Found a cracked and loose leaf today(talk about a loud noise) in my 01 XLT 4x4 so i'm searching around for ideas on how to go about replacing them. One idea is to go to Expo leafs. I have a local shop that is going to build the leafs I just have a few questions.

1. What year Expo springs fit an 01?
2. What hardware do you think will need replacing?
3. By replacing my beat and battered springs what kind of lift should I expect with the new Expo springs? 2"-3"?
4. How will this effect ride quality?

This will be my first time digging into a leaf install so any tips or things to look out for are appreciated.

Will be using this thread as a guide: How To Expo Install

 

From the things i have read on the explorer swap, the best leafs to get are found on the 97-01 4-door explorer. For hardware i would definitely check the condition of your shackles and probably slip in some new bushings when you do the swap. Depending on how bad your old leafs sagged, id say your probably looking at 1-2.5" of height increase out of the swap. As far as the ride quality, id expect it to be a bit stiffer of a ride on bumps and such.

-That's what i take from what i have researched on the explorer swap, not my own opinions, however i have been considering it as an option for my truck for some time now.

 

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 8530)

From what I understand, the ride will be softer. As far as I know, the spring rate is lower. The height increase is simply because they are arched more than the Ranger springs.

Also, if you just swap the springs, I believe you get more than an inch or two. What I've read is that you get that much if you swap springs and remove the lift blocks.

I'm looking at this swap myself, along with the Expo rear end at the same time, mostly because I've read that it will ride better.

 

Hmm, i thought they had a higher spring rate to cover the extra weight of the glass and structure in the rear of the explorer? Maybe im off, i have been that way this week.

I guess for the height increase id want to know if your looking for new leafs or used leafs, because new leafs would give you a good increase, but used leafs would have a bit of sag by being "used" (unless you get them re-arched) so you would be right in that 1.5"-2.5" range. again, it depends on how much sag is going on there.

Most of the comments in that "How to" section on the explorer swap section kinda reverberate what i have seen on other threads done on the explorer leaf swap. Check em out. lol, all this talk on swapping makes me want to hunt down some explorer springs!

 

I like my Expo springs. They ride the same IMO, they are easy to swap in. They provided 2 inches of life roughly. They hold weight better and I don't have as much Ranger gangsta lean. You can rempove your lift block when you put them in.

 

Just what i'm looking for. Is that ~2in with the blocks or without?

 

I think the 2 door Expos are softer and the 4 doors are stiffer then what we have in our trucks. Atleast thats what I think I put togather with my search today could be wrong.

 

w/o

And yes the 4 door leafs are what you want. there is a specific spring code for each type of leaf. spring codes on the door jam are like this "A3" or "1Z" where the first character is the front spring type and the last character is the leaf type.

I can't remember the codes.....

 

I've got the Expo springs, IMO they don't affect ride quality, but they do lift up the truck a bit, You definitely want to try and find 4 door leafs.
Fronts:
B — 5B326 (RH), 5B327 (LH) torsion bar (Explorer/Mountaineer)
D — 5B326 (RH), 5B327 (LH) torsion bar (Explorer/Mountaineer)
E — 5B326 (RH), 5B327 (LH) torsion bar (Explorer/Mountaineer)
F — 5B326 (RH), 5B327 (LH) torsion bar (Explorer/Mountaineer)
G — 5B326 (RH), 5B327 (LH) torsion bar (Explorer/Mountaineer)
H — 5B326 (RH), 5B327 (LH) torsion bar (Explorer/Mountaineer)
J — 5B326 (RH), 5B327 (LH) torsion bar (Explorer/Mountaineer)
L — 5B326 (RH), 5B327 (LH) torsion bar (Explorer/Mountaineer)

Rears:
F — 5560 spring (F-150, Explorer/Mountaineer)
H — 5560 spring (F-150, Explorer/Mountaineer)
J — 5560 spring (F-150)
L — 5560 spring (F-150, Explorer/Mountaineer)

 

I have the Fs

 

Haven't decided if i'm going to go with Expos or new stockers but I wanted to pop back in and say Thanks for the input guys. It helps a lot

 

I have found a more complete list of leaf codes before that identifies the 3 and 4 leaf packs as well as the Sport Trac leafs. I believe there are 2 or 3 4-leaf packs and those are the ones you want. The 3 leaf packs came from 2-doors.

 

so what are the differences between those rear springs ? (F,H,J,L)

 

Spring rate (basically stiffness)

 

Dont mean to bump an old thread but there was alot of good info in here. So is the F, H, J, and L all 4 door style 4 pack leafs which is what everyone is wanting?

and you said that the stiffness goes up for those, but whats the rate for F versus L?

(Like for instead im thinking about doing these leafs, take out the stock block for 2 inch lift in the back instead of keeping my stock setup and using belltech shackles. So if im going just for the little lift and best ride and not necessarily needing the maximum stiffest spring rate would the F code with 4 leafs be the way to go or something different??)

If I misunderstood some of the post sorry, but I think everything I asked here was accurate. Thanks.

 

There isn't much difference. Hell I have two leafs from two different Expos. They look a little different from one another. As long as they are the same code it's all good.

Go with the Fs, but any pack with 4 leafs will be fine really.

DEFIANTLY get new bushings pressed in. Mine are toast, I regret not having it done. And get new leafs bolts for the front and back. And new shackle hangars if yours are rusted.

 

well mines an 06, would you still recommend getting new leaf bolts or are the expo's different than ares to where it basically forces you to get new ones?

How come you recommend the F's? Not saying your wrong im really just curious im stictly going for the best ride on em, I dont tow much or haul that much to where id need super stiff ones or anything more than what the ranger came stock with honestly. Thanks

 

F's are the most common and since your have a lot less weight in a Ranger vs. Expo. then logicly it makes sense.
As far as the bolts. I'd replace all that, Bushings, bolt. all that junk. you'll probably break one bolt taking either leafs out, and bushings are just something you should replace since your there.

 

I guess the F's are the softest of the 4 pack leafs?

I was def going to replace stuff like bushings and that but I was meaning like is your stock leaf bolts the same as the expo bolts?

 

Yes, F's are softest i think.
The bolts are the same length.

 

The bolts are the same, mine were just VERY worn and used. The threading was rough. I would recommend new.

 

where is a good place to get replacement bushings?

 

Energy suspension or prothane polyurethane bushings!

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/...tion/to=r.html

 

Thanks! those all say they are for pre 1997 will they still work on a 98?

 

Yup. All Expo leafs interchange on the Ranger.