rear suspension above axle

[kptimming]

so can the rear leaf springs on a 93 explorer be moved so they are mounted above the axle?
how much trouble is it?
and how much taller would it make the rear end?,
how much front end lift would i need to make the front and back height match?

any thoughts?

 

[Dannyboy]

Welcome aboard,
And to answer your question

we call that a spring over around here. I did mine for $32 $18 for perches and $14 for u-bolts. Superlift sells a kit for like $130, but I chose to use my design and risk it, and it worked, so feel free. I gained almost 6" of lift it is said you gain 4.5-6" and is used in the Superlift 5.5" kit, more pics on my link on the sig. Any ??'s feel free to ask me.

 

[mattTN]

U BOLTS

Looks pretty good dannyboy. When I did my spring over I was able to do a u-bolt flip. My u-bolts are curved not square. I was able to use the curved u-bolts facing up and I placed the spring plate on top of the spring pack. This deffinately is a posotive improvement. All it costs is a new set of u-bolts. After I removed my sway bar I mounted my shocks on the existing sway bar mounts. These mounts have a hole at the top and bottom. I chose the bottom hole but I'm moving them to the top b/c of the shock length limits my flex.

 

[Ryan1]

Hey dan,

is that A big Nail in your tire?

Ryan

 

[Dannyboy]

DAAAUUUU I dont know Ryan, That pic is 2 months old and I still have air in that tire, Why are you looking for a certain size nail that you cant find, If it is I'll mail it to ya. LOL
So if you noticed my square U-bolts go side to side, where the round ones go front to back if you do it that way. On your setup you have a little more clearance because I have the shock mounting plate at the bottom of the stack. I opted to do it this way to get a long shock anticipating the best "on road" ride only to sacrifice a little clearance. On the new axle I bought there are a new set of those Plates that I am going to play around with and try to cut and weld the shock mounts upward instead of down to get them behind the axle. I chose not to mount mine to the sway bar mounts because I thought they would flex instead of compress in situations and not ride as nice. You want to keep a shock as straight up and down as possible, but if It works, more power, I may give that a shot at some time.
Either way I am a fan of the homemade spring over

 

[zensius]

mattTN do you have a picture of your set up? I'm having trouble understanding how it works differently than Dannyboy's.

 

[Dannyboy]

I can explain. On his setup the axle is the lowest point on his stack it probably goes

ubolt mouting perch
spring pack
axle
and the ubolts go upwards, and front to back

mine is
spring pack
axle
ubolt mounting perch
my ubolts go down, and they go across my leaf pack side to side, instead of front to back across the axle. Does this help?

 

[zensius]

Thanks, that helps.

 

[Ryan1]

Dan are you going to grand rapids in a week and a half

 

[Dre]

Dan..... I'm gonna need you in a few months to do a spring over on mine...... it looks like I can't sell my front lift brackets so I'm gonna put them on............ the only problem is I don't want to lose my add-a-leaf...... that might put "my" rear slightly higher then the front. unless I put coil spacers back in...........HECK! I'll figure something out..... then my 2" Skyjacker lift will be for sale!! OK..... cool down now....

 

[Ryan1]

I remeber seein that thread of you selling them but im too damn lazy to look for it.....what kind of brackets are they. and how much lift

Ryan

 

[RFR2212]

I see Dre... You just cant help but put those awesome 4in front coils in. Tho if I remeber right, you've got the 2in skyjacker lift all around correct? Cause if ya do SOA in the rear, with the add-a-leaf, yer probly gonna have quite a bit more than 6in and if ya still have those 4in coils up front, then that'll leave yer truck sitting funny.
Pete

 

[Dre]

I know Pete.... that would be way too funny.....

I have suspension lift brackets for the front.... these are predrilled to give you either 5.5" or 4" of lift. It would only work for me if I put these on and 6" extended coils up front and do a spring over in a back removing my extended shackles and removing add-a-leaf. Just moving entire spring set-up (factory) up above the axle it would give me about 6"...... and that would be fine...... 5.5" up front with 6" coils and spring over in the back with factory springs - no shackles. If rear would sit higher anyway I can always put 1" coil spacers I have up front right now................

at this time I have 2-2.5" Skyjacker suspension lift and 1" coil spacers in the front and add-a-leaf and extended Warior shackles in the back. That gives me a total of about 4" of lift all the way around, well, that plus 1.5" of custom body lift. It's plenty for me....... 33" tires add to that as well. I have regeared too and am now at 4.10 with lockers so thiis baby is a well equiped truck. I just thought that over winter I might square away my entire suspension a bit.

Ryan, if you're interested these barckets were going for $190.00 but you can have them for $160.00 plus shipping........... these are almost brand new with no rust on them at all.

and like I said these will give you either 5.5" or 4" of lift.
whatever you want.

heck, I can talk.............

 

[Ryan1]

yes you are full of wind tonight

where abouts would I get the springs?
and how much would they cost

 

[Dannyboy]

You need to get the springs, sway bar links for front, drop pitman arm, and front brake lines. I'd call Jacker or superlift. Tell them you can possibly get a set of brackets from someone doing a solid axle swap and need those parts. I have them somewhere but dont feel like looking until you are serious.

 

[Dre]

pitman arm - $80.00
brake lines - $80.00 (braided)
sway bar? who needs a sway bar?
coil springs - expect to pay $60.00-$80.00

you'll also need shocks....... $60.00 per 2

 

[Ryan1]

hummmmmmm (thinkin here, dont wanna hurt myself though)

 

[Dre]

keep thinking but don't take too long....... I'm loosing money as it is.... I paid $190.00 for these brackets and think they are worth more.....

 

[Ryan1]

oh dont hold anything for me right now im just pondering


Ryan

 

[mdrut]

If you haven't started buying parts yet, get the complete kit..cheaper in the end. If you plan on keeping the add-a-leaf and doing the S.O.A. plan on having a drive shaft made..I went the used part route, buy the time I gathered everything..$550 or better.
Springs..$105 SL, 126 SJ
Shocks..33 ea for SL
drop pitman...$60
brake lines...$98
SOA kit..$126
Swaybar drop...$36
I purchased the drop brackets and the springs from another member for $270...
Buy the time you buy the bolts, nuts, and washers..It adds up..
Do the math carefully, if I had it to do over...Complete NEW kit.
None of the prices above include shipping..