air to coils question

[Petrini]

Really sorry to double post this, but I never know who's gonna be on what site now...

I have a really stupid question here and its gonna be really easy for someone I'm sure. I want to do the air suspension to coil spring conversion with 3" spacers and I see a few kits that include shocks, but several that dont. Do you need to do the springs AND shocks? Or is that just something you CAN do?

 

[panda24619]

i would change the shocks. but if your doing spacer dont get shocks. buy separate and ask them for the 3" longer model. so get coils spacers and shocks. thats what i would do. i dont like my shocks so im keeping them when i get my spacers, but i will get longer shocks when it comes do.

 

[Petrini]

i would change the shocks. but if your doing spacer dont get shocks. buy separate and ask them for the 3" longer model. so get coils spacers and shocks. thats what i would do. i dont like my shocks so im keeping them when i get my spacers, but i will get longer shocks when it comes do.

Where do I find the best deal on 3" longer shocks homie?

 

[jacks3am]

Ok you cant trust me too much on this one but ive done research and to have just shocks in the front to replace the air shocks, since youve already did the tt you would need a standard suspension 6 inch lift shock. 4 inches to make up for the air shock height difference compaired to a stock standard suspension shock and 2 inches to give you travel with the TT.




for the rear just get the 3 inch spacers and new springs, no shocks. order standard suspension shocks that have like a 2 inch lift if you can find any.

if it was me i would use 6 inch lift shocks up front and 2 inch lifts in the rear. get the springs and buy the shocks seperate.

remember 6 inch lift is for the 4 inch higher shock mount that is used with the air suspension and the extra 2 inches that will allow you to have all the travel that you lost from the lift

 

[Petrini]

Ok you cant trust me too much on this one but ive done research and to have just shocks in the front to replace the air shocks, since youve already did the tt you would need a standard suspension 6 inch lift shock. 4 inches to make up for the air shock height difference compaired to a stock standard suspension shock and 2 inches to give you travel with the TT.




for the rear just get the 3 inch spacers and new springs, no shocks. order standard suspension shocks that have like a 2 inch lift if you can find any.

if it was me i would use 6 inch lift shocks up front and 2 inch lifts in the rear. get the springs and buy the shocks seperate.

remember 6 inch lift is for the 4 inch higher shock mount that is used with the air suspension and the extra 2 inches that will allow you to have all the travel that you lost from the lift

So I have to replace the fronts too???

 

[Racenut]

So I have to replace the fronts too???

You would only need to replace the fronts if you have the 4 corner air ride. Some of the 4x4's came with just the rear air ride, and if that is the case then all you would need to do is change out the rears.

 

[jacks3am]

^^ what he said lol i had 4 corner

 

[junior73]

If you get a kit with shocks, ask them what the extended length is. I did the conversion a few years back, and just put 2" spacers in, and the shocks that came with the kit (21-1/4" extended) were maxed out as soon as I put it back together. Ended up getting a set of Rancho's that were 23-something extended so I could actually drive it again.

 

[Petrini]

You would only need to replace the fronts if you have the 4 corner air ride. Some of the 4x4's came with just the rear air ride, and if that is the case then all you would need to do is change out the rears.

I did not know that. Guess I better crawl under and take a look. I'm assuming I will see coils up front if I only have rear air???

 

[jacks3am]

exactamundo, funkey lookin shocks are 4 corner air

 

[Petrini]

Aw sh*t. I have air up front too. Ok, so what happens if I only replace the rear???

 

[jacks3am]

he he, i guess you need to plug those lines so the compressor dosent burn its self out

 

[Petrini]

he he, i guess you need to plug those lines so the compressor dosent burn its self out

oh man

 

[Petrini]

Ok there's got to be somebody who makes a 2 or 3" spacer for the rear air bags. That would be so much easier.

 

[Racenut]

Get a hold of FABTECH (the fallowing part number is listed for the 2wd but should also work for the 4x4 since the rear suspension is the same) they actually have the lift kits for the Expeditions with the rear air ride. Just tell them you are wanting to purchase the rear air ride 3" kit PART #FTS 97159-3.

