centered when trying to torque it down. When I pulled mine apart to do the springs I noticed a little slipping on the drivers side.

#6. I called the guys at rough country and asked how I got 3" of lift from their 1.5" coils. They advised, and I should of known, that their springs are 1.5" lift higher than NEW STOCK SPRINGS. This means that my original stock springs had over 1.5" of sag in them. They also advised that this is very common on 8+ yr. older vehicles. I recall adjusting my torsion bars on my old truck ever couple of years.


Best regards.
hg


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'91 EB, 4dr, 2wd
www.grimmick.com
hank@grimmick.com

[This message has been edited by Hank (edited 03-22-2000).]

 

[FMExplorer]

Hank,
I'll tell you - the springs in the front sound like a good idea too. Just the fact that they would LOOK better than what I have is good. Where did you get yours? I know the add-a-leaf will cost ~$90 and sounds like the springs ~$130. Ok - you talked me out of the spacers.
I don't do much towing - I haul a bunch of real estate newspapers (20,000 12 page papers) once a month for our team here at RE/MAX. Can't stand the way the truck looks with a full load!

BTW - What do you do for work? I noticed you're out of town for a while.

Jon M

------------------
Jon McLeod
'93 XLT
K&N Drop-In
Modified Airbox
Kenwood Audio
(Am/Fm cassette head + 6-disc changer in the center console)
Rancho RS5000's

Next project: Headers, 1.5" lift (add-a-leaf and spacers), 31x10.50's

 

[Hank]

Hi Jon,

Good to hear you are going with the springs. I got them from Rough Country directly. www.roughcountry.com. I called the tech line and spoke to Davie. They were 110.00 and with Fedex 2 day shipping they were 129.00.

If you are only towing once a month you might want to rethink the add-a-leaf and try the Warrior shackles from Desert Rat www.desertrat.com as a $40.00 test. The only reason I say that is you mentioned that you drive clients in your Exp. in an earlier post. The add-a-leaf will will really firm things up. I noticed that I have a fairly balanced ride (front to rear) with the spring/shackle route. (The rough country springs are not super firm like a lift kit would be. They call them "leveling coils" designed to bring the front up a bit. You can get some good info from they tech line at rough contry.)

Either way you go, get into the alignment shop right away.


... Forgot to mention. I work for a software company. We write accounting and distribution software. I'm in town today swapping suit cases as I am on my way back out again. I am filling in for another guy who could not make it to this job. Normally I do not travel this much...
Best regards.
hg

------------------
'91 EB, 4dr, 2wd
www.grimmick.com
hank@grimmick.com

[This message has been edited by Hank (edited 03-22-2000).]

 

[FMExplorer]

Hank,
I called Rough Country and here's the scoop: For what I want to do now - increase payload w/ a little clearance - Rough Country has the best deal going for the price. For $155 I get the new springs (1.5-2" gain in front) and add-a-leaf in the rear (about 2-300#'s more payload). I agree - there aren't a lot of rocks and stuff where I need the clearance and suspension travel - yet. Hauling clients around with 33" mudders and covered in swamp gunk isn't wise at this point. By summer of 2001 I can have this built up the way I want, now I can focus on engine and stuff that can be used around here everyday. Talk to you when you get back in town.

Jon M

------------------
Jon McLeod
'93 XLT
K&N Drop-In
Modified Airbox
Kenwood Audio
(Am/Fm cassette head + 6-disc changer in the center console)
Rancho RS5000's

Next project: Headers, 1.5" lift (add-a-leaf and spacers), 31x10.50's

 

[Hank]

Hi Jon,

Glad to hear it worked out with Rough Country. I'm curious to compare the add-a-leaf vs. the shackles when I get back in town.

Best regards.
hg