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

[ekrampitzjr]

Checked the front end today.

Last week at night I heard a strange "sproing" as a pulled up to a stoplight and felt it through the brake pedal and steering wheel. Discovered later that something had scraped the left front wheel between the rim and the hub, so it was probably something metal in the road I didn't see in the dark. The tire and the plastic center cover were not damaged.

Just in case, today I jacked up the front end and pulled off both front wheels. Everything good with the brakes, all bolts there and tight. Did discover that the front bearings needed to be tweaked a little tighter after 11,000 miles on them, so I did that. Both front wheels had a tiny "click" as I pulled top-bottom, but no click when pulling side-to-side. Tightened both nuts no more than about 15 degrees clockwise, which eliminated that click, and the wheels still rolled freely.

While I had the right front wheel off, I trimmed a small amount from the large fender liner where it was rubbing the frame and had taken off the undercoating, sanded off the small amount of surface rust, and hit it with a small amount of "rust reformer" black spray paint. Rust-Oleum makes the product. I used the paint to hit a few spots on the right control arm too. I'll go back later and hit that spot on the frame with a spray-on undercoating.

Tip on bearings: you can adjust the front bearings without pulling the wheel off. Just remove the center cover and grease cap and you can get to the cotter pin, retainer, and bolt.

 

[tw205]

Pulled the retired 89 BII in the barn and pulled the 4.10 pig out of the front axle. Took some time cleaning it up. The vent tube looked like the mud daubers packed it full so I took it off. Found the vent fitting was plugged with what I don't know. Had to use a drill bit to get it opened up.

These 28s are so tiny. This one originally came out of my blue 85 (Alice). Factory unit. Gotta move a few trucks around then I'll take the matching rear 7.5 LS 4.10 out. Fun day in the Bronco barn.

 

[1984RESTOMOD]

Started on the driver side that had been done in a pretty shotty manner. Have to get some more grinder wheels - hoping to be done with both sides by the end of the week. Boards are for support til I return

 

[pjtoledo]

Pulled the retired 89 BII in the barn and pulled the 4.10 pig out of the front axle. Took some time cleaning it up. The vent tube looked like the mud daubers packed it full so I took it off. Found the vent fitting was plugged with what I don't know. Had to use a drill bit to get it opened up. View attachment 106020View attachment 106021 These 28s are so tiny. This one originally came out of my blue 85 (Alice). Factory unit. Gotta move a few trucks around then I'll take the matching rear 7.5 LS 4.10 out. Fun day in the Bronco barn.

I have seen brass looking filters in the vent nipple on rear axles, yours looks similar.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yeah, that type of vent usually has a sintered brass insert...

 

[tw205]

I have seen brass looking filters in the vent nipple on rear axles, yours looks similar.

I could see how you may think it has that,but it was a bad angle in the picture. It's a simple nipple with a hooked rubber hose attached. I have a few pigs sitting around and checked them as well. All of them were plugged up. It's just dirt and dust from 40 years of service. Think I will put a filtered cap on the hose to help keep crud and mud daubers out.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Good call, and that pic did make it look like it was a vent fitting , maybe the vent cap from a rear diff vent? My question mark hose was bad or missing so I took a few feet of clear nylon hose and ran it down to the pivot bracket and ran it by the headlight...

 

[clarkbre]

Over the weekend, picked up a new set of wheels and tires on Facebook Marketplace. Love the new look!

Wheels: American Racing AR23 machined w/ clear coat fisnish 15x8, -19mm offset, 3.75" backspacing
Tires: Pro Comp Xtreme MT 2 31x10.50R15

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So, Tuesday I got around to hooking my laptop to my green Ranger. It apparently has a pile of complaints at the moment to work through. Joy. Anyway, I finally changed my tire size in the computer while I was at it. Still needs a slight adjustment, but it’s close enough. Well, yesterday I took it out and I’m gonna say that I should have done that waaayyyy sooner. It is very much happier. So if you’re doing the 5.0 swap, don’t forget to change your tire size in the computer, it’s worth doing the calculation and putting in.

