Lowing X within 30 days.....

[migga]

I just rolled over my explorer, and can't wait to get another one. I'm looking at purchasing a 4-door sometime within the next two weeks. I want to be ready to lower it at least 3 inches the day after purchase. I already have 20'' Rims to throw on there from the last explorer. Now here comes the questions:

1 - Since the subwoofer set up in the rear will lower the car about half an inch to an inch, should i lower the truck 3'' in the rear and 3'' in the front?

2 - Is the torsion bar the ONLY way to lower the front? The shop where I bought my 20's told me this would not be too great?

3 - I think Explorer Express sells a camber adjuster kit, would this work if i do the torsion bar trick?

4 - Are blocks the only way to lower the rear?

5 - Ride quality.....is it really affected THAT bad?


Hopefully with help, i'll be able to make this happen within the month.....as long as the insurance company coorperates. Then its on to Kandy Paint!


-=Migga=-

 

[aldive]

If you lower that much, it will ride like crap.

 

[migga]

why? what if i get some new shocks?
Regardless, this is getting done, so i'ma have to figure out a way to make it work.

 

[etc]

There's a couple of ways. If your lucky you could get 2-3 " inch drop by removing the bolts. Your ride will suck. You want more go a torsion key flip, i think tas98 and a few other people have done this. Again your ride will suck. Right now a member had his spindles fliped upside down and switched from left to right. He's up in minnesota so he doesnt have pics of how it was done(thread name is "found something interesting", or something like that). This was would retain your stock ride quality. As for the rear, blocks or dropped leaf springs.

If you want more info do a search, there are various threads here.

 

[james t]

as of right now, the only way to lower your explorer is by un-twisting the torsion bars or bagging it. a custom bag setup on an X is gonna be $2500 minimum.

1- run 2" blocks. this will give you about 2.5-3" in the rear.

2- the shop is right, but thats the only way to do it.

3- yes they do, and yes you will have to have it. the camber adjusters are needed with any drop on the explorer so the alignment shop can further adjust the camber.

4- there are 3" rear drop leaves on the market, however ive heard that they ride like crap. your ride is going to be bad enough with the torsion untwist- no need to make it worse with rough riding springs. just use some 2" blocks.

5- yes. around 1-1.5" feels good. 2" start to feel a little rough. 2.5-3" rides pretty rough, but is liveable.

you are more than likely not going to be able to get a full 3" out of the front. 2.5" will probably be all you can get with the torsion bolts removed. 2.5"-3" is also a grey area as far as being able to have it fully aligned. somewere past 2" you can no longer get 0 degrees of camber. its ok though, because you can run around -0.5 degrees without chewing tires up badly. im guessing with the bolts removed you will only get 2.5" and camber will be maxed out somewere between -0.5 and -1 degrees. front tires will wear ever so slightly faster on the front, so keep them rotated every 3k miles.

good luck, and if you have any further questions, you know were to ask.

 

[aldive]

Frim Explorer Express....

Q. Do you have a 3" lowering kit?

A. The X-SPEC lowering kit will lower your 95-00 Explorer 1 3/8 inches. We have tried more lowering, starting at 2 inches. Based on our own experimentation and feed back from Explorer owners, we have found 1 3/8 inches to be the best compromise between lowering and maintaining enough suspension travel for acceptable ride quality. Excessive lowering reduces suspension travel so much that the suspension rests on it's bumpers all the time . This results in a harsh, jerky ride. Our suspension parts have been tuned to work together to provide the best possible ride quality and crisper, more secure handling. We recommend X-SPEC suspension bumpers for best ride quality.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Basically it comes down to how low do you want to go. The lower you go the rougher the ride. I lowered mine 2" and it rides fine as a daily driver but once I have an adult passenger, the rides becomes rough- more than you could say comfortable.

 

[migga]

Thanks for all the help...i guess the best thing to do is just to experiment. Has anybody else here researched this "flipping and switching the spindles" idea? How much drop do you think i could get if i get that to work? I'm willing to be the guinea pig if anybody has any more ideas......

 

[aldive]

Just curious..... but why would you want to go that low?

 

[etc]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=92582

That's the link to the thread in case you haven't found it. It's running him about 800 dollars, probably some fab work involved too.

