Explorer leaf swap questions

yeatzee · #1 10-15-2014, 06:59 PM

I've done my research and today tore apart an explorer to take its leaf springs. I got home just now and when I laid them side by side one is clearly taller (more arch) then the other, by about a single leaf's thickness.

My question is whether that is normal (gas tank side = more beat up leaf pack?) and if they are still usable for this swap. I plan on combining my ranger and explorer packs to make a bastard pack, so im thinking if everything is okay I'll just run the higher arched leaf's on the drivers side to help with the gas tank weight. Sound okay?

and while im at it, where is a good place to get affordable U bolts that aren't the metallic gold junk china ones from autozone that strip way to easy.

Fordzilla80 · #2 10-15-2014, 07:12 PM

I did the bastard pack on my truck. And honestly, I regret it. It rides terrible. I don't off-road my truck much any more, and even then I still hate it. I can't imagine what it will be like for you since you take your truck out more than I do. If you have numerous speed bumps where you live, you'll learn to hate the bastard pack very quickly. And forget about bumps in the desert. If you do end up doing the bastard pack, I would strongly recommend finding actual lift springs as soon as possible.

Anyways, my springs were slightly off like that too. But I don't notice any height differences on the truck.

yeatzee · #3 10-15-2014, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fordzilla80

I did the bastard pack on my truck. And honestly, I regret it. It rides terrible. I don't off-road my truck much any more, and even then I still hate it. I can't imagine what it will be like for you since you take your truck out more than I do. If you have numerous speed bumps where you live, you'll learn to hate the bastard pack very quickly. And forget about bumps in the desert. If you do end up doing the bastard pack, I would strongly recommend finding actual lift springs as soon as possible.

Anyways, my springs were slightly off like that too. But I don't notice any height differences on the truck.

Thank you for your honesty! It seems you are the only person I've read that regrets going this route. My problem is that I don't really have a choice, my current springs are completely flat and any weight in the bed results in a large drop in height. With the camper shell and how often I've used it already there definitely needs to be something done... and it doesn't ride the greatest either... plus at the beginning of next month I'll have to tow a 6.5' x 12' enclosed trailer every weekend so my options are limited and I need something done now. How many leafs do you have in your pack? I was not planning on using all of them by any means, the rear suspension just needs a quick and cheap refresher until I can source some good priced deavers or something and overhaul everything from the cab back.

edit:

Holy crap dude! Yeah definitely not planning on using every single leaf, and certainly not both overloads.

Fordzilla80 · #4 10-15-2014, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeatzee

Holy crap dude! Yeah definitely not planning on using every single leaf, and certainly not both overloads.

LOL! Yea, I went all out, and assumed you would do the same. But if you're not using all of the leaves, then you should be fine. I've thought about taking leaves out, but I would lose my height. Still not sure what I want to do.

I can say one thing though, my truck doesn't squat.

Oh, and in that pic you can see the cheap Autozone u-bolts. I agree with what you said. I noticed thread damage three days after I did that swap and immediately went to a local 4x4 shop and bought new custom U-bolts.

yeatzee · #5 10-15-2014, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fordzilla80

LOL! Yea, I went all out, and assumed you would do the same. But if you're not using all of the leaves, then you should be fine. I've thought about taking leaves out, but I would lose my height. Still not sure what I want to do.

I can say one thing though, my truck doesn't squat.

Oh, and in that pic you can see the cheap Autozone u-bolts. I agree with what you said. I noticed thread damage three days after I did that swap and immediately went to a local 4x4 shop and bought new custom U-bolts.

I haven't fully decided what I was going to do either, I might even keep my setup now with the block and shackle and see how the new pack works with it. I doubt the explorer pack is enough to rid the lift block since I get 2.5" from that so we'll see. Probably just experiment and go with whatever works, I may just try and find some stock shackles and run those with the lift block and new pack so the flattening is lessened... decisions decisions. Whatever it is I need more lift then the ~4" im getting now. Thanks for the help

Fordzilla80 · #6 10-15-2014, 07:55 PM

I know that on my truck, which has a different front suspension setup, Even my 9 leafs per side still weren't enough to match the 4" spindle + whatever inch torsion bar crank I have up front. I had to re-install the blocks in order for the truck to sit level.

