Thread: Explorer 62" leaf setup

Who would be interested in a kit that allows you to bolt/weld on deaver 62" leafs? Both with stock wheelbase, or +3" for the bigger fiberglass?

I would if the price is right. I've been looking at improving mine already. I've also looked at using Chevy C1500 mains because the center pin to rear length is only a little over an inch compared to the Explorer pack and I would only have to move the front mount forward 10 inches. I was going to mock-up the mounts using a set of factory mains and then check with Deaver to see if any of their Chevy packs would give me the lift I wanted and if not have them made.

Originally Posted by 94cobra69ss396

I would if the price is right.

It always is! Would you be looking to keep stock wheelbase?

Yes. Although I did move the front forward 1.5 inches when I did the SAS swap so technically it's not the stock wheelbase but I want to keep the rear in the stock location.

what would it technically include? the bushing, sleeve, and some sort of gusset to weld onto the top of the frame? then if you dont wanna push the wheelbase back, a new front hanger mount?

this is assuming youre talking about the conversion to be set up like a toyota 62" leaf set up correct?

just trying to get a little more specifics from what you mean by "kit" because i think you have to cut into the body for the shackle, and pivot mount, ect.

It would also include boomerang shackles that will clear the stock rear crossmember that has the body mounts on it. So it would save the installer a lot of hassle cutting/grinding.

Maybe interested in the future. Just picked up an explorer. How much useable travel do you think you can get from a 62 setup?

Originally Posted by NODNARB

It would also include boomerang shackles that will clear the stock rear crossmember that has the body mounts on it. So it would save the installer a lot of hassle cutting/grinding.

right ok cool.
id be interested if the price was right like stated above, but as far as price being right for me personally might be a little different since ive done it once and might end up doing it again myself on my current expo. but who knows. im lazy, so i might end up just buying a kit if you end up making them....
but i think plenty of people with expos would love the fact that a 62" spring swap would be alot less work then it is now if there was a "kit" out for installing it. the installation factor of cutting and welding alot of stuff is what scares most people away to just the G50e packs....

My dad would most likely be interested in something like this to match his DBR kit on his expo, would be nice to reduce the amount of grinding and cutting for the old man lol

i'm interested

I'd like to see how the one you're working on turns out, compared to Jeepspeed's explorer with the springs mounted outside the frame with a flipped shackle. I'm undecided on which route I want to take in the future, but a simple bolt-on kit might sway me in one direction. ...for the right price, of course.

good idea!

I'm definitely interested!

I'd be interested, the whole clearing the rear crossmember is why I went with the G50e.

...and stock wheel base. My 2 door would look like a jeep if my wheels were pushed back 3 inches

I would say that a "kit" would not be as good as moving the leafs outside the frame and running a flipped shackle ect like jeepspeed, mostly because the springs will go into negative arch sooner... However I think you would still make a killing because from what I've heard its worlds better than the g50e's. Not having to get a full width axle makes it very appealing. I would buy one.

well giant makes a 64" kit so there would be no need for moving them outside the rails, plus its easier to do 62s considering you can use the stock front hanger and ude need to move the gas tank if you were to move outside the rails. This "kit" is meant for simplicity which wouldnt require alot of welding which the 64s do. Plus brandon build mine and realized that its not as simple as he thought it would be so theres most likely not gunna be a kit for 62s that hes gunna make

Are you sure about using the stock front mount? Back in the day when I tried it on a '91 the anti wrap leaf made the diameter of the spring too large for the front mount.

Ya we used the stock front hanger for mine but had to make a new rear hanger

Originally Posted by NODNARB

It would also include boomerang shackles that will clear the stock rear crossmember that has the body mounts on it. So it would save the installer a lot of hassle cutting/grinding.

Damn, I never though of building shackles around the crossmember. I went though the pain and suffering of cutting all that shit out and making new body mounts, haha. Im sure if people knew about it more would be interested.

As far as springs going into negative arc, If I am not mistake the Deaver 61.5" springs are designed to go aprrox 2 inches into negative arc without prematurely destroying them as long as the geometry is correct. I got 19 strapped out of my f-67 pack on my explorer with an 18" Fox bypass and Ill tell you what. It does better than any other leaf sprung Explorer Ive seen. It doesn't hop around nearly as much. If a kit were made the only thing a "garage installer" could mess up would be rear spring hanger location to yield correct geometry. I did it myself the first time and had the hangers almost 2 inches too far back.

The factory front mount has to be slightly modified/clearance for the rebound wrap on the spring to clear. Or part of the wrap it self has to be trimmed. I did just a touch of both to fit my springs in the factory front hanger.

Also a note in reference to spring outside the frame vs under the frame..I remember talking to Geoff from Giant and he mentioned something along the lines of springs on the side of the frame rail track better side to side than the under the frame set up. I'm not sure how but he had some interesting input on leaf springs.

