Newbie Suspension question

[cshuman]

Hey guys, so I'm brand new to the site and brand new to the truck/suv scene.
I just came across a 97 explorer Eddie Bauer, love it, but I'm compact sports car guy, primarily BMW. And obviously what you want/need in a sports car suspension is very different than what you need for a truck. So I'm good on everything but the suspension, I'm not sure what to look for, which is why I'm here. Its gonna be driven primarily on the street, but I also want something that I can take offroad and still hang without destroying the car. I'm not looking for 24 inches of travel or anything crazy, just something that is good for the road and still reliable in the dirt, Its possible it may see some light towing, like getting my BMW to the track on a flat trailer just long enough to fit the car. Hopefully something not terribly expensive, but I defiantly understand that you get what you pay for, so I'll take all recommendations into consideration. Please no flaming just trying to learn. Thanks!

 

[corkey]

A 97 Eddie is a very good choice and a very capable suv,
after going to an event that was held at SMORR i got to see first hand what these are capable of,, and with a little work, adding just easy to put on parts, and a few adjustments, a bit bigger a tire can be put on that Ex, and allow it to be street driven everyday , get decent gas mileage,and still be used off road,, i have a few additions to my Ex, like shackles and i did the torsion twist and added 31x10.5 tires, now i have a very usable off roader that i drive every day,

 

[my98nnj]

Its gonna be driven primarily on the street, but I also want something that I can take offroad and still hang without destroying the car. I'm not looking for 24 inches of travel or anything crazy, just something that is good for the road and still reliable in the dirt, Its possible it may see some light towing, like getting my BMW to the track on a flat trailer just long enough to fit the car.

Honestly, I think the stock setup is fine for what your looking for from the truck. It will yield you the best street ride, take you off road and it will tow a few thousand pounds. Get yourself a nice set of shocks, make sure the rear leaf springs are in good shape and are not sagging. Put some nice rubber on it and other then that, drive and enjoy the truck! What you describe is exactly what it's built for.

 

[cshuman]

Ok what should I be looking for in shocks? I defiantly want something more durable than oem, Are the bilsteins going to be good offroad or will they be to stiff? Thats what I run on my 3 series and I love it but obviously different applications. Is the bilstein shock more street shock and to stiff? Or will it take the offroad abuse? Or is there a better shock out there for what I'm looking at. The shocks are my primary concern, sorry I should've stated that in the op. The back shocks are leaking and need to be replaced, and I'm sure the fronts need it too.

 

[techieman33]

The bilsteins are mainly a street/performance shock. Rancho 5000, or the adjustable 9000 would be good choices. Which motor do you have, and how much weight will you be towing? If towing any distance adding a transmission cooler is a must.

 

[cshuman]

Ok thats what I was afraid of with the bilsteins. I can't imagine pulling anything heavier than my bmw on a trailer, curb weight of the car is 3153 plus however much the trailer weighs in, I have the v-6 4.0 sohc.

 

[techieman33]

You should be fine towing that. If your only going to see mild occasional offroading a couple times a year than the bilsteins will be fine, but for much more than that I would go with something else.

 

[timn8er]

Towing a car with the V6 4.0

Your Towing a car with that. Best of luck to ya. I baked two transmissions even with a cooler. I was told that the truck could do it. Mind you i was pulling an 81 malibu classic. its maybe heavier than the Beamer.

 

[techieman33]

I'm guessing he has a sohc motor since it's an eb, which will help on the power front, and the transmission got a little better in 97 as well.

 

[timn8er]

Im running a 1995 Eddie Bauer Explorer v6 4.0. SOHC I also have a 96. Im told the trans are the same untill 1998 when they switched to the 5r from the 4r

 

[techieman33]

Im running a 1995 Eddie Bauer Explorer v6 4.0. SOHC I also have a 96. Im told the trans are the same untill 1998 when they switched to the 5r from the 4r

Umm, no your not. The sohc motor did not come out until 97, the 95 and 96 only had the ohv v6, or the v8 was an option in 96. While the transmission did not change, there were some internal upgrades if I remember correctly.