Best 2 - 2.5 inch lift?

[Icemanjones]

Hi All! I was wanting to put a little lift on my 07 expy. Im not sure I want the 3" ready lift as its close to max for the joints etc and im leaning towards a safer lift choice. Who has what and really likes it?

 

[Black]

You’ll run through ball joints quicker but it is not a huge deal.
You could always get a set of UCAs and you’ll no longer have the balljoint issue.

Not really any other options for the fronts.
You may be able to use Fox, ICON, or any other coilover from that year F150 like we can with the 15-17s but I don’t know for sure if everything is the same.

 

[Icemanjones]

Yeah I mainly was looking for a spacer set like Rough Country sells but wasnt sure what all was out there. I did read you posts about the UCAs but I just cant spend that much dough currently. Maybe when the suspension gets further degraded.

 

[joethefordguy]

You’ll run through ball joints quicker but it is not a huge deal.
You could always get a set of UCAs and you’ll no longer have the balljoint issue.

Not really any other options for the fronts.
You may be able to use Fox, ICON, or any other coilover from that year F150 like we can with the 15-17s but I don’t know for sure if everything is the same.

UCAs? Upper Control Arms?

 

[762mm]

Careful now, back when I had my 2nd gen Explorer and was active on the Explorer forums, some guys on there modded their Ex's with suspension lifts and their trucks would end up eating through their driveshafts (due to out of spec angles).

The general consensus was that a body lift was a much safer way to go... you just needed spacers for the bumpers to make it look right after the body was lifted off the frame. Some other mods would be necessary too depending on lift height, like extending the steering shaft.

 

[Icemanjones]

Before we go down a rabbit hole lets remember Im only looking for like 2 inches of lift in the front and maybe 1 inch in the rear. I have no intention of going to rubicon or moab hard trails. I just want a level ride that maybe I can put 33s under some day. Any advice towards that end would be helpful.

 

[Black]

UCAs? Upper Control Arms?

Yes

Before we go down a rabbit hole lets remember Im only looking for like 2 inches of lift in the front and maybe 1 inch in the rear. I have no intention of going to rubicon or moab hard trails. I just want a level ride that maybe I can put 33s under some day. Any advice towards that end would be helpful.

Then grab a 2/1 spacer kit and you will be fine.
I would upgrade to Bilstein 4600s while you are in there but not required.
You’ll run through balljoint a little faster than normal but when you do go to swap them just make sure to buy a heavy duty greasable joint and you’ll get a bit more life out of them.

 

[marlinpruett]

I recently installed Monroe Strut assemblies on my 2007 in front and Arnnot rear struts replacing the air shocks. Both ends went up 2 inches. from 35 to 37inches.

I checked my height again today and after 3 weeks the struts have settled down about an inch to inch and a half since the virginal measurement.

 

[Fred Moore]

I have been looking at these:

https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Su...ion/2017/CSS-1168R.html?VehicleID=20171229693

Inexpensive, easy to install, removable, and appears to be just the amount of lift I need.

 

[Icemanjones]

Fred some of those reviews say it doesnt increase ride height which is what I want.

 

[Black]

Correct no lift from those.
They help stop the sag when loaded or towing.

 

[Broncoholic]

Hi All! I was wanting to put a little lift on my 07 expy. Im not sure I want the 3" ready lift as its close to max for the joints etc and im leaning towards a safer lift choice. Who has what and really likes it?

I've been running the Daystar 3"/2" spacers on my 2003 for 4 years. Been happy with them.

Careful now, back when I had my 2nd gen Explorer and was active on the Explorer forums, some guys on there modded their Ex's with suspension lifts and their trucks would end up eating through their driveshafts (due to out of spec angles).

The general consensus was that a body lift was a much safer way to go... you just needed spacers for the bumpers to make it look right after the body was lifted off the frame. Some other mods would be necessary too depending on lift height, like extending the steering shaft.

Expeditions (2003 and newer) have independent suspension front and rear. The most popular spacer lifts don't affect driveshaft angle. Also, I haven't seen a body lift available for the Expedition.

Before we go down a rabbit hole lets remember Im only looking for like 2 inches of lift in the front and maybe 1 inch in the rear. I have no intention of going to rubicon or moab hard trails. I just want a level ride that maybe I can put 33s under some day. Any advice towards that end would be helpful.

You can fit 33s without a lift if that's all you're interested in.

 

[Icemanjones]

Brobcoholic I also dont like the rake of it and I like a little gap above the wheels.

 

[mygsris2slo4u]

I have a 2/2 spacer lift on my 2017. The ebay vendor I got them from had all different options available at the time. 1/2, 1/1, 2/2, 3/2. I believe I posted the link to them on the show us your lifted 3rd gen thread.

 

[Broncoholic]

Brobcoholic I also dont like the rake of it and I like a little gap above the wheels.

I didn't like the rake of the 3/2 either. I bought a set of aluminum wheel spacers 1/4" thick, drilled holes and placed on top of the rear struts. That provided just over 3/8" lift to the rear and made all the difference in visual appeal. Since the Daystar rear spacer is a spring spacer and not a strut spacer, I was comfortable adding the 1/4" strut spacer. I also made sure the mounting studs had at least 2 threads showing with the nuts tight. Any thicker and they wouldn't.

 

[Broncoholic]

The Raptor tires are 34.5" and I think are gapped nicely with my lift. Everyone has their own preference. I hope this helps with the decision.

 

[Icemanjones]

I like the way that looks Broncoholic. I hate how much of a jump there is in price from 33 to 35 tires vs the jump from 31 to 33.

 

[Broncoholic]

If you don't mind Raptor take-offs, they're a pretty affordable package. I got mine with 6k miles on them for $600. IMO the finishes on aftermarket wheels don't last and I'm not interested in aggressive backspace wheels, so the Raptors were just what I wanted. In my area, you can buy brand new Raptor take-offs all day for $1200, but have some patience and deals will pop up.

 

[Black]

I just slapped 33” tires on my factory 18s and am very happy. Not a big fan of many aftermarket wheels these days. I really don’t like black wheels. I thought about bronze but thought I would get tired of them.
So I saved the coin and just bought new tires.