stock xlt 4x4 suspension/steering modification

[realscot2]

Hello, hello !

I'm a Ford guy, had many over the past 4 decades. Absolutely LOVE my 18 xlt 4x4 EXCEPT FOR

The vague/mushy/soft steering feel.

I know, the sport is what I should have bought if it weren't for the additional $10,000, and I didn't want turbos.

I'm trying to set up the suspension similar to the sport, anyone else going or gone down this path?

I've checked my vehicle and it has:

The strut tower brace that connects L and R sides of the vehicle to stiffen it up. I wasn't sure it had this as the sport specs say its unique to that version. Stock 245/60R18 wheels and tires.

Going to check to see if my xlt has the 4 point trans tunnel braces, if not I'll find them and install them.

My dealer, Arlington Hts Ford has been awesome and their service director Gerry Hood is going to let me try a different wheel/tire combo because we "think" some of this mushy feel may be the soft stock Michelin latitude tour HP tires. I "hope" he can put a set of 20's from a sport on mine so I can compare the feel, or at least a different tire on stock 18's.

I've heard that the sport also has a different sway bar and bushings up front and rear, is lowered 20mm, has different shock/spring/strut assemblies and the rear has cross axis ball joints.

If anyone has gotten their stock XLT 4 x 4 to significantly better than stock steering response and feel PLEASE let me know what you've done, I'd be seriously interested !

 

[FLZ_Boy]

My Explorer the same as yours, I did get the Towing III package for the extra oil cooler, bigger radiator and ducting (more for performance reasons than towing).

I was lucky enough to purchase a full set of the OEM XLT Sport Appearance 20" wheels with tires and TPMS off of someone that only put in about a few hundred miles on them. The biggest change is the tirewall stiffness of the Hankook S2 tires and the dry grip compared to the Michelin tires. However, you will feel sluggish acceleration and a 1 to 2 MPG hit compared to the 18" XLT with Michelins.

I changed to Police Utility (Interceptor 3.7 V6) suspension as there are only 3 components difference to the XLT (aside that the engine crossmember is different than the Explorer 3.5 v6). I changed out the Struts, Shocks, Springs and the two lower front control arms (the PIU have a stiffer bushing on them). This eliminated most of the body roll and stiffen up the suspension about 20% (you do feel those bumps more, but not like true sports cars). The suspension change did make my Explorer lower about 1/2 an inch. By eye, you feel that the ride height didn't change.

I have not looked into the tunnel bracing. If someone has the part number or where to look for it in the parts catelog, I would be happy to get one.

Overall, the mods I did not have alot of impact to the steering response or feel. I believe the steering ratios are programed to be most aggressive with the PIU and the Sport models having a slightly slower ratio response to the PIU. The other Explorers get the slowest response, XLT included.

However, I'm happy to take on corners without tipping over.

 

[realscot2]

My Explorer the same as yours, I did get the Towing III package for the extra oil cooler, bigger radiator and ducting (more for performance reasons than towing).

I was lucky enough to purchase a full set of the OEM XLT Sport Appearance 20" wheels with tires and TPMS off of someone that only put in about a few hundred miles on them. The biggest change is the tirewall stiffness of the Hankook S2 tires and the dry grip compared to the Michelin tires. However, you will feel sluggish acceleration and a 1 to 2 MPG hit compared to the 18" XLT with Michelins.

I changed to Police Utility (Interceptor 3.7 V6) suspension as there are only 3 components difference to the XLT (aside that the engine crossmember is different than the Explorer 3.5 v6). I changed out the Struts, Shocks, Springs and the two lower front control arms (the PIU have a stiffer bushing on them). This eliminated most of the body roll and stiffen up the suspension about 20% (you do feel those bumps more, but not like true sports cars). The suspension change did make my Explorer lower about 1/2 an inch. By eye, you feel that the ride height didn't change.

I have not looked into the tunnel bracing. If someone has the part number or where to look for it in the parts catelog, I would be happy to get one.

Overall, the mods I did not have alot of impact to the steering response or feel. I believe the steering ratios are programed to be most aggressive with the PIU and the Sport models having a slightly slower ratio response to the PIU. The other Explorers get the slowest response, XLT included.

However, I'm happy to take on corners without tipping over.

Hey, appreciate your input and results from the mods u did.
I'm still on the fence and dealer hasn't gotten back to me yet about letting me try a different set of wheels and tires.
The stk 18" tires are 104 load, 400AA. I'm really thinking if I up the load rating to 109 that's about 300 lbs more per tire. Or, decrease the aspect ratio from 60 to 55 and go wider like 255 or 265.
What I feel is almost like the tires are under inflated, kinda squishy?? Feel it more on initial acceleration and in turns. So, to me that's soft sidewalls on stock tires.
I can replace the strut assemblies, but I'd really like to know just how much the tires play into this feel.

