Suspension question (not same ol', same ol')

[04Exowner]

So to keep this from being a long winded post, I'm just going to list what I am trying to do:

- It's a 2004 2WD V6 Explorer

- I'm looking to replace the struts and, if necessary, the springs (the Ex has 122,000+ miles already).

- I'm looking to keep the same ride height.

- I would like to make the ride stiffer, and more stable at highway speeds (think taking the off ramp at 60+. Not that I will do that on a regular basis, but it would be nice to know that if I need to, I could.)

What would be the best course of action? I've been doing a search for a while, and it seems that the only options available as far as struts are whatever is available commercially at this time (KYB, Rancho, Gabriel, etc.). Are coil overs a viable option?

Does anyone have any experiences with the Rancho Quick Lift struts? I looked over on the 4Wheel Parts website, and the fact that they're listed as having " 0.0" lift" caught my eye.

Also, anyone have any experiences with the Eibach swaybars? Was there a significant reduction in sway? Did the Ex seem a bit more prone to oversteer, or understeer?

Thanks in advance y'all.

 

[bamnq6]

I wouldn't really worry about spring replacement, unless any of your coils are cracked. The rubberized coating on a couple of my spring was flaking off, so I suspect rust followed by cracked coils is somewhere in my future, but I didn't have $400 to dump on springs at the time...

I've heard HORRID things about the Rancho "Quick-Lifts". It sounds to me like they've had some valving issues, and people's trucks are bouncing around like pogo sticks.

I used Rancho RSX struts when I did my suspension work recently. They are more expensive than Monroe, but I was looking for a bit more off-road prowess. And with their adaptable valving they are great on the street too. From RockAuto about $420 shipped...

If you feel like replace the whole strut / spring shabang, I think Monroe "Quick-struts" are pretty decent. It's a preassembled strut / spring package.

 

[ahodges]

Have you considerd Bilstein shocks and struts? I'm not sure if they make them for your truck but I don't see why they wouldn't. Those are amongst the best for a stiffer ride and stability

 

[zerodevil]

my ultimate suspension system is this

KYB Struts (good stiff ride, and excellent rebound qualities)
Ground force 1.5 inch drop (you wont even notice that little of a drop... its the hight v8 explorers sit anyways.)
Eibach Sway bars front and rear (ive heard they make quite a difference) come winter when im not spending money on camping, fishing, and hiking i plan to do the sway bars and depending on my mood i may do the drop as well.
Explorer express helwig rear helper spring (will REALY stiffen up the rear end) it

With those, the truck should have a night and day handling improvement. it wont feel quite as lazy, and speed bumps + potholes will deffinately feel more prominate, but the stiffer ride will make for much greater handling.


Also consider doing some powerstop drilled rotors (slotteds have been shown in tests to do nothing in terms of stoppind distance but rather cooling, drilled rotors imrpove both cooling and stopping distance). i got mine with ceramic pads off ebay for about 300 bucks. good stuff.

 

[CALDWELL]

^^^^^ whats this about swaybars ??? thought you were lifting, or you going back to the performance handling / street look ?

 

[zerodevil]

either way id like the sway bars, i am going to fab a quick disconnect if i go to the off road direction though.

 

[CALDWELL]

strong work

 

[Brandon@BTF-fab]

go with a tuneable coilover setup. you'd need some custom spacers for the lower attachment point and a flanged/tabbed deal to bolt into the stock upper shock location, but it's definitely do-able. You can then adjust both ride height, springrate, and compression and rebound valving to your liking.

 

[Limited02]

^^^^^ whats this about swaybars ??? thought you were lifting, or you going back to the performance handling / street look ?

The lifting thing is a pipe dream and as soon as he wakes up, he'll remember that he wants to lower it and make it fast.

 

[zerodevil]

-cough- already have limited.. or maybe i will do my crazy engine/driveline build and then after ive had my fun lift it anyways and pull a maknos =P


Brandon You always push the limit man, I would totaly be interested in a coil over set up if some one was able to man. and sell a premade and ready to install kit. Im not realy into the whole jury rigging my mulithousand dollar investment thing =P. but yes coil overs and sway bars would deffinately be the way to go.

 

[CALDWELL]

holy wow !!!

i couldnt even imagine having a full coilover set up

you could have your X track ready one minute, then stock height for bad weather like snow, and or light trail off roading...

X + adjustable coilovers = EPIC WIN !!!!

 

[macknos94]

I went from the street scene to the off road scene and its the best choice I ever made! I love bad weather now

 

[Jager]

I went from the street scene to the off road scene and its the best choice I ever made! I love bad weather now

This was the most wise quote I have read in a very long time...