What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[lil_Blue_Ford]

New tensioners came the other day for mom’s Explorer. I’ll have to deal with that soon. Unless @rubydist wants to come do it for me since he just did it to his

Yesterday I didn’t get to do anything towards the vehicles, but I did get a ride to fetch fireworks for the church bonfire and retrieved my blower and battery packs from the (ex?) GF’s house. Today appears to be a rain day from the hurricane.

 

[racsan]

Drove all day, first it was the last flea mkt of the year about 40 miles north of me, then I was about to leave and checked my phone for the time and saw I had a missed call from my daughter earlier that morning (was 11:30 by this time) called her back and found out she had a fire, mostly in one room, her sons. So I drive there to check it out (everyone is ok btw). the room is gutted, looks like it was in the roof some too. The window to that room was broke out so I drove all the way home for my flatbed, went to lowes for a sheet of plywood and drove all the way back to board up the open hole, then of course the 50 mile trip back home again. I feel the home will be declared a total loss, its a double eide mobile home, besides the obvious damage to the room where it started theres smoke & water damage, who knows what else. Even knowing everyone is ok it was rather terrifying seeing the inside remains of a childs room destroyed by fire, I think I saw what was left of a toy box I made for him for his 1st birthday. Have no idea what caused it, guess it’s irrelevant at this point.

 

[Roert42]

Hauled a bunch of scrap out of the shop today. Rear was sagging like shutting dog.

Need new springs bad. sits pretty level without a load, but any load and shes sagging. Other option is to cut out all the hard work and just sit around.
Have to crunch the numbers and see what one would work out better.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Hauled a bunch of scrap out of the shop today. Rear was sagging like shutting dog.

Need new springs bad. sits pretty level without a load, but any load and shes sagging. Other option is to cut out all the hard work and just sit around.
Have to crunch the numbers and see what one would work out better.

I about have leaf spring changes and repairs down to an art form…

 

[JoshT]

I sat on my ass all day and thought about working on it... again. Where does the time go I sit in front of this computer and next thing I know its getting dark.

 

[Roert42]

I was thinking about adding a leaf form a j/y pack for a while. The packs just so beat at this point, I think I might order a whole new pack from an explorer or f-150 or something.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I was thinking about adding a leaf form a j/y pack for a while. The packs just so beat at this point, I think I might order a whole new pack from an explorer or f-150 or something.

So Explorer leaf springs in good shape have a better load carrying capacity over the Ranger springs (you have to flip the centering pin), but they will lift the back 1-2” higher than the Ranger springs. I’m not sure how F-150 springs stack up other than the 4x4 springs are too wide. Bronco II packs are too soft. You can also beef up the packs or buy new heavy duty packs. Or you could always just put the Explorer springs in and deal with the height, lol. Dad bought the new heavy springs for his, I’ve modded springs for mine…

 

[pjtoledo]

recently swapped to my set of winter wheels/tires. picked up a nasty wobble on the right rear.
chalked the hi spot on the sidewall, rotated the wheel a couple bolt holes and the mark seemed to follow the axle instead of the wheel.
instead of setting up the dial indicator I chose the "easy" route and pulled the axle shaft for inspection.
sure enough, it was greasy as all hell.
I have an assortment of bearings that will make a test jig, I'll check both shafts.

this is my 2005 2wd, has 368,000 miles and the first time the rear was opened up. lube was clean, not shiney, wear surfaces were great, seals not so much.
not too bad for a 7.5 in a work truck.
time for wheel bearings & seals, brake cylinders.

edit: corrected mileage. and they are all mine.

 

[rubydist]

161K

 

[superj]

Attempted to put spare rims on to see how they would look but the steel stock rims come with those lug nuts that have a fat lip and are for the center caps to clip to.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Went fishin uphill from camp.

 

[racsan]

Swapped wheels for winter on escape & ranger. Its a bit early but october in ohio can be quite a dice roll, Ive seen both 80 and snow in the ground by halloween. The hhr rims on the ranger arent too hideous, Ive seen worse. Can’t really tell if it handles any different with all the wind today. Of course its quicker from a stop but I knew it would be with this set being 2” shorter.

 

[bobbywalter]

This has not improved 0 to 60 times.

Thinking of fixing it....

 

[pjtoledo]

finally, real world testing of how back pressure affects fuel mileage

 

[JoshT]

I finally put a battery in the '99. It's alive! Probably the first time I've turned the key in a year and a half, it fired right up. Next step is get to cleaning.