torsion bar elimination

[mountaineerbeast]

I have a 97 mounaineer and i was wondering if i could eliminate the torsion bars if i use shocks with coil springs on the front.

Can i still keep my original a-arms if i did this?
Or would i have to use a kit like one from dixon bros?

This would soften the ride wouldn't it?

 

[IZwack]

I'm not sure the shock mounts will withstand the stresses without reinforcement material welded on.

 

[gmanpaint]

^^Not to mention the entire weight of the front half of the vehicle will be resting on those shocks.

 

[shooterdude199]

i second that

 

[SoNic67]

I did try Monroe Sensatrac shocks on front and they are doing a good job on softening the ride. Almost too soft. On rear I did replace them with KYB Gas-A-Just ones 9monotube high pressure) and those are a notch over the Sensatracs.

I really think that now, the only roughness of my ride comes from the tires - The Wranglers that I have now are hard on small bumps in road. After they wear out I might go for some Michelin ones.

And BTW, not the front is the roughest part of Explorers, the unloaded rear is the problem. Leaf springs on mine are the best variant (4 leafs, smallest load) and still suck.

I was looking for something like this. Or this.

 

[corkey]

they used to make a coilover kit, i have it , looks like this,,

 

[redefine420]

Cool. Any more info on that kit?

 

[shooterdude199]

Rcd kit. They stopped making it. Very hard to come by but your lucky if you can find one lol. Btw cork can I get a close up on your limit straps?

 

[mounty71]

Is this a street vehicle or offroad? If you just want a softer ride, you can loosen the torsion bar bolts a little (which will lower the front a bit) and get new shocks. Coilovers can make the front softer or stiffer depending on the springs and shock valving you choose to run. There are a couple of problems with putting coilovers on the front of these trucks. One is the upper shock mount, which wasn't designed to hold the weight of the vehicle. But you can make gussets to strengthen it like the ones offered from RCD, but it still could fatigue after a while and begin to tear off the frame. Two, the lower arm is just a stamped piece of steel and it also wasn't designed to hold the weight of the vehicle. I can see those beginning to fatigue after a while with a coilover mounted on them. To solve this you can add some vertical ribs to the arms and then box them in on the bottom.

 

[corkey]

Rcd kit. They stopped making it. Very hard to come by but your lucky if you can find one lol. Btw cork can I get a close up on your limit straps?

i will have to do that for you on Facebook, if that is okay Griff,

 

[shooterdude199]

Perfect

 

[gmanpaint]

I have thought of adding a plate under the LCA for some time now. The problem with that is all the hardware that is bolted to it needs to be accessed from under it.

Making a bolt on skid plate for under it would be ideal, but talk about a nightmare to make! Wrapping the sides (has a lip around it), and following the curves, then bolting to the sides. Just to much to deal with for me.