What is going to Break first

[roverz]

I have a bone stock 2000 EB 4.0sohc that i have appropriated from my wife to make my mid life crisis fun toy. I want to start taking this off roading, camping, beach driving but want to enhance it over time.

I do not plan on immediately upgrading anything but i am a realist and know that i will start breaking things and want to be prepared for what i will have to spend / fix.

In what order do you think that i will have to begin enhancing, fixing things that limit the amount of fun that I will have with it offroading?

Suspension
tires
Engine

What order do you think things are limiting or breaking on explorers?

 

[kert0307]

First, what is your goal? Something to take camping/to the beach a mostly stock explorer will handle well. As far as what part will break first, I would guess the tranny...

What part will cause the most frustration off road -> front IFS suspension

For a "mild" offroad explorer build, do the torsion bar/shackle lift, get a body lift if you still want more. then get tires to fill in the wheel wells (32-33" tires). If you still want more, get a "lunchbox" locker for the rear axle.

That combo wil get you on %85 of all off-road trails and be reliable.

 

[eXcali]

Give us an idea of your price range. Most mods or how you go about them depend on $$ availability.

I'd say the first thing to break will probably be your front swaybar bolts, some years had a super craptastic connector.

I'd say your 4.0 engine will be very capable in off-roading. Suspension and tires are going to be your major focus.

 

[roverz]

Do you think that it would be safe for me to start with getting a little front end lift with TT and adding WAR-153's to the rear. AFter reading the forum that could get me a little tire clearance but with 275/70/16 BG Long Trail will i really need any lift or should i just take it out on the trails first and see how i do with it completely stock?

 

[eXcali]

with 2in TT and lengthened shackles you can fit those tires. Stock height I think you'll get some rub on the street, even more on the trail.

 

[roverz]

I actually have those tires on it now but i really have never done anything with it except street and fire trail driving. So even with those stock size tires you think i will get some rubbing?

I guess its time for Shakles and TT then huh?

 

[eXcali]

I actually have those tires on it now but i really have never done anything with it except street and fire trail driving. So even with those stock size tires you think i will get some rubbing?

I guess its time for Shakles and TT then huh?

275/70/16 is a slightly more than 31 inch tire, stock tire is a 29.5. With straight stock suspension I think you'll get a little rubbing doing any off-road flex. If you can't get the warriors right away pickup the adjustable shackles from Autozone for $17, then add 2 inches of TT to the front. The last hole on the Autozone shakles should give you just shy of 2inches in the back. I've used them for almost a year now and they are holding up fine with off-roading and towing a 21ft bayliner.

 

[roverz]

Can i find the autozone shakles online or does anybody have a part number i found a lot of reference to getting the war-153 shakles from offroad unlimitied. What is the difference if any in cost, performance, installation?

 

[roverz]

I was able to find the warrior shakles and got them installed and added 4 turns to the front TT. What a difference we took my truck and my friends stock 4runner down to Hollister hills, CA over the weekend and had a great time. Surprised at how two basically stock SUV's did on the obstacle course and some of the harder uphill trails. There were very large ruts on the trails due to the weather and the SUV did pretty good.

Got stuck on one uphill decent when one of the back tires lost traction and was spinning?

I guess a full locker might have helped in this situation?
Any suggestion on what i should do next to increase my fun?

Currently i have only done TT and WAR153 shakles. I have plans to order a K&N and some new plugs, wires and coils.

 

[kert0307]

A rear lunchbox locker would help. Check out powertrax or aussie locker. If I remember they are under $300

 

[roverz]

If i go with a Aussie or Detroit locker in the rear do i also need to swap the factory limited slip also?

Also should i change gear ratios while i am putting in a locker? (currently have the D4 i think 3.73 limited slip) - AWD

What gears should i change to if i don't plan to run more then 33's in the foreseeable future?

Do i need to have front and rear ratio's matching?

 

[kert0307]

if you have a limited slip diff, you will have to swap in a open diff for the Aussie. Powertrax is the only company that makes a locker that fits in the factory limited slip carrier.

 

[roverz]

Is it true that i can do the powertrax swap one end at a time. i.e. rear end this xmas and maybe front end next xmas. I think i will do the brown wire mod also to take it out of AWD once in a while more for fun then anything else or for a broken front end to get home.

 

[kert0307]

Yes, it will work fine with only one locker installed.

The brown wire mode will allow you to turn off the Auto 4X4. AWD is different than 4X4 auto. However, even with the BW mode the front axle will still be spinning while you are driving because your half shafts are directly connected to the wheel hub, there is no way to "unlock" them.

 

[Elessar65]

You only need to do both axles at the same time if you are changing your gears, like 3.73 to 4.10s. If you are going to be driving it on the street a lot, i wouldn't put a locker in the front. If its just going to be driven to the trails you'll be ok, but as a daily driver i don't think its a good idea unless its a selectable locker.

 

[justsomeguy]

Q: The first thing to Break?
A: The bank.