Suspension conversion

[Lencor]

I have a 2002 Expedition 4x4 XLT, 5.4 liter engine with a coil spring rear suspension and a torsion bar front suspension that sits at stock height.

1. I want to convert the front to a coil-over shock set up to get rid of the torsion bars.

2. The rear I want to convert to a coil-over shock set up also.

3. I also want to raise it up several inches in the process

has anyone done this conversion ?, what are the pro's/con's of such a conversion, any problems you might have run into, and shock set up

thanks

 

[Thermo]

Lencor, how good are you with fabbing up metal supports? This would involve a lot of welding. The shock mounts in the rear are not designed to support the whole weight of the truck. So, you would need to cut the factory shock mounts off and then weld on new mounts that can handle the weight. You would then also need to create a bracket at the top too.

As for the fronts, you would need to modify the mounting to have something a little heavier. The A-arm is physically strong enough, just the mounting point isn't. So, that would be a plate to slide in to the opening to help distribute the weight and then you are still needing to make a support for up top that would be a little stronger (something more like the 4x2 shock/spring mount. That would be strong enough to support what you are after. Please keep in mind that you will also need to create a bracket to lower the lower control arms so you can maintain proper suspension geometry which will also require you to get a longer spindle assembly (can probably be obtained by finding someone selling off a Rancho or Fabtech kit (I would recommend the Rancho one as the fabtech one is not as beefy as the Rancho one).

Impossible, no. But, the question is whether you have the ability/money to do something like this. You would probably end up needing the drop A-arm bracket from a lift kit, the longer spindles, and the drop bracket for the rear 5th link too. After that, you are just creating strong enough mounts to support the weight of the truck for the addition of the coil spring shocks. Granted, I would check into the price of the coil spring shocks and see if you are really wanting to go that route. They are not cheap for what you are after.

 

[sgtowing]

It just sounds expensive.