Suspension questions wheel offset and stock travel

[Faethor]

Ok so here goes the noob question that I can find the answers to.


What is stock offset for our 2002 to 2005 explorers on Thier rims ( not super pressing I can ask a tire shop.

I've been looking at shocks \ struts and noticed most list 2 inches of travel.... Is this 2 up and 2 down for a total of 4 inches or is this 2 over all up and down combined?


Also what is stock travel distance?



I ask cuz the rancho lift struts advertise 4 inches ..... Which has me wondering is that 4 up and 4 down or 4 over all?


I've done a few mods and builds on other vehicles and never really had to think about suspension travel before.... This is new to me

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Ok so here goes the noob question that I can find the answers to.


What is stock offset for our 2002 to 2005 explorers on Thier rims ( not super pressing I can ask a tire shop.

I've been looking at shocks \ struts and noticed most list 2 inches of travel.... Is this 2 up and 2 down for a total of 4 inches or is this 2 over all up and down combined?


Also what is stock travel distance?



I ask cuz the rancho lift struts advertise 4 inches ..... Which has me wondering is that 4 up and 4 down or 4 over all?


I've done a few mods and builds on other vehicles and never really had to think about suspension travel before.... This is new to me

i think the ranchos 4" travel is the distance it travels from full compression to full droop... i think... i should know this, i go froadin!!! ah whatever. take this more as a bump for ya thread! not sure what stock travel is, dont own a 3g

i think bump travel is the travel from the resting height to the full compress. but i have a feeling most list total travel.

 

[Faethor]

Thank you. That is what I thought too. Full range of motion. If that's the case then going by that stock travel is around 2 inches... So the ranchos will double it.

Which is what I want lol more travel and eventually 33 x 12.50 or as close as possible tires.

I like the fact that the rancho is comfort adjustable. That will make the wife happy

 

[Faethor]

I found this online for wheel spacing....

Ford Explorer Bolt Pattern & Wheel Offset

autotk.com

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I found this online for wheel spacing....

Ford Explorer Bolt Pattern & Wheel Offset

autotk.com

thats a good place tobstart! usually for wheels though i start with somewhwre like custom offsets or tirerack usually co just to get a sense of what works and what doesnt aize wise etc based on how much ya wanna rub

 

[Faethor]

thats a good place tobstart! usually for wheels though i start with somewhwre like custom offsets or tirerack usually co just to get a sense of what works and what doesnt aize wise etc based on how much ya wanna rub

I tend to not trust the net lol. Especially when I'm looking for bead lock functioning rims.

You ask about 2002 explorer get 0 options.... Ask about 02 f150 for example get options. Then check against specs and see if it fits

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I tend to not trust the net lol. Especially when I'm looking for bead lock functioning rims.

You ask about 2002 explorer get 0 options.... Ask about 02 f150 for example get options. Then check against specs and see if it fits

hmm alright. yeah i usually use that and something like co to get some starting point till i can really figure out what i want for jt

 

[Faethor]

hmm alright. yeah i usually use that and something like co to get some starting point till i can really figure out what i want for jt

Yeah minus available rims I got precisely in mind what I want and want to do.

The suspension I'm vauge on at this point it's still

"I want 33x12.50 or wider... Willing to do 30s to get wider. And I want more travel on suspension and functional bead locks"

Past that the rest is crystal clear lol

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Yeah minus available rims I got precisely in mind what I want and want to do.

The suspension I'm vauge on at this point it's still

"I want 33x12.50 or wider... Willing to do 30s to get wider. And I want more travel on suspension and functional bead locks"

Past that the rest is crystal clear lol

33x12.5 is nice and wide imo. i think theres 33x13.5 by interco and maybe toyo too, but i forgot. cant believe they only had 2" travel though thats insane!!!

 

[Mbrooks420]

With 33s you’ll be replacing front end parts several times a year. Just because a strut has travel doesn’t mean the rest of the suspension will support it.

