FordExcursions.com Forums
Kevgar
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• Concord, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/18/2005 |
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• 4 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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 Posted:1/18/2005 10:59 |
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Hi all, I am new to the forum and have a question. I had a shop make recomendations on how to get a smoother ride without losing towing capacity. My 01X came with airbags in the rear, a stabilizer bar, I believe stock shocks. They reccomended 2 inch shackles in front and to remove the overload spring in the rear, replace shocks all around and consider wider tires, like 285's or 305's.
My question is this, will I lose towing capacity by removing the overload springs? They claim that the airbags would be sufficient. Also, what are the pro's and con's of 2"shackles in regard to handling as opposed to V springs in front?
Any insight would truly be appreciated. My objective is to smooth out the ride, get some tires on the X that don't look like roller skates on a bus, and yet not lose any towing capacity.
2001 X, 7.3 PSD, Stock tires and rims, rear air bags with on-board compressor. aFe intake, 4" turbo back exhaust, no lift, OEM shocks, rear swaybar. White with gold trim, huge grill guard. Aftermarket DVD player, |
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CHPMustang
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• Plano, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/24/2002 |
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• 1,800 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:1/18/2005 12:44 |
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Welcome to the forums Kevgar 
Install shackles on D codes over upgrading to U or V code springs and removing the rear overload springs 
I'd leave the the swaybar and airbags as-is,for a better ride upgrade the front springs and also add aftermarket shocks,they'll make a world of difference alone.
I know several Excursion/SuperDuty owners in the Bay area if you wanted to get in touch with them as well,they've done lifts,springs,airbags and some are monster towers.
I've got relatives in Concord 
Bill
Bill
2002 Excursion XLT-P 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:1/18/2005 15:58 |
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| Quote: | | My question is this, will I lose towing capacity by removing the overload springs? |
First, welcome to the forum!
NO Excursion left the factory with "overload" springs installed. If you're talking about the single bar (or leaf) that extends forward of the axle, below all of the other spring leaves, does not extend to the rear, and it has a rubber snubber / stop on top of its foremost end, that is NOT an overload spring.  That is the Ford OEM traction bar. If you remove that bar, and pull something that's pretty well stuck while in 4WD-low-range, you could possibly rip the rear axle from under your truck. The 2WD models do not have that traction bar, probably because they cannot use a transfer case to get into a low gear range (less torque).
If a shop said to remove those bars (the traction bars), I think I'd be looking elsewhere for future recommendations. 
My radius-rods were originally designed to smooth out the ride of my '01 Excursion. Click on my username, then send me an e-mail, and I'll reply with a ton of info that may be useful to you. |
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E. Long
 
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• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
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• 2,229 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:1/18/2005 19:28 |
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| Quote: | Hi all, I am new to the forum and have a question. I had a shop make recomendations on how to get a smoother ride without losing towing capacity. My 01X came with airbags in the rear, a stabilizer bar, I believe stock shocks. They reccomended 2 inch shackles in front and to remove the overload spring in the rear, replace shocks all around and consider wider tires, like 285's or 305's.
My question is this, will I lose towing capacity by removing the overload springs? They claim that the airbags would be sufficient. Also, what are the pro's and con's of 2"shackles in regard to handling as opposed to V springs in front?
Any insight would truly be appreciated. My objective is to smooth out the ride, get some tires on the X that don't look like roller skates on a bus, and yet not lose any towing capacity. |
Hi Kevgar and welcome to the club!
The advice given already has been right on!
Going with a larger, wider tire will also give the ride of your X a little added cushion. The shocks will certainly improve the ride. I can't believe the previous owner did the air bags, sway bar, and left the stock shocks on!
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
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Kevgar
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• Concord, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/18/2005 |
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• 4 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:1/19/2005 10:37 |
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ok, here's a doozy. After reading several posts I crawled underneath my X to see for myself what I can identify and what I can't. Apparently I have Bilstien shocks, make and model unknown, but they do say Bilstien under the road grime.
I also have a 2-3" block lift on the rear, maybe that is stock. see link. (how do you embed the photo in, I have the url for the photo but it breaks when I preview it?)
http://www.supermotors.org/registry/vehicles/showmedia.php?id=171574
Is there any way to tell if the front springs are D's by looking at them. Being a second owner I have no idea what upgrades have been performed.
I also have a no name steering stabilizer bar, did the X come with one or is this an add on as well. The few shops I took it to simply wanted to sell me stuff cause they never mentioned the Bilstiens, I was going to upgrade to Rancho RS9000 or the other dial in shock MX-6, now I am not that sure if it would help the ride any?
Now I am thinking about the Radius-rod mod, although I have to wonder (with my limited understanding of suspensions) how they will hold up under the stress of towing. I am looking foward to buying a 29' toybox to lug around my family and my 1990 Miata.
2001 X, 7.3 PSD, Stock tires and rims, rear air bags with on-board compressor. aFe intake, 4" turbo back exhaust, no lift, OEM shocks, rear swaybar. White with gold trim, huge grill guard. Aftermarket DVD player, |
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CHPMustang
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• Plano, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/24/2002 |
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• 1,800 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:1/19/2005 14:57 |
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Yeah they are the stock Excursion blocks.
One way to immediately tell if you have D code springs is if the top of the leaf springs have 1" or less clearance from the frame mounted bumpstops.
The MX6 shocks were available at the time we were looking at shocks but with my past expereince with Ranchos we went with the 9000X's and we're glad we did
The R-Rods we gotta hold off on till the financial situation starts looking better even tho I want em now 
Bill
Bill
2002 Excursion XLT-P 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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