97 Ranger suspension question

[Ian Fisher]

I am looking to lift my 97 Ranger. I'd like at least 3 inches but something like 5 would be awesome. I am unsure of how to do that though. I heard that there are some sort of suspension blocks, and I'm under the impression that the rear would be lifted by blocks, and the front would be lifted by new springs and struts. Is that correct? Mine is rwd, if that changes anything.

 

[adsm08]

Well some of those words were used not incorrectly. That's about as close as you got to being "correct".

If you want to lift a 2wd 3 inches blocks in the rear will be OKish. If you want to go 5 inches, spring for a kit that has longer leaf springs. 5 inch blocks is like putting the back of your truck on stilts.

Since the twin I-beam suspension doesn't use struts your front end will not be lifted, or anything else for that matter, by struts. Again, longer springs is the answer to that much lift in the front. Longer shocks (not the same as a strut) will be required all around, but they don't hold any weight, so they won't lift anything.

Now at that much lift you will need a dropped pitman arm, drops for your pivot brackets, and probably longer radius arms.

 

[ericbphoto]

There are some great articles in the "how to tech" section of this website that will explain our suspension setup and show you how to lift it. The principles will be the same whether rwd or 4x4. Follow the link at the top of the page.