My Warrior Shackle/Addaleaf Articulation

[kubben]

I installed my Add A Leafs and took them out for testing. I'm going to try and create some sway bar disconnects this weekend to improve more. Will post pictures of that later.

 

[Anime]

oooh baby!!!

Sweeeet! Thats WITH sway bars??? Wow post pix at the same place when you get em disconnected!

What kind of add a leaf? Harsh ride in the rear now?

 

[Sinjin]

Nice pic Keith.
Is it the add-a-leaf that gives this extra articulation?

 

[Anime]

well

I think the Warrior shackles give the articulation..the add-a-leaf should give more lift...so it should allow more up travel since the wheel can go up farther before bottoming out..I think...

 

[GJarrett]

Originally posted by Sinjin
Is it the add-a-leaf that gives this extra articulation?

It's the Warriors. They swing back and forth during articulation and send the leaf 3" further back and forth than stock shackles. I immediately noticed much better flex as soon as I put mine on. As I have postulated on other threads, it may also be why the leafs seem to wear out and flatten faster after the shackles are installed. But I love the flex. I disconnected my rear swaybar and removed that fifth shock thingie and the flex I get is way beyond what it had originally when I first bought my Explorer. This is a real simple mod that can really increase your traction and flex: Warrior shackles + remove fifth shock + remove rear swaybar = LOTSA flex. The limiting factor after then is your shocks and brake lines maxing out on length.

 

[leebo]

I'll back you up on that one GJarret. It is the warriors. They make my springs flat as heck, but will give it some extra arc. on the trail.

Dead Link Removed

They could of flexed more, but being that I'm the one that had to take the photo I didn't want to press my luck.

[Edited by leebo on 01-03-2001 at 10:27 PM]

 

[95ExplorerLtd]

I'll have to get my hands on a digital camera and take some flex shots. I dont have anything put on it, its all stock pretty much, but we've had it flex pretty good before I thought. I drove it up on a tire ramp one day and was impressed.

 

[Maniak]

Here are two flex pictures of our 1992 with James Duff Add-a-leafs and WAR153 shackles.

Here is Ntrpritz(I don't think I spelled that right) stock explorer flexing..

 

[95ExplorerLtd]

How noticeable are this shackles? Do they hang down alot and look ugly or are they not too obvious?

 

[2001ExpSport]

I know I'm going to get some flack for this, but here's my take on the whole thing.

Just to get everyone back down to earth. I hate to be the spoiler, but you will only have as much articulation as your shock's extended length. How many of you are running stock lenght shocks? My guess is all of you unless you have some F-150 edlebrocks in the rear. Taking off the sway bar will help, but the add-a-leaf and WP shackles aren't giving you more than you had when you were stock. The only way to get the full effect is longer shocks. You have created an illusion by lifting the truck which makes it look like you are getting more compression travel which you already had. When you install the shackles, your truck is lifted 1.5 inches and the shock is extended 1.5 inches. When you add the add-a-leaf you lift the truck another 1.5 inches and extend the shock another 1.5 inches. So in all actuality you've lifted the truck 3 inches which is great, but you've also taken 3 inches from your shocks fully extended length. Just so I don't piss anybody off, the pictures look great.

One thing to do is remount the shocks to get the 3 inches back.

[Edited by 2001ExpSport on 01-07-2001 at 02:02 PM]

 

[leebo]

I checked out the amount of length I had on my rancho's and they weren't out to the max. In fact they still had about another inch or two before they were to the max.

 

[2001ExpSport]

Ya, mine too and I was a bit worried. I am just running the shackles now for that reason, but they seen to be ok.

 

[GJarrett]

Well, 2001ExpSport, yes and no. I have already posted that at this stage the limiting factors will be shock and brake line extension. I am also getting those custom rear shock mounts from the guy that built Ray Lobato's which will fix the problem you just pointed out concerning extended shock length.

However, I can absolutely guarantee you that when I put the Warrior shackles on and removed my "fifth shock" (that also limits articulation) I immediately noticed greatly improved articulation, which meant that the stock length shocks were never extending completely before and had travel left (I had already disconnected my rear swaybar). Maniak's picture shows it fairly well. After looking at those pictures there is no way you can tell me that he's not getting a real and actual improvement over stock. Mine does that too and I positively assure you that the difference before and after is no mere illusion.

You are essentially right, but since the shocks weren't utilizing their full range with stock shackles, the Warriors allowed them to extend further out, which does in fact equate to better flex and articulation. If you have a new model you must remove that "fifth shock" like Ray Lobato and I did or you will still be limiting your flex no matter what you do.

Once I install the new shock mounts that raise the shock up 2.5" and give me that much extra extension to fix the issue you brought up, I'll then learn how far it can really go.

[Edited by GJarrett on 01-07-2001 at 04:33 PM]

 

[2001ExpSport]

GJarret,

Your right about the 5th shock and I completely agree with you, that definitely is going to hinder your articulation. I was strictly talking about the two standard shocks.

I would be interested in buying a set of pre fabed mounts and having them installed here. Maybe you could post pics of the mount.

Where do you plan to put the fabed mount? Top of the shock on the frame cross member?


P.S. I noticed in your pics that you don't have and fog lamps. Did you take them out because of the body lift?

[Edited by 2001ExpSport on 01-07-2001 at 05:32 PM]

 

[GJarrett]

Here is the thread about the shock mounts with pictures

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=20575

I remove my factory fog lamps before hitting the trail and then reinstall them after I get back home.

I do this for three reasons:

1) River crossings fill them up with muddy water that ruins them since it is impossible to completely clean the residue off the inside of the lenses once it is baked on. There is no way to get inside the lenses to clean them. You can only pour Windex into the little drain hole to get some cleaner in there and then swish it around.

2) The lamps are encased in a hard plastic mount that is not flexible, then bolted to the flexible lower bumper. When the lower bumper hits anything on the trail it flexes and shatters the non-flexible foglamp mount bolted to it.

3) The foglamp assemblies cost about $80 each.

I got tired of spending an extra $160 everytime I went wheeling.

 

[Maniak]

2001ExpSport,
Actually, that isn't quite true. Yes if your shocks are too short they will limit your travel but your springs can do it also. Your springs will only bend so far.. and when they move the shackles move backwards. With the new shackles, the end of the spring can move farthur back.

Another thing to remember is that the Rancho rs9000 shocks for a 2.5" lifted explorer is the same as it is for a stock explorer. I was running stock springs, with War153 shackles with add-a-leafs and I never bottomed out the shocks. I now have OME springs and can easily bottome out the shocks.