RTZ lift kit comes with re-indexed torsion bar keys allowing for up to 3" of added height, and shackles with holes for 1.5" and 2" of added height. Link:
I chose these because the alternatives were cranking the bars with the factory keys, or getting longer bolts and still cranking the bars with factory keys. The function of re-indexed keys is effectively the same as a drop bracket. It keeps the torsion bar bolt in the same place, but moves the suspension downward, allowing you the full motion of suspension travel while keeping the wheels farther away from the body. The angles don't change and the ride doesn't change, because the only thing that changed is the location of the adjuster bolt in relation to the key. Re-indexed keys solve the actual problem, whereas cranking the factory keys makes your suspension ineffective in its purpose.
I did not get an alignment after installing the RTZ torsion bar keys on the Sport because I knew I was going to get an alignment after installing new tires. Similarly, I timed the lift installation and alignment with the new tires on the Limited as well, to prevent needing to do any part of that process twice. Same for spacers - install before alignment.
In this order, install spacers if desired and then T-bar keys, then adjust bolts, then drive around to settle every thing, check and adjust, drive around again, check again. Drive over curbs, speed bumps, cinder blocks, tree stumps, or whatever's handy that forces the suspension to move, within the bounds of the law of course. Once the suspension is how you want it AFTER every thing settles into its final place, and your new tires are installed, then get your alignment done.
And that clown on Facebook is wrong, ignore any dunce on the Interwebs who tells you that a 8.5" wide wheel with 0 offset has a backspacing of 4.75". He either can't do basic math, or doesn't know what "offset" means. 0 offset would make the backspacing exactly 1/2 of the rim width, which would be 4.25" on a 8.5" wide wheel, not 4.75". If a 8.5" wide wheel has 4.75" of backspacing, then it has -0.5" offset. That's elementary.
I'm telling you now, don't get a wheel with more backspacing than the factory 3.75". Ford designed the truck to use wheels with exactly that backspacing, plus I can assume that your tires will be wider than the factory tires, and/or at least have a more aggressively-textured side wall. Unless you really want to have to buy spacers, just get wheels with the factory backspacing, or less (while being aware that less backspacing will put the wheels outward farther, necessitating more trimming on the fenders/bumper). The sweet spot for no rubbing is keeping the factory specs. Figure out what's important to you before you buy the wheels and tires, because you will invariably be making sacrifices.
An 8.5" wide wheel with 3.75" of backspacing would have the outer lip in the same place as my Limited. Given the SAME tire in the SAME size on my truck, the side wall will stick out farther on MY truck because the center line of the wheel is out farther (effectively, my spacers reduce the backspacing to 2.25" on a 7" wide wheel). If I were to switch to 8.5" wheels with 3.75" backspacing on MY Limited, with MY tires, it would no longer scrub.
Your experience will vary, because all Explorers are not created equal. Some have softer torsion bars, some have stiffer, and some have other things going on with the suspension geometry (such as adjustable control arms, non-standard alignment kits, etc.) Also, how far your truck leans to the left will also affect the scrubbing. All 2nd-gen Explorers lean left. If yours doesn't, it will.
P. S. If you want a quick understanding on how torsion bars work, find a click-pen and remove the spring. Hold one end of the spring, and twist the other end. The spring will revert to its original form when you stop twisting it. That's exactly what torsion bars do. Crawl under your truck and look at it, before and/or after the pen-spring thing. The truck frame is connected to one end of the spring, and the wheel is connected to the other end. It's actually really simple, once you get a look at it.
