Need Advice on Suspension

[Girodisc]

Hey all. I am new to the Explorer world and I have a few questions on what I want to do for the suspension system.

It’s a 2wd so I know its no crazy crawler but I want to be able play around in the mud and bounce over bumps with confidence.

I have some 265/75/16 BF Mud Terrains and I made some new high clearance bumpers and a rack.

My idea for the suspension was to mainly just increase the amount of ground clearance I can out of my suspension and maybe increase the strength of my suspension arms and joints. I figure there is no point in doing a body or a suspension lift only because I'll never be able to go in mud deep enough or up an incline steep enough to need it.

I was going to get some 3" torsion keys and max them, and add-a-leaf and a 1.25" shackle for the rear. Some descent replacement shocks.

I was going to get a full front end rebuild kit and I hear that there are some parts that are stronger then stock but you can get at the local Autoparts store. Does anyone know the name or what’s descent? I have a squeak, a little cluncking and some play in my steering rack, so I figure I should replace them now before I break something out in the middle of nowhere. Also I rub the top of my wheels on the upper frame rails so I'd like to add some bump stops. Are there some made for the explorer or some universial ones you guys like?

I am not a novice to cars by any means, just never worked on an Explorer or manly building something for off road. I can weld and do mechanics as well as fab on cars.

Anyways any help would be much appreciated.

Here’s a pic for good measure.

Thanx
Johann

 

[Phil111260]

You can go up 3" without new keys. In the back you can add a leaf for $35.00 I think the part number is 13120 but I am not sure or get a shackle kit or do both like I did.

 

[Girodisc]

Okay so are the ones they sell online just new stock ones or do they go higher then 3"?

Johann

 

[Phil111260]

torsion key

type in torsion key in the search and u should be able to find how far the stock and aftermarket keys will lift it

 

[Girodisc]

Yeah I have been looking more and see the longer bolt mod will probably be fine and I am looking at some stiffer torsion bars. Since I am 2wd I don't really have to worry about any binding so I'd like to do go as high as possible to get the most ground clearance I can. I am thinking that if I get some new stiffer bars and max the keys out then I can basically get almost to the point where the suspension is almost at the same level as when there is no weight on it which would be about 4-5" maybe. Does anyone know if there are some aftermarket hubs that mount the spindle lower for added lift?

Johann @ Girodisc

 

[Girodisc]

Is there a reason why these won't fit my truck?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3-Li...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[joecrna]

If you find stiffer torsion bars other than the stock ones for a 4x4, let us know. I just need to be able to carry a little more weight.

 

[Girodisc]

Well from what I found ours are a type "H" and type "B" is the stiffest I have seen people get. As you go down the alphabet the bars get softer. Apparently there is a type "1" and "2" but I haven found anyone to be able to source those. I have seen Type "C" on ebay but not for my year. I don;t know what years of torsion bars can go into what but I didn't really want to make them much stiffer for ride quality so I think I am going to leave them be.

So I think I have it figured out. I am going to do a TT with longer bolts and max it out and get a Lift spindle kit to get the front around 6" or so but its all increasing ground clearance. For the rear maybe do a shackle kit and a axle over kit which should get me about 6"-7" and that will keep my ride pretty nice and the shackles will get me more overall travel when articulating. Some descent shocks 1" lift I think is all I can fine and swapping out the lower joints and steering pieces. If the front is still to low then I can get the stiffer torsion bars and turn the keys down.

Looks like it going to be around $1200 to do it all but it should be perfect for what I want and should be pretty strong. This should also prevent my wheel hitting and bottoming out on my upper rails since the spindles will drop the wheel location so the stock bump-stops will touch first.

Most of the terrain we have locally is just bumpy, muddy and deep puddles which is fun for me.

Does this plan sound like a good one?

Johann