Swapping full sized 79 Bronco, 9" and 44, under my Explorer, just wondering what would give it the best flex, coils with extended radius arms, or just leaf springs. What are you guys running and how is it working out??? thanks

i like coils :D leafs are good too :D
they flex the same :D if set up properly you like them both :D speaking of both ,now theres an idea put coils up front and leafs at the rear and you will have the best of both worlds :smokin:

I would go coils up front with a wristed arm or 4-link and leafs in the rear. I've never really looked at an explorer to see what exactly would be involved, but if you could get the 44 complete w/ radius arms, then a coil sprung wristed arm front shouldn't be too difficult.

What exactly is a coil sprung wristed arm? Where does it go? Does it attach to the radias arms for more moveability? Thanks, just a newbie over hear.:flipoff2:

Here is my ranger with leafs front and rear. Both ways are cheap, relatively speaking. With a 79 d44
you will have to do fabrication either way. You will not be able to move where the radius arms mount to
that year d44. You will have to space the coil buckets away from the frame to put the coils where they
need to be. Leafs will require fabrication too, and on that axle 78-79 d44 it's gonna be more difficult to
make a spring pad for the leafs.

Originally posted by Poorboy
What exactly is a coil sprung wristed arm? Where does it go? Does it attach to the radias arms for more moveability? Thanks, just a newbie over hear.:flipoff2:

Wristed Arms have been disscused at pretty good length.

hear is just one one of the topics already discussed

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=37642&highlight=Wristed+Arm

Thanks for all the advice, has anyone tried coilovers in the front? I would like to do that but I don't know enough about them yet. The Danna 44 that I am using is of a 79 Bronco, it is already set up with coils and radias arms. I will have to fabricate alot of my parts.

Originally posted by Poorboy
Thanks for all the advice, has anyone tried coilovers in the front? I would like to do that but I don't know enough about them yet. The Danna 44 that I am using is of a 79 Bronco, it is already set up with coils and radias arms. I will have to fabricate alot of my parts.

haha anyone else see the irony in someone named poorboy even saying the word coilovers.:flipoff2:

Seriously, if you don't know what wristed radius arms are, coilovers would just be a huge waste of a huge amount of money. Your axle is already set up for coils and radius arms so just use them. It's the easiest solution and a good wristed arm can allow for as much travel as you'll ever need.

-Steve

I would dare to say that coilover shocks are a waste of money. For our application anyway. Do a search on "Wristed Radius Arm" on this board. You will find more information than you realy need on it.
Coils, know that you will have 2" additional lift when you swap into a solid axle. Meaning, a 4" coil will yeald 6" of lift. DO NOT use TTB lift coils. THey are super stiff, and will not yeald any flex. Use 3.5" coils from James Duff, or WildHorse. Everybody seems to have the best flex from these systems.
Fabrication involves one mount. The Panhard bar. This is the bar that locates the axle lateraly. Keeping it from moving side to side. Going to a fullsize axle is a little more involved, and is mentioned by DangerRanger. The Radius arms will mount bolt on style with extended arm mounts from your TTB system. Just drill three holes on bolth sided and bolt it in. Simple, no?

Sound good, thanks guys, now it is time to get wrenchin, and see what I run in to! :D Thanks and have some:beer: 's on me!

Too bad you didn't get a D44 from an EB, the coil buckets on a pre 94 explorer with ttb are in the right location already, then all you would need to do is mount the trac bar and rad arm mounts to the frame...maybe some cross member mods will need to be made to prevent clearance probs but I hear it works quite well...:smokin:

coils

heres another leaf sprung ranger. has f150 springs in the rear and cj in the front, but they are being swapped for yjs. i have to add it has toyota axles and a chevy 350/th350/208. no its not mine