2003 Expedition Face Lift Begins

[Vancouver Bob]

Finally got my alignment after installing the leveling/lift kit so have been doing some driving. Pretty impressed with how little, if any, impact it had on the ride. I did notice more noise coming from the drive train though. It was actually starting to get concerning, thinking I might have to replace one of the CV axle shafts. After driving with this noise for a while I thought I'd try shifting from 2WD to A4WD. Heard a load sucking sound, a clunk, and then the noise went away. I've never heard this noise before when shifting between drive modes. I'd feel a small clunk when shifting to 4L but don't recall hearing or feeling anything when shifting into/from any other mode. So now I'm wondering what I may have done while getting things swapped out/installed. Shifted back and forth between 2WD and A4WD several times and it kept making the same sequence of noises. Will need to get under there and see if I can see anything obvious. I know the hubs are vacuum actuated and that sucking sound is probably the vacuum but I've NEVER heard that before. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Oh, I forgot to mention... while I was out and about I saw a Rubicon with these HUGE looking tires. As I was walking up to it, I was expecting to see 37" but they were 35's. I was impressed with how big they were! Thinking there's no way in He## those were going to fit on the Expedition! Maybe they were 38's and I misread the number on the tire. I have measured the tires I currently have and they're right at 30", they just look small. So that's only 2.5" on either side. Another 2.5" of lift. Those tires on the jeep just looked Ginormous!

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Was looking for more of the Handicorn vids. Came across this that I thought was kind of funny. I have to be careful with what I say because one of the traits of a mall crawler that this guy reveals is, if you get offended for being called a mall crawler, then you probably are. So I just want to make it clear that I'm NOT offended .

 

[ExplorerTom]

[QUOTE="Vancouver Bob, post: 257685] So I just want to make it clear that I'm NOT offended .
[/QUOTE]

I've actually considered making my Expedition into a mall crawler. Give it that offroad look, but not actually use it offroad. My Explorer works way too well offroad to do any serious off-roading in my Expedition.

 

[cman1120]

[QUOTE="Vancouver Bob, post: 257685] So I just want to make it clear that I'm NOT offended .

I've actually considered making my Expedition into a mall crawler. Give it that offroad look, but not actually use it offroad. My Explorer works way too well offroad to do any serious off-roading in my Expedition.[/QUOTE]
Question off/on track (since you have much more off-road time than many of us here; how much off-road ability does the Expedition really have, in your opinion?

Misspelling brought to you by Tapatalk

 

[ExplorerTom]

In stock form, it would handle trails rated 3-4 (out of 10) pretty well with some scraping. Suspension lift and bigger tires (33 min, 35 or more ideal) now you're doing 5s, maybe 6s. A locker will get you 6-7. Beyond 7, you'll need a lot of custom work. But there are hundreds of trails available at the lower levels.

 

[scoot0073]

In stock form, it would handle trails rated 3-4 (out of 10) pretty well with some scraping. Suspension lift and bigger tires (33 min, 35 or more ideal) now you're doing 5s, maybe 6s. A locker will get you 6-7. Beyond 7, you'll need a lot of custom work. But there are hundreds of trails available at the lower levels.

What is Lockers ?
I see this word used a lot in 4x4 forums

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[ExplorerTom]

A locker is a device you install in your differential that locks the axles going out to the tires together. Some lockers are automatic, some are selectable.

Rear lockers are the most common because 1) when going up hill, the weight transfer to the rear puts more strain on the rear axle and 2) you can still steer fairly well. A locker in the front makes steering nearly impossible, a rear locker on the street isn't great but you can usually still turn (with some tire chirping). But that's the beauty of selectable lockers: they are only engaged when you want them engaged.

And then there's LSDs: limited slip differentials. These are similar to lockers but only come in automatic type and won't lock as solidly as a locker. Most of these are clutch type but there are also gear type LSDs. I have Truetrac geared LSDs in my Explorer.

Unless you are doing a lot of offroad, I wouldn't worry about one. An ARB air locker is a popular locker. You'll need the locker and an air compressor (about $1000) and then installation is the same as setting up the gears in the differential so that's about another $500-$1000.

 

[scoot0073]

A locker is a device you install in your differential that locks the axles going out to the tires together. Some lockers are automatic, some are selectable.

Rear lockers are the most common because 1) when going up hill, the weight transfer to the rear puts more strain on the rear axle and 2) you can still steer fairly well. A locker in the front makes steering nearly impossible, a rear locker on the street isn't great but you can usually still turn (with some tire chirping). But that's the beauty of selectable lockers: they are only engaged when you want them engaged.

