making explorer axle swap easier?

[ranger2wd]

I did all my finish welding out of the truck sitting on jack stands. Welding on spring perches ain't gonna warp anything.

I'm assuming you MIG'd it?

 

[4.0B2]

i cut my stock ones off the ex's axle, it was easy...
might reuse them, might not.. thought about using a thick square tubing and making perches that incorporate some lift into the perch. maybe only like an inch or so.

 

[ranger2wd]

thought about using a thick square tubing and making perches that incorporate some lift into the perch. maybe only like an inch or so.

Thats a good idea!

 

[legoms013]

Thats a good idea!

Even if you use the flip kit you still have to weld the shock mounts on. No getting around that. So just weld new perches on as well. It isn't hard. And if you don't know how to weld find someone that does and needs a new friend.

C'mon it doesn't get much easier than it already is lol.

MIG or stick it, it doesn't matter which method you use.

No way you are gonna warp anything with the heat required to weld new perches on.

 

[ranger2wd]

Even if you use the flip kit you still have to weld the shock mounts on. No getting around that. So just weld new perches on as well. It isn't hard. And if you don't know how to weld find someone that does and needs a new friend.

C'mon it doesn't get much easier than it already is lol.

MIG or stick it, it doesn't matter which method you use.

No way you are gonna warp anything with the heat required to weld new perches on.

I agree that it's not difficult. Why would I need to weld on new shock mounts? Thanks.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

i believe its because the on the explorer the shock mounts are integrated into the U bolt mounting plate?

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Explorer8_8.html

 

[legoms013]

I agree that it's not difficult. Why would I need to weld on new shock mounts? Thanks.

Because on explorer axles the shocks mount to the spring plate. And that plate will not work over the axle if you use it on your Ranger, and thus will not work with your shocks since they are mounted inboard of the frame rails anyway.

 

[4.0B2]

so when i do my 8.8 swap, should i leave the upper location of my stock shock mounts in the stock place??? or is there a better way to "direct" them?

 

[legoms013]

If you mean the upper mounts on the frame rails I'd just leave them, they can't be relocated higher unless you cut the bed.

 

[4.0B2]

i don't have a "bed" lol.. but yea. that's what i thought to. i was thinking of moving the upper mount to the middle, just make a bar that goes between the frame... but i don't think there's room for that in a b2.. i'm gonna leave them