If you want headlocks and 33s you’d be better off with a different truck. You’re gonna eat front end parts, tax the transmission, and rear diff. The Explorer, especially 3rd gens aren’t up to snuff for the kind of off roading you need headlocks for.

 

[Mbrooks420]

33x12.5 is nice and wide imo. i think theres 33x13.5 by interco and maybe toyo too, but i forgot. cant believe they only had 2" travel though thats insane!!!

2 inches of shock travel doesn’t equal 2 inches of suspension travel.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

2 inches of shock travel doesn’t equal 2 inches of suspension travel.

true, but im quite sure my shocks have got plenty more than 2"

With 33s you’ll be replacing front end parts several times a year. Just because a strut has travel doesn’t mean the rest of the suspension will support it.

If you want headlocks and 33s you’d be better off with a different truck. You’re gonna eat front end parts, tax the transmission, and rear diff. The Explorer, especially 3rd gens aren’t up to snuff for the kind of off roading you need headlocks for.

true. i think the diff one can be solved though, them 8.8s are tough, not sure how it changed for the IRS versions but mine has been tough as well as the other ones i see in the yards. what diff is it up front? stillt the d35?

 

[Mbrooks420]

true, but im quite sure my shocks have got plenty more than 2"

true. i think the diff one can be solved though, them 8.8s are tough, not sure how it changed for the IRS versions but mine has been tough as well as the other ones i see in the yards. what diff is it up front? stillt the d35?

The third gens are common to have the rear wheel bearings and gear issues.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

The third gens are common to have the rear wheel bearings and gear issues.

i take back my statement then, thought the 3Gs were as tough as the 2G 8.8s, nevermind

 

[Faethor]

So the 33s eating up front suspension is that from width or overall weight?

As far as beadlocks go I got further in my 2wd 250 with aired down tires than many got with jacked up 4wd in desert.

Looking to up the foot print either by airing down or wider tires or both

 

[Mbrooks420]

Height, weight, width. All add stresses that the factory stuff is gonna struggle with. I’m not saying it can’t be done, as many have run larger tires. But, you will get adept at changing out front end parts. 33s are probably also large for your factory gearing.

 

[Faethor]

Height, weight, width. All add stresses that the factory stuff is gonna struggle with. I’m not saying it can’t be done, as many have run larger tires. But, you will get adept at changing out front end parts. 33s are probably also large for your factory geari

Height, weight, width. All add stresses that the factory stuff is gonna struggle with. I’m not saying it can’t be done, as many have run larger tires. But, you will get adept at changing out front end parts. 33s are probably also large for your factory gearing.

So what would be the largest recommend size tire to throw on?

 

[Fix4Dirt]

So what would be the largest recommend size tire to throw on?

for factory gearin imo maybe 31? pretty sure they were 29.5 or somethin stock, so maybe 31s are alright? not sure what that is in metric though 275/65/17, think those exist not too sure, close to my flotation 31x10.5x15 ya got the 16s or 17s?

 

[Faethor]

for factory gearin imo maybe 31? pretty sure they were 29.5 or somethin stock, so maybe 31s are alright? not sure what that is in metric though 275/65/17, think those exist not too sure, close to my flotation 31x10.5x15 ya got the 16s or 17s?

I got 16s and my tires measure 30 right now as they sit on the rim. 245 75 r 16.

That's why I was thinking 33s

I don't like metric

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I got 16s and my tires measure 30 right now as they sit on the rim. 245 75 r 16.

That's why I was thinking 33s

I don't like metric

metric is bad, but much more options size wise there. if ya already got 30s wonder if ya can do 32x11.5? not sure if that exists, just goin off what i know for our 15s on the 2g. i know 32s are alright i think someone else i running em, youll lose some off the line if ya dont regear however. i think usually for me my rule of thumb is 1-2 inch diameter increase before looking into gear changes etc. but thats coming from 4 runners and the 2nd gen X... not sure what all changed later with em. technically its supposed to be like 6% increase but im not 100% sure. using the 6% rule it puts ya at 30x1.06=31.8, which is close enough to 32