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Lifting an Explorer


WNY964x4

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Ok guys , forgive me if this makes me sound like an idiot , but what is the easiest way to lift an explorer.

i am used to the springs over the axles with the rangers , this spring under axle thing is new to me.

so any advice that you could give me is much appreciated.

thanks alot
 


mongoose289

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i would guess add a leafs or maybe shackles
 
BlackBII

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Shackles, lift springs, or, you can swap the axle to leaf over, rather than leaf under.
 
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BlackBII said:
Shackles, lift springs, or, you can swap the axle to leaf over, rather than leaf under.
Click to expand...
Yep. Keep in mind that a spring over should put you at around 7" of lift so plan accordingly for the front... Or you could always pull a leaf out of the packs.
 
WNY964x4

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i figures i would want about 6 inches of lift since i want to fit a set of 33's on it , so the spring over swap should work for me , maybe i could get the right height if i put a different set of blocks in when i do the swap , what would be the easiest way for the front , just try and find a set of radius and beam drop brackets ?
 
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Use a Ranger lift for the front (get one with rear blocks or something cheap, you won't be using the rear stuff).

Then swap the rear to SOA using your stock leafs. Should give you closer to 5-6" lift.
 
WNY964x4

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4x4junkie said:
Use a Ranger lift for the front (get one with rear blocks or something cheap, you won't be using the rear stuff).

Then swap the rear to SOA using your stock leafs. Should give you closer to 5-6" lift.
Click to expand...

ok , i was thinking i could get a ranger 8.8 from a friend of my dads , when i was down there with my ranger , he had , including his cousins ranger , 19 rangers and 2 bronco 2's , plus he has a barn full of parts
 
mjonesjr

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swapping in a Ranger 8.8 is a down grade to an Explorer; there are reasons people swap the Explorer 8.8 in their Ranger. The Explorer 8.8 is also wider than a Ranger 8.8.
 
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Yeah I meant to say 6" of lift... Of course it'll vary a little though I guess.

And while swapping in a Ranger 8.8 would technically be a downgrade, if you don't want to deal with spring perches and shock mounts it's easier. Plus if you get the Ranger rear for cheap, you could the Ex rear to make back some $$.
 
mjonesjr

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your amount of lift depends on which perches you get.

If you don't want to mess with the perches, get yourself an axle flip kit; it will work in reverse of the normal way. Then you would only have to weld on shock tabs.
 
WNY964x4

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mjones said:
swapping in a Ranger 8.8 is a down grade to an Explorer; there are reasons people swap the Explorer 8.8 in their Ranger. The Explorer 8.8 is also wider than a Ranger 8.8.
Click to expand...

well the only part of the ranger axle that would go into the explorer is the casing , the running gear and axleshafts out of my exploder would go into it , and how much wider is the axle
 
mjonesjr

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WNY964x4 said:
well the only part of the ranger axle that would go into the explorer is the casing , the running gear and axleshafts out of my exploder would go into it , and how much wider is the axle
Click to expand...
That won't work. The Explorer parts won't fit in a Ranger housing.

The Explorer axle is about 1.5" wider.
 
WNY964x4

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well then i guess i will attempt to put the perches on top , i will wait till christmas break , since i am spending the next 3.5 weeks doing nothing but welding
 
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I would juss put bigger coils in the front and add bigger leafs in the rear. I have a 1993 2 door ford explore 4x4, 4.0 v6. its a beast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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