So a short back story to the truck.  I commute about 110-120 miles a day, 17-18 days a month.  When i started this commute in February 2015.  I bought a little 1997 Saturn SL2 with a DOHC motor and a 5 speed.  It was good for the commute.  Reliable, cheap and did 38mpg.Then my mom decided to give me her 2003 Mazda Protege5 because she'd bought a Fox Body.  Now, you might ask why would an old lady give her 37 year old son a car?  Well she used some money that my dad left her to buy the car, and it felt sentimental.  So i sold the saturn and drove the Mazda.  I like wagons, its a wagon, so it worked.  
Then some pilluck in a box truck rear ended and totalled it.  I used the money from that, plus the injury settlement to buy a 1997 BMW 540i with a 6 speed.  Why you ask?  I'm a sucker for fast 4 doors(i've owned a 2005 cts-v, a 2013 WRX, a 2014 Audi S4).
Being a bmw newb, I f-ing taken on this car.  I spent every minute not driving, fix it.  I quickly grew tired of this.  Knowing that I only had this commute for another 6 months, and also knowing that my oldest was going to be driving in about 2 years, I figured now was as good as time as any to buy him a car, and just drive it myself for a little while.
I searched high and low, looking mostly at Toyota trucks.  I couldn't find one in my budget(under 5k) with the miles and options i wanted(under 200k, sr22e, 5 speed)
So i went looking at rangers.  The requirments on this were under 150k, automatic, extra cab, 4 liter.
In September I happened upon this truck.  It was owned by an over weight, elderly man with health issues who could no longer drive it.  
After some back and forth we settled on 4300 and I took it home.Rust free, no major issues and I was happy.
From the Paperwork I found in the truck they'd owned it almost ten years.  
Its a 1999 4wd extra cab xlt with an auto, 3.73s, and was mostly stock.  Save for some ugly wheels, and the westin steps.
When purchased, it looked like this.  

It had a few issues when i bought it.  Whiny ps pump, leaking vc gaskets, the ranger clunk, and the ride was atrocious.  the arm rest was broke, as was the seat back.  Both the fault of his weight, and immobility.  It also was missing the drivers fog light and the lower valence was broken.

Last edited on Wed Feb 7th, 2018 10:53 pm by Dusten

After bringing it home, I do what any good mechanically inclined person does with an unknown rig.  I did a full service, air filter, plugs, wires, oil, oil filter, trans fluid, trans filter and a good going over.
At this point I noted it needed front brakes.  The pinion seal is leaking and i had some bulbs out in the dash.
In early October I fixed the ranger clunk with the kit from ford.  I put new napa rotors and pads on the front.  I installed a reman'd ps pump and flushed the system.I threw some new wiper blades on the truck.
I pulled the cluster and replaced all the bulbs.  I also fixed the shift indicator cable.
I also installed some stock tail lights to get rid of these

Last edited on Wed Feb 7th, 2018 11:11 pm by Dusten

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Todays project was supposed to be shocks, rear brakes and a pinion seal.

I didn't get to the pinion seal because I ran out of time before my kids got home.

I also decided I will never ever ever replace drum brakes again. I will covert everything to discs. Period.

Helpful tip...
I think everyone needs one of these...
A great impact



Ok, so onto the truck.
Here's the part numbers for the brakes


Drivers side before tear down


Passeger side put together




Here's the old rear with the new... i think half of my ride quality issue is that the shocks are to long


Installed



Fronts




installed



Here is why the pinion seal is getting done



Having a big fancy shop doesn't save you from the wet and cold if you're stupid. I left the bed full of snow. it melted. when i jacked the front of the truck up, all the water ran out onto the floor.

Last edited on Wed Feb 14th, 2018 07:48 pm by Dusten

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