Lowered your Explorer? Come in and tell me about it ....

[SeanM]

I want to know all there is that is involved with the lowering of a 1995 Explorer 4dr. If not that specific application, just tell me how you did yours. Were you happy with it? How did it look? Handling characteristics dramatically change? Let me know guys.

Sean
___________________________
'95 XLT 4dr 4.0L V6 OHV Auto
Flowmaster 40 series Cat-back
K&N FIPK
Bosch 4+ Platinum plugs
Splitfire ignition wires

 

[flyguy]

I think your gunna get some flak with this one...

nick

 

[Jornum1]

To lower your explorer is a piece of cake, basicly you put the lowering blocks from explorer express on the rear leafs, and crank down the torsion bars all the way in the front. The lowering kit comes with camber correctors for the front. I have mine lowered with rims. I have pics in the before and after section. I cant say that it really made a difference in performance, but definetly looks good. See for yourself

 

[NITELIFE]

Jornum, did you have to get a front end alignment after the torsion twist? Are those camber adjusters difficult to install? Do you notice a difference in ride and feel?
Sorry for all the ?'s.

--mark

 

[Jornum1]

I got them installed by the tire shop when I got my alignment. I didnt really feel all that much to be honest. It looked nicer, and the front end rubbed the wheel wells on big bumps. NOthing serious. I think now that I have my amazing tires the lowering may be more noticable. But I will say it again, the best street handling you can do is get a new set of tires. Pilot ltx's, Perelli scorpion zero's, something like that. They still look like a truck tire, but TOTALLY change the handling.
Hope I helped a bit
Jason

 

[2001ExpSport]

Isn't this a 4x4 site?

 

[n2knee]

I purchased the kit from Explorer Express. I had it aligned after the installation (recommended). The ride is stiff as expected in any lowered vehicle. You may OR may not notice a slight improvement in terms of handling. As soon as you change to a high performance tires that's when you will realize a significant improvement in your overall handling performance.

 

[n2knee]

One more thing that I almost forgot:

The most you can lower your Explorer (at least the '97 and up) is 1.75". I am not sure about the previous years. If you want more than 1.75" you'll need to make some modifications on the truck.

Most lowered Explorers have varying results. For instance, take two stock Explorers with identical rims and tires and lower them both to 1.75". The result is one Explorer lowered to 1.75" and still looks almost like a stock one. Whereas the other will look like it's been dropped to more than 1.75". At least this has been the case in my 1998 Explorer EB, my friend's 1999 Sport, and Explorer Express' 1997 XLT. The "lowered-ness" look is different from each other, although all three were lowered by 1.75".

 

[Xplor]

Okay, now my questions is for everybody with their lowered explorers. What shocks do you have underneath?..stock, Edelbrock IAS for lowered Explorers, etc. Also did any of you replaced the bump stops?...shaved them, or didn't touch them. How is the alignment holding up? PLease share your answers. I do plan on getting the suspension on my '00 changed real soon. Thanks!

 

[V8Pete]

Xplor:

I've got the Edelbrocks. They work really well; good damping but not too stiff. I've got the front bump stops cut down by about half. Otherwise, you're on the stops after the lowering. Rear stops are untouched. I put in the camber cams and aligned it for about 1/2 degree negative, and the most caster we could dial in, which was about 3 1/2 degrees. I would have liked 0 camber, but that would have given even less caster, and it already has less road feel than I like.

Hope that helps!

Pete

 

[Xplor]

V8Pete:

You got the Edelbrock's setup for lowered explorer or the regular ones? What size wheels you running?...15,16,17s, etc? I might go with 18inch wheels. Yeah, I probably would shave some on the rubber stop for the front Since I find $90 kinda excessive on bumps at E.E.), were they piece of cake to trim ? I will probably stick with the stock shocks after I get the lowering kit to see how the ride goes from that setup, then might switch over to the Edelbrocks later.

Thanks Pete!

Keep the subject running

 

[Bill Kemp]

Just to keep this thread alive...
I used the Explorer Express kit, went from 15" to 16" wheels and 235-75 to 255-65 tires.
There is a set of curves nearby that I negotiated just before changing the tires and found an improvement with the larger tires. Then two days later the lowering kit was done and back to the curves. It was deffinetly better. I guess I would call it a much tighter feel. I have 6 month old Monroe Sensetracs. I dont feel much of any difference in the ride around town but on the hgwy it feels much more precise. The guy at the alignment shop said to stop back in a few months to check the alignment. He was impressed with the whole kit fron Explr. Exprss.
Looks are about the same which, I like as I don't want a "station wagon".
I got the Explr. Exprss. Sport Dam from Car Parts.com (it is a Xenon) and put PIAA 959 fog lights in. So comming at you it does look a lot lower. Since I don't have flares the tires really fill up the wheel wells.
As I stated before the gray bumper trim is now painted the same willow green as the truck.
Soon as I can borrow mt nephews camera and have my son show me how to post a pic I'll show you all.