And then there's LSDs: limited slip differentials. These are similar to lockers but only come in automatic type and won't lock as solidly as a locker. Most of these are clutch type but there are also gear type LSDs. I have Truetrac geared LSDs in my Explorer.

Unless you are doing a lot of offroad, I wouldn't worry about one. An ARB air locker is a popular locker. You'll need the locker and an air compressor (about $1000) and then installation is the same as setting up the gears in the differential so that's about another $500-$1000.

Ok thanks for the info


Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Got the call from the freight terminal this morning... bumper is "in the house"!! Unfortunately I didn't drive the Expedition to work, plus I wouldn't have had the time to pick it up anyways. Will get it tomorrow! Can't wait to see it in person!

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Following you discussion VBob. I am looking forward to seeing your pictures of this bumper.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Picked the bumper up during lunch today. Had a bit of a family crises so it's still wrapped up in the back of the Expedition. Thing ways a ton! Can't wait to get it unwrapped!

 

[Vancouver Bob]

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Following you discussion VBob. I am looking forward to seeing your pictures of this bumper.

Thanks, Andy! Looking forward to seeing how this turns out. As I work thru this I go from... "I hope this doesn't change how she rides, because I love the way she rides" to "What the hell am I doing?" to "What have I started" to "Can't wait to get the bumper on" . The "What have I started" thought comes up frequently because of how much this is all going to end up costing. Bumper, wheels, tires.... and do I now change out gearing? Do I throw a locker in there while I'm having gearing changed to save some cost? And all this for the few days of snow and few more days of playing in the sand?

OK, maybe this is confession time... I got stuck in the sand once... I was in deep ruts and was trying to pull another guy out. Didn't take long before I was high centered. Had too much tension in the strap to unhook it so ended up cutting it. But even then I was still high centered. Some other guy pulled me out. Several others tried getting the one guy out but he was just buried. We ended up just digging him out. All that lead to me wanting higher ground clearance. Hence the lift. Lift with original tires just looks silly, plus better tires equals better traction. But I don't like how the white 2nd gens look with the tires, especially with the rounded front. In comes the bumper. Now with 35" tires I worry about gearing because you need to be able to power thru the deep sand. Could be, though, that with the bigger, wider tires, this isn't as much of an issue. I think I just convinced myself to just take it one step at a time. Just that the first step is a biggie (bumper, wheels, and tires). Then just go from there.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Got the bumper home last night. Going to see if I can get the front cut up to make room for the bumper and maybe get the bumper in place. This isn't a bolt on... more of a bolt mounting plates on, then weld the bumper onto the mounting plates. I've contacted the guy I had in mind to do the welding so waiting for him to return my call... his shop is closed today so probably tomorrow. Oh, that's just a primer on there. Once I get it mounted I'll decide on color... black or Arizona beige (trim).

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I was running 275 65R 20 on my 05, they were only 32" diameter tires but I didn't have any trouble getting around in snow with them. With all of that extra weight out front you might want to put on heaver springs to counterbalance the weight. A good spring shop should be able to do the math and make you a set of springs that will ride just like the stock suspension even with the extra weight.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

I was running 275 65R 20 on my 05, they were only 32" diameter tires but I didn't have any trouble getting around in snow with them. With all of that extra weight out front you might want to put on heaver springs to counterbalance the weight. A good spring shop should be able to do the math and make you a set of springs that will ride just like the stock suspension even with the extra weight.

That's a great idea! Was hoping to do something similar, finding some heavier duty, off the shelf springs, but couldn't find any so just went with replacing with OEM. Since I just replaced springs and shocks as part of the lift, I'll just wait and see how things go. Thanks for the suggestion, though!!

 

[ExplorerTom]

Add an air compressor to your kit. Air down in the sand (to like 10 psi) and air back up once on pavement.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Something I always wondered about... I get the air down part but then once you do, now you need to drive with low air in all tires until you can get to a gas station. Maybe not a big deal since you're not running flat? But with onboard air, like you said, you air back up and you're good to go. May as well get the ARB air locker while I'm at it . See, I knew I could justify it somehow.

 

[Vancouver Bob]

Family crisis has been taking priority over my project so sorry for the lack of updates. I'm slowly picking away at the front bumper. Pulled the tow "hooks" and unbolted the metal bumper that sits behind the plastic bumper cover. An impact wrench would sure have been handy! Was hoping to pull the metal bumper out but the plastic cover is keeping it in place. I think from here I'm going to sawzall the lower part of the cover off to open things up and free the metal bumper. That will open things up for me to see what I want to remove and what I don't.