Kyle M's Ranger Rebuild

[Kyle M.]

I might just do that....I bet I can do it on the cheap with some coil springs.

What size heims should I use for rear link arms?

 

[wahlstrom1]

1.25" shank, and if it's not seein lotsa road use go Ruff Stuff. If it's seein roads, go EVO so you can tighten them up later.

 

[Josh40601]

or Ballistic Joints. They are a little pricey, but the fact the misalignments are already there make it not too bad. Plus they are rebuildable.

I would go at least 7/8" (width, not shank). Although if it were my rig, I would used Ballistic joints. They make that 2.65" rebuildable joint.

Barnes 4x4 also has a 4 link kit Here

 

[Josh40601]

You could also just run air shocks like the front. Didn't you say that you picked them up for right around a buck fitty or something like that?

 

[Kyle M.]

I paid over 400 for the air shocks. I got them new. I have a buddy that has a set of new 16" air shocks and 4 7/8 heims I might buy off him, I could use those for the uppers and then maybe 1.250 on the lowers. I think 7/8 would be good enough really, and for the price I could do it for less then 300 in all new heims. It will cost 500 for 1.250's. Is it worth it?

 

[wahlstrom1]

I use 7/8 threads on steering, I'd like to have something a little bigger for the suspension. But 7/8" uppers and bigger lowers is a solid plan... I just like overkill!

 

[Kyle M.]

Just had a buddy offer me his old 4 links front and rear but they a 3/4" heims and jonny joints. They are 1.5" 3/8 wall tube. He had them on his truggy he wasn't kind to and they held up. I'm gonna go look at them, see how it goes

 

[Josh40601]

awesome

 

[Kyle M.]

Did some hacking and wacking on my axles today. Cut and ground all my brackets off, shved the 14 bolt, it is now a 13 bolt, and cut the center section down on the 60 for room for the wedges. Happy with how it all turned out.

Pile of crap I cut off....

Axels all cleaned up and primered

The area I cut off for wedge clearance. It is about 1.5" or so

The shave on the 14 bolt. I still need to plate it up, but It will give me about 1.25 of clearance and no lip to catch on.

next on the list is to install gears, weld axle tubes, then plate the bottom of the 14 bolt.

 

[escort_gts]

How are you planning on plating the 14bolt?

 

[CheapThrillB2]

Here's a bottom shot of mine.. I welded the bottom cover plate on first, then welded a small piece to act as a ramp. That way the bottom piece would not take any direct impacts to the welds etc..

 

[Kyle M.]

How are you planning on plating the 14bolt?

I am just gonna weld a piece of 1/4" plate on the bottom to basically patch the hole I made.

Here's a bottom shot of mine.. I welded the bottom cover plate on first, then welded a small piece to act as a ramp. That way the bottom piece would not take any direct impacts to the welds etc..

I wasn't sure how much I could take considering I did have my ring gear on the carrier. Looking at it, that lip seemed to be the biggest area of concern so I just hacked that off. Maybe I will put the ring gear in and see how much more I can take.

 

[CheapThrillB2]

Did you weld the 14B tubes to the housing as well?

 

[Kyle M.]

I haven't welded anything yet, but I plan on it.

 

[kris97ranger]

Small update build related, got the rest of my parts today, now I just need a locker, rims and tires and I am swaping tons.

is this still the plan? and then just wait on the v8 till its not wheeling season anymore?

My weld on wedges and new bushings

where did you get these? i tried finding them on bronco graveyard but i couldnt