I've been reading about the V/B swap and thought if I was going to spend that money I might as well get a full matching kit. I found the Pro Comp K4017BMX 4" Lift Kit with Spring, Block and MX Shocks for right around $1200. Will this work for my Ex and with the airbags currently installed?



All thoughts, feedback, opinions, and suggestions welcomed!

 

FWIW, I looked heavily at procomp kits and because towing was a big concern of mine, I went with ATS Modded C code rear springs and X code front springs. They are not installed yet, so I dont know if I made the right choice or not, but after buying new Rancho 9000xl adjustable shocks It ended up in the same ballpark with cost, and I end up not having large or stacked lift blocks which I wanted to avoid. All my research indicates the track bar drop and pitman arm are not required for the mild lift these new springs gives. I guess it depends on how high you wanna be and what your planned usage is.

 

Hey 05MilMachine,

I won't be pulling anything. It's mostly for aesthetics and ability to upgrade the wheels/tires.

I also found the 4" Zone Offroad F11 for about half the price. http://zoneoffroad.com/zone-offroad-...-excursion/f11

Considering just ordering it and seeing how it goes.

 

Whatever you do go with, no matter what the usage, avoid stacked lift blocks in the rear. They are not safe. I dont like the stock ex springs at all, so I would find a solution that replaces all four springs. Procomp makes all four full springs and some here have used them. Lots of options!

 

Chad these options are having you spending way more money than you need to. From what I gather you are currently perfectly happy with the ride and handling of your EX and are really only looking to level out the front with the rear. Is this a correct assumption?

 

Hey Tom,

That is correct and I want to ensure I can add wheels/tires.

Anyway to point me to where I can by the stuff I need for V/B swap because I'm finding it's like $200 per?

 

Contact ATS Junior here on the site, he can hook you up.

If you're 3" higher in the rear, I'd suggest swapping the front springs out for X codes. They should lift your V10 a hair under 3". Keep in mind the springs may settle a little bit, but not much. I've had my V's and B's on for two years and I've only settled 1/4" or so.

I'm swapping for X's and mod-C's later this year and went through Junior for everything to get priced out. It was under $900 for all four springs, all hardware required for install, AND shipping. I was very surprised. The guys that have already voiced concerns about the kits you're looking at costing way more than you need to spend are right and have my vote as well, there's no need for it honestly.

Personally I'd urge you to at least look at swapping the B's out back as well. They'll help stiffen things up a hair. I don't know how much or what kind of driving you do, but I found the stock springs to be worthless. I don't know if the pre existing airbags on your rig are compensating or masking something however.

I'm not a fan of running bags filled all the time to achieve lift, I believe they are more at home for leveling loads instead - just my opinion. I'd rather leave suspension height to springs, which won't fail randomly or develop leaks, etc.

 

Some questions first Chad.
1. Does your EX wander around when on the highway, requiring constant steering wheel input to keep it in the lane?
2. Have you located the air fitting to your airbags? If yes have you adjusted the air pressure at all yet? It looks like your bags are currently adding 2" to your rear ride height.
3. Do you currently need shocks? Does it continue to oscillate up/down more than once after hitting a bump or dip in the road?
4. Do you plan on doing any towing at all? I think you already said no plans for towing....?
5. Is your desire for 35"s and the needed lift to fit them purely for looks and not for offroading? (No sin there, That's my story).
6. Do you like to spend a lot of money on parts when you can enjoy the same results for much less. (I hope this one is a yes because we can always find other cool stuff for you to spend that dough on! ).

 

Hey Matt,

I'll PM ATS Junior.

Okay. X Code Front Springs and B's in back?

Curious why $900.00 for the 4 leafs is a better buy than the $600ish for the Zone lift? Not being snarky, genuinely curious. Is it quality?


I work from home and won't be driving much through the week but I will be in a remote area in North Eastern Washington. Republic, WA. We'll be making the drive to nearby cities at least 1x per week and we'll be going over mountain passes roughly 5500ft. Also will be making the drive over the same mountain pass to Spokane, about a 3 hour drive, at least 1-2x per month.

