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How low would you say?


2drxploder

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I have 99 ranger reg cab v-swapped, coil spring front end truck. Current suspension is cut 1 entire coil off front springs, and rear is expo swapped rear-end in expo configurations with a lift shackles to raise up slightly, was too low with just swap. I like this height or maybe slightly lower. I plan on a set of 17x8/9 or 17x9/10 from lmr. Have a pic of stock suspension and how it sits now. I was looking at the djm 4/5 kit, think this will be significantly lower than now?
 

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franklin2

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snoranger

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Here’s a pic of my 4/5 DJM drop.

0D27780F-0D14-4E7D-A2AB-4618C7F07812.jpeg
 

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2drxploder

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Bags are too expensive. And have no desire to drag frame with this truck. @snoranger your truck looks lower thin my current setup but i like it. How do you like djm kit? Ride ok? Anyone know how this works with explorer rear-end? The front springs barely sagged with v8 weight Trying to get some info before I spend this kind of money, would only like to do it once
 

ummduh

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Bags are too expensive. And have no desire to drag frame with this truck. @snoranger your truck looks lower thin my current setup but i like it. How do you like djm kit? Ride ok? Anyone know how this works with explorer rear-end? The front springs barely sagged with v8 weight Trying to get some info before I spend this kind of money, would only like to do it once

My truck sounds very similar to yours. Explorer 5.0, explorer 8.8, djm 5/4 drop. Technically you don't need the djm rear kit with an explorer axle.

Definitely need c-notch in the rear as well. I did my own shock mounts in the rear, and replaced my leaf spring perches on the axle to improve u joint angles. it bolted up with the original mounts and may have worked fine if I had put more effort into getting my engine and trans mounts done right the first time.

I think it rides pretty good, right up until the rear bottoms out on the frame. I just found some Gabriel ultra something or others that fit dimension wise in the rear, the front are the factory replacements.
 

2drxploder

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C-notch for the rear? Did not think this was necessary for the 4/5. I am currently running the expo rear with no notch
 

ummduh

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C-notch for the rear? Did not think this was necessary for the 4/5. I am currently running the expo rear with no notch
I most definitely bounce off the frame way more than I'd like.

Pic for reference; that's ride height, no changes other than the explorer axle. No shackles, no spacers, stock springs, etc..
 

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stmitch

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The drop that you had from installing the Explorer rear axle should be roughly equivalent to the 5" rear drop that you'd get from the DJM flip kit. Save your time and money and just reinstall stock shackles.
 

lil_Blue_Ford

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The drop that you had from installing the Explorer rear axle should be roughly equivalent to the 5" rear drop that you'd get from the DJM flip kit. Save your time and money and just reinstall stock shackles.
^^^

This.

You will have to C-notch the frame though. I built some heavier spring packs when I did the Explorer rear axle swap on my 2000. About the time the axle hit the bump stops, I was getting light on the jackstands under the frame. I ended up doing longer shackles and living with it. I still have to get the front right, the torsion bar 4x4 suspension has some limiting factors that I wasn’t counting on. I’ve already managed to bottom out, so I’m saying that’s low enough for me right now once I get the front down another inch. I went full bore with the build though, entire Explorer 5.0 drivetrain and made it AWD. I’d have to have custom upper and lower front A-arms and coil overs in the front to get low enough for C-notch territory in the back. Right now I just apparently need different upper A-arms and swap to the 08-11 torsion bar keys.
 

JoshT

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Right now I just apparently need different upper A-arms
I'm still semi working on that too. Got a place that says they make them in batches, but can't tell me when the next batch will be made. I'd asked about them a year ago, but apparently missed them going up on the site. If I spot them this time around I'll shoot you a message.

Asked about a mailing list for it, but he sdaid they don;t do that and he would probably forget. Atleast he's honest about that. Said that pre-ordering was a possible option so he'd have an invoice and ship when they were buillt. His words:

"Well, if you want me to send you an invoice for them, i can get you in with the next batch, I mean i typically only make sets that are ordered, i can try to remember when the batch is starting, but honestly i have a million things going on every week with orders so I dont typically remember unless its paid for and i have the invoice in front of me to work on. "

I might be willing to do that, but need to see how some medical bills are going to go. Ongoing treatments for DME have been about $150/treatment for the last two years, last bill was $700. If they don't figure out there was a billing mistake (or it's not in my favor), I might not have the spare cash to put towards them.
 

lil_Blue_Ford

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I'm still semi working on that too. Got a place that says they make them in batches, but can't tell me when the next batch will be made. I'd asked about them a year ago, but apparently missed them going up on the site. If I spot them this time around I'll shoot you a message.

Asked about a mailing list for it, but he sdaid they don;t do that and he would probably forget. Atleast he's honest about that. Said that pre-ordering was a possible option so he'd have an invoice and ship when they were buillt. His words:

"Well, if you want me to send you an invoice for them, i can get you in with the next batch, I mean i typically only make sets that are ordered, i can try to remember when the batch is starting, but honestly i have a million things going on every week with orders so I dont typically remember unless its paid for and i have the invoice in front of me to work on. "

I might be willing to do that, but need to see how some medical bills are going to go. Ongoing treatments for DME have been about $150/treatment for the last two years, last bill was $700. If they don't figure out there was a billing mistake (or it's not in my favor), I might not have the spare cash to put towards them.
I’d be interested in part of that for sure. My finances are kinda up in the air too, but I’d like to get in on it because I need more drop
 

JoshT

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Michigan Metal Works. I remembered them from people lowering edges back in the days of RPS, so I shot them an email about it. Once I know what's going on with my bills, hopefully in the next few weeks, I'll decide if I'm pre-ordering or hoping to catch them when they go up on the site.

The other one that I know used to do it was Illusive Fabrication & Design, but they haven't been quite as forthcoming with information and replies.
 

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