 

[FLZ_Boy]

The stock tires are rated to be ECO tires, so they do have squishy sidewalls. Honestly, I thought the stock 18" tires weren't that squishy for an ECO rated tire. However, I did notice the sidewall stiffness of the OEM Hankook S2 tires you get from the 20" rims. On cornering, I could tell the Hankooks did a better job not giving me the feedback of being squashed.

 

[realscot2]

Hey, appreciate your input and results from the mods u did.
I'm still on the fence and dealer hasn't gotten back to me yet about letting me try a different set of wheels and tires.
The stk 18" tires are 104 load, 400AA. I'm really thinking if I up the load rating to 109 that's about 300 lbs more per tire. Or, decrease the aspect ratio from 60 to 55 and go wider like 255 or 265.
What I feel is almost like the tires are under inflated, kinda squishy?? Feel it more on initial acceleration and in turns. So, to me that's soft sidewalls on stock tires.
I can replace the strut assemblies, but I'd really like to know just how much the tires play into this feel.

Since my post about my 2018 stk XLT suspension/tire road feel I've purchased a used set of 2015 limited 20" x 8.5 rims.

They came with Cooper discovery srx 245/50/20's which I really liked except they did decrease mpg and were noisy. I just put new Goodyear assurance weather ready tires on these 20" rims. I did 2 4 hour road trips and these tires are significantly quieter, much better comfort ie cushioning on bumps and road defects.I will be replacing the stock front struts with Bilstein B6 struts and putting the stock springs back on.

For the rear I'll use the Monroe gas magnum severe service shocks. I will also swap out the stx XLT front shock tower brace for the one used in the sport.

I know you have to lower the vehicle to get that "sporty" feel, which isn't at all what I'm trying to accomplish. I love the ride height and clearance with the stk XLT suspension AND the 20" wheels.

I also installed a set of OEM HID/LED driving fog lights off a 2018 limited. AMAZING difference in your ability to see 30/40 yards left and right into the ditch on country roads !!

I bought a class 3 hitch and did the install myself and recently completed the installation of custom front tow hooks. I bought a set of silverado tow hooks, heated and bent up some 3/8 thk x 2" flat steel bar and mounted these to the fornt frame. I cut out the lower bumper so the hook stick out 5". I also removed the ridiculous lower air dam for more clearance.

 

[RhinoQuartz]

Since my post about my 2018 stk XLT suspension/tire road feel I've purchased a used set of 2015 limited 20" x 8.5 rims.

They came with Cooper discovery srx 245/50/20's which I really liked except they did decrease mpg and were noisy. I just put new Goodyear assurance weather ready tires on these 20" rims. I did 2 4 hour road trips and these tires are significantly quieter, much better comfort ie cushioning on bumps and road defects.I will be replacing the stock front struts with Bilstein B6 struts and putting the stock springs back on.

For the rear I'll use the Monroe gas magnum severe service shocks. I will also swap out the stx XLT front shock tower brace for the one used in the sport.

I know you have to lower the vehicle to get that "sporty" feel, which isn't at all what I'm trying to accomplish. I love the ride height and clearance with the stk XLT suspension AND the 20" wheels.

I also installed a set of OEM HID/LED driving fog lights off a 2018 limited. AMAZING difference in your ability to see 30/40 yards left and right into the ditch on country roads !!

I bought a class 3 hitch and did the install myself and recently completed the installation of custom front tow hooks. I bought a set of silverado tow hooks, heated and bent up some 3/8 thk x 2" flat steel bar and mounted these to the fornt frame. I cut out the lower bumper so the hook stick out 5". I also removed the ridiculous lower air dam for more clearance.

Are the fog lights HID or LED?

Be aware that your towing limit is still 2k, not 5k.

 

[realscot2]

Are the fog lights HID or LED?

Be aware that your towing limit is still 2k, not 5k.

HID with LED eyebrow.....I don't tow, its more for rear crash and the occasional bike rack

 

[RhinoQuartz]

HID with LED eyebrow.....I don't tow, its more for rear crash and the occasional bike rack

Post some pictures, sounds awesome.

 

[realscot2]

Post some pictures, sounds awesome.

I'd love to post pics but can't do that without paying for elite membership.
I'd b happy to send u a CPL via txt or email
Scott

 

[peterk9]

I'd love to post pics but can't do that without paying for elite membership.
I'd b happy to send u a CPL via txt or email
Scott

It's only $20 and it helps support this helpful site. You can link via Photobucket or other 3rd party hosting sites.

Peter