Suspension swap

JamesC · Feb 6, 2008

Ok I have read the brake upgrade sticky in the brakes. It mentions swapping the I-beams in order for the newer style brakes. I was wondering if it is possible to take the whole 95 suspension. then have it bolt into a 86. This is 2wd by the way

my suspension has seen better days. thats why i would like to replace and upgrade at once.

broken2wd · Feb 7, 2008

are you going to keep it 2wd? if you do that i think it will bolt up. if you do 4wd you have to replace cross members and shit. i think the difference between an 86 and say a 93-97 is that the beams are cast on the newer ones and forged on the older ones. is a 86 drums in the front?

JamesC · Feb 7, 2008

yes I am keeping it 2wd. my suspension seems a little weak especially the radius arms so if I'm changing the I beams I figure i should change the radius arms and brackets too, so I want to take the whole front suspension from a 95-97. Will this work?

bluovaldude · Feb 11, 2008

It should work just fine for you. I do believe the only major change in the suspension from the 92 model to the 93-97 model was the brake cailipers were different.

Correct me if I am wrong.

But everything should work for you and if you do go the route of upgrading, do change it all radius arms, brackets and all.

And why the suspension is out check, and change out the major bushings, save you some time and money in the long run.

Wicked_Sludge · Feb 11, 2008

broken2wd said:
is a 86 drums in the front?

no ranger has ever had drums in front.....no passenger vehicle has had drums in front since the 70's.

F150hybred · Feb 11, 2008

Sludge, I hate to burst you bubble, but my 74 Hornet had drums all around. I know... it was an AMC... but it was my first car!

Wicked_Sludge · Feb 11, 2008

how is that bursting my bubble?

F150hybred · Feb 11, 2008

Just a stab here.... but it's newer than 1970?

Wicked_Sludge · Feb 11, 2008

i said 70's, not "1970".

F150hybred · Feb 11, 2008

I see.....

volrath · Feb 18, 2008

i think the inly difference on the 95-97 is the front abs on some and dual piston calipers. make sure they are not coming off of a truck with abs. lmc truck has the new front beam bushings and radious bushing in polyurathan for 20 bucks for a set. and the newer ranger radious arms have a stud to mount the shock. were as my old 84 had a bolt and bracket that pointed forward on the outside shock mount tab.

does your 86 have the sway bar that goes in between the radious arms?

JoshT · Feb 22, 2008

Actually volrath he should be able to keep his stock radius arms with the newer beams so the shock mount and sway bar location should be no problem.

JamesC yes you can bolt in the beams, spindles, brakes, and radius arms (if you so desire) from a 95, and the easiest way to do it would be to get all from the same truck. Actually this is a fairly common mod to be done when lowering with the DJM Dream Beams, since you are already half way there when removing the beams.

volrath · Feb 25, 2008

true true i was just thinking of the odd sway bar location behind the i beams. not before that mounts to the radious arms and radious arm cross member. that little bracket that comes off the shock mount and goes rearwards is also used to locate the sway bar u-bolts so the location is good on the new arms. i had to get an old bracket from a junk yard to locate the brackets.

Suspension swap

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