On 4 door Explorers it would be highly beneficial to mount a 62" spring pack in stock hanger or hanger in stock location to get the advantage of the lengthened wheel base. When I set my rear up it moved my axle back almost 3 inches to match the Fiberwerx 7" fenders. Im interested in seeing what you guys come up with Brandon. keep up the good work. I may have to talk to you about some work soon!

The one thing about the 62s I don't want is my axle moved back. At least not 3" back, maybe 1"...I don't like the 7" fiberglass. Because they've worked so well for Dan, if there were a kit that moved the front hanger forward, I would be very interested.

Are you not planning on going with a wider axle in the rear. If you go wider the smaller glass will not work. Tires will rub. If you keep the stock rear axle Id say keep the wheel base as is or maybe 0.5-1" back, but you may need larger wheel tubs. If you move the axle at all a new driveshaft will have to be a requirement. I'd say 62s were the best thing besides linking my Explorer I could of done with the budget I had at the time. Now I'm moving on to bigger and better things back there! lol. A kit will not determine the axle location anyways. You can place the axle wherever you desire.

This is far in the future, but I think I've decided to go with a super 88 kit and if I need to, some small spacers so I can fit the shocks outside the frame. Shocks outside the frame is high on my priority list because I don't want them in the middle of my trunk. And tubs I'll probably end up having to do too. And I was thinking that if a kit were made for 62s with an extended wheelbase, the kit wouldn't need front spring hangers and could just reuse the stock ones. So I would be interested in the kit only if there was a spring hanger that I could move forward on the frame to keep the axle where it is.

Whats a super 88 kit?

I had a hell of a time getting the shocks in the right place as to not contact the tire of frame at full articulation and my axle is a full size f150 8.8 right now. I have barely a 1/2" clearance at nearly full articulation. With just wheel spacers you aren't going to fit a shock on the outside of the frame rails.

You can always use an after market spring hanger if not included in the "kit". Cutting the factory one off and reusing it would be useless. Its a relatively easy process if you have a shackle like Brandon is using here to clear the rear crossmember/body mount to mount 62s as long as you get the eye-eye measurements correct for proper geometry depending on shackle length.

A super 88 kit is a c clip delete kit come with cromo axles and 5.5 or 4.5 lug conversion

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And it makes the axle a little bit wider, about an inch per side if I recall. I was hoping the super 88 kit + a spacer would be enough to fit shocks outside the frame, but it may not be enough after all. Anyway, back to the 62 install...

I was told by a guy at Moser eng to never run the c-clip eliminator kit in an off road application.

I've read that they aren't designed for side loads, they are drag race only.

Superior Axle & Gear announces its newest off-road axle setup - The Super 88™ Axle System. Do you want a truly-trick problem solving solution? The leader in axle and drivetrain development does it again.The Super 88™ Axle System features a 35% Increase in strength over stock applications. The system fits 1996 and newer Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer housings with disc brakes.

The kit comes complete with the following: • Two USA-made 4340 chrome moly axles. The axles feature a thicker flange and increased radius to the body for a real strength increase for those side hill moments. This design provides more strength than some aftermarket designs that only increase the thickness of the flange. • Two heavy-duty machined axle retainers with spacer rings. • Complete set of 3/4 ton Timken Roller Bearings™ and Seals. • Two C-Clip eliminators. • Ten 1/2-20 threaded studs. • Two axle badges to show your Superior pride. The Super 88™ Axle System requires some cutting but no welding. On average it can be installed in under 2 hours.

sounds like its built for off road

on my friends expo he did leafs and it bushed his wheel base back. so we used the stock anti rap bars to locate the axle and pushed the front hanger forward tell it was in the right spot

That's what I was going to say, it's intended for offroad use. I wonder what the reasoning was that you heard not to use it offroad. I was interested in it because of the added width without the negatives of wheel spacers, and the strength it's supposed to have was just a bonus for me. But I can't remember ever hearing of anyone having a problem with the stock c-clips anyway so the strength factor was sort of a moot point.

I'm game.

Originally Posted by mounty71

That's what I was going to say, it's intended for offroad use. I wonder what the reasoning was that you heard not to use it offroad. I was interested in it because of the added width without the negatives of wheel spacers, and the strength it's supposed to have was just a bonus for me. But I can't remember ever hearing of anyone having a problem with the stock c-clips anyway so the strength factor was sort of a moot point.

I called Moser Eng to order up new axles for my f-150 rear end because Currie didn't make c-clip axles. I asked about the c-clip eliminator kit and the tech said don't do it. So I didn't. I've never heard of anyone breaking a 31 spline 8.8 in a ranger or explorer anyway so in my opinion its a waste. Not worth an inch of added width in my book.

Any plans on still making the kit?

Last he talked to me about a kit, he said after doing my truck, he realized it wasnt gunna be as simple as he imagined, so i dont think theres gunna be a kit