On top is a 66-79 old twin I bean coil spring. On the bottom is a new 91 explorer coil spring. I was told the explorer springs fit our trucks and drop the front 2-3ich while giving a better ride so I heard. So I figured I'd find out.


The height is 16 3/4 on the old and 13 3/4 on the new. Width is 5 3/8 on the old while the new is 4 3/4. So less then an inch narrower. I wondered how well that would fit the top perch. It looked like the new spring will fit to the I beam well enough.






Everything fit well, A lot more snug. Rides well, little bumps are less noticeable.

There are some fitment "issues" worth noting.
1: though it tightened down just as well as on oem springs; The spring clamp at the top perch does not line up the spring coil. Other then that no issue. Fits snug in the spring perch lip.



2: the little spacer the spring sits on at the bottom where it bolts down. The explorer springs fits quit snug with no wiggle room. But settled down on it nicely once finished. NOTE: both the top clamp and bottom bolt will need tightning once your truck is on all 4s.



NOTE: there are 2 types of spring spacer seats. 66-72 and 73-79. Or more simply cast radios arms or the steal radius arms. In the pic bellow, the top one is for steel and the bottom is for cast. The lip indicates this. The steel fit the explorer springs tighter.


Went from a tire to fender gap of 5 1/4 stock spring height to a tire to fender gap of 3 3/4 explorer spring height. About a 2" drop. For those of us like me who already are riding With 2 coils cut from stock springs it was less then an inch drop. At $24 (normally $35) This is a good alternative to cutting your springs and waaaay less expensive then buying lowering springs. $35vs$200





Now I know you're all gonna say "why not just go drop beams" but not all of us can or want to buy those dream beams.

I also saw no indication to show this swop effecting camber in regards to needing realignment. But it's good practice. I personally do plan to check my steering alignment, even though it drove straight and true.

 

Im satisfied

 

Your truck stands up nice with those new springs. Do you know if the springs from the V8 (Explorer) are the same as the V6?

 

I do not, I would assume the v8 ones are stiffer. Ofcourse the weight of your engine would be a factor in how much it drops and ride quality. I would compare these to be just as heavy duty as our oem springs. Just shorter and smaller. The ride quality did improve with these but not drastically. It's just a nice affordable alternative to those uber expensive drop coil springs. Plus I plan to cut a coil or 2 to drop it another inch. Which cutting enough coils needed to drop 3" on Factory coil springs would equal crap ride quality. I went 91 cause a while back I talked to guy who did this swop cause he had some early 90s explorer coil springs sitting around. So later years may be better, Or wouldn't work. I am curious on how the 2wd coil springs would work. Both in fitment and ride quality. In the pic online they "look" to be less heavy duty. Could be a good thing, could be bad.

 

thanks for the thread , you might have saved me the $ buying the drop beams .

So you didn't have to do anything about Camber ? if you have a 3' level could you take a pic with it up against the tire to see ow much camber there is ?

 

Sure, but I wonder if my wider wheels and tires in front will give a incorrect reading?

The camber will level out closer to 0 degrees the lower springs u install.

 

thanks wider wheels /tires shouldn't effect camber .
Also what engine do you have ?
I am running an FE

 

i wonder how this would work if were also using some drop beams? or should you just run one or the other and not both?

 

I'd like to know the distance btwn the I-beam and the OEM bumpstops.. or the distance btwn the I-beam and frame where the bumpstop is mounted if shorter ones are installed.

 

Wider wheels and tires won't change the camber, but very difficult to get an accurate reading with a level if tires are on the ground, they bulge at the bottom. Lowering the ride height with springs will change the camber, no matter what springs. If you cut coils for 3" drop, camber will be the same as 3" lower with different springs. And, due to the I-beam design, a softer spring, while giving a cushy ride, will probably wear tires faster due to more movement during suspension travel. I too would like to know how much travel you have to the bump stops! The stock suspension only has 3 or 4 inches.

 

Looks good! Any chance of a part number for the springs you used?

 

I haven't been out to check it with the level.

Here's the part I used

Here's what's available now


It would work well with drop beams. Cheaper then these

 

Awesome, thanks for the numbers. I looked on Rockauto last night and noticed the options so thought I would ask. Thanks again!

 

Any idea how this would work with drop beams?

 

What did you use to drop the rear?