Scrambler82
Old Bastard !
Joined: Fri Dec 22nd, 2017
Posts: 2108
Name: Grev B ... Occupation: Quality Assurance Engineer ... Interests: Rangers, Photography, Metal Bending ...
Reputation Points: 2108
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First, I did not do my Lift/Rear Axle/or Coil Over Mods to my Truck, I didn't have time and wanted them done... so I paid the price !
I had a guy do the work that wasn't doing well in his business, I didn't know why he had problems but I did know that he was a good mechanic and a friend that needed a little help. “Don't take the last statement as me being a good guy because I am an A$$-h0le... just ask the wife†!
I had the SuperLift 5" Lift put in, along with a 31 spine large tube rear axle from an LvL-II. It rode hard, bumps were plenty and I accepted the ride because I thought the short bed trucks just rode harder the long bed trucks but after some hair raising stops and nail bitting, 65 mph bump steer episodes, and a noise that I could not trace down, I have good news for all short bed Ranger owners... there is hope !
I took my truck to a shop that deals with Shocks on a regular basis, one that has parts on the shelf to rebuild the coil-over shock and the availability to multiple shocks of any configuration you can think of.
After rebuilding my Coil-Over front setup and getting them back in place and telling me the mounting brackets were top notch they moved to the rear, They found that I had two shocks the same length, ok, aren't they suppose to be. As it turns out, and I am not sure if this applies to every Ranger or just the FX4 Axles, but they ordered what was supposed to go in and they didn't fit. It turns out the FX4 Axle setup needs two different length shocks, who would have thunk. After installing the two different size shock, getting the front setup, a quick alignment, I drove away think WOW, where did this truck come from.
They... "Off-Road Warehouse" fixed my truck, they got it done and I am thankful to them. Even after the shock snafu, not of their making, they didn't charge me any additional monies ! It is costly to get work done, no matter where you go these days, but these guys stuck to the price and I drove away a happy customer.
Next was the Never Ending Noise, Not until I was in SoCal and living in an out of the way area and driving over a bumpy dirt road everyday did I hear a dull clacking when I would go over slow bumps and could not find it. Thought it was body mounts, Trans and T/C Mounting, and a horde of other possibilities but I never thought it was the spring mounting. (Still needs to be verified) It makes sense, if the early Ranger Leaf Springs have mounting holes larger than the a later model's Mounting Bracket Hardware... Clack City ! Wow... revelation.. ta-da... !
I need to check this out and see if that is the problem and see if I need spacers to increase the OD of the mounting bolts or IF I can drill out the mounting brackets themselves to fit the older bolt size.
Most people will not have to worry about different shock lengths but if you have a poor ride after lifting your truck, then consider checking out the rear shocks.
AND to those of you that are trying to reduce the BLOCK in the SuperLift Suspension Lift, like me, make sure you look into the Spring Mounting Problems and if you do and you find a solution PLEASE post up !
OK I'm done, sorry for the Soap Box Speech, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !
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Ltr,
2003 EDGE, Std Cab, Steppie, E4 Red, 5sp, 4x
5" SuperLift, 33" x 12.50 x 15"
Hurst Shifter
Mod'd Backrack to fit Steppie
Front and Rear Bumpers by Custom 4x4 Fabrication, OK; now Mike's Welding and Fabrication.
Working on more Mods, just need more time, longer days would work !
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