shackle lift? add a leaf? Iknowbutneedhelp

[ccasxls]

I have an 01 4 door explorer xls 4.0l v6, it has the notorious sagging rear end, I'm looking to do a 2" lift more so to level it out but the war 153 shackle says it only has a 1.25" lift capablility which is hardly worth the 83 bucks, so my question is what is the draw back to add a leaf and if I made my own shackles is there a danger to making too long of a shackle ie. twisting, bending etc. and I have the reese hitch tow package which barely clears the stock shackle would a longer after market shackle be more perpendicular with the ground or continue toward the tow package? thanks

 

[danwaters]

A longer shackle will stay along the same plane as your stock shackle. It would be no more perpendicular or horizontal in ground refrence. That tow package does not support much rear suspension travel because the shackle will hit it thus hindering compression and deteriating the life of your springs prematurely. Id suggest add-a-leaf. Also another suggestion is a leaf spring pack off of an ibeam f-150 because the measure of eyelet on the spring hanger to center pin on the axle measures the same between the two cousins. Naturally the pack will have more arc, yeilding more lift than explorer springs, due to f-150 being an upright shackle position as opposed to hanging. I had a pair on my explorer with the overload spring taken out and a series of two additional leafs that I cut to length and used. It gave me about 3 inches of lift and a slightly heavier spring rate. If you decide to leave the overload leaf it will probally give you around 2-3 inches of left.

 

[ccasxls]

so if I take the overload spring out what type of springs did you put in place, shorter springs with a little arc or matching arc to the main spring, I think I like the idea of the f150 spring did you use the whole pack or just the main, and what year or does it matter? also ive read that going more than 2" of lift I will need after market shocks which i guess isnt a big deal there not that much but I didnt realize you could get so much lift from a dif spring like the f150 spring you mentioned, so if I can get 3" than why the hell not, I had a full size pick up before the x so a bit more clearance and height would be nice, thanks alot I love this site!

 

[danwaters]

I used the whole pack and took two leafs out of a Deaver Springs leaf pack I had out of one of my rangers and sized them to add to it. The shorter leafs in the pack have more arc thus adding lift to the pack. The general rule of thumb is each smaller spring is smaller(shorter) by 2 inches each side. As for the year...i-beam f-150s so from 90-96 would be the newest to get a fresh as possible pack from. I beat on mine pretty hard for a year and they didnt lose more than an inch. By that time I re did my rear suspension.

 

[ccasxls]

Thanks alot bro, how many leafs are in the f150 pack 4 or 5? and how many inches of lift would require new shocks? I called the scrap yard and they said the 4leaf pack would run 55 bucks per pack which sounds cheap enough but the add a leaf is only 80 bucks which gives the same lift-ish. I dont do heavy off roading just two tracks and smaller hills getting to places that sort of thing. thanks again dan, much appretiated!

 

[danwaters]

Thanks alot bro, how many leafs are in the f150 pack 4 or 5? and how many inches of lift would require new shocks? I called the scrap yard and they said the 4leaf pack would run 55 bucks per pack which sounds cheap enough but the add a leaf is only 80 bucks which gives the same lift-ish. I dont do heavy off roading just two tracks and smaller hills getting to places that sort of thing. thanks again dan, much appretiated!

It had 5 with the overload in it. Around here, In Souther California, junk yards want 125 a side so 250 for both spring packs which is ridiculous. I found a buddy who got rid of his truck and had the stock springs still. Cost me a 12 pack, haha. Id say got with a 10 inch bilstein 5100 with a stemp top or a Fox shock with the stem mount...might have them for stock apps. You can leave the factory shocks in there but they wont allow the suspension to fully extend.

 

[ccasxls]

I think I found a guy with f250 leaf packs for 60 bucks if that dont work I'm going to the salvage yard tommorrow. Everyone i have called says there is no aal kit for an 01 ex?? I didnt know they stopped making them, I think I like this idea better any way, I'm going to swap the springs, leaving the stock shocks in then after i see how much lift there is I will get aftermarkets to fit. I was looking at the leafs on my ex and there is an 1/8"to 3/16" gap between the main and the second and the second and third! thats how much sag I have, they gotta go, I'll prolly end up doing the swap this weekend when i get a day off. I plan on taking pics before and after, thanks again bro

 

[manimal]

I used the whole pack and took two leafs out of a Deaver Springs leaf pack I had out of one of my rangers and sized them to add to it. The shorter leafs in the pack have more arc thus adding lift to the pack. The general rule of thumb is each smaller spring is smaller(shorter) by 2 inches each side. As for the year...i-beam f-150s so from 90-96 would be the newest to get a fresh as possible pack from. I beat on mine pretty hard for a year and they didnt lose more than an inch. By that time I re did my rear suspension.

I've gone over the F150 leaf thread time and again and I still haven't figured out yet whether you can use the entire F150 pack minus the overload as a direct swap, or if you really do need to use the Explorer main leaf. Some say the F150 main is too long and some say it fits. What did you do?

 

[ccasxls]

Went to the salvage yard this morn, they just sold there last f150 leaf packs yesterday, go figures right. So... I bought a set from a chevy 1500, there 2-1/2" wide and a lil longer than the f150 but there in good shape so Im going to try and see what happens, I'm sure no matter what I will get a lift because my springs are shot anyway but im hoping for at least 2", if not I can always get some shackles to throw in with it too. I may have to trim a lil off the ends of a couple springs but other than that they should (by eye balling them anyway) fit right together, I will keep you posted

 

[danwaters]

manimal..as long as it is an I-beam front suspension model year than the main leaf DOES fit with no modification. I added some extra leafs that were thinner but also had more arc to aheive more wheel travel potential.

ccasxls...good luck. I believe the chevy has a flipped shackle from the factory as well. What you need to make sure is that the measurment from spring perch in the front to the center pin on the leaf pack is the same otherwise it will not work because it will relocate your axle. And if you do that you risk your driveshaft being either too far into the tranny or not far enough.

 

[ccasxls]

I will be using the main from the ex so everything should line up anyway right? the only thing I may have to do is shave and inch or so off each chevy spring end to fit cuz there a few inches longer than my ex leafs. I will be doing this next weekend too busy this week but that will give me time to buy new bushings and spring pads and get all the surface rust off the chevy springs and prolly paint em too to be as prepared as possible for when I actually tear **** apart, luckily there is a thirblys two blocks from my house should I need any unforseen parts. I will prolly get new ubolts too while I have everything apart, I've got airt compressor, grinder, impact wrench, about every tool I could need for the job so I'm crossing me fingers

 

[danwaters]

Dont for get to use some sort of clamp to keep the springs together so they dont twist apart from eachother

 

[ccasxls]

So I was looking at the chevy 1500 springs and it didnt look like it had enough arc for the job so I took them back and they let me dig around and pick out the ones I wanted....I found a pair of 99 f150 springs that have more arc and are 4 yrs newer and look like they are the same size as my explorer leafs there in good shape so thats what im using but there only 4 leaf that should still be good right? I will prolly put a leaf back in from the ex pack underneath for added support Ile keep u posted