Superlift Frame Crossmember

[Nick_Good]

How imoprtant is the frame crossmember. It seems to me it will just get in the way. my sway bar does not mount to it, i have the relocation brackets for that. Do i need to put it on or not?
Thanks, Nick Good

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Which cross memeber? Well, it doesn't even really matter which one cause you still need it. If the part wasn't needed and it would give better clearance if it wasn't there - then Superlift would of done it. You can leave it out - but your alignment will be crappy and you won't go passed 0 mph. Also, if you are worried about ground clearance, don't buy an IFS or IFS kit -
-Drew

 

[FireZapper]

? Cross member? Swaybar?

I just installed my 5.5 and there was no cross member.

OK just looked.

Do you mean the one infront of my hooks? I would leave it in. Does not interfere with the swaybar. (didn't use mine anyway)

 

[Nick_Good]

No, it mounts to the frame where the old radius arm brackets was. It bolts into the existing holes.

 

[FireZapper]

ok if your talking radius arms now. Yes you need it. My superlift fit had drop brackets. That go between the frame and the radius arm cross member.

 

[410Fortune]

Nick you are really confusing me.

Did youg et extended radius arms with your lift?

Your sway bar is in front of the front beams, not behind.

Help us understand which part of the lift you are refering to, but yeah its real likely you need it hahaha

 

[Nick_Good]

Yes i have the extended arms. Here are the superlift directions.
Step 13)
Position the frame crossmember(55-09-1130) on the frame rail and line up with the existing holes in the frame where the stock radius arm crossmember was located. Attach using supplied bolts.
Step 14)
If the vehicle is equipped with a sway bar mounted behind the axle as shown in diagram 8, a seperate component box #1021 is required to mount the sway bar to the Superlift crosmember(#55-09-1130). If the vehicle is equipped with a sway bar mounted in front of the axle, a seperate component box(#2018 for Bronco ll's and #1018 for Rangers) is needed for relocating the sway bar.

I purchased the seperate relocating kit for my front sway bar. All the kit is are drop down brackets that go between the frame and bar. What I am asking is since my sway bar does not mount to the frame crossmember (#55-09-1130) why do I need to have it there. It does not even seem that it would strengthen the frame any, it is only held on with a few small bolts.
Nick

 

[410Fortune]

yeah I have never seen this part. Your sway bar attaches up front.

Anything that goes from frame rail to frame rail will stiffen the chasis, bolted welded or otherwise, it will not hurt.

 

[FireZapper]

The way I see it step 13 needs to be done. Not with the factory xmember, but with the superlift one.

 

[410Fortune]

Yes if you are referring to the X member between radius arm mounts, yeah that sucker better be there!

I have never seen a TTB truck with a sway bar behind the beams, but the instructions could be universal for some other application (full size TTB???)
Who knows.

 

[Nick_Good]

Ill slap it on there just to be safe. I just wanted to check yalls thoughts on it. I wasnt sure if it was just included in the kit for the vehicles that do have the sway bars mounted behind the axle like in the diagram.
thanks,
Nick

 

[410Fortune]

NO it supports the radius arm mounts, without it you wouldnt make it far without them folding in.

Apparently there is another "box" that you need if you have this infamous rearward sway bar.

 

[blueox]

410 didn't some older rangers have front sway bars that mount behind the front?

 

[FireZapper]

the 84 B2 I had and my 93 sport have the same location for both front and rear. All the TTB's I've seen have the same location.

 

[Nick_Good]

I am putting it on just to be safe. I do not see how it supports the radius arm mounts and keeps them from folding in. The directions say that the frame crossmember mounts at the location of the old radius arm mounts using the old radius arm mount holes. There is nothing located at this spot due to the new superlift mounts being located further to the rear to compensate for the extended arms.The location where the crossmember is suppose to mount is at least a foot in front of where the new radius arm mounts are now installed.

And no, my sway bar attaches in front of the axle .i already have the swaybar drop brackets for the front. It does not attach to the crossmember. Apparantly according to the directions and diagram some vehicles sway bars must, but not my explorers.

 

[Infragate]

The skyjacker kit has a crossmember that bolts to the radius arm brackets and acts as a crossmember to keep them from folding in and add frame support, the superlift kit does not. The superlift bracket will only act as a crossmember in your case. Yes, put it in for added support.

 

[410Fortune]

My point is, if Superlift gave it to you to go back in there because you removed your factory x member, you better put it in. They kinda know what they are doing, Superlift I mean..

 

[JoelH]

I guess you guys don't look too hard?

The earlier Rangers were equiped with a rear mounted bar. But for a very short time. Explorers never had this rear mounted set up as it was a D28 item only.

Here is a picture of the X-member. I think it's kinda pointless if you ask me. With side plates hanging that far down it would gain 0 strength. But the DS hoop on the other had is a nice thing. Personally I think it's a waist and can be left off.

As for the picture posted above with that bracket welded to the frame????
Buddy get your truck examined. I have never seen that bracket on any of the explorers I have seen. that is not factory. Ford did not weld anything to the frame like that. It should be either bolted or buck riveted.

 

[JoelH]

The only modification that I had to make to allow the taller springs was to lower the Superlift cross member. The front driveshaft was making contact with it whenever the spring would extend far enough. To do this, I cut the side off of a piece of 4 inch pipe and welded it in place below the driveshaft

Right from this page.

http://www.explorer4x4.com/meisner.html

Looks like it's more of a nucence than anything else.

 

[FireZapper]

Never said anything about welded. It's bolted.