Cut Sasquatch bump stops for 2”+ additional wheel travel and shock length -- pics

Finally got my fabtech UCAs, so I thought while I'm installing them I would pull the coilovers and see how much bump stop is really in there....

Here's some pics of the whopper.

I also took a pic of the overall length of the shock (for non-SAS Badlands owners to compare with)

So after the realization that these bump stops are JUMBO....and also progressive in their compression resistance, I decided to trim nearly 3 INCHES off them and reinstall and see how that affects my compression...

After installing the coilovers with the new tiny bumps, I took it around the block to the loading ramp I use to check flex and articulation....

The result is an additional 2”+ of COMPRESSION travel!!!

I'm running 37s for now and my goal is to stuff 38s in there this summer. So I need about an additional 1.5” of clearance between the top of the tire and fender lip (where the flairs attach). With the shaved bump stops this would make my 37s kiss the fenders during full compression. I don't want that so...

I used fabtech leveling 1.5 ” kit on the top of the shock mount with the RC spacer at the bottom of the shock mount. This gives me about 2.5” additional ride height in the front. It also allows the suspension to droop additional the same 2.5”...

Since the bump stops are shorter now, my compressed ”gap between tire and fender flair” amount is the SAME as before these mods. I still have 1” gap between tire and fender under FULL compression. But now have 2.5” more droop.

So the overall gain was very close to 2” of front wheel travel!!! And 2” + in ride height.

My front wheel travel now measures over 11” !!!

I'll be removing the rear bump stops and shaving them today or tomorrow and re-drilling the lower shock mount on the rear axle 1.5” higher. This will lift the rear to match the front AND will also allow the rear to compress to the same position it is now. (About 2” gap under full compression w/37s)

I do realize the new short bump stops might not have enough bumper to protect the shocks from damage if the truck was jumped or bajaed through the whoops, but for the next few months I'm just doing slow speed rock crawling.
I'm just trying a few things out with the stock SAS suspension while waiting for the Fun Runner long travel setup to be released. So some of this is temporary.

The Fabtech parts are well made and beefy.

Here's pictures of the rear SAS shock length and the extra long bump stop...I cut 3” off the rear bump stops!

Thank you for this testing. Makes me feel better about using the Hitatchi bump stops on my Bilsteins.

BaseBD said:

Thank you for this testing. Makes me feel better about using the Hitatchi bump stops on my Bilsteins.

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Great idea! Be sure to show the process!

Will be interested to see long term if you have any issues from bottoming out at higher speeds. Probably not, but you are the test case.

What does Fabtech use on the ends of the rear link? Looks like uniball on one end and a rubber grommet on the other? My factory rubber grommets were already cracking, so I'm trying to get rid of all the rubber mounts.

How are your CV angles at full droop and bump?

Sounds like over stressing the factory front end components, another reason for Ford introducing the model Raptor. Ford has done all the testing and resolved weaker issues. not criticizing your ambitions , and good luck.

Sounds like a bad idea but what do I know! Keep us posted if anything breaks or bends.

These foam pieces absorbed impact, they did not limit travel. Most cars have them in some form, these look exactly the same as what the explorer has. Now all that force will not be absorbed by these and who knows what will absorb it.

foremi said:

These foam pieces absorbed impact, they did not limit travel. Most cars have them in some form, these look exactly the same as what the explorer has. Now all that force will not be absorbed by these and who knows what will absorb it.

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They do limit travel. Do you think the entire 3" section he removed compressed down into nothing?

Techun said:

They do limit travel. Do you think the entire 3" section he removed compressed down into nothing?

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You think a 3in piece of foam that's compressible by hand limits travel in a meaningfull way in a 4500+lb vehicle?

Any pics with your 37s flexed out?