Wanna lift my truck.

[01_sport]

I have a 01 Sport. I believe it is the first year they came out with the new look for the sport, but I am not sure. I was thinking about lifting it, but when I go online and look for kits, they never have the correct submodel for my truck, so I can't find a working lift kit. Will any explorer kit work for my truck?

 

[ShadowRaven]

I have a 01 Sport. I believe it is the first year they came out with the new look for the sport, but I am not sure. I was thinking about lifting it, but when I go online and look for kits, they never have the correct submodel for my truck, so I can't find a working lift kit. Will any explorer kit work for my truck?

Suspension lift or body lift?

 

[Paraphoe]

If you're looking for a BL, you ave to use the Ford Ranger kit.

 

[ExploreTHEWorld]

Would a body lift or suspension lift do the same in terms of giving me clearance for light off roading. If not which one would be better to go with?

Sorry if this seems like a beginner question, just got this Explorer and honestly its the first vehicle I've ever modded, besides sound systems.

 

[Scotty J.]

Both body and suspension lifts have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you're just wanting to add bigger tires, you can get a body lift kit for a couple hundred dollars. If you want more clearance, the suspension lift, but they can be considerably more expensive.

I just did a 3" body lift on my ranger. Here are some links to pics as it progressed. It may give you an idea of what it does.

Beginning

With 3" Lift

With bigger tires and wheels

After Tint

Hope this helps.

 

[shooterdude199]

if you dont want to spend so much money, you can get a Torsion Twist and a shackle lift. the shackles are around 60 bucks and its a pretty straight forward install. but once you do it you might want to get a tire alignment.

 

[ExploreTHEWorld]

any pics of the before and after? You get online or from a distributor? I'd ideally be looking for a 3" or less.

 

[ljungberg3]

where is the best place to get shackles?

also, what is suggested....shackles or add a leaf?

 

[Bootleg Explorer]

What was the time frame on your project?

 

[ShadowRaven]

Whew, there are a lot of questions here that need answering, so I'll do my best in doing just that.

1. World, for pics of a before and after with an Explorer, check out my link in my signature on installing the BL. It is, hands down, the most comprehensive guide to installing a BL on an Ex. I highly recommend that anyone and everyone should look at my guide before attempting a BL.

2. Berg, many people order their parts through summitracing.com This website is fantastic and their prices are very reasonable. WAR-153 shackles, made by Warrior Products, are the standard that most people use. They add anywhere from 1.5-2.5 inches in the rear, but that's only in the rear. You have to do a TT to even out the front. As for the AAL vs. Shackles, I have both, and I can firmly say that the shackles are permanent height, the AALs are not. I installed the AALs and got 2" in the rear, but, a few days later, the springs sagged back out, so now I only have about 1-1.5 inches. It happens to everyone, leafsprings sag over time, theres no getting around it.

3. Bootleg, as for a time frame, it's very different from person to person on how long this takes. I took it slow and did it in about 4 days. I know some that have done it in 2 days or less, but it's all dependent on your tool inventory, rust on the truck, mechanical skill/knowledge, patience, nothing going wrong (my truck fell on my hand, for instance, that slowed me down quite a bit), etc. etc. Plan to give yourself at a minimum of a very, very full weekend to get a BL properly installed.

Also, back to World, if you're doing very light offroading, a BL will do ya just fine. Suspension lifts are over $1000, so you might as well be doing way more than 'light' for that kind of money. A 3" BL PA-883 bodylift kit made by Performance Accessories is the kit that you need to get, it's about $220-250, or you can go the other route and buy the Summit brand kit, which is literally the exact same kit just in a different box. That kit is around $100. I highly suggest just going with a BL instead of a SL, due to the ridiculous difference in terms of pricing. Hope this helps out guys.

 

[bcburlette]

I would suggest you read through this thread, we go over lots of lift options for sports, and I posted pics of mine:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2282199#post2282199

Edit - actually the thread starter there had a sport-trac, but they are essentially the same(suspension-wise) from my understanding.

 

[ExploreTHEWorld]

Well this is the kit I found for the explorer on summit

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PRA-PA-792/

I assume If I went with the kit I would not need shackles?

Personally to someone with limited mechanical experience and a small garage what would be better for me the TT and shackles or the BL? And I did read your guide btw and it is where I originally got the idea to even bother lifting it , it was also very well put together.
The X is probably gonna be my daily driver so I just want it tall enough to clear rocks and crap on the trails, and light snow and ice in the winter, but not to high to the point where making a U-Turn will make me reconsider my religious views.

Thanks for the input guys!

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

do u got pics of ur sport

 

[ShadowRaven]

Yeah, I understand what you mean, thanks for the compliment with the guide, haha. The biggest thing in terms of clearance you need to keep in mind is the bigger the tire, the higher you are off the ground (and that's including the differentials, which are the biggest problem makers in terms of scraping rocks). I looked again on Summit, and this kit right here is not only cheaper than the PA-792 that you were looking at, but it's also an inch higher

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-7888300/

Just another thing for you to think about. If I recall correctly you can fit 31's underneath with a TT/Shacks, but there is no way in hell you can go any bigger than that, this much I know for a fact.

 

[Paraphoe]

Warrior shackles:

http://www.tellico4x4.com/product_info.php/products_id/6362

 

[spitfiresk822]

Just another thing for you to think about. If I recall correctly you can fit 31's underneath with a TT/Shacks, but there is no way in hell you can go any bigger than that, this much I know for a fact.

I have a 98 xlt, and fit 31s without any lift. Now that I have the tt and shackles, 32s wouldn't be a problem. As far as sports go, my buddy had a 97 sport and fit 31s stock as well, but I'm not too sure about 01s.

 

[ShadowRaven]

Hmm, it's weird because even with the BL/TT/Shacks, I can barely fit 33's. Not sure, guess it's just a difference between model years.

 

[ExploreTHEWorld]

I'll have some pics up this weekend since one of the calipers was broken on my rear brake and was making me do donuts, without my consent.

The thing with that kit is that it is for a ranger? I suppose this means Explorers are sitting on the Ranger frame? Depending on how much the brake job is gonna cost I want to try for a 1.25" TT with the shackles and perhaps that kit.

If the job costs to much I'll just go for the 2" TT and shackles. Only time will tell.

There was also one question that was bugging me on the way to the shop. When I hit the easy switch button for my 4WD the light for High will come on but not the one for low, is there even a light for low? I didn't really notice anything different as far as the truck's handling but granted I was only doing about 20ish, on a rather crappy back road.

Once again thanks for the help it is much appreciated

 

[spitfiresk822]

99ex22 has a 99 and fit 33's with only tt/shackles and a 1 inch body lift. Must be something with the wheel wells on the 01's.

As far as the 4wd light goes Explore, if yours is the same as mine, the 3 way switch labeled auto, 4hi, and 4lo, there is a light for the 4lo. I believe it lights up for a second when you first turn your key forward, not 100% on that though.
I've read that the shift motor can go bad and only allow 2hi and 4hi, I'd search the forum and ask around. If your lights flash, I believe you can read the code for it, not too sure.

 

[Bootleg Explorer]

So to lift my 01 2wd Explorer Sport 3", what "Ranger" BL would I need to order....or is there a specific part number for my vehicle, having trouble figuring this out? Also are the shackles a necessity or for additional lift?