IFS+35's=???

[Bogo_30]

I have a 97 XLT with a 3" BL and TT/shackles on 33" Kumho AT's and I'd like to add the Superlift kit and go to some 35's. So my question is, how well does the IFS hold up with that big of a tire? It is my daily and would only have occasional off road use.

 

[96ex5.0]

I would think it would be OK but any big off road stuff you could split the aluminum housing.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

I have a 97 XLT with a 3" BL and TT/shackles on 33" Kumho AT's and I'd like to add the Superlift kit and go to some 35's. So my question is, how well does the IFS hold up with that big of a tire? It is my daily and would only have occasional off road use.

Do you have a picture of your rig? I just realized how close you live to me, and my buddy snapped me a picture of a lifted Ex a few weeks ago, on his way to ECC. Also the super lift kit from what I have read is pretty good, it does everything right, so road manners should be fine, a re gear may be in order for tires that big though.

 

[gmanpaint]

Click on the Black Hole link below and you will see how it can be done and it has held up with some modifications done. Been wheeling on 35's for years & I just took it wheeling in Moab without issue.

I do not even run a 4" drop bracket lift. Just a 3" BL and 2' front / 3' rear suspension lift. I cut the body to make room to fit the tires. You won't have to trim much to clear the 35's with the superlift kit. It's the compression while turning that makes the fronts rub, so some trimming & plastic trim removed, is needed for most rigs.

 

[Bogo_30]

Thanks for the responses. I guess now I get to spend even more money on it...
Here is a pic in its current state

 

[corkey]

drove mine with Superlift and TT and shackles as a daily driver for a while, including some brutally cold winters,,, and it was great, i had a locker in the back too,, ,

 

[1997XLTRollover]

It's going to wear everything faster than it would in stock state, but that goes for any larger tire. You're giving the tire more leverage on the truck to stress everything. That being said it should be ok, it's not like your truck is going to fall apart as soon as you put the tries on it. As said above if you do the Superlift with the TT and shackles you hardly have to trim plastics at all. Actually I think I had to trim more on my 96 with a TT/Shackles/AAL running 32x11.50's than I did on my 99 with 35x12.50's.

Here's my 99 with the Superlift, shackles and TT on 35x12.50's. I didn't really have any rubbing issues at all and clerance wise it wasn't even close to hitting the front sway bar. My wheels were 4" backspace I believe.

Oh and major side note, your gas mileage is going to SUCK! LOL

 

[gmanpaint]

Don't forget to change the gearing!! Proper gears will save your trans, and your MPG. If done right, it will perform better then it did stock.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

Don't forget to change the gearing!! Proper gears will save your trans, and your MPG. If done right, it will perform better then it did stock.

^Truth

I never changed the gearing in either of my trucks mainly due to cost and time. I've been looking for some 4.10 axles for my 96 with lower miles but it's not easy to find. Plus then I have to get the traction bar brackets welded onto the 4.10 axles since none of them had it.

 

[Varsity]

Nice truck Bogo! Not that ungodly far from me. Not too often you see lifted Explorers, much less in IL

In the end, 35's should work fine, but like others have mentioned, the bigger you go, the more stress you add to the front end parts. But since you said it'd only be occasional off-road use, I wouldn't worry too much. I have no experience with the Superlift, so I cannot add anything about that.

 

[corkey]

i put about 35,000 miles on mine on with 35's , and all i ever replaced was one broken cv from having a broken limit strap on lower control arm, it allowed the coilover to droop out pulling the inner cv apart,,

the gearing is the important thing is a for sure,, i had 4;10's which is not the best , but it worked decent for me ,although i would say using 4;56 or 4;88 gears would be way better on fuel, and the transmission,,
funny thing is that Explorer died cause of a blown head gasket at 440,000 kilometers,or about 274,000 miles, , all the rest is still in fine working condition, , even the original 4r44e transmission,,,