Quick ? about Shock lengths and supension lift

[Derbytown]

I'm raising my 91 X EB 2", and was wondering if I needed longer shocks, or just go with stock length. I've searched this forum from one end to the other and haven't found what I'm lookin for, YET, LOL. New here, but this is an awsome X site. Thanks for any help in this matter. Be safe.
Derbytown

 

[RangerX]

If the shocks you have now are decent, leave'em on. If you were going to buy new ones anyway, get'em a little longer.

I lifted my wife's 92 Sport 2-1/2", and have wheeled it with swaybars off. This was without longer shocks. No problems.

Welcome to the site.

 

[glfredrick]

What you will soon find out is that the factory shock setup acts like a limit strap to hold your suspension from full travel. Your stock shocks will work fine as long as the front anti-sway bar is still hooked up and you are not actually trying to use the truck off-road except for some dirt trail running. For anything else, you will soon limit your capabilities and need longer shocks -- longer even than the shocks that come with most lift kits.

One mod I always make now is to cut off the front shock towers and replace them with something that allows for a proper length front shock. The F250 shock mount modification that has been discussed numerous times on this board works well.

Here's a pic of my front end working...

 

[mechanix]

I am going to be installing a lift kit aswell and need to buy shocks. I have the same questions as Derby.

 

[Derbytown]

Thanks for the quick replies guys, I've pretty much got it figured out now. glfredrick AWSOME X! Talk at y'all later.
Derbytown

 

[glfredrick]

Thought that I would resurrect this thread with a quick update on my 92 X'ploder front end...

I finally got the F150 springs installed and they are almost perfect for the X. I used 1997 F150 (straight axle) springs. They give about 3" of lift, ride smooth, and have plenty of travel in both directions. I actually gained several more inches of travel with the lift (my old springs had sagged until I was actually running a negative life!).

I also replaced the shocks with some new pull-offs from a 2004 Dodge 1 ton dually 4x4. They are WAY long, and almost perfect for my application, not limiting the front travel in either direction. An added plus was the price -- free...

In addition, I found that the brake lines had reached their limit up front. F350 Super Duty (4x4) hoses are a direct bolt on and plenty long enough for the sort of lift/travel that I'm getting.

All in all this was a great mod to the front end -- price was totally free (except the brake lines). I lost the front wheel hop that used to slow me down, gained a couple usable inches of front end lift, and the truck rides way better than it did before, both on and off-road. To top it all off, it also performs very well...

In our run last Saturday, we had good running all day long until it rained hard about 7 PM. Then, everything turned to clay pots... It was so slippery that trucks were sliding sideways off of trails down into the woods -- what fun! I managed to make a nice waterfall that a couple of built Jeeps had to winch over - so the truck works. I still get no respect with the X'ploder in that local club (they all figure that it is a fluke becasue it's not a Jeep), but oh well -- I'm always sitting at the top of the same hills as they are -- and usually with a Jeep on the strap behind me.

 

[JoelH]

Another thing to look at is if your only going up 2 inches look at getting shocks from a 79 Bronco. The front mounted shocks on the Quad set up are 2 inches longer than the Ranger/Explorer stock shocks.

My ranger I am running the same shocks front (Quad) and rear. My limit is reached with the 6" skyjacker lift coils.

Click Here for picture

 

[410Fortune]

If you are going to buy new shocks, dont jsut say "I want 2" longer"
unbolt shocks, sway bar, etc.....Support the truck by the frame, droop the suspension, measure.
Compress the suspension, measure. (RTI ramp works well for this)

Find the right shock.

If you find the coil will come unseated at full droop, add either J clips or limit straps.
If your bump stops are not letting you get full up travel, cut them down or modify.

Cycling the suspension and steering with and without the tires AFTER the lift is installed is very important, if you want to get as much travel as possible, and avoid costly repairs like holes in differentials or blown axle seals.

Dont let the shock be your limiting strap and dont let it bottom out under full compression.

The factory shock mounts SUCK, they are too low if you want to increase up travel on the TTB, install F-250 towers and run longer shocks.
Rubber radius arm bushings and the right coil spring rate is important as well.
Also if you want the beam totravel all the way up to the bump stop, you might consider re-locating or custom coil buckets as well.

The TTB lacks compression big time, we can get LOTS of droop frmo it with simple bolt on kits, but compression is much harder to get.

 

[JoelH]

I don't think it's that big of a deal on just a 2" lift. If your a serious offroader and want to get the max out of your lift then going the route 410 described is the way to go.

But with stock brackets, coil spacers, stock arms your best to just say "2 inch longer Please"

 

[410Fortune]

or continue to run your stock shocks since you arent gaining any droop really anyways. But still dont let the shock be your limiting strap.

 

[RangerX]

a quick update on my 92 X'ploder front end...

I finally got the F150 springs installed and they are almost perfect for the X. I used 1997 F150 (straight axle) springs.

Guy, can you explain this to me? 1997 staight axle???

 

[glfredrick]

Guy, can you explain this to me? 1997 staight axle???

Sorry -- its a typo. It should say 1979!

I think I hit the keys backwards on that one.

 

[RangerX]

Thought so. Thanks. Gotta pic?

 

[RangerX]

. until I was actually running a negative life!).

Rereading your post, I found this! Say it ain't so, Guy!

 

[glfredrick]

Rereading your post, I found this! Say it ain't so, Guy!

Well....

I gotta start spell checking and proofing the stuff I write when I'm tired (or is tar'd?).

I don't have any new pics -- and it doesn't look much different than it did before except the brake lines are all shiny and new and the front now sits up a couple inches higher. I did gain about 3 more inches of overall flex, however, and I can still stuff it into the bump stops as well as flex it out with down travel, so I'd say that it works really well.

The Dodge shocks are just about right for this application, length wise, and far better than the 6" lift Ranger shocks that I had been running. Note that I made a mod to the F250 towers to run a stud type shock instead of the perhaps sturdier eye-type mount. Gotta go with the cheap parts and the stud shocks seem to be falling in my lap lately.

I'll get some pics when I bend up the new tubes for the spring and shock mounts later in September. That won't change the overall flex too much, but it will clean up stuff a bit and make it sturdier. My spring buckets are starting to flex a tad after cutting off the old shock mounts, and the new springs are not a perfect fit, as they are a bit larger in overall diameter.

Also, the front sway bar will need to be relocated forward for spring clearance. For now, I'm just running without, but that gets a bit interesting on the freeway...