 

[migga]

Not only because i just flipped my last one......but the look too. An explorer came by the shop yesterday with brandywine candy paint, and was dropped about 3 inches.....there was barely any space between the tire and fender.....and that truck just looked sooooooooooooooooo sweet. He even put buckets in the back. It was nice!!! I didn't even know it was an explorer until he pulled in. I see all these other trucks out there lowered, but that was the first explorer i had ever seen lowered. I think about an inch of wheel gap between the fender is just the new look i'm looking for.

 

[hydroxy]

Why is the explorer express lowering kit so expensive? I realize that they have an odd measurement of 1 3/8 inches... but you could just cut down a 2" lowering block. The brackets might be a little harder to mod, but I'm sure something could be found. I mean it is $20 for a 2" lowering kit, vs somewhere north of $150 I believe for the EE one.


I'm not trying to say that EE is ripping people off... I have their sway bars, and I couldn't be happier - I'm just wondering why the huge difference in price.

 

[aldive]

When I purchase from John V at EE, I never have to worry about fit and function. I have often found that you get what you pay for.

 

[ton_e_montana]

EE's comes with bumps, camber kit, shocks, sway bar, blocks, split collets, etc. More than just blocks. You gotta figure about $500 of it is shocks and sway bar. Thats their $700+ kit. The $150 or so kit you are talking about is prolly everything but the above two.

 

[Hartman]

Originally posted by aldive
Just curious..... but why would you want to go that low?

If you have to ask, why are you in the sport truck forum?

Mine is sitting at 2.5 in the front with 3 inch blocks in the back, and it isn't bad, but it certainly isn't a Cadillac ride. A few things that are a MUST for ride quality: You HAVE to do something with the bumpstops. After you lower it, don't come on here *****ing about a bad ride because you're riding on the bumpstops. Either cut the stock ones or buy lower profile ones. Second, you must get new shocks. The stock shocks will not cut it. If you want awesome handling and performance, go with a stiffer shock like a KYB or Bilstein. If you want something softer, go with Edelbrock's for lowered Explorers or Monroes.

Also make sure your tire pressure is ride at the factory spec.

 

[JOHN V.]

The blocks that are included in are kit are custom made for us by Chassis Tech. They are not the cheap cast aluminum ones that you find at Autozone. They high quality extruded aluminum block that are 1 3/8". We found this amount of drop to offer a certain comfort zone that make the vehicle much more favorable do drive. We also provide u-bolts that fit over the axle without any hammering. The blocks & bolts fit properly because they are made specificaly for the Explorer. Custom parts do not come cheap. The blocks alone cost us a lot more than the funky 2" blocks they sell at parts stores. We also include the camber adjusters for the front. What could be the most valuable part of the kit is the detailed instuctions (how to adjust torsion bars etc.), alignment specs and unlimited tech support. If you add the suspension bumper kit, sway bars and special Edelbrock Shocks the results are unbelievable! Our goal was to produce a quality handling package that would not make the ride quality suffer. Ask anybody that has the kit and they will tell you that we suceeded. You can lower your Explorer for less money, but the results will not be the same.

 

[hydroxy]

just to clear things up, I wasn't accusing anyone of over pricing or anyting like that - it was a simple, straightforward question with no alterior motive behind it. EE is great, and they have great products.

 

[JOHN V.]

The blocks that are included in our kit are custom made for us by Chassis Tech. They are not the cheap cast aluminum ones that you find at Autozone. They high quality extruded aluminum blocks that are 1 3/8". We found this amount of drop to offer a certain comfort zone that make the vehicle much more favorable do drive. We also have the kits available with 3" blocks, but you have to lower the front end way down to make it match. We also provide u-bolts that fit over the axle without any hammering. The blocks & bolts fit properly because they are made specificaly for the Explorer. Custom parts do not come cheap. The blocks alone cost us a lot more than the funky 2" blocks they sell at parts stores. We also include the camber adjusters for the front. What could be the most valuable part of the kit is the detailed instuctions (how to adjust torsion bars etc.), alignment specs and unlimited tech support. If you add the suspension bumper kit, sway bars and special Edelbrock Shocks the results are unbelievable! Our goal was to produce a quality handling package that would not make the ride quality suffer. Ask anybody that has the kit and they will tell you that we suceeded. You can lower your Explorer for less money, but the results will not be the same.