 

[sgtsandman]

So, Tuesday I got around to hooking my laptop to my green Ranger. It apparently has a pile of complaints at the moment to work through. Joy. Anyway, I finally changed my tire size in the computer while I was at it. Still needs a slight adjustment, but it’s close enough. Well, yesterday I took it out and I’m gonna say that I should have done that waaayyyy sooner. It is very much happier. So if you’re doing the 5.0 swap, don’t forget to change your tire size in the computer, it’s worth doing the calculation and putting in.

Where do you do the tire size? I poked around in the 2011 with forescan but didn't recognize anything as tire size. And is it setup in mm like the 2019?

It's either been too cold or I haven't had to time to poke around in the 2019 yet. I just confirmed forscan would read info and talk to it.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Where do you do the tire size? I poked around in the 2011 with forescan but didn't recognize anything as tire size. And is it setup in mm like the 2019?

It's either been too cold or I haven't had to time to poke around in the 2019 yet. I just confirmed forscan would read info and talk to it.

It was in like the GEM module stuff or something. There was an “as built” section and an editable section for the module. I probably should have made notes of what I did. I can find it but I’m not sure how to talk someone else through it. It’s some sort of like “rotations per mile” so to be precise you need to know the exact tire size, not just what it’s sold as. I put in the numbers for a 31” tire but it is slightly off according to GPS. I didn’t look up the precise tire size (they vary slightly by manufacturers) and just used a generic 31” number

 

[Curious Hound]

I'll get a picture, tomorrow, of the one we have at work. If it was me, I'd put a small tank heater in.


But it's not me.

 

[JoshT]

So, Tuesday I got around to hooking my laptop to my green Ranger. It apparently has a pile of complaints at the moment to work through. Joy. Anyway, I finally changed my tire size in the computer while I was at it. Still needs a slight adjustment, but it’s close enough. Well, yesterday I took it out and I’m gonna say that I should have done that waaayyyy sooner. It is very much happier. So if you’re doing the 5.0 swap, don’t forget to change your tire size in the computer, it’s worth doing the calculation and putting in.

Using ForSCAN? Did you use it for the PATS as well, or just swap all that over? Using ForScan is my plan for PATS, but I wouldn't have thought about changing the tire size and haven't actually tried it on the Ranger yet.

I put in the numbers for a 31” tire but it is slightly off according to GPS. I didn’t look up the precise tire size (they vary slightly by manufacturers) and just used a generic 31” number

You're running 31s on the 2000 AWD? I thought you were running smaller. Or is the plan to run smaller, but it hasn't happened yet?

 

[Curious Hound]

I'll get a picture, tomorrow, of the one we have at work. If it was me, I'd put a small tank heater in.


But it's not me.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Using ForSCAN? Did you use it for the PATS as well, or just swap all that over? Using ForScan is my plan for PATS, but I wouldn't have thought about changing the tire size and haven't actually tried it on the Ranger yet.

Using Forscan. I used it for PATS too, got the extended license. All I swapped was the computer, left all my factory ignition and PATS module. When I first plugged it in, Forscan asked if I replaced something and walked me through things, just had to tell it that I changed the computer and it did it’s magic then all my keys and door clickers worked. Super painless. I knew about changing the tire size but since I wasn’t intending on staying with these tires I just left it alone. Bad move on my part. It’s easy enough to change.

You're running 31s on the 2000 AWD? I thought you were running smaller. Or is the plan to run smaller, but it hasn't happened yet?

Yes, I’m currently running 31x10.50-15 on it because the tires had like 2k miles so we’re practically brand new. I need to source 18” rims and low profile tires, probably a 29” tire. Don’t have the money right now and I’d rather have the aggressive 31’s for winter anyway until I figure things out. Leaning towards throwing a wider, aggressive low profile on it. 31’s rub a little with it being lowered. And the sidewalls are squishy.