need suspension lift solutions.

[zaomaster1988]

ok im a junior in high school in florida and i need well want to do a suspension lift on my 1991 xlt 4x4. i already have a 2 inch body lift from performance accesories but i still need to fix up the bumpers. any ways iwant biger tires because my currnt ones arent cuting it for me. there like 28 or 29 inches. and i want to find out how to lift my truck for the cheapest way possible.

1: Get 2" daystar coil spacers and get some adda leafs in the rear.
Will i need to get new radius arms for this or hows about a new pitman arm evan?

2: do an soa in rear with 6 inch skyjacker coils up front and a new pitman arm.? unsure if i would need a new radius arm and if i did is there any cheap ways of getting around buying new ones for $500.oo could i make a radius arm drop down bracket? i wonder!

3: or just go with the cheapest complete suspension lift A 4" tuff country suspension lift.

i deffanitly plan on geting BFGoodrich m/t km tires but im not sure on what size 33" every one says that ill lose to much power and personaly i feel that 31" will not be worth my while so i was thinking 32x11.50 but i would like to go bigger and that means new gears in my front and rear end. how much will it cost to get 4.56 gears installed front and rear?

 

[CodePoet]

Cheapest way to wheel is to stick the tires on...and bust out the sawzall and cut the body till they fit. May sound getto but you get a lower cog, you'll just have to bounce over stuff. Sliders and some well placed skid plates would make it a pretty sound setup.

Easiest/cheapest lift is to use f150 spacers and an add a leaf. Basically the same as the daystar bushings but with the daystar stuff you'll need to get a longer stud so you can put the retainer nut on all the way. You'll have to get an alignment after this which usually includes a new camber adjusting nut

No way to get an alignment with 6" coils up front you HAVE to have drop brackets.

I've heard the tuff country lift is crap...drop brackets are extremely important on the ttb, alot of brands have problems with bending/cracking. Skyjackers are about the best (not perfect though).

 

[zaomaster1988]

will it hurt my radius arms if i do a daystar up front and warrio shakles or an adda leaf.

 

[CodePoet]

I have the f150 spacers and it hasn't hurt mine so no i don't beleive so.

I'd still recoment the f150 spacers as they are cheap, and more durable than the poly bushings from daystar. They are good for about 1 5/8" lift. Just my opinoin...i'm sure the daystar bushings would hold up fine for a few years

I have add a leafs in mine...honestly, i wish i had shackles.AAL's sag over time and worst of all the stiffen up the ride (not terribly though) I dont' like a stiff leaf pack, when i do my sas i'll be removing my aal and possibly another leaf to get abit more flex.

 

[zaomaster1988]

if i do an f-150 spacers and an add a leaf will it evan out.

if i do an f-150 spacers and warrior shakles will it evan out.

 

[pughman]

if i do an f-150 spacers and an add a leaf will it evan out.

if i do an f-150 spacers and warrior shakles will it evan out.

yes

 

[rjljtbrents5]

looking...

i just got a 1997 explorer and want to lift it. whats the cheapest route? is there any body lift kits that will fit?

 

[tweakedlogic]

the F150 spacers will only give you 1.5 inches. But the f150 springs will give you 2.5 inches and are just as easy to install. add the F-250 upper shock mount with some longer shocks and you are good to go. You will need camber alignment cams. I needed an additional 1.8 degrees over what the stock ones gave me. so I was able to buy some 3 degree from Napa for 13.56 each. less than Half of the Moog brand. I made my own rear shackles. AAL stiffens the rear suspension and hinders flex.
I plan on a new flatter leaf pack and flipping the springs to the top and making an anti-wrap bar. This is not for the faint of heart though. but lately I've been thinking about doing a 1/4 Elliptic setup for the rear.

By the way you can run 31/10.5 stock, or run 33/10.5 and cut fenders with your current setup. No more lift needed.

 

[KPSquared]

By the way you can run 31/10.5 stock, or run 33/10.5 and cut fenders with your current setup. No more lift needed.

What he said... You can get away with some trimming for 33's... you're probaly gonna be underpowered even with the 32's. Maybe not though, depends on stock gearing.

Figure around $1000 / axle to get gears done (including parts).

You can't just do an SOA and get taller springs for the front, you would need drop brackets for the front axle as well as the radius arms.

The 4" kit would allow the 33's with no trimming, but you can do the same with F-150 spacers and shackles or AAL. Tweakedlogic managed to go 2.5" with spacers and springs but sometimes that combo can be hard to align... might depend on the rig...

I guess it comes down to your budget...

 

[tweakedlogic]

Tweakedlogic managed to go 2.5" with spacers and springs...

Actually, I didn't use spacers. Just F-150 springs. I used shackles with 9.5" spacing between the holes.

 

[Slowlyvverot]

I have 2" skyjacker springs and shackles and cut my fenders to fit 33x12.5s with no rubbing...

but this guy has a 97...a tt up front and shackles out back will allow you to clear 31s easy, 33s with trimming. a 2" bl will do the same thing.

 

[KPSquared]

Ummm which guy has a 1997... Ohhh...you mean the threadjacker...not the OP. I was just ignoring him.

 

[Slowlyvverot]

well the OP posted in 2006 so....

 

[KPSquared]

Touche

 

[fishnhunt18]

I just got some parts from JC Whitney for a small lift for my 1st gen:

Add A Leaf
Shackles
F150 Coil Springs (16 1/2 in not compressed, plan to compress to 13 in for install)
Explorer Pro Comp Shocks (front and rear) for 0-3 in lift

What do I need for the install? I should get about somewhere from 2-3 in. in rear and 1 1/2 in. in front right? If I put a a couple 1/4 in. washers or a 1/2 in. washer in front, would that even it out?

 

[zero_psi]

the F150 spacers will only give you 1.5 inches. But the f150 springs will give you 2.5 inches and are just as easy to install. add the F-250 upper shock mount with some longer shocks and you are good to go. You will need camber alignment cams. I needed an additional 1.8 degrees over what the stock ones gave me. so I was able to buy some 3 degree from Napa for 13.56 each. less than Half of the Moog brand. I made my own rear shackles. AAL stiffens the rear suspension and hinders flex.
I plan on a new flatter leaf pack and flipping the springs to the top and making an anti-wrap bar. This is not for the faint of heart though. but lately I've been thinking about doing a 1/4 Elliptic setup for the rear.

By the way you can run 31/10.5 stock, or run 33/10.5 and cut fenders with your current setup. No more lift needed.

so ur saying if i go to a junk yard and get some f150 springs... just springs i can get around 2 inchs of lift and they will swap right in? then ill make some shackles and get a aliment?? i have a 93 xlt xploder.... is that a better idea then getting the f150/250 spring seats?

 

[zero_psi]

bump for answers i want to lift muh truck what year will f150 springs

 

[zero_psi]

bump i want to get this lift foinf f150 coil springs?

 

[minelson17]

Zoamaster...I got a 4" lift kit for sale...

I just posted my old 4" lift kit for sale. It's all bolt on minus the F-150 rear leaf springs, you'll have to work that a bit but its very doable and worth it to help prevent the rear end from sagging over time.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=311976

You would save about $400-$500 bucks from what I have seen on the internet for pricing after you buy new shocks, and it'll fit 33's under it.