why cant you use move the bracket forward? i dont have any experience with the explorer leaf swap but i assume it would work out alright, they are fairly soft and should flex ok...

 

i just dont have a welder or anything like that.

 

I think i'm gonna ditch the stock block and add the skyjacker leafs. Couldn't you use the 4'' leafs with the stock block for the same height ?

 

ok. well try the explorer leafs with a belltech 6400 shackle. youll like it

 

ok now what year do i get the explorer leafs off of??

 

I believe so. I think I may end up ordering these today off of Summit, I think this is one of the best options, but I think it moves the axle forward a bit, according to the thread below. I'm not too sure how I feel about that....I will have some major flex and clearance issues if I do this and it turns out like this:

https://www.ranger-forums.com/f69/re...-7-rear-95402/

Skyjacker 4" Leafs
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SJ...5&autoview=sku

 

Hmmm... Well I don't want to move the tires forward if I can help it

 

X2

 

Ya I wouldn't.

 

I want to know this too. If we can use explorer springs, that would mean we could use aftermarket explorer leafs too, correct?

 

Anybody know this? I'm assuming its up to 2001....but I may be wrong.

 

Thats correct.

 

I wouldn't do a shackle, but thats just me. I'm aware they give you better flex but most people on here don't ever do anything to make their suspension flex anyway, other than posing on curbs and stuff for pictures to post on here for whatever reason. I think shackles look horrible since you see it hang down lower than the bed and since they move the axle further forward in the wheel well making it off center. I'd do skyjacker 6" leafs.

 

I have shackles already, didn't notice one bit of difference in moving my axle forward, and I do much more flexing than curbs, hence why I have an ORW Coilover kit on the way to me which should be here Monday. I'm not too worried about what the truck looks like from the back, nor do I care what the people looking at my truck think about it either, more worried about function. To each his own though, I'm not hatin. I've seen the Skyjacker leafs move the axle forward, like so......
https://www.ranger-forums.com/f69/re...-7-rear-95402/

 

Deavers FTW!

 

My post wasn't like aimed at you or anyone for that matter, just a broad generalization for the forum as a whole. And yeah it is moved forward because he has lift shackles too lol.

 

Yeah shackles will move the axle slightly forward. Not a concern for some people though, but it does look kinda goofy on select trucks.

 

lol I didn't mean for that to sound like a defense shot back at you, sorry man. I agree with you though about alot of people lifting their trucks just to go take some twilight mall parking lot shots of their trucks, and shackles wouldn't look good on a JCPenny backdrop. The only shackles I've seen (on both my truck and others trucks) that move the axle forward a noticable amount is when you pair them up with the skyjackers like that thread I posted. I guess we'll find out on my explorer leaf swap here within the next week.

 

does moving your axle up any, hurt anything?

 

No it won't hurt anything.

 

everytime you axle moves forward a baby kitten is murdered

 

I've heard it was a

 

dam well i'll spare a kittens life and not move my axle forward haha

 

i know it's not my thread, but are explorer leafs really just interchangeable? wanna lift my 03, what year explorer should i look for?

and if that works so well, is there a swap i could make with explorer front suspension components to get lift there too?

 

no on the front....and the explorer leafs lift you because explorer are spring under and u are spring over...since expo sit at about the same height the springs make up for some of the 4 inches of height lost from being spring under...they also mount the leafs under the frame instead of on the side like rangers...thats why u only get like 2 inches from the springs not 4 because where they mount under the frame makes up for the other 2 inches....yes they will just bolt right in. i have them i my truck and they work great...im also wondering it the guy with the axle really far forward put his leafs in backwards...because IIRC the center pin is off set...i dont remember if it is forward or backwards so maybe if u put the leafs in backwards it would move the axle forwards....idk....that is just a thought