how high can you lift before... | Ford Explorer Forums

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how high can you lift before...

SwaintaN

Explorer Addict
Joined
March 15, 2008
Messages
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City, State
Carey, Ohio (Georgia Grown)
Year, Model & Trim Level
93 XLT
How high can we lift our x before having to extend everything. Sorry I know bad terms, what I want to know is can I do a 3" lift front and back before having to add sway bar adjustment and all the other crap. Or can I just add a good add a leaf rear spring with my warrior shackles and a good spacer upfront and off road shocks?
 



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For 1st Gen X's...

2" for supsension lift before you need drop brackets (you problably will need them for 2".. it depends on your truck/lift).

Body lifts at 3" normally need a steering extension (not always).. and most people seem to build their own bumper mount extensions to put the bumper back up to the body.

~Mark
 






Lift Kit I found

I found this lift kit

Description

Quantity
Coil Springs 2
Axle Pivot Brackets 2
Radius Arm Brackets 2
Swaybar Drop Brackets 1
Cam-bolts and washers 2
U-bolts 4
Brake line extension bracket 4
Rear Add-a-leafs 4
Hardware bag 1
Drop Pitman Arm 1
Nitrogen shocks - perfect for off-road 4

for 863.40 for a total of 4" lift at all four tires.
 
























Aha, it looked familiar, I was going to do a writeup about some of these brands we don't see or hear about too often. Specifially Ruff country and tough country, they confuse me with their similar names so I did some research. Here is what I had saved in my notepad for a future thread

Tuff Country (suspension mfg, not a retailer)
Location: Salt Lake City
Date of business: July 1988
Explorer parts:
1. 4” lift w/ rear add-a-leaf no pitman arm or shocks $567
2. Drop pitman arm $73


Rough Country
Location: Dyersburg, TN 38024
Date of business:
Explorer parts:
1. Leveling coils $129.95
2. 4” lift kit with rear springs, radius arm drop brackets $680.95


only thing I would look into prior to lifting a 1st gen with a drop bracket kit is the warranty. I had a skyjacker 6" kit and I cracked the brackets. I heard I could have sent them in for a no charge repair but I ended up going solid axle on my last truck.
 






Will an add-a-leaf lift the rear 4in? I bought the rough country kit and the only thing it didnt include were sway bar drop brackets and of course extended brake lines.
 






Rough Country 4in, f-150 coil seats and SOA

I just did a SOA in the rear, and put a Rough Country 4in lift with f-150 spring seats in the front. I found the slightly used lift online at Craigs List for $250, and purchased the coil seats here at the explorer website. My vehicle sits level and got approx. 5.5" lift with the SOA. I also used f-250 brake lines up front to extend them. Look around, you might be suprised what you can find with some patience and diligent searching.
I also had to get an alignment done with new camber bushings, I believe they were 5 degree bushings. Bushings, alignment, and 33 x 12.50 x 15 Cooper Discoverer STT's ran me $1000.00.
 






James duff is another one not too often mentioned... I've got a jd 3 to 4 inch lift and its got radius arm drop brackets, suspension drop brackets and shackles for the rear.... Its for sale too...
 






Hello I was just wondering. I read that you used f-250 brake lines on the fronts of your explorer. What year f-250 brakes lines did you use. I hate to pay $120.00 for after market brake lines. when I can purchase used f-250 brakes lines from a junk yard.
thanks
 






I wouldnt recomend buying used brake lines especially from a junkyard. (Think about your safety). I bought my F250 lines new from NAPA autoparts and they were still cheaper then extended lines and they had them in stock(the main reason I bought them instead). I'm not sure which year model yoterunner used but I think mine were from an 04? I'll have to double check.
 






The F250 or Superduty lines work great on first gen explorers.

They will allow for about 3" lift, plus a lot of wheel travel.

I ran them on mine and had about 18" of total droop. :thumbsup:
 






Hey thanks for the info. Im going to give it a try. Let you know how it works out.
Thanks again.
 






If you have a factory motorparts in your area you can get front brake hoses in motorcraft for under 30 bucks a piece.
 






yoterunner

I just did a SOA in the rear, and put a Rough Country 4in lift with f-150 spring seats in the front. I found the slightly used lift online at Craigs List for $250, and purchased the coil seats here at the explorer website. My vehicle sits level and got approx. 5.5" lift with the SOA. I also used f-250 brake lines up front to extend them. Look around, you might be suprised what you can find with some patience and diligent searching.
I also had to get an alignment done with new camber bushings, I believe they were 5 degree bushings. Bushings, alignment, and 33 x 12.50 x 15 Cooper Discoverer STT's ran me $1000.00.

how much of a rake was there b4 you added the front coil seats? or did you install everything at once? jw bc i bought the RC front portion of the 4" lift and was level in the back until my springs sagged and was contemplating a SOA bc of the cheaper price. any info you have would be helpful.
 



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