Make AC like new again and Make the truck brake better and have transmission checked out?

[SlugStang8997]

Recently purchased (I did not build the truck)2001 Ford Ranger XLT ext cab 2wd Rwd v8 swapped 5.0 v8 from 2001 Mercury Mountaineer, transmission 4 speed 4R70W with transgo shift kit for firmer shifts and rear end from Mountineer Disc braked Rear end is 3.73 posi-traction with relocated spring perches and shock mounts

I didn't want to make multi post so i figure i could combine some things i would like to do to my truck. My trucks AC just doesn't blow very cold so i was wondering what parts should i replace. I already had the truck recharged professionally and it is a little colder but still not very cold. The AC to my knowledge works. But when i turned the defroster on the other day i heard a smacking sound coming from the engine compartment. I took the truck in and they said the sound that i was hearing was the the compressor clicking on and off. But i didn't tell them that it was the defroster that i had turned on not the ac. Are the defroster and AC different from one another. Could one create a terrible sound while the other not create any sound? Anyway i would like to improve my AC or make it like new again witch will be hard considering the age of the vehicle. What should i replace first on the AC to improve it. I was told to maybe replace the compressor but that's it by my mechanic.

Alright moving on to the brakes now I am wondering what rotors would be good for my truck to improve stopping power? or should i switch to a different brake system of some kind. The front brakes are stock ranger i think, no modification to the brake system. My rear brakes are mountaineer brakes. So i would like to just modify or change the front brakes since that is what stops the truck the most. I have bought new wheel bearings so far witch should help improve things in the front of the truck. I would like to improve stopping power in general cause the truck is faster then normal or at least has alot more torque but seems to lack top end speed cause it is a 4 speed. So how should i go about improving the front brakes

My transmission shifts great until 4th gear then the truck seems to lack power once in overdrive. Sometimes i wonder if my truck is shifting to 4th gear cause i can't hear or feel it. The shift kit really makes you feel 123 but not 4th gear. I have a 4 speed 4R70W transmission with a transgo shift kit. So the truck seems to lack power after about 50-55mph. So after switching into overdrive the truck seems weak to me. I was thinking about taking the truck to AAMCO to have the transmission checked out for health. But i am not sure if they would even work on my truck since its modified. Some places won't work on my truck. The truck seems to lack power once in overdrive or when trying to go faster on the freeway.

 

[pjtoledo]

front brake upgrades depend on which suspension you have, coils or torsion bars.
for larger brakes,,,,
coils: custom parts. need modified brackets or switch to radial mount calipers, with custom mounts.

torsion bar: easy job, swap out knuckles with 2001 Sport Track 2wd knuckles. direct bolt on and gets you 12" rotors.

anything bigger than the 12" rotors requires custom stuff.

I'll let others discuss slotted/drilled rotors, I haven't used them.

 

[SlugStang8997]

front brake upgrades depend on which suspension you have, coils or torsion bars.
for larger brakes,,,,
coils: custom parts. need modified brackets or switch to radial mount calipers, with custom mounts.

torsion bar: easy job, swap out knuckles with 2001 Sport Track 2wd knuckles. direct bolt on and gets you 12" rotors.

anything bigger than the 12" rotors requires custom stuff.

I'll let others discuss slotted/drilled rotors, I haven't used them.

Thanks for your reply
The front suspension is coil springs 4.0 HD
Custom parts? What kind of custom parts? Is it very expensive?

