Lift kit for the 2003 model

[guitarfrk741]

would it really be that often??

and theres still the bl as an alternative

i mean if you think about it thought there really isnt too many complications into the body lift ..ik you say that there is extensive fabrication needed and i respect that and that may very well be true..but still...

yes i understand the bumpers are wrapped around the hitch and front bumper..

but i was looking and they are MOUNTED to the body (i know the front mounts to the frame but its also mounted to the body pretty good)

and it seems like if you only went 3 inches or so it wouldnt stick over too much ..

and for the hitch...i could deal with removing the hitch until i could get one custom fabbed

so would it really need as much fabbing as you suggested?

for example...this is a bl and the hitch went untouched and im assuming so did the front end..and all is still good

 

[bigapple]

if u look at it tho, he obviously did something to the front cuz its level... and theres a little more to it than that... yea everything is wrapped around and whatnot, but the front bumper is more than u would expect... where the fog lights and such go have a perfect gap and would be almost completely covered when body lifted and u mite have trouble getting to the lights (this is with XLTs, L, and EB that have fogs)... the part where it mounts to the frame below it would have to be cut or hanging out the bottom to work.. ur radiator may have to be brought up too cuz it would be hanging out the bottom and would be getting less air... plus, the steel beam inside ur front bumper would have to be removed cuz where it connects to the frame with stock body height, it fits rite in the grove above the opening... basically it can be done and it can be fabbed as stated before, its just sacrificing safety for looks... if someone is willing for the tradeoff, it would be a project

 

[seadawg]

I was just rotating my tires and thought of this. Let me know what you think. This will only work for the front as the back shock is diff. The bottom of the shock comes to a shaft, then to the mount it self. Cut the tube then insert a steel spacer tube. It will need to over hang lets say 1.5" on ether end for strenght and must be a strong weld. I assume that the fluid is not in that portion and that is only an extension. Extend this shaft and you have lift. A couple of hurdles, the shock shaft is tapered top to bottom and can this be made strong enough with proper profesional welding? Here is a rudimentary drawing. Let me hear your thoughts please. Mainly y you think it wont work.

 

[guitarfrk741]

thats pretty much the same concept of a strut spacer..the strut spacers just alot easier/practical...no welding no fabricating..just removing the strut and remounting it with the spacer

 

[bigapple]

thats pretty much the same concept of a strut spacer..the strut spacers just alot easier/practical...no welding no fabricating..just removing the strut and remounting it with the spacer

the only thing about the strut spacer is that theres not one specifically made for the explorer, which is why he suggested that... i think if the weld is strong enough and u dont cause a fluid leak, u should be good to go... the weld needs to be like perfectly straight though and it has to match up with the 3 bolts for the strut tower

 

[seadawg]

Right on bigapple. If I could buy a strut spacer it would be a done deal.
The alignment will be the issue. Also like i said about my expedition the spacer isn't 3" it's 1 7/8 but after it was mounted I had 3" of lift. Geometry yikes! If I can get my hands on some used struts for experimentation that would be good.

 

[guitarfrk741]

junkyards are your best friend

 

[bigapple]

Right on bigapple. If I could buy a strut spacer it would be a done deal.
The alignment will be the issue. Also like i said about my expedition the spacer isn't 3" it's 1 7/8 but after it was mounted I had 3" of lift. Geometry yikes! If I can get my hands on some used struts for experimentation that would be good.

yea the reason for that is because ur increasing the size of the strut and increasing the compression... make sure if u do it with the explorer to get a realignment and get ur camber and toe adjusted properly to keep ur steering and suspension rite on

if u could get a block of metal and shave it down to the rite diameter and such u could probably fab it to work... its just like where can u possibly get a round hunk of metal haha... one thing though, if u do either the spacer or u do the cutting and welding deal, ur actually lengthening ur strut so re-installation is a little different than putting in a larger spring like i did... i put in a larger spring that was compressed on the strut so the size of the strut didnt change, just the compression of the spring cuz it was stronger and it resulted in a lift... i recently installed spacers on my friends tundra and it was a pain but the instructions had a very good method... u had to disconnect the control arm from the spindle and disconnect the sway bar from the lower control arm to have some free range of motion with it... then put the strut with the spacer on the top back on the truck and connect the bolt all the way at the bottom on ur lower control arm to the strut... then put a jack under the control arm and use the weight of the car to compress the strut to reconnect the upper control arm to the spindle and the sway bar to the lower control arm... if u dont understand this wordy crap just let me kno and ill draw a diagram in paint haha... i dont mind and good luck with ur stuff

 

[seadawg]

The expedition had to be realigned. Truxxx provided the numbers, though I took it to a 4x4 alignment shop. The guy never said if the Truxxx #s were on or not. I dont think he ever looked at them. They also mounted my tires, 285 revos.
Bigapple did you by chance measure the springs prior to your installation or compair the hight to the stock ones?

