Lowering the front end..?

[Spas]

Does anybody have an X that has had its front end lowered using the lowering kit from Explorer Express? My X has a bad case of butt sag, and I'm not too keen on lifting it to even it out......trying to keep the "sport" in Sport Utility here...

The guys at EE told me that it would lower the ride height by appx. 1 3/8th's of an inch, which could interfere with off-roading, but it presents an incredible gain in handling. Could I acomplish this with just shocks, or what? Help!!!!

 

[Stephen S]

Shocks won't do anything to lower the truck. You could lower just the front to match the rear by loosening the torsion bars a bit. Unless you want to lower it all around, the EE lowering kit is not necessary. To even it out with the rear, just loosen the torsion bars and go get an alignment. If you run a search, or thumb through the Sport Truck forum, you'll get plenty of threads that'll tell you how to lower with the torsion bars. Good luck!!

 

[YetiX]

Also, the Explorer Express lowering kit for the Sport only includes caster adjusters and instructions on how to loosen the torsion bars.

Check out this thread: Dead Link Removed

Lowering just the front end is VERY simple. FIRST, measure your stock height. Then jack up one side of the front end, loosen the torsion bar adjusting bolt (see thread for where it is), making sure you keep track of exactly how far you turn it. Lower the truck, bounce the suspension a couple times and measure. Repeat until you've dropped it 1 1/2" or so. Then repeat for the other side. For me it was six turns out on the bolts. Once both sides are even and lowered, take it to a good alignment shop and have 'em align it to the specs in the thread. If you don't have it aligned your tires will wear out very quickly.

Adding good aftremarket shocks is a very good idea too!

Good luck!

 

[Spas]

Wow, thanks for the info, guys-I was all set to buy that lowering 'kit' for the front end...that would've been a serious gyp!!!! I think I'll print out this whole discussion and take it to my custom shop (that way, if they mess up, at least I won't be responsible for it!) and have them do it.....besides, I'm scared to mess up my X.....Thanks again! BTW, Anyone know the cheapest place to get the Monroe Reflex shocks? And do I need to adjust them to the new height?

 

[YetiX]

You don't need to get special length shocks, although you can. I got my Reflexes at NAPA Autoparts and I think they're the only "chain" that caries them. Monroe had a deal where you could get a $20 rebate which might still be going on.

I wouldn't pay a shop just to lower the front end. It REALLY is so easy that you'd just be throwing money away. If you have a jack (the stock one is fine but slow) and what ever size socket fits the bolt, you're literally all set. Just get it professionally aligned when you're done.

If you have to throw money away, send it to me Guiness isn't cheap!!!

E-mail me if you have any questions.

 

[Spas]

Yeti-man!

Thanks for the valuable info again- I have a friend who's going to try and help me mess with it this weekend. When you said, "measure the height from the ground", measure it from the ground to what point on my X? Bottom of the bumper, top of the bumper, headlights, ????

Also, I read something somewhere about there being spacers already on the springs or somesuch of Explorer Sports.....Do I need to get spacers and u-bolts?

 

[YetiX]

I measured from the ground to the top of the wheel arch, passing through the center of the wheel. I have a long contractor's t-square but any straight edge like a yardstick will work. Just make sure you measure in a straight line. It's really not that big of a deal though, you can measure from anywhere on the body but the wheel well seems to be the easiest and it's right over the suspension. Just be consistent.

The rear leaf springs in Sports already have a spacer which you can flip if you want to lower the rear, but usually with Sports once you lower the front it ends up even with the rear anyways. I'd suggest lowering the front first, measuring and eyeballing it, and then deciding if you need to lower it. If you do, it's easy and you do not need longer u-bolts. It's a simple matter of moving the spacer from on top of the leaf springs to between the axle and leaf springs.

Good luck,

Yeti