how strong are the suspensions?

[bex]

how much of a tire/wheel weight can it handle?

i don't know diddly squat about these ifs/irs suspensions.

 

[IZwack]

Supensions in general are pretty strong.

But!! Unfortunately, there have been a few users on the forum that have had the rear coil springs snap into two pieces (on the 3rd gen Explorers). Here's one thread on it:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=182961

IAmTodd's vehicle:

 

[Charlie]

Snap!

(hehe)

 

[frickea86]

Yeah but thats a problem that only seems to arise in locations with heavy amounts of salt that corrodes the spring. That wasn't from a tire/wheel combo. Its a defect in the spring, anyone that replaces them is better off. You shouldn't have to many problems with a heavier wheel/tire combo. Breaks are always going to be your weak point. More rolling weight you put on them the harder it is for them to stop correctly.

 

[bex]

dang! well i live down in the south so road corrosion should not be too much of an issue. plus planning on throwing the coils from coilspring.com in it.

i was just wondering because i want to run a wider than what i have seen tire on the explorer plus a wheel that has a little more than stock offset to it. i was wondering about the stress that would create and if it might have the possibility to exceed the parameters of the suspension.

 

[IAmTodd]

Early Gen3s broke regardless of location. It was just a weakened spring that contributed to this problem. The Taurus/Sable line is also prone to this issue. Monroe makes a 'QuickStrut' that comes with a new strut and spring packaged together. We sold our '02 due to compounding problems. The '07 is muuch nicer.

Brakes should be good on the Gen3+ Models. They were enlarge and should be able to handle any extra abuse.