 

[bigapple]

The expedition had to be realigned. Truxxx provided the numbers, though I took it to a 4x4 alignment shop. The guy never said if the Truxxx #s were on or not. I dont think he ever looked at them. They also mounted my tires, 285 revos.
Bigapple did you by chance measure the springs prior to your installation or compair the hight to the stock ones?

i didnt do exact measurements but i remember when i put them side by side the only difference was the size of the coils and possibly a tad taller but not even an inch... the main thing that made it a lift was the fact that the spring had more strength cuz the coils were bigger so it doesnt compress as much and it results in a leveled look

 

[antwn_5k]

I just talked to a guy at 4wheel direct in SD and he said they make a 5" lift kit for the 2003 explorer sport. I'm calling him tomorrow to find out the specifics and cost etc. but I called a few different fab shops and this seems legit. So I'll let u know what i find out.

 

[JusWannaMudd]

Yeah, but I don't think the sport guys are having the problem. It's the regular 4 doors that are S.O.L. (unless you get springs like bigapple).

To clarify, that kit won't work for your model.

 

[antwn_5k]

ok, talked with 4 wheel direct. And they make their own kit for the 2003 explorer sport xls 4wd. They do alot of fabbing at their shop so it's not a problem. They do appx. 2" of suspensin lift, and they'll do a 2" or 3" body lift. So you can get a 4 or 5 inch lift total. $1495 They set up the lift angle exactly how u want it. Good stuff.

 

[bigapple]

ok, talked with 4 wheel direct. And they make their own kit for the 2003 explorer sport xls 4wd. They do alot of fabbing at their shop so it's not a problem. They do appx. 2" of suspensin lift, and they'll do a 2" or 3" body lift. So you can get a 4 or 5 inch lift total. $1495 They set up the lift angle exactly how u want it. Good stuff.

yea but thats different... the chassis of the exp sports and sport tracs r completely different... torsion bars and a solid axle vs. IFS and IRS... the body lift pucks would work on just about anything... its the fact of rerouting all the wiring and steering and such

 

[antwn_5k]

of course. The lift is not for a sport trac, its for an explorer sport. The wiring and steering issues are all addressed with this fabbed up kit. They have lifted these before. They custom make the parts for the parts for the lift, nothing is ordered except probably the lift blocks.

 

[bigapple]

of course. The lift is not for a sport trac, its for an explorer sport. The wiring and steering issues are all addressed with this fabbed up kit. They have lifted these before. They custom make the parts for the parts for the lift, nothing is ordered except probably the lift blocks.

well yea im just comparing the suspension layouts of the sport/sporttrac to the 3rd gen 4-drs... the 4-drs have independent suspension all the way around... as opposed to the sports and sporttracs that have torsion bars up front and a solid axle... much easier to lift than the 3rd gens... sounds like a good deal tho... good luck

 

[antwn_5k]

thanks man. we'll see how it goes, if it goes haha.

 

[Donner]

See, Central 4 Wheel Drive would have a kit if they were shown an incentive - by the locals - meaning, if enough of us passed by there, they would try something. But like how we have oversized coils + body lift, kits aren't likely to happen. The kit money is not in the 3rd+ gen Exs 4dr. Most 4dr owners are very happy with what comes on the vehicle, or they just add rims and tires and done.

 

[JusWannaMudd]

Whoops. Assumed from the "'03 XLS 4X4" that you had a 4 door. I guess that would work for you.

May muddy fenders find you, sir!

 

[antwn_5k]

ok, having some trouble and would appreciate some help. Everyone has told me that my 03 sport has IFS/IRS well i looked under my truck today and noticed that i have a solid rear axle. what am i overlooking?