I've never heard about any mods being needed to get them to work on an earlier X. From the best of my knowledge, all Explorers have the same rear end and I can't imagine anything else being needed. The kit is pretty straightforward.
As far as having the springs "pressed," it's a professional term for something that lacks a lot less skill. It sounds like they put the springs in a machine and press them in, not the case. Tap the bushings onto the spring ends, then take a sledgehammer and knock them all the way into place. With some liquid wrench, it should only take a couple of real wacks. There you have it; the bushings are now "pressed" into the springs.
They cannot be ordered with the bushings already installed. You'll want to get the bushings from Ford (rubber feels better than poly bushings - not as rigid or as tough as poly).
An example of how the rear end on X’s are the same. I couldn’t get my rear shackle off one of my springs. Called around and couldn’t find anyone with a rear shackle for a 95+ Explorer, Mountaineer, Sport Trac or Ranger! But they found a shackle kit for a 91-94 Explorer. Looks slightly different from my ’96, but it looks exactly the same as my father’s ’99 EB. Go figure.
Good luck with everything! You’ll like them a lot. Ride better than stock and provide much greater articulation that stock springs. I’m very happy with the ride of my X, a lot better than add-a-leaf (on stock springs) and Edelbrock shocks.
Didn't have a sledgehammer, so I used the backside of an axe; it made life a lot easier - works extremely well.
