explorer leaf swap didnt work???

[scrizzo]

hopefully some of you can tell me what went wrong...i have a 2000 4wd that the springs were flat...so after reading a bunch i thought explorer leafs would be the best option...i went to my local u-pick and found a set off a 98 4 door with 80000 miles looked like they were in great shape.(happened to be an eddie bauer dont know if it makes a diff?) got both for 50 bucks took em home and installed them on my truck...

after it was back on the ground i may have gained maybe half an inch and i kept the stock block also. everything ive read is i should have gained about 2 inches at least?

one other peice of info the 4 door springs didnt have an overload on the bottom...would it make a differenence other than the half inch for the width if i was to take the one off the old ranger pack and put it on the explorer leafs?

i know this is long winded but im kinda stumped...what about frankensteining the old ranger and explorer springs together?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated

 

[Sunk]

You can add extra leafs if you want, just make sure the lengths are all staggered with the shortest on the bottom. Do you have a heavy toolbox or something else in your truck?

Also, you'll probably need longer spring bolts if you add extra leafs.

 

[disciplerocks]

On my B2, I got about 1.5-2" after the swap. B2 springs are real soft. The Ranger springs are in between B2 and Ex springs, so thats probably about right. If you need more, I suggest getting lowering shackles over AALs.

 

[scrizzo]

thanks for the replies, right now i probably have around 200 lbs in the bed, but should it make it squat that much?....i did notice that the explorer springs made the rear a good bit stiffer and the ride a whole lot better..

im looking to get about 2 more inches in the rear as i have the torsion bars cranked and it has a bit of a backwards rake to it.

Ive read plenty on the shackle and would go with that option but from pics ive seen it looks as if the wheels are pushed forward in the wells... i have a set of 33s comin and i am afraid that would cause problems with clearance until i get my body lift in which may be a few weeks...

Im running 31s now and have plenty of room but dont really wanna chance gouging the new tires or crushing my bed sides

 

[chrwilkins30]

My swap gave about 2 1/2 inches in the rear. but my leaves were pretty bad.

 

[scrizzo]

yea mine were flat almost arching the wrong way. im gonna mix the ranger pack in with the explorer pack and see what happens from there

 

[RangerSVT]

I combined the ranger and explorer leafs and built a 6 leaf pack, gained about 3.5 inches....

SVT

 

[scrizzo]

thanks, thats what i was lookin for

 

[scrizzo]

Just as an update, my explorer leaves did not have the overload springs on them (i guess because it was an eddie bauer)......... so this afternoon i decided to add the ones from the ranger to the pack, it doesnt seem like a big deal but after doing so i was able to gain the full 2 inches versus the half inch i got the first time..

thanks for the help

finally got my 33s on

 

[tanbuddy]

So the explorer springs u used only had 3 leafs? I just checked out a few 4 doors, one with the 5.0 the other the 4.0 and they were both 4 leaf, one was rated at 3000 lbs, the other 2950 lbs, but they had the same rear spring code.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Its a misconception, dependig on the vehicle your working on the exploder leaves dont give lift, they are better flex and remove the ranger sway. You can mix match your stock leaves with exploder leaves, basically adding more for a little lift. But the exploder leaf swap isnt designed to increase lift, thats a side benefit depending on your setup. Go to the store and buy 2 inch drop shackles and install them, thats your best bet for the lift and they will work well with exploder springs, I would read all the spring swap writeups in the tech library too, alot of info in there.

 

[scrizzo]

i guess those spring packs arent designed to work without an overload (heavy flat spring) on them.. after adding that, i DID get the affect i was looking for....before it looked as if they were recuving over the perch..

BTW i love the way it handles now...aside from being stiff on bumbs it corners like a dream

NEXT: I got the 8.8 outta the same explorer with 4.10s and LS to install