I agree. I think the original owner pulled often. I'd just like to keep the airbags so I can tweek stuff as needed.


Hey WESZS,

1. Nope. I haven't had any issues.
2. I haven't. Wouldn't know how to use them if I did. My mechanic friend is going to take a look for me, likely next week.
3. Nope.
4. Not really.
5. Either 33's or 35's would likely be fine. Mostly aesthetics but we'll be in rural NE Washington so gravel, mud, dirt, etc. roads happen often.
6. I'm not afraid of spending. It's just money, I can always make more.

 

That zone kit you linked is just mini pack. Basically a long block for front springs. Not full springs and doesn't do anything to improve ride. You can get front mini packs for way cheaper if that's a route you choose.

 

I can't speak for the procomp front but I have the 22415 4" lift springs in the rear and I'm happy with them. Easy install, great ride, got rid of the axel wrap and the wondering rear end. I towed 5k with it over the weekend which isn't much but they springs handled it well. I'm happy with my choice

 

As 05Mil already pointed out, you're spending $600 for what amounts to spacers under still stock springs. ATS gives you all new springs entirely, and also eliminates the leveraging effect that blocks have on the soft stock springs.

Now that I've seen you don't drive it very much, I can understand a lot more why the stock suspension isn't an issue for you. Maybe it's a case of not an issue YET, or some people just don't have a problem with it at all (which boggles my mind, but to each their own).

The only reason I keep suggesting the spring swap is because my X almost killed me and my family the week we bought it. It already had a swaybar in the back, the dinky stock one that came on some Excursions. Big curve, dip in the road, had to slam on the brakes and swerve around some jackass that passed in a no passing zone. Our friends behind us said the left rear wheel came off the ground, and I felt the front end slam into the bumpstops which in turn resulted in a roughly 540° spin out into the ditch. Luckily the only things were two tires had blown out when I clipped the curb, and the impact was enough that the rear swaybar end links broke off entirely, which just made things worse and snowballed I'm sure.
That night I was all over the Internet researching just WTF had happened and how to fix it. I decided to swap springs, and haven't had an issue yet. Still need to get a Hellwig on order, but just the springs alone firmed up and killed off a large amount of the body roll. It rides more controlled, definitely more firm, and with less body roll - even when compared to before with the stock swaybar. Which is ridiculous because it's now lifted 4" higher than stock and on 35's... Usually handling gets worse, not better. To me, that spoke volumes more about how woefully inadequate the OEM suspension is.

 

Thanks for the additional info Matt.

I appreciate it. I'm seriously not trying to be hard headed I'm just trying to get an idea what I need, why, etc.

So, I'll ask about this one last kit from Zone. It's a bit higher of a lift but appears to have the leafs for front and add-a-leaf (whatever that is) in the rear? It's roughly the same $900 you mentioned before.

Zone Offroad 6" Suspension System F3

I guess what I'm asking is for roughly the same price given all you've said, is the Zone that replaces springs (with all the other stuff) a better idea or you'd still take swapping the leafs as a better/safer option?

Lastly, what the hell do I tell ATS I want to buy!? LMAO!

 

An add-a-leaf (AAL) is a cheap and quick fix, which will inevitably prematurely wear and sag the spring pack. Basically it muscle-f***s the entire leaf pack into a bigger arch, which in turn results in more lift. I would go full spring pack if it were my vehicle, however some people have good luck with them. All of the AAL's (regardless of brand) my friends and I have used on a variety of different vehicles have ended with a saggy butt after about a year. Having said that, I am harder on my vehicle than most people, go offroad a lot, and as a result the suspension is frequently run through every inch of suspension travel has to offer. A pavement queen should potentially see longer results using an AAL.

I strongly dislike stock springs because of my experience. Pretty much every lift kit out there that offers new springs will be an improved (IMO) ride over stock. The springs will have a bigger arch, which is stiffer by nature and physics and how a leaf spring works. You can get the same results swapping for V/B or X/C code (just for reference, the V and X are front, B and C are rear) springs as well. Ultimately it is up to you and what route you wish to take, and what you feel is best for YOUR application.

