bigdan wrote: I'll try to dig out some pics of my install.
Love to see it.
So I did some more pictures today and going to show them with some of the measurements I am working with in case anyone wants to know
I hope this is helpful to someone.
First I established the center of the rear differential by measuring from the inside of the brake brackets and came up with it being just to the left of the mounting hole (Actually it is just to the right of the hole, the picture the front is at the bottom, I think the brake line anchors there) you can see where I scratched it into the paint on this picture, you can kinda see where the yard stick is as well with 20" on the mark which designates the outside of the frame or leaf spring pockets.
I set the pinion angle to 3 degrees up using the front driveshaft yoke plate (it is supposed to be might be a little off in the picture
)
I transferred the 20" (40" total) measurement on both sides down to the rear axle tubes and placed a large hose clamp around the tube (the left clamp, the right is holding the bracket on)
I then temporarily clamped the lower bar bracket so that the hose clamp was just inside bracket.
The brackets need to be at zero degrees using the rear shock mount plate to set it.
I will need to mod these brackets a little because they are not made for the Explorer 8.8 and need to have the radius made slightly larger.
Next I positioned my lower bag brackets so the outside edge was 18" away from the center mark because the inside frame is 36" apart above the axle (basically straight from the spring pockets because the frame rails are 2" wide)
I think they may need to move in a hair further but I did not remove the brake line clips from the tubes and one is in the way on the passenger side, the other one is right under the drivers side bag bracket so I will probably remove it as well.
I put the replacement lower front end links on the bars and screwed them about half way in, the measure is around 22 - 22.5" from the center of the axle to the center of the eye bolt hole, the stock measure for the front of the leaf spring is around 21" on the car with rear hanging (no wheels or tires, on blocks) I think this will be about right with my larger tires but I have a couple of inches of adjustment if I need it. (it was hard holding the yard stick steady and take the picture
)
I also put the rear shock mounts on and checked to see if there would be clearance with the bags, it looks like I should be ok, I can push the bags forward a bit if I need to.
I didn't have time to check the Explorer sway bar to see if it would fit with everything else so I will check that later.
I am going to put Slam Specialties SS-6 bags on the rear and the ride height on those are 7.25" so I hope I can get the upper bracket low enough (so it still welds to the frame).
In case you missed it on what I typed above, the frame measures 40" outside and 36" inside.
I will keep going, hopefully soon I will get the Comet in the shed and start putting this stuff on.
See Ya,
Mike