Explorer 8.8 Swap U-Bolts

[Vexy]

I got the whole U Bolts thing sorted out. I am just thinking about what plate to use now. I am either going to use F150 spring plates or track down some factory explorer spring plates and mod them if need be.

 

[brinker88]

Or ruffstuff/ballisticfabrication makes some REALLY nice thick, indestructable ones for fairly cheap.

http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Leaf-spring-plates_p_1486.html

 

[Vexy]

Damn, you beat me to it. I was just going to post that, since I'm already buying my shock mounts and leaf perches from Ballistic. Might as well add it to the order and call it a day. For $30, those things are beefy.

 

[brinker88]

 

[legoms013]

I'd go with RuffStuff's......Ballistic takes hella days to ship their stuff out.

 

[Vexy]

I would if they had shock tabs and leaf spring perches for the 3.25 axle. I know the TRS community favors RuffStuff, and I would too. Only if they had the parts I need.

 

[Vexy]

I'm just gonna bite the bullet and go with Ballistic Fabrication. I have heard mixed reviews of that company, but they have what I need.

 

[kryptonitecb]

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/SPLT-KIT.html

The exact kit that was put on my truck by previous owner. I have had no problems and neither did previous owner.

Has more than one hole for leaf bolts so you can play with the axle position if you want to. And the holes for the u-bolts are longer so you won't have as much headache trying to put the u-bolts in the perches. The option to have the shock tab welded for you at no extra charge is also available. May cost more but you get a little bit more.

All the parts ship flat rate boxes, I haven't had to wait more than 3-5 days for parts to arrive at my door.

With my lift(I don't know what it is exactly sorry) and the ruffstuff perches with shock tabs, I can fit stock length shocks in the truck as well. Makes it more convenient and cheaper in the long run.

 

[Vexy]

I am not quite following how those shock tabs come into play. Those look a bit odd. Sorry, its late and I need sleep!

 

[brinker88]

I got my leaf spring perches from Ballistic and it took about 4 days to get here. I've always been pleased with their shipping times.

I just used F150 Ubolt plates I had laying in my garage tho.

 

[legoms013]

All the RuffStuff stuff works fine with the 3.25" axle tube diameter.


And those shock tabs that come with that "kit" are the ones prerunner guys use they weld onto the spring perch (the ones that look like iron knuckles).

 

[brinker88]

I got my shock tabs on broncograveyard.com. They were 17 bucks and built to OEM spec for F150s/Ranger. They are Identical to the ones on the 8.8 drum

http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-13632-rear-shock-mounts-lower-.html

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Its just from other peoples stories, and information gathering that I've come to learn about the problems with using blocks. Stock trucks do come with block lifts, jeeps also come with D30 axles, doesn't mean either of them are good.

I have never ever heard of the stock block causing an issue. Stacking blocks is bad, and really big single blocks are bad, but the stock block or anything close to it seems to get along fine.

I have been messing around with my Ranger quite a bit, throwing a 302 at the stock springs and blocks and I don't have even a hint of wheel hop. The stock springs are whipped and it squats hard when I launch but no problems otherwise. Just a nice even squeel.

The explorer axle plates have shock mounts on them if you plan on keeping it spring under, you dont have to weld shock tabs on.

That will take a little doing to do. The Explorer shocks mount to the plates, which are much farther from the center of the diff than the Ranger shocks are mounted. As I recall they are also mounted at an angle.

 

[kryptonitecb]

85_ranger4x4 I know that blocks aren't the end of the world, just heard many stories from the group I crawl with that have had blocks spit out in the middle of the trail. The way you drive has a lot to do with blocks being an issue. Someones DD may never have a single issue the whole life of the truck. A friend of mine has a Dodge Cummins 4x4 with 1" blocks in the back. That truck has never spit one out. His ~1980 FJ DD did within the first year of owning it and it had a 1" block as well. For the price they are easier to use and get the job done.

Explorer spring mounts are at a slight angle and not vertical like the ranger shocks. The mount moves the shock away from the axle and over, depending on which direction you rotate it.

Sounds like your getting axle wrap when you launch, having blocks would cause the effect to be greater the larger size block you use.

 

[Vexy]

All the RuffStuff stuff works fine with the 3.25" axle tube diameter.


And those shock tabs that come with that "kit" are the ones prerunner guys use they weld onto the spring perch (the ones that look like iron knuckles).

So that sounds like it would be far from the stock setup. My original 8.8 has the shocks set up one in the front of the axle tube and one in the back. I'd prefer to keep it that way, so I don't have to mess with the upper shock mounts.