Something that may be quite worth your time is checking out the Regional Chapters section of FTE. I spent 8 years active duty in WA over on Whidbey Island. My point is that there are several members around that area that have lifted Excursions through either spring swapped or lift kits. See if any of them are close to you, and shoot them a PM seeing if you could meet up and check out how their particular setup rides.

As for what to tell Junior, you tell him what you want to achieve... Lol. You'll need to decide whether or not you want to keep the rear bags for your lift or go with springs instead however. On that note, any luck finding the air stem for filling the bags yet?

Once you've made your decision, it'll be easier to get Junior specifics. For example if you're keeping the bags, all you need is X codes to level it. If you want to ditch the bags and run springs to fit 35's, you can either V and B-mod (you won't have to actuall mod the ATS springs, the mod refers to Ford springs) and a 2" full hangar kit, or you can go with X and C-mod (again, no ATS modding). I have the V/B-mod and 2" hangars and I clear 35's but it gets snug sometimes. The front springs are also still a little soft, however I think I have a bad left front spring. I will be swapping to X/C-mod to get it to firm up a bit (I tow frequently as well, another reason) and get a bit more clearance.

 

Matt's advice is very sound and should give you the lift needed to clear 35"s (short 35"s at least!).

1. That's good as a lot of these buggies suffer from serious wandering in stock trim, I was lucky, mine only wandered while towing when stock. If yours is good that means less to worry about when playing with the suspension.
2. Your rear suspension measures about 2" higher than stock, and it does appear stock from the pics besides the air bags. LivingLarge (Michael) gets 2" from his bags at 90PSI, sounds like that is where your extra 2" out back is coming from. That means as things stand right now your rear should be adjustable from where it is now down 2" to stock height with only letting out some air.
3. Great! If your shocks are OK now there is no good reason to replace them. Money saved for other cool stuff!
4. Good, no towing AND no wandering AND happy with the current ride and handling means the rear could be left as-is for now. More money saved!
5. 33's or 35"s OK, I personally think 35"s look like the "right" size on these rigs. 3" on the front should be enough to clear 35"s if you don't plan on a lot of offroad flexing.
6. Good attitude on the money, it is only good for one thing in the end! Spending! it's just that having to work to make more of it that I have issues with. Spend only what you need to get the desired results and throw the rest at cool goodies!

One very inexpensive plan to look at would be to run 33"s with a simple set of 2" lift shackles on the front springs and let a little air out of the bags to bring the rear down an inch. That would give you 25" in the front and 25" in back, even rake and a nice stance with 33"s. Cheaper all around, 33" tires cost less and the shackles are less than $50, no spring work needed and the air bags still have plenty of extra capacity and lift if heavier loads are to be carried.

V codes are a little stronger of a spring than the stock front Ex leaves and many folks here are very happy with them as upgrades. A set of V codes (+1.77" lift over stock) will net nearly the same stance as above and would look great with 33"s. The rear could be adjusted the same as above to give a level to slight rear rake.

V codes with a 1" shackle will give 2.77" of lift (with a section of the stock leaf cut down and added to the pack 3"). At 3" a short 35" tire should fit well on the correct rims and the ride would be level at 26" front/rear with the rear left as-is.

Matt makes a good point about relying on bags for lift all of the time. Modded B code rears would net about the same ride height you currently have with the bags inflated at whatever pressure they are now, About 26". This with any of the above setups would be a very stable and a great upgrade from the stock setup. This also would leave the stock 2" blocks and air bags if you wish. Going with the firmer than a V code X code front will net about 2.9" of lift and may be just enough for a short 35" tire. This will also give you a nearly level stance or just a tad rear high rake.

All of these options will allow for the use of your current good shocks front and rear and none of these frontend mods require any other frontend work like dropped pitman arms, adjustable track bars, dropped track bar brackets, longer hoses etc. And in my humble opinion they are all better setups than the aftermarket setups you linked to earlier as well being less expensive (maybe not with the modded B codes but they are also a big improvement over the stock springs so.....).

Much food for your thoughts.