89 STX questions

[motopete]

I have a 89 STX, and have a few suspension questions. what are the differances in front brackets ect? From what I understand/read the STX comes with a 2" drop kit stock, also a drop pitman arm. I wanted to get 2" of lift in the front. Will I need to modify the stock set up? Also, I was planning to use a spacer kit, but have read they're crap, and since coils are just a little more money it make sense to spring (no pun) for them. Or would the steel factory 2" spacers be the way to go? Being a STX do I need 4" coils to give me 2" of hight? What will Explorer coils give me? If there's any thing else I need to know please tell me. Thanks ahead for any info.

 

[4x4junkie]

Nothing at all wrong with spacers as long as they are metal (there are polyurethane ones available out there, those are garbage).

Check your radius arm crossmember for lowering extensions that are RIVETED into place. If yours has these, you have the Highrider STX model. However I'm not 100% sure the Highrider option was still available for '89 (I know it was for '87-'88).

 

[gw33gp]

In 89 the Highrider suspension was not an option, it was standard for the STX 4WD according the the sales brochure. They called it Sport Rider but it was equivalent to Highrider.

 

[AllanD]

I have a 89 STX, and have a few suspension questions. what are the differances in front brackets ect? From what I understand/read the STX comes with a 2" drop kit stock, also a drop pitman arm. I wanted to get 2" of lift in the front. Will I need to modify the stock set up? Also, I was planning to use a spacer kit, but have read they're crap, and since coils are just a little more money it make sense to spring (no pun) for them. Or would the steel factory 2" spacers be the way to go? Being a STX do I need 4" coils to give me 2" of hight? What will Explorer coils give me? If there's any thing else I need to know please tell me. Thanks ahead for any info.

actually an '87.5 through '89 STX COULD come with the "high Rider" package but that doesn't mean by any stretch that it DID come with the package.

The easiest thing to see is to look in through the passenger side wheelwell.

the axle pivot bracket for the drivers side beam has a reinforcement that goes to the outside surface of the frame.

there are also 1.5" blocks between the radius arm brackets and the frame.

The "highrider" isn't so much of a lift as it is a geometrically correct factory leveling kit.

Frankly I don't get the "level" look, I think a truck that sits level without something heavy in the bed is a truck owned by someone who shoulda bought an Explorer Sport or Bronco2 instead of a truck

In 89 the Highrider suspension was not an option, it was standard for the STX 4WD according the the sales brochure. They called it Sport Rider but it was equivalent to Highrider.

It was a No-Cost option but not all buyers chose to get it.

You can find plenty of '87-89 STX trucks that were built without it.... infact only 20-25% of STX's are....

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[gw33gp]

It was a No-Cost option but not all buyers chose to get it.

You can find plenty of '87-89 STX trucks that were built without it.... infact only 20-25% of STX's are....

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I was only referring to the 89 STX 4WD and according to the sales brochure it infers the lift was standard. The following is a copy of a portion of the 89 STX sales brochure

 

[AllanD]

Generally speaking all the STX trucks with the package were ORDERED, not part of a random "stock" delievery.

Either a customer ordered their truck that way OR a dealer anticipated that their customer base would be interested and ordered them.

My stating that it's 20-25% is based on 20 years of looking.

I've seen a lot of '89 STX's not many HighRider/sportrider trucks.

I wish it were different, those suspension brackets are "junkyard gold"
So I'd definatly notice...

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[motopete]

I got a pic of my radius arm brkt, it looks to me to have a extened plate. What do ya think? Is this a high or sport rider option?

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[4x4junkie]

Looks like you have the Highrider.

I would use the factory spacers if you just want a little lift. Skyjacker's 4" lift coils MIGHT work on it also, but you'd likely be playing it pretty close with not being able to realign the caster/camber correctly.