SUPERLIFT 5.5" LIFT & DRIVELINE PROBLEMS

[Exploderman]

I'm considering this lift kit for a '94 Sport and have some concerns about driveline problems with this amount of lift on a short wheelbase. Has anyone done this lift on the short wheelbase? Any driveline problems? How was the quality and engineering of the kit? How about problems after running this kit for a while?

Any replies greatly appreciated!!

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'94 Sport,4" lift,31x
10.50's, 3.73,chipped,K&N
cold air intake,Flowmas-
ter

 

[rockylaurence]

I'm running the 5.5" lift on my 93' Sport. I had no problems with the drive line. However, I did have to invest in Supper runner steering and Radious arms plus build my own drop brackets for the R/A brakets to get caster with-in specs. I had to do all this to get a "shimmy" out of the steering while banking in turns to the left. The Explorer leans like a WHALE when stock. Wait and see how it leans after the lift! Hey! I really enjoy my Explorer and I'm always planning bigger and better. Get the lift and have fun!

 

[MW4HD]

Explorer Superlift...

Hey Exploderman, there ARE a few things you can do once you've got that kit installed. There are no real surprises installing it, only when you're done. You'll find that Rocky's absolutely right, my '94 4door was a POS after just installing what came with the kit. I fabbed radius arms and bought Skyjackers' axle pivot brackets,(replace stock ones altogether) and installed a rear swaybar as well as replaced the front with a bigger one. Handling was much better after all that, but nothing made as big an improvement as the Bilstein shocks. Check out http://www.offroadwarehouse.com for the shocks and other handling improvement items. You'll be much happier with the handling AND the ride.

 

[CONavajo]

Driveline problems

Hey Exploderman,
I just had my 91 Navajo lifted 5.5 with superrunner steering and the extended radius arms. We had to have the driveshaft lengthend because it was slipping out at full rear articulation and very close with moderate articulation. We could have run it stock but the stress on the splines at the end would have resulted in twisting and I would have had to run the sway bar at all times. Other than that it is fine. One thing you will notice is the shorter wheelbase on the two door causes a bumpier ride and it is amplified with the lift. I run RS9000 shocks so I can adjust the stiffness which definately helps on road.

91 Navajo LX
5.5 superlift/Superrunner steering/Radius arms
4.56 gears/Detroit True-Trac
33x12.5 KO's/M/T Challenger 15x8

 

[rpenner54]

I had to get a new rear driveshaft made when I got mine done. It has a CV joint in the front of it to get rid of a nasty noise I had. I still have the stock driveshaft though. It stays in the truck tied down in the back just in case something bad might happen.

 

[JAY]

I am also running the Superlift 5.5 in my 2dr. I still have the stock front and rear drive shafts. I have never had a problem with them pulling apart or with vibration. Some people are worried that the drive shaft angles are too steep, but I have broke 3 rear axles and the front twice, with the driveshafts still on the origional u joints. I also haven't noticed any vibrations, though some people have. I think it all depends on what your idea of acceptable and/or tollerable is.

JAY

 

[rpenner54]

Jay is right. I didn't do the new rear driveshaft cause I wanted to. I did it because I would've gone looney had I not. Lets just say the sound inside the cab was most annoying at I think 25-30 and 45-100... Just a really really really loud rumble. So I figured why not just get a new driveshaft with a CV joint. I don't understand why I needed one because not hardly any other people with this lift and the 2 door have this problem but I did. In either case its all up to what you will sit there and withstand.