Steer me in the right direction please

Ok this may sound weird but has anybody tried to convert their power steering from the steering box to a rack and pinion? I know there is no bolt in rack but I was just curious if it would work. I can get an Aerostar or escort rack for practically nothing but I'm not sure about width and if there is a place to mount it. I'm a big Ford guy and I know a great deal about cars but Rangers, BII's, and Ex's aren't vehicles I'm familiar with. At least chassis wise. I'm doing a 2wd swap and while I'm in there if it has been done or is very possible I might try it. Let me know your thoughts. If no one has done it but I get a lot of support I am willing to be the guinea pig.

Can I ask why you're making the switch to 2wd? Not trying to sound like a dick or anything, I just don't hear about it often.

I've always wanted a nice v8 2wd street truck. Well I got the 4wd truck free, I got a 351w and AOD trans free, the truck while a little ruff is in a lot better shape than most rangers in my area. So I'm putting the motor and trans in, I just need to change it from 4wd to 2wd. I'd rather go to a yard and grab all I need to do the swap than buy a 2wd that's in worse shape than the truck I got for free. Plus it's a rather straight forward swap. From what I'm being told I need the front suspension from a 2wd Ex or BII to do it. And I'm getting an 8.8 rear out of a ranger so it will take the v8 power.

98+ rangers have rack and pinion steering....and no TIB.

after driving both, (and working on both) I'd rather have TIB than the A arm bullshit they went to.

All the rangers are are scaled down F150's....If you want to think about it that way.

Well 2wd A-arm suspension with rack and pinion is way better in the tuning/handling department. Plus even in 4wd it is a huge improvement, driveability speaking anyway. I know for off roading the TTB is better due to suspension travel.

I have to disagree....To me, the TTB/TIB drives and handles better.

As far as off road, the A arm setup is weaker..... in stock form. Just ask people who have had to do balljoints multiple times on their trucks.

I bought a truck, I expect it to handle like one.

Anyhow, you may be able to use something from one of the 98+ setups, or from an exploder (I think they went over to A arm a couple of years earlier).

84Ranger said:

Well 2wd A-arm suspension with rack and pinion is way better in the tuning/handling department. Plus even in 4wd it is a huge improvement, driveability speaking anyway. I know for off roading the TTB is better due to suspension travel.

Click to expand...

Theoretically yes, in actuality, no.

the A-arm suspension because of it's lower unsprung weight theoretically rides better over bumps.

An old axiom of suspension tuning states that
"a tire in mid-air ain't generating any traction"

But a tire that wobbles or doesn't steer in the desired direction
isn't much better.
And that is the issue with the A-Arm suspension, deflection.
they also tend to "Eat" lower balljoints.

So while the TIB is heavy and brutal, it's also rugged to the
point of near indestructability in the bargain.

that's THE advantage to the TTB on a 4x4, it is rugged
and reliable, the same cannot be said of the 4x4 A-Arm suspension.

the secret to good handling on the TIB setup is make the springs
and shocks stiff and live with the rough ride.

Remember on a SMOOTH surface unspriung weight is irrelevant
The unsprung weight only matters on ROUGH surfaces.

the Other secret is to use tires that aid the geometry.
MEaning you need to be very careful about Diameter
and width to achieve the proper scrub radius.
(the relationship between the kingpin axis and the
center of the tire's contact patch.)

You might THINK that low profile rubber would handle better but
this isn't necissarily true either.

after trying almost every size available I determined that the best compromise size for a 2wd ranger was 225/70-15's on a
Factory 15x7 (Explorer) rim, going smaller in diameter made things get "Squirrely" , going wider just increased scrubbing drag in the
corners.

And as odd as this may sound the tires I'm going to recommend
in that size are both firestones. Their SS20 "Indy 500" tire is one choice
the other is their Destination LE light truck tire I'd lean towards the destination LE's if I found myself with another 2wd because they are 50psi tires and between playing with the pressure and the generally stiffer sidewalls that gives you a greater range of adjustment.

You actually do most of "REAL" suspension tuning with
adjustment of tire pressures

Shocks? Monroe Sens-A-Trac worked real well, but if you have more money to spend the Monroe Reflex shocks are good.

you'd probably LOVE the Bilsteins I run on my truck but being honest those cost more for the pair than I paid for my entire truck

Sway Bars? Get the front off an '87-1/2 to 89 STX "Highrider"
Rear? 2wd Bronco2.

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