Front suspension rebuild

Terry · Nov 28, 2011

Front suspension rebuild

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I posted this in the steering forum.

I have an 86 two wheel drive ext cab ranger. My front needs to be realigned. I want to rebuild the complete front end and use energy suspension. I want to do the rebuild before I align it. Does anybody have a wearable parts list? Is it more cost effective to buy the whole energy bushing kit? Is it cost effictive to buy complete tie rod setup or just do the ends. I will be doing an explorer leaf spring conversion after I do the front end.

Thanks

06RangerXLT · Nov 28, 2011

so you want to replace everything...

so shocks, bushings, balljoints, inner and outter tie rod ends and wheel bearings. while your in there you may as well do your brakes.

your looking at quite a few hundred in parts. Id take a look at whats bad, and then replace whats needed. i did the whole everything new. onlything that wasnt is the control arm bushings. i was in $400 without pads or shocks.

Terry · Nov 28, 2011

I replaced the brakes and wheel bearings less than a year ago. Im looking mostly for wear parts. Its pulling to the left and I dont want to have it alinged twice. My truck makes squeaks going over even the smallist bumps. The steering feels pretty tight for being an 86 with 145,000 on it. I am looking in the future to putting longer radius arms and beams. I dont have the cash flow to do that it this time. I have been looking at energy suspension bushings for all the pivot points.

brinker88 · Nov 28, 2011

Just to clarify on 06Ranger's post. Bushings would include Radius arm bushings, sway bar bushings, and the most overlooked part, axle pivot bushings.

Terry · Nov 28, 2011

brinker88 said:
Just to clarify on 06Ranger's post. Bushings would include Radius arm bushings, sway bar bushings, and the most overlooked part, axle pivot bushings.

Do they sell the front end bushings in a kit?

upnsmoke · Jan 2, 2012

I did everything in the front of my 88 at once. I had it all apart to put in Autofab bent beams and radius arms. Did everything on 06Ranger's list. I wound up pulling it all apart again though to redo the bushings. I originally used Energy urethane for radius arm and control arm pivot bushings, but after a few hundred miles on the street and some minor off roading, decided the bushings were too stiff for my liking. I wound up using Moog rubber in the pivot bushings and leaving the urethane in the radius arms. I had well over a grand in the job with the beams, but I guess it's worth it. I love the way the truck drives now, and figure I shouldn't need to mess with it again for a while. Summit sells everything needed for the job. I used Moog for all steering parts, ball joints, and rubber bushings. It's a little steep, but I have always had good luck with Moog parts. edit- just realized this was from 11-28, not 12-28. Oh well.

Terry · Jan 2, 2012

I have not done this job yet. I am going to do the rear end first. Pick and pull is full of exploaders for my leaf swap. I will get to the front end when this is compete. Thanks for the info. I plan on doing "everything" at one time. I will take your advise for the radius arm bushings.

upnsmoke · Jan 2, 2012

Cool. Are you going to do a lift in the front? I personally wish I had done F-250 front shocks on mine the first time around. I will be pulling it apart yet again soon to do so. You might want to read up on it in the tech library before you do the job, if you haven't already. I wish I had, would have saved me some time and effort. It's not necessary to do, but I have decided I want the travel. Good luck with it man.

Front suspension rebuild

Terry

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