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No 4X4 Excursion EVER had coil spring front suspension from the factory, the EX was slated for EXtinction in '05 so Ford didn't give the EX any of the upgrades the '05 SuperDuty trucks got like the 3 valve gas motors or the 5 speed auto behind the gassers as well as the suspension changes. An '05 4X4 EX has the exact same leaf spring frontend as every other year EX.
That is good to know. That makes going to the newer suspension that much cooler.
OK, I got down there and took a few pictures and looked closely at the wheel well and bump stops. I think it must be some other part of the front suspension. I took measurements and some photos. The front suspension seems standard, but the front leaf springs look tired. I'll post the photos under a photo album since there are several of them.
Thanks, Alex
Alex, We love pictures here, I mean really love em! It's OK to post up as many as you think are needed to illustrate your questions and having them here in the post will get more eyes on them and that will increase the targeted feedback.
Originally Posted by alex--taylor
OK, as per other post, I took measurements and photos. The tapping and knocking must be some other part of the front suspension. The front left and right wheel well are at 38" on 18 or 19" rims. I measured with my measuring tape at they are at 18.5? The tires are Michelin LTX AT 285 70/R17, so that adds a bit to the height. In the rear, I have 39.5 on both sides. There seems to be a 2-3" leveling kit in the rear only, and possibly an added spring. Front seems stock to me. I've uploaded all the pictures in an album under my profile.
Thanks again, Alex
I will assume that the rims are also 17" if that is the tire size.
The rear is also stock, the lift block is from the factory, all 4X4 models have them and the extra (half) leaf on the bottom that only goes forward is actually a factory installed "slapper" style traction bar put there to combat the axle wrap on the less than SuperDuty tough rear springs.
This pic shows the traction bar and stock 4X4 lift block. http://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford...2b5c9bd974.jpg
And you have a rear sway bar too! Excellent feature that most EXs don't have.
Originally Posted by alex--taylor
Thanks, that's what I thought. They look like they are basically horizontal if not a bit inverted. Is that normal? I've read a lot about folks replacing leaf springs and I'm wondering if after 160K miles it might be about time. Also, is that normal that the front end would be 1.5" lower than the rear end (unloaded)?
Alex
The stock front leaves were flat from the factory for the soccer moms like mecdac said so what you have is a completely normal factory stock suspension front and rear. And he also summed up the various "fixes" for these soft springs, it all depends on your budget and desires.
Originally Posted by alex--taylor
Maybe I should just follow through with this HOW-TO posted on the main site...
Looking at you pics I would first try to identify your front end noise by disconnecting the end links from the front sway bar. Just take the bolt on the bottom of the link out where it goes through the sway bar end on both sides, be sure to use a bungee cord or strap/wire to hold the bar ends up and take it for a short drive. If the noise is gone then just send me all of your money, Oh, no, wait scratch that last bit. If the noise is gone you need to replace/rebuild the end links and install new bar bushings, simple job that only needs hand tools! Looking at your pics it looks like there is more side to side movement in the bar bushings so that's where I'm betting your noise is from. Here's a thread from some super good looking guy showing one way to fix this common issue. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...with-pics.html
See here where the bar looks very clean just next to the axle mounted bushing? makes me want to check there first. http://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford...1665bdbaa4.jpg
OK, so I have an appointment at a local 4X4 suspension specialist to get the front end looked at, just to see what they say about replacing the front leaf springs. Before I head in though, what are everyone's thoughts about the rear springs. Are these OEM? What about the leveling block. I thought I read somewhere that the Excursion uses a factory block, is there a way to tell if this OEM or not?
Yes as I said in post #17 your rear suspension is bone stock just like it left the factory. That is the stock 4X4 lift block and the factory "slapper' style traction bar is that half leaf thingy on the bottom of the leaf pack.
Reading back through this post, it's funny how clueless I was in the beginning of my Ex ownership. Thanks much to so many on the FTE forum. In response I finally signed up as a FTE supporter. Before the updating mod sickness caught hold of me, this is where I was at.
Front: 38" (front springs and shocks were shot)
Rear: 39.5" (rear was OK and I had an OEM swaybar)
Up front I've installed an Icon adjustable billet track bar, Bilstein 5100s - part # BIL33-185545, and X code springs. Up front I'm still using the stock shackles.
In the rear I have a new Helwig sway bar, Biltein 5100s - part # BIL33-236964, and B codes with the excursion spring mod. In the rear I'm still using the stock spacer. As for rubber, I'm still on the Michelin LTX AT 285 70/R17 on 17" wheels.
My measurements after Mods are as follows...
Front: 40.5"
Rear: 42"
I did notice though that in my driveway (which is not perfectly flat) that the passenger side front and back is about 1/4" lower.
This is a thread all about just this, suspension measurements of stock and various modded setups, good research tool for others looking to make spring upgrades! https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...easurents.html
Reading back through this post, it's funny how clueless I was in the beginning of my Ex ownership.
If you want a laugh go look at my first 5-10 threads, I was asking how to lower my 2wd and other insanely stupid stuff. You figure things out pretty quick, we all start off the same
Can you post measurements from the center of the hub (center cap) to the wheel wells?
A Rodder, I kept forgetting. I now have 24.5" up front and 26" in the back.
Here's the complete run-down, Before:
Front: 38" (front springs and shocks were shot)
Rear: 39.5" (rear was OK and I had an OEM swaybar)
Since then I've installed an Icon adjustable billet track bar, Bilstein 5100s - part # BIL33-185545, a ProComp Fox dual steering stabilizer, and X code springs. Up front I'm still using the stock shackles.
In the rear I have a new Helwig sway bar, Biltein 5100s - part # BIL33-236964, and B codes with the excursion spring mod. In the rear I'm still using the stock spacer. As for rubber, I'm still on the Michelin LTX AT 285 70/R17 on 17" wheels.
My measurements after Mods are as follows...
Front: 40.5" and 24.5” front hub center to cladding
Rear: 42"and 26” from rear hub center to cladding
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