There rear air ride lift (some places call it 2" others 3") is all of the relocation brackets, bumb stop extentions, and also adjustment brakets for the level sensor. Here is a link to the PDF install ( it says instructions for the 2wd but even the PDF for the 4x4 6" says instructions for 2wd)


http://www.fabtechmotorsports.com/pdfs/instructions/Fabtech-install_FT97159-3i.pdf

This would be the best way to retain the air ride, and still be able to lift the rear to match the front. Amazon has it listed for $143.95 with free shipping and it's in stock:

http://www.amazon.com/Fabtech-FTS97159-3-Coil-Spring-Set/dp/B000JK33KA%3FSubscriptionId%3D1SMHVJB6RMHMQJTXCX02%26tag%3Dstreetperformance-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000JK33KA&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Hope this helps!!!!!

 

[Petrini]

Get a hold of FABTECH (the fallowing part number is listed for the 2wd but should also work for the 4x4 since the rear suspension is the same) they actually have the lift kits for the Expeditions with the rear air ride. Just tell them you are wanting to purchase the rear air ride 3" kit PART #FTS 97159-3.

There rear air ride lift (some places call it 2" others 3") is all of the relocation brackets, bumb stop extentions, and also adjustment brakets for the level sensor. Here is a link to the PDF install ( it says instructions for the 2wd but even the PDF for the 4x4 6" says instructions for 2wd)


http://www.fabtechmotorsports.com/pdfs/instructions/Fabtech-install_FT97159-3i.pdf

This would be the best way to retain the air ride, and still be able to lift the rear to match the front. Amazon has it listed for $143.95 with free shipping and it's in stock:

http://www.amazon.com/Fabtech-FTS97...5953&creativeASIN=B000JK33KA&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Hope this helps!!!!!

I'm gonna check that out! Thanks Racenut!!! Has anybody on here done that?

 

[Racenut]

I'm gonna check that out! Thanks Racenut!!! Has anybody on here done that?

Not sure if any one has done it, since alot of people decide to do the conversion. But the air ride is the way to go, especially if you do any towing!

 

[Petrini]

Not sure if any one has done it, since alot of people decide to do the conversion. But the air ride is the way to go, especially if you do any towing!

I agree. The only reason I was considering converting was because i have been told a million times that this wasnt possible. How certain are you that it would work? As in mount up and keep the air functioning properly? Cause I'm about to buy it right now.

 

[Racenut]

I agree. The only reason I was considering converting was because i have been told a million times that this wasnt possible. How certain are you that it would work? As in mount up and keep the air functioning properly? Cause I'm about to buy it right now.

As far as I know the rear suspension on both the 2wd and 4wd expy's is the exact same. They use the same axle in both I belive the only difference with the air ride rear suspension between the two is the height of the air bag since the 4wd sits considerably higher than the 2wd.

Installation PDF for the 3" 2wd system reads:

1997-2002 FORD 2 WHEEL DRIVE EXPEDITION
FTS97159-3 3” REAR AIR BAG SPACER KIT

http://www.fabtechmotorsports.com/pdfs/instructions/Fabtech-install_FT97159-3i.pdf

Installation PDF for the 6" 4wd system reads:

1997-2002 FORD 2 WHEEL DRIVE EXPEDITION
FTS97159-4 6” REAR AIR BAG SPACER KIT

http://www.fabtechmotorsports.com/pdfs/instructions/Fabtech-install_FT97159-4i.pdf

If you have any questions though I would make sure to call FABTECH just to make sure.

www.fabtechmotorsports.com
4331 EUCALYPTUS AVE. ~~ CHINO, CA 91710
909-597-7800 Fax 909-597-7185

Sales / Tech Support Operation Hours
Monday - Friday
7:00am - 4:00pm

Toll free:
877-432-2832

Email
[email protected]

 

[Racenut]

I have also heard many say that it is not possible, and to an extent this is true if you are doing a full out 4" - 6" lift and have the 4 corner air ride.

But since all you are doing is wanting to raise the rear due to the TT in front than I see no reason why it will not work ( especially if you are not having any issues in the front from the TT ).

That is why FABTECH came out with this kit:

http://www.fabtechmotorsports.com/products/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=163&display=FORD

So that the guys that only had the rear air ride could do a full out lift on theirs with out converting to coils. They also carry the same lift but with the larger coils for the guys that have NO air ride:

http://www.fabtechmotorsports.com/products/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=161&display=FORD

But if you have the 4 corner air ride and want to due a full out lift than you are SOL because no one makes a kit for that unless you want to do the full suspension conversion first. But again since you are just needing to raise the rear it should work with no problems because you are not changing anything in the front suspension which is where the problems with the large lift and 4 corner air ride come in.