My 2005 Explorer seems way to low......help

[blp5172]

I just picked up a 2005 Explorer and it just seems way to low. This is my 4th Explorer i have owned and i have never felt so low. The tires are smaller then the originals for sure. The sticker in the door tells you the original tire size and these are smaller but it has to be more then that. Is there any way i can tell if this was lowered some how? I know that not all stock Explorers are the exact same height but they must be close, can anyone tell me what measurements they get so i can check mine?

 

[CALDWELL]

was the truck used alot by the prior owner ? the suspension could just be worn which is causing the X to feel lower. are the tires also really worn ?

What size tires do you have on it right now ? the smallest factory tire offered on 3rd gens is 235/70/16's...


i think the rough clearence for 3rd gen explorer's ( measuring off the front cross memeber ) is like 8.5 to 9 inches high ?

 

[blp5172]

was the truck used alot by the prior owner ? the suspension could just be worn which is causing the X to feel lower. are the tires also really worn ?

What size tires do you have on it right now ? the smallest factory tire offered on 3rd gens is 235/70/16's...


i think the rough clearence for 3rd gen explorer's ( measuring off the front cross memeber ) is like 8.5 to 9 inches high ?

these are brand new tires on it now. i cant remember the size except the second # is 60 and the originals were 65,the other measurements are the same. so i know they are 5% shorter right? the x has a heavy duty tow package so maybe he did wear down the shocks, i will have them looked at

 

[BWilliams]

Check the springs ... as you may know from having a few X's already, they're somewhat liable to break.

 

[alexk]

can you post a pic of it and how it sits right now?

 

[CALDWELL]

if the original ( 2nd ) number was 65... then you have 17'' rims which says that the stock tire for your X should be 245/65/17...

now you should do what ALEX said... go take a picture of your X, and read the tire size, and post back lol

If you can take a ruler, and measure the distance from the ground to the bottom of the front cross member. I really think the stock X shoud be about 8.5 to 9''s of ground clearence...

 

[bamnq6]

Bone stock my '04 V8 had 8 3/4" inches of clearance under the front cross member.

You should also have a slight "rake" from back to front. If you measure the distance from the ground to the highest point of the fender lip, the back distance should be ~1" greater than the front distance.

Clear as mud???

 

[thepotroast]

Post up a pic. As stated above, Explorer's have a rake where the front sits noticeably lower in the front.

The tow package that your Explorer has equipped does not affect the suspension between it and one that doesn't. The tow package simply gives you 3.73 limited slip diffs, an auxiliary tranny cooler, and a Class III hitch in the rear. Same struts and springs.

It's also worth mentioning that only the 2002 Explorer model was notorious for having broken springs, yours is a 2005 so I really don't think you will find broken springs down there, thankfully they corrected that issue after that year.

 

[CALDWELL]

I just went out an measured the height from the ground to the front cross member...

my 05' is sitting at a solid 9''... so my estimate of 8.5-9'' was a pretty good guess...

 

[thepotroast]

:ttiwwp:

 

[zerodevil]

Springs are unlikely to have broken on the 05's. The V8 sits a couple inches lower than the v6, so that may be why. Replace the tires and see where she sits.

 

[alexk]

Does it feel low or look low? If yours is equipped with running boards its gonna look lower than the ones without them. Im just throwing out ideas until you can get some extra infor or pics up here.

 

[macknos94]

Hell yeah I'm at just about 19 inches at my front cross member Haha

 

[macknos94]

That's on level ground too Just to be clear

 

[thepotroast]

And so now the OP has vanished....

 

[blp5172]

Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions, sorry i havent replied or posted pics yet. I did measure and it is right around 9". Yes i do have running boards. I think it may be in my head! Im coming into this X from a wrangler with a 2" lift so it may be that im just used to that. I just dont remember my previous X's feeling and looking so low.

Thanks again

 

[CALDWELL]

if you dont use the running boards, then take them off...

it may help with the illusion of being taller lol

 

[Squirrelmaster]

I know how you feel. My '04 Eddie Bauer feels lower than both my old '95 Explorer and my '04 Sport Trac, but it is actually slightly taller than both. In fact, it feels much, much shorter than my '07 Rubicon, but in reality they are both about the same height (though ground clearance is a different story altogether). Each time I switch from driving the Jeep to the Explorer I get the same sensation of riding so low to the ground...

Tom

 

[thepotroast]

Well there's a simple solution to the dilemma.....

LIFT IT

:exporange