Planning to lift my '97 Sport (suspension and body -- questions galour)

[WellsLaw]

I recently replaced my '89 Bronco XLT Softop with my '97 Explorer Sport. I am happy to say this light 4x4 kicks ace.

I have been reviewing this website and the postings almost all day and would like to get a nice summary going.

Here are my questions and comments: (I have searched all over and simply cannot find these answers or, if I do find it, it seems incomplete--you all are the experts)

1. Where can I find the proper add-a-leaf and shackles to lift the back about 2' in conjunction with my torsion bar twist lift (I mean like who makes it and where can I see it etc -- I want pretty inexpensive-- someone wentioned Summit but I could not find it there??)?

2. I understand teh torsion bar twist etc and am ready to go on that -- anyone have any warnings or special hints to add before I start.

3. I read about a lift kit for the Ranger for my year being available from Off-Road Warehouse if you call and they have some conversion for the Explorer. How many inches is that as I would prefer to go 2" and not 3"?

4. Adding these two lifts do you think I can then go with 31.5x10.5 tires. I have read most of the rubbing seems to be more from width than height?

5. Anyone have any other ideas ... I just measured and found taht the Explorer actually has the same ground clearance as the Bronco does (the Bronco still lives here with us for now), what I am truly trying to do is just get myself a bit higher and some taller tires for mud flotation. Any suggestions taken well, but realize I am not trying to build something outrageous or wild.

Thanks
Bobby

 

[WellsLaw]

2 things:

1. I type like hell and apologize for taht ...

2. I meant 2" of rear lift not 2'

thank you for any help, advice, warnings, beer, etc.

 

[Ray Lobato]

Hi WellsLaw,
Welcome to the site. I hope you like it as much as the rest of us do.
First of all you don't need to do anything to put 31X10.5 R15's on your truck. they will fit on stock. I ran around for quite a while on my 31's before doing the "Torsion Bar Twist". Once Gerald got Warrior to make the shackles, then I did it.
I know you don't want to spend alot of money, but if you do it right the first time, you won't have to do it again.
If you want 2" of lift in the rear end, get the OME 2" lifted springs. They are well worth the cost. They are alot smoother than the stock springs. If you are still set on doing it cheaply, then go for the Warrior shackles. That will give you 1.5" of lift in the rear without stiffing up the ride.
As far as the "Torsion Bar Twist" just make sure you lift it up so the tires hang before you try to adjust them, then after they are adjusted, bounce it over the curb acouple of times to make sure they settle in right. Don't go over 2" or you will bind the CV's. The best I could do was 1.75". Take a look at my truck in my signature, it has the OME 2" lifted springs and OME Nitro Charger shocks. the shocks and springs compliment each other very well on and off the road. Hope this helps.

Oh one more thing. Take a look at the before and after forum. Tom Wilks has a sport with the OME shocks and springs, and he's runnning 32's. It looks good!

[Edited by Ray Lobato on 07-21-2000 at 04:51 PM]

 

[briantf]

31x10.5's should fit just fine

Your 97 isn't much different than my wife's 98, and 31's fit fine.

We went with Warrior extended shackles (<$50 delivered) for the rear spring lift and a torsion twist mainly to get the catalytic converters that little bit higher off the ground, but the BFG KO's in 31x10.5r15 fit perfectly before we did that.

What tires are on now?? What's your rear end ratio?

As far as lifts go, you are out of luck on a conventional type lift without going custom (read >$$$$$$$$). The 95 to 97 Explorers have a sophisticated independent front suspension with torsion bars for springing. That means they're totally different than the I-beam style 97 and earlier Rangers (like what your Bronco had, only smaller).

In 98, Explorers got revised to match the new for 98 Rangers. The lift kits for those are beaucoup bucks, just like the full size Chevies or the Toyota lifts ($1,000 and up). There actually isn't even a kit formally out for 98-2000 Explorers, but there's SUPPOSED to be. When and if there is one, it's going to be _really_ expensive.

I'm looking at the Duff kit for my Ranger, <$500 for a basic 2.5", and the whole nine yards (radius arms, dual front shocks) for <$1000. A 98 Ranger is $1200-1400 for a 4" with no improvement in wheel travel.

It doesn't look good for 95-97 Explorers. They use a slightly different front end than the 98+ Ranger/Explorer and modifiying the kit is even more expensive.

As far as I know, an 89 fullsize Bronco uses an 8.8 rearend, same as your new Explorer, so with the same size tires, your ground clearance is going to be the same. Pretty cool, eh?

Have fun,
Brian in CA

 

[WellsLaw]

1. Right now I have 255/70R16 passenger tires, they are about 30x10x16 in size.

2. Where can I order/price/view the OME leaf springs (website?) and/or the Warrior Shackles?

3. How about boby lift kits? ANy suggestions for a 2" lift and does it require a lot of steering work etc.??

thanks already for your helpful advice

 

[Ray Lobato]

WellsLaw,
Take a look at the post "cost of Torsion" in this forum. It's above your's. It will answer some of your questions.
Sorry, I can't help you on the body lift.