lift help/ question

[dpeebs]

i have a 1991 explorer. when i bought it the guy said it had a 6 inch lift but from seeing other vehicles and explorers it doesnt seem like its a 6 inch. its a few years old already nd iv had it for a year now aand it seem more like a 3-4 inch lift, im running 33's and i measured from the rim to the wheel well and it was roughly 15 inches front and back. also i want to get a new lift where can i get a 6 inch lift from, i dont rock crawl or anything just mudding every couple weekends

 

[Campbell James]

Superlift has a really nice 5.5 lift. Kinda spendy though

 

[ranger-93]

If you're happy with the quality of the lift you currently have and are just looking for more clearance for bigger tires how about a body lift? Unless you already have one. Also remember that with any lift the springs will settle over time. How much will they settle I don't know because I bought my truck with the lift already on it. Skyjacker makes a 6 and an 8 inch lift. I have no personal experience with the 8 inch lift but IMHO (others may agree or disagree) I wouldn't buy it. To tall for the TTB front end and will wear out bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends, and any other item it can. The typical tire ran on the ttb ex's and ranger's is 33-35, 35 being the common "max". If it were me and my truck and I would decide which tire I wanted (33 or 35) and than regear the axles accordingly if not already done by previous owner. ( commonly done are 4.56 with 33's and 4.88 with 35's) Welcome to the forum and the addiction...it doesn't stop

 

[dpeebs]

my truck has no body lift. i was thinking of getting one though but have kinda desided against it. i was also thinking just getting new coils and getting my leafs looked at by a spring shop to possible rearch them. but i want to keep running 33's or even go down to a 31 so i dont have as much rubbing on the fender.(i dont want to trim the fender). and this truck has become an addiction because im hooked on mudding but gets pricey with how much gas my ex likes

 

[01STrunner]

I'd say go for the BL and keep the bigger/wider tires. They really help in the mud over narrower tires.

 

[ranger-93]

I'd do a body lift and keep the 33's. Just a heads up though, keep an eye on where mud gets into on your truck. Axles, bearings, brakes, etc.

 

[dpeebs]

ya iv had to replace the axel joint twice in a year from mud getting in there

 

[4x4junkie]

Superlift has a really nice 5.5 lift. Kinda spendy though

There's better... (Skyjacker and James Duff come to mind)
And they're hardly any spendier too.

To the OP, I would agree, go with a 2" body lift if you already have a susp. lift but still want a little higher. The BL avoids some of the headaches you'd otherwise have with taller suspension lifts (such as with the steering).

 

[F150hybred]

35's are the max??? Here I was looking at 38's!
On topic though, the 6" lifts end up a little short when installed on an explorer. A 6" lift will net you about 5" when done. Give it a few years and a few hundred miles of hard trail abuse, and you will be lucky if you have 4". Replace the front spring with new 6" springs (choose your brand), replace the rears and align the front end.

 

[ranger-93]

35's are the max??? Here I was looking at 38's!
On topic though, the 6" lifts end up a little short when installed on an explorer. A 6" lift will net you about 5" when done. Give it a few years and a few hundred miles of hard trail abuse, and you will be lucky if you have 4". Replace the front spring with new 6" springs (choose your brand), replace the rears and align the front end.

35's require constant wheel bearing maitenance especially off road. Also really depends on what kind of driving and your driving style. Would 38's be ok if it was only a mud slinger? MAYBE. 38's on a crawling rig? I wouldn't do it by any means. I have broken a shaft with 35's.

 

[dpeebs]

i want to stay with 33's as i do mostly town and highway driving. and as it is i have major bump steer and on the highway its a b***h to handle if theres any wind and i cant align it properly because the bolt to move the front axle is welded on i would post a picture but cant figure out how

 

[01STrunner]

You can find it by searching interscope how to post pictures on explorer forum, or something like that. It's a step by step video for this site. I'd post a link but I'm on my phone.

 

[F150hybred]

Welded on???? There shouldn't be any bolts welded on. Can you post a picture so we can see what you're talking about?

 

[01STrunner]

Here's the link to the video I mentioned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFzbzQViBRg

 

[dpeebs]

http://s1338.beta.photobucket.com/user/dpeebs/media/explorerglory.jpg.html?sort=3&o=3

 

[dpeebs]

sorry i tried adding a picture of my truck ill take a picture tomorrow of the bolt im talking about

 

[dpeebs]

 

[4x4junkie]

i want to stay with 33's as i do mostly town and highway driving. and as it is i have major bump steer and on the highway its a b***h to handle if theres any wind and i cant align it properly because the bolt to move the front axle is welded on i would post a picture but cant figure out how

Sounds like you might already have steering issues, though they can be sorted out relatively easily if the lift isn't over 4".

See some of the links in here:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348810


Need a pic of the welded bolt to know exactly what's going on there though.

Edit:
I see your pic, that looks at least 5" lift to me. Might have some work ahead of you if so.

35's require constant wheel bearing maitenance especially off road. Also really depends on what kind of driving and your driving style. Would 38's be ok if it was only a mud slinger? MAYBE. 38's on a crawling rig? I wouldn't do it by any means. I have broken a shaft with 35's.

My Timken bearings have been fine for years on end. I've seen cheap bearings that don't last a month though.
Be nice to it and you should be able to get away with 38s for awhile, but at some point I would expect to break a shaft eventually no matter what.

 

[dpeebs]

heres the bolt i was talking about. i found the picture on bing so though i would add it to give an idea of what i mean

 

[dpeebs]

sorry it didnt add the edited picture, its the left bolt on the axel