Want just one more inch!!!

[badge49]

Does anyone know of a simple, cheap way to get one more inch out of the front suspension on my '97 four door 4x4? I already have a TT lift in the front and shackles in the rear to get an even 2" front and rear. I want to add AAL's in the rear so I don't sag so much when I'm loaded down with a trailer or camping stuff, but I don't want the rear to be higher than the front. I want to stay away from body lifts, I'm not really looking for hight as much as useability. Is there anything short of buying a front suspension lift that can get me just one more inch in the front? Can I just replace the shocks in the front with stiff, taller ones? Thanks for your input! :navajo:

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

are the TT bolts maxed out?....if soo get ones that are a bit longer....other then that a 1inch BL

 

[badge49]

Ya, they're maxed out...somewhere close to 2". I don't want my CV joints to wear out...would the angle be too much if I got 3" out of the TT?

 

[Supergumby5000]

i was wondering the same thing. trimmed my fenders to fit my 33's a bit, and dont want to trim anymore, i rub if i turn real sharp and hit a speed bump or something. how much should i worry about my CV joints if i get longer bolts, how much would they wear with another .5-1"?

 

[rocket 5979]

"Want just one more inch"........hehehehehehehe

Reminds me of a woman. Always desiring that extra inch.

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

it shouldnt be.....you just wont have much down travel on the front suspensiona nd the ride will be worse.

 

[boominXplorer]

3" of TT will kill your ball joints, CV's and will also be unalignable. Not to mention ride like sheot. Take out the shackles and put in the add a leaf, problem solved. What size tires are you running?

 

[badge49]

I've got 31/1050's on there right now, I'm thinking of squeezing 32's in later (in a year or two). Which one of you is right about the risk to the CV joints? Has anyone here gone to 3" TT and not had problems with their CV's? Also, would taking out my front sway bar help with the front suspension travel much? I already took off the rear sway bar and am happy with the ride back there.

 

[dr_starcraft]

"Want just one more inch"........hehehehehehehe

Reminds me of a woman. Always desiring that extra inch.

Immediately what I thought when I saw the title...

 

[badge49]

"Want just one more inch"........hehehehehehehe

Reminds me of a woman. Always desiring that extra inch.

Rocket...I don't know about you...But my girl has all she desires and more Lol, I hadn't even thought of that when I made that title

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

some people have 3inches of TT on a 4wd and it doesnt do anything.....it just rides awful...i belive there is an article on here somehwere discussing going over 2inches of TT with a 4x4 and they determined that it wouldnt hurt anything...maby other then wear your ball joints faster. Because it is within the travel of the suspension.

 

[rocket 5979]

Rocket...I don't know about you...But my girl has all she desires and more Lol, I hadn't even thought of that when I made that title

I have all I need to satisfy myself. If my wife gets satisfied as well then thats just a bonus. Roll over, go to sleep. hehehe.

 

[ExplorerMTNLAB]

you guys are crazy, but thats what make you cool

 

[badge49]

What's the angle that compramises the CV joints? If I were to take the TT to 3", how bad would that be for the CV's, regardless of the ride. How quick would the CV's wear out?

 

[badge49]

anybody know that angle?

 

['97 V8]

You know to be honest no body knows. Some say 23 degrees is when they startt to bind. Im pretty sure you could max out your torsion bar bolts and not bind up the cv. Ford designed a cv that can work within the perimeters of the suspension travel on the truck.

 

[GJarrett]

Yep a CV will go about 22 ~ 23 degrees. A high-angle TT DOES wear out CVs a lot faster. Yes the Explorer may have that amount of travel, but when the suspension is working within the middle range then every time you unload it going over a hump or bottoming out a little going into a dip, then the CVs are working within that range and only rarely - very rarely - max out. I don't even know if a true 3" is possible, but if you do that then every single time you extend the front even a little you're going to max out the angle and bind the CV..... common sense tells you that is gonna wear it out much faster.

I'm not really looking for hight as much as useability

There you go. You don't need that much TT anyway, not on the size tires you're running or even with 32's.

Also, would taking out my front sway bar help with the front suspension travel much? I already took off the rear sway bar and am happy with the ride back there.

I've gone without swaybars for a long time, but you will get LOTS of roll without them on the street (probably to the point that it's really very unsafe). You cannot get more travel (your travel will still be constricted by the CV angle and/or shock travel) but with each side working independently then it will feel that way. Try disconnecting the front swaybar and then go around a corner at the speeds you usually take; I strongly suspect that you will immediately reconnect it. Plus the roll is so extreme that you'll have to change your driving habits; ie, much more following distance, go slower, etc (it will force you to drive like an old granny) because you can never take the chance that you'll have to make an emergency manuever because if you ever have to do that, you'll roll over for sure.

 

[badge49]

Thanks guys, I think I'll hold off on jacking up the TT any more than 2" and I'll leave the front sway bar where it is. Does anyone know the cheapest you can find a 3" front spindle lift kit? I can't afford anything :biggthump

 

['97 V8]

A spindle wont work for you, only for 2wd units. Where the spindle hub is, you have a cv shaft going through it.

You see?

 

[badge49]

Duh, I feel dumb...what are the options for 4X4 front independent suspention?