Now that I'm talking about it, I might just de-crank my torsion bars and ditch a few leaves and be done with it. I really want a better ride. lol.

JPs65 galaxie · #7 10-15-2014, 08:44 PM

How hard would it be for me to combine my parts explorer's leaf springs and my ranger leaf springs to make a small bastard pack and how do you do it.

UGA · #8 10-15-2014, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPs65 galaxie

How hard would it be for me to combine my parts explorer's leaf springs and my ranger leaf springs to make a small bastard pack and how do you do it.

if I were you I'd go on car ID and buy the 4" explorer leafs.. That's what I did on my truck when i had it.. Explorers are leaf under so it turned out being like 7" of lift.. And they're the same length as rangers so it's literally bolt on..

reconjb · #9 10-15-2014, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPs65 galaxie

How hard would it be for me to combine my parts explorer's leaf springs and my ranger leaf springs to make a small bastard pack and how do you do it.

It's not hard there is a how to floating around this forum do a search for bastard leaf spring pack

UGA · #10 10-15-2014, 08:52 PM

But if you aren't looking for that much just undo the leaf clamps and take out the center bolt in the center of the leaf and put it back together with both but with a bigger center bolt.. And of course stagger the leafs by lengths

JPs65 galaxie · #11 10-15-2014, 09:00 PM

Thanks guys

casey.mikl · #12 10-16-2014, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeatzee

Thank you for your honesty! It seems you are the only person I've read that regrets going this route. My problem is that I don't really have a choice, my current springs are completely flat and any weight in the bed results in a large drop in height. With the camper shell and how often I've used it already there definitely needs to be something done... and it doesn't ride the greatest either... plus at the beginning of next month I'll have to tow a 6.5' x 12' enclosed trailer every weekend so my options are limited and I need something done now. How many leafs do you have in your pack? I was not planning on using all of them by any means, the rear suspension just needs a quick and cheap refresher until I can source some good priced deavers or something and overhaul everything from the cab back. edit: Holy crap dude! Yeah definitely not planning on using every single leaf, and certainly not both overloads.

Why not get new leafs and get air bags for the rear of the truck? The air bags will level the truck and give you a better ride then the pack

2004xlmiller · #13 10-16-2014, 01:19 PM

should really consider stock chevy 64s... awesome ride with a longer spring, throw the ranger leafs in the rest of the pack under the chevy main and secondary. you'll love it. great load capacity matched with a better ride. its still a truck, but beefing up ranger short leafs was always annoying for me, biggest waste of time.

JPs65 galaxie · #14 10-20-2014, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2004xlmiller

should really consider stock chevy 64s... awesome ride with a longer spring, throw the ranger leafs in the rest of the pack under the chevy main and secondary. you'll love it. great load capacity matched with a better ride. its still a truck, but beefing up ranger short leafs was always annoying for me, biggest waste of time.

I'm interested haha. How do you do it. Do you gotta move the leaf spring mounts. And what year Chevy leafs. And what's the order of the leafs if you add the rangers to it. Sorry for all the questions but this is exactly what Ive been wanting to do I just didn't know how

yeatzee · #15 12-18-2014, 03:10 PM

Figured I'd bump this. Last night I ended up going ranger main, cut explorer main, ranger 2nd, explorer 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. No overload. I kept the stock lift block and the lift shackles and it put me about half an inch higher in the back vs the front. Its just about perfect, but if I find some stock shackles I'll be swapping those in. Ride feels more planted, and I didn't notice any extra harshness at the local testing grounds. Payload is vastly increased, it barely moves with me standing on the tailgate vs it usually squatting a decent bit (pathetic). I need new shocks though as my droop/flex is limited a lot. Overall im stoked!