suspension info overload

[oconnor]

Man, I am getting burned out and still can't find the info I am looking for. I come from the world of racing cars and riding motorcycles. I was just given a 97 explorer sport 4wd (get it in about 2 weeks). Always wanted a truck/suv etc. Anyways, probably not going to be doing alot of crawling, but I will be doing alot of high or rather higher speed fire road runs. I am looking for info on which way to go suspension wise. I have looked on a couple companies websites but they all list for pre 95 explorers. Any help would be great.
Thanks
O'Connor

 

[section525]

Welcome!

Superlift makes a 4" suspension lift
Trailmaster does too

You can get a 2" or 3" body lift for a Ford Ranger and adapt it.

Pro-Comp makes an add-a-leaf
You can get extended shackles from Warrior products.

Adjusting the torsion bars in front are good for a couple inches and a little bit stiffer ride.

RCD makes a 5" suspension kit that replaces the torsion bars with coils, but its pretty pricey.


You can also search this site for more information on these parts. There's all kinds of threads and talk about them. Good luck!

 

[unclemeat]

You may want to consider equiping your truck like a prerunner or desert racer. Body lift is a realtively cheap way to fit larger and wider tires. You may need dual or reservior shocks for the intended use you describe. Maybe even adjustable shocks, but I am told they tend to leak. Onboard air may also be helpful so that you can adjust tire pressure for road conditions.

 

[glfredrick]

For your desired application (high speed runs - not rock-type work) shocks and suspension travel under high loads will be your main issue.

The stock Explorer suspension - especially the front - is not well suited for that type enviroment (but on the other hand - neither is much else out there!). What you might want to consider is a front coil-over swap to replace the torsion bars in front - and perhaps a shackle flip in the rear - with springs like Nationals or Deavers. That is about the way Rick has the Pummkin set up and it does really well on the high speed runs - plus it is more than adequate on the rocky stuff.

Heat and cycle time will be your enemies in the shock absorbers. They begin to fade once they get hot and you start to bottom out a lot - destroying the ride and handling. That is why the desert people go with resovior shock systems (added cooling and oil capacity- plus adjustable valving for proper dampening). Check out the Camburg site. Dead Link Removed

 

[oconnor]

Thanks for all the great info and advice. Will what fits a ranger fit an explorer? I think the coilover system sounds like the way to go, and I am familiar with the technology. Any recomendations for kits (Is the camburg kit the way to go?). Also what about sway bars?
Thanks again, You guys are a real help. Everything I have tried to find so far is for rock climbing....
O'Connor

 

[glfredrick]

Don't be too quick to discount the rock crawling technology. Anything that allows the truck to flex will also likely work in the higher speed off-road realm.

I suggest that you do a search here on explorerforum for "Rick" and "pumpkin."

Rick, the board owner, has a highly built Explorer that is equally as capable in rock or desert running, and his truck is perhaps a model example of the best of both worlds.

Camburg is a great place to start- and the Ranger is very similar in all aspects to the Explorer except that it is sprung over in the rear instead of sprung under.

I would definately run the sway bars for high speed runs - but I might be inclined to switch to the Currie bars instead of the factory pieces. The factory bars are set up too stiff for true off-road work, and they will quickly limit travel and also pound you and the truck to death...

What you are looking for is as much travel as possible with a fast cycle time, and a shock rate that can handle damping the suspension without jarring the truck. Then, I would begin gussetting everything to strenghten the parts for high speed passes where the suspension is really working. That adds considerable stress to the truck and suspension mounting points - especially in a vehicle as heavy as an Explorer.

My Ranger truck (86) is set up about half way between Rock Crawler and Desert Raceer. I have actually raced in the SCORE series in northern Wisconsin, so I know some things about high speed running, and I love rock crawling... The two aspects are not mutually exlusive and the Ranger does equally well on high speed passes as it does for slow climbs up almost impossible rock steps.

 

[boominXplorer]

I would say do a 2'' TT, Add-a-leaf and shackels then find you some 15x10's with 3.5'' of backspacing and put some 31x11.50's on there and you could handle it