Shocks for lowered X

[fordkrazy]

Hey all....i have my X lowered about 2-3 inches (it sits about 1/8inch off the bumps in the front)
My question is about the shocks..i got monroe reflex shocks that have a 17" extension length and when installed they are pretty much extended all the way...now the stockers are around 19".....how can this be that if i lowered it down about 2" and the shock is about 2" shorter...the shock is fully extended at neutral.
It rides great...not bouncy...but it feels like i put one mondo sway bar on it cause the wheels cant drop. will this cause any adverse effect on my shocks or will it just wear out the mounting bushings faster?

thanks for any input

 

[Alec]

If you want to get new ones, Explorer Express has Edelbrock IAS' especially for lowered Explorers.

 

[IAmTodd]

Originally posted by Alec
If you want to get new ones, Explorer Express has Edelbrock IAS' especially for lowered Explorers.

If they're anything like the ones for "normal" explorers, they're great, but not worth the money IMO

 

[fordkrazy]

well the IAS shocks are out of speck for my lowering too so they wont work either(and too much money)...im just wondering the adverse affects of the lack of extension on the shock.

 

[james t]

i have the eddie's on mine lowered the same height as you and they work great.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Originally posted by james t
i have the eddie's on mine lowered the same height as you and they work great.

ditto.

 

[fordkrazy]

ok guys....im retarded. apparantly i forgot highschool geometry. it doesnt need to be much shorter at all cause of the way the lower arm swings....but i like the way it rides...really hugs the ground....but will it wear out the shocks early by always hitting the extension limits?

well to another thought...do any of you think that somehow i could get a higher rated tortion bar to fit my X? im doublely retarded cause ive had this one for over a year and just noticed that there are no coil springs (for the longest time i thought the tortion bars were supplimental ) well anyway...do you think a f150 has the same hex size that fits into the lower arm? i dont know im just throwing out ideas for getting a higher spring rate or maybe there is a way to modify the current ones by welding on something

 

[james t]

without getting into torsion bar theory too much, if you get a stiffer bar, it will raise your truck. even with the bolts all the way out, a stiffer bar will make the truck sit higher than what you have now. so, if you want a stiffer T-bar, just raise the truck back up an inch or so by screwing the bolts back in a little.

there is nothing you can do other than get some good shocks and deal with the reality that an X lowered 2"-3" doesnt ride very good.

 

[fordkrazy]

well sorry i dont agree with that....a higher rate or "stiffer" doesnt mean that it will sit higher..but rather take more energy to move it a certan amount. so for instance a thicker bar would have a higher rate...you could still adjust it to the same height but the force needed to twist/flex the bar would be greater.
the only reason i bring this up is that usually when you lower something you put higher rate springs on it that are shorter....well we dont have springs in the typical sense so i was wondering if there was something that would increase the spring rate. maybe air bumps that the offroaders use on those long travel setups...i dont know i just dont like hitting the factory bumps all the time...a sprung limit is allways better than a ball of rubber on the frame limit.

 

[james t]

if the fenderwell sits 30" from the ground with the adjuster bolts out and "light duty" bars, then it will sit over 30" with the adjuster bolts out and "heavier" bars. if you dont believe me, try it.

*the 30" measurement was just a reference.