Steve St Laurent

[FM]

Steve, I've been searching old post and saw your's on your Buckstop. Did you add the Skyjacker Coils because the factory springs were overloaded with the new armor?

 

[FM]

Ok guys, don't be shy. Steve is AWOL but I know someone can set me right. I was wondering if his spring job was for looks, function, or both. Truck looks KILLER reguardless.



Front axle is rated 5200# but I don't know what stock weight is on it. I've read there is about 340# to play with. If I add 190# additional from bumper and say another 95# from a winch that's 285#. That's only 55# in the black so will I need to change the springs to get a comfortable marjin back?, just add timbrens?, something else, or will I be in good shape stock.



Any and all brain dumps welcome and appreciated.



Fred

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I hadn't seen your post. I have ~120,000 miles on my truck and the front end had sagged significantly. It had a pretty good nose down rake to it. With that I figured that the additional 190 lbs on the front end hanging out that far couldn't help. I'd also been planning on putting them on for a while anyways. I regularly off road my truck and the extra clearance never hurts. A side benefit that I found afterwards is the truck rides better than it did with the stock springs in there. So to answer your question I put them on there both for function and for looks.

 

[FM]

Thanks Steve,



For some reason I thought you did that to a new 03. I guess my question is are the new factory springs under rated? The truck and toys are cutting me deep. ( ok the turth is my BOSS gave me permission to get a new truck but she is starting to loose her sense of humor with the mods ) If the additional weight won't push too close to the springs limits I'd rather defer the additional $$ for a year or two.



But just in case, could you give me a ball park figure on cost and did they require any other mods, ie drive line.



You know how it is when you start this stuff. You just can't stop the rain form fallin.



Thanks again,

Fred

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Nope, mines a 2nd gen '98. 5. My only exposure to the 3rd gen's so far is covering the press intro for the TDR magazine and seeing them at the TDR nationals last summer. For my truck it was $120 for the springs (skyjacker) and I had to purchase longer shocks (which I was able to take advantage of a Rancho upgrade program to trade my RS9000's up to RS9000x's for $25 ea). No other changes were necessary on my 2nd gen. I believe there's some posts on here about putting the leveling kit on a 3rd gen.

 

[FM]

I've done several different searches. Mostly I've found spacers and alot of uncertinty about spring availability or fit etc. You'll have to indulge my ignorance. I've never lifted anything, mostly stock repairs and replace. Are the spacers the type that wedge in the coil or something else? My only real interest is that I don't over load the springs or cause their premature expiration as oposed to leveling.



Ordered the Buckstops Tuesday Should get them about the same time as my new truck. Oo. I can't wait to see it all first hand. Your pics looked great!

 

[KHaeckler]

Skyjacker Springs

I installed a pair of Skyjacker coil springs, model D25's through Summit, and it raised my O3 precisely 2" in the front. It's perfectly level now. These springs are the same ones used on the 2nd Gen trucks. They come bright red. I powdercoated mine black to match everything else. My shocks still work fine but I'll upgrade to longer ones eventually. These springs ride great!



Karl

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Too bad skyjacker doesn't offer them in black. I also had mine blasted and powder coated black.

 

[Ken B]

Karl,



I have a new 03 on the way and I'd like to go with 35's like you have done... . when you installed the springs, did you have to adjust the control arms or anything else? Do you feel the Skyjacker springs ride better than the stock springs?



Thanks in advance for your reply, -Ken

 

[KHaeckler]

Ken,

I'm definitely not much of a mechanic and had a buddy do the install for me in his shop. It didn't take long and looked pretty straight forward. The springs were replaced and that was all. I think our control arms are okay unless we go higher than this. The skyjackers are progressive and ride nicer than stock. My 35's fit on the stock rims and clear just fine. If you go with the SJ coils, you won't be disappointed. Good luck



Karl

 

[Ken B]

Karl,



Thanks for the reply and the info. Sounds like a good way to go.



-Ken

 

[FM]

Karl, MAN I THINK YOU GOT MY TRUCK!



Thanks for the info. Your 35s fit up front with 2"s lift. Did you lift the rear also to make 35s fit?



And, how do you determine correct shock length?



Also, I read in another post somewhere that every 1" of vertical shifts your axle horizontally 0. 11". Is this true on the 03s or am I mixing and matching again? If true, what are the consequences of 0. 22"?



And finally, did you guys see this link in one of the other threads?



http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=18595&pagenu



Guaranteed to split your sides wide open.

 

[KHaeckler]

FM,

The coils lifted the front 2" and I have no lift in the rear. The 35's fit nicely. I even have the mopar molded mud flaps and nothing rubs. I believe the axle did move just a little bit to one side, but it's not noticeable.



Good luck!



Karl