Mods Questions- New Member

[Bernard]

Hi All.

I’m new both here and to the Expedition and I have been searching and reading the forum and I am very impressed with the knowledge of the members and the willing to share it.

I just bought a 2010 Eddie Bauer EL and, of course, I just “need” to modify it …

The first thing I need to do is replace my wheels (really - worn tires and abused 20” rims). I took the opportunity to downsize the rims, in order to get some more rubber height, and got nice a used set of 18” rims.

The next step is to order a set of tires and deal with the suspensions and rear diff– and here start my questions…

1. I would like to install 34”-35" all terrine tires (recommended options??). Would the 3/2” (or the 3.5/2.5") leveling kit be enough?
2. Why the rear only gets 2” while the front gets 3”?
3. Aren’t there any other lift options (other than spring spacers) for the 3rd generation EXPY?
4. How about rear diff locker? Is there one for the EXPY?

Thanks,
Bernard.

 

[Whack]

Welcome to the family...

1.) A few a 3/2 kits will say 35s could work, but there is also a concern about tire tread width being the cause of rubbing, not so much the diameter of the wheel/tire combo.

A lot of others here can share their tire/wheel size and setups.

2.) The front gets 3 and rear gets 2 because of the normal 'rake' put into the suspension. The thinking is that on a truck (or a truck based SUV), the more you load it, the more the rear will sag...

So with the added weigh of gear, towing, fat children... the Expy would look more like every thing is OK, not like this:

http://www.f150online.com/forums/me...-truck-picture2321-another-overloaded-pic.jpg

The idea is that after a 3/2 is installed, your Expy look more level front and rear, and the 'rake' would be gone.

3.) Frame lifting or spacers could work, but I think they are not really out there for the 3 gens (2007+). I couldn't find any.

4.) With a 2010, you might have 'AdvanceTrac' and 'Roll Stability Control' (RSC)... With AdvanceTrac, the normal Limited Slip rear is replaced with an open diff. Both front and rears are open. The software will use braking to mimic a limited slip diff, and in some cases it can be as or more effective then a limited slip rear.

Depending on your use, a locker could potentially do better in only a few situations. Our rear axles do share design with the F150s, and If I recall correctly some lockers are out there.

Keep in mind that deactivating or removing part of AdvanceTrac's control could be needed for a locker, and may cause issues.

 

[tallsville]

the 3/2 or 3.5/2.5 is about all that you can do with a 3rd gen someone here in SOCAL built something bigger but took it off because he kept breaking half shafts. As whack says you can possibly fit 35's but need to do some trimming. and probably take off your running boards.

 

[Bernard]

Hi Whack and thanks for the reply.

1) I was (am) hoping for some info about diameter AND width, from folks that installed larger tires and know the limits and rubbing points etc..

2) That is exactly what I thought.
If I’ll go for a 3 days trip with camping gear for 5, with that kit (3/2), the EXPY is going to look like that pickup in the pic – I can’t see the logic in that setup, for me…
Is there a reason there isn't a 3” lift for the rear also? Can I just "ADD" an inch to the 2" spacer or Is 2" is the rear suspension's limit, for some reason?

3) I don’t want a body/frame lift, If I can avoid it.
I prefer suspension lift and, if possible, a one that will improve the suspension’s travel as well - I read somewhere that the 3rd Gen EXPY front suspension setup is similar to the one in the F-150 (what year/model?) and that the EXPY's rear end is not as conventional (in what way?).
Can the F-150 kits be installed in the EXPY, with minor modifications?

4) As for the diff locker.
For my understanding, all the AdvanceTrac and RSC components are external to the differential. So, installing a locker into the diff isn’t going to affect the AdvanceTrac and RSC. Unlike LSDs or automatic diff lockers, that allow one when spin faster/slower than the other, on the same axle, and confusing the “Electronic traction systems”, a 100% locker enforce the 2 wheel to rotate at the same speed, and therefore does not suppose to effect the AdvanceTrac nor the RSC. - it is, basically, the issue I was facing with my RR rear diff locker, as it also has an electronic TC..

Can you recall the companies that make locker? Which rear differential is in the rear of the 2010 EL anyway?

See, I’m “coming” from a 2000 Range rover, which I have modified from 8” to about 14” of wheels travel, put a read diff locker (and some other mods) and did a lot of offloading.
Now, I do not compare the offroad abilities of the RR and the EXPY but I do intend to do SOME offroading and want to do as much as I can to “help” the EXPY to overcome the (light) offroad trauma..

I will appreciate any help/suggestion.

 

[01yellerCobra]

The later Expy's have an IRS. The F150's are solid axles. So you can't swap an F150 lift kit onto the Expy. That's about as far as my knowledge goes on lift kits for these.

Misspelling brought to you by Tapatalk

 

[Bernard]

the 3/2 or 3.5/2.5 is about all that you can do with a 3rd gen someone here in SOCAL built something bigger but took it off because he kept breaking half shafts. As whack says you can possibly fit 35's but need to do some trimming. and probably take off your running boards.

Yes. I saw that one.
It didn't say and I didn't understand why he was breaking the halfshafts. Was it because the extra large tires/wheels or the halfshafts angle.
Any way, I'm not looking for that kind/amount of lift.
Just enough to squeeze in 34-35" tires - 5" max - and maybe some travel improvement.

My EB came with power running boards. Do you think, with the 3-3.5/2-2.5" kit, I would have to take them off or trim them somehow for 34"?

 

[Bernard]

The later Expy's have an IRS. The F150's are solid axles. So you can't swap an F150 lift kit onto the Expy. That's about as far as my knowledge goes on lift kits for these.

Misspelling brought to you by Tapatalk

Yes. I know that. I was talking about the F-150 front lift kits although I don't understand what is so unique about the EXPY's IRS, making it so complicated to fabricate a lift for.
I would expect that the front would be more difficult to engineer and yet, the F-150 has number of lift kits for the front...

 

[rayt]

Yes. I know that. I was talking about the F-150 front lift kits although I don't understand what is so unique about the EXPY's IRS, making it so complicated to fabricate a lift for.
I would expect that the front would be more difficult to engineer and yet, the F-150 has number of lift kits for the front...

someone said they are different and can't be interchanged,

the f-150 has multiple lift kits because it is fords best selling vehicle i think
the expedition is probably one of the worst sellers ford has currently.