 

[superj]

here is a link for one manufacturer for big brake conversions on rangers. its going ot be expensive though

Wilwood Disc Brakes - 2004 Ford Ranger

 

[pjtoledo]

Thanks for your reply
The front suspension is coil springs 4.0 HD
Custom parts? What kind of custom parts? Is it very expensive?

first, quite expensive. that's why I haven't done my 2005 coil Ranger. exactly how much?? don't know.
what kind? brackets that move the caliper out farther,,,or, aftermarket calipers whose design uses bolts perpendicular to the axle stub and brackets.
in addition, bigger brakes means bigger wheels. especially if you have 15" wheels.

there is actually a larger 12" rotor that fits your coil spindles/steering knuckles. its a 12" rotor for the 2001 Sport track. same bearings, bolts right on.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO BRACKETS THAT WILL FIT OVER IT.
that's where custom stuff comes into play.

on your stock brakes, if you get the hubs machined to remove the rotor so a new rotor ( like a 4WD ) can be replaced separately a stock
1998 crown Vic rotor can be made to fit. they are 12.5" and height wise nearly identical to Ranger rotors.
again, custom brackets and larger wheels (16") are needed.

you may find that some shops say brakes are kind of important, I don't want the liability issues that can happen,

 

[JoshT]

here is a link for one manufacturer for big brake conversions on rangers. its going ot be expensive though

Wilwood Disc Brakes - 2004 Ford Ranger

Last I checked, Wilwood does notmake kits for the front of Rangers. The probably have something that could be adapted to the rear, but I don't think it's marketed for them either.

on your stock brakes, if you get the hubs machined to remove the rotor so a new rotor ( like a 4WD ) can be replaced separately a stock
1998 crown Vic rotor can be made to fit. they are 12.5" and height wise nearly identical to Ranger rotors.
again, custom brackets and larger wheels (16") are needed.

If you're going to that extent seek out the 13" brake kit in the tech library, what's listed above is a variation of it. Originally it used the turned down ranger rotor for a hub as mentioned. It used a 13" Rotor and calipers from an 03-04 Mustang Cobra. There is a company currently producing an updated version of the kit. Still uses the same 13" rotor, but uses Cadilliac ATS 4 piston Brembo calipers. S&S Engineering LLC would be the ones currently selling the hub and bracket kits. These will require a 17" wheel.

there is actually a larger 12" rotor that fits your coil spindles/steering knuckles. its a 12" rotor for the 2001 Sport track. same bearings, bolts right on.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO BRACKETS THAT WILL FIT OVER IT.
that's where custom stuff comes into play.

As you mentioned the rotor will directly swap on, but the difficulty with this swap is the brackets. Brackets were available for doing this on the 93-97 Rangers (can be purchased through S&S as well) and the dimensions are listed in the tech library to DIY them, but I'm not aware of any ever being offered for the 98+ trucks. Given how the knuckles are made, I'm not sure that these years lend themselves to a practical adapter bracket. I'm not sure if you are aware but the 4x4s made the same diameter change some time post 98, and the mounting hole location was moved to match the new rotor diameter.

I recently discovered that the lowering crowd is actually using a ST spindle on Rangers to pull off this 12" brake upgrade. Apparently they swap in the whole knuckle and brake assembly, then use a Torsion Bar upper control arm. Don't know how this setup would work for a stock height truck as the torsion bar control arms appear to be longer than coil spring ones. Those guys are tyipcally doing the swap on coil spring trucks that are dropped 4-6" and the longer arm actually helps with camber correction. I don't have a 98+ coil spring truck or I'd be doing hitting the salvage yard and experimenting with some parts.

 

[pjtoledo]

any specific parts combination you want to try?
I have a 2000 4x4 and a 2005 coil Ranger and a pile of parts. I love needlessly swapping parts for "how does this work" purposes.

I did try a 2wd Sport track spindle on the coil truck. lower ball joint and tie rod fit. the torsion upper control arm pushed the top of the spindle WAY OUT.
that WAY OUT is probably what works for the lowered crowd as it would correct the camber at extreme lift. lowering.
keep in mind if the upper arm is longer that alters the "swing" of the spindle during it's travel, pushes the top out even more.

I also tried the 2wd Sport track spindles on my 2000 4x4, the fit was so good it didn't even need an alignment.

currently the 2000 4x4 has the newer 12" knuckles. they work great!


now, back to our previous post content,,,er,, what was it anyway.

 

[Blmpkn]

The a/c compressor will engage with the defrost to help clear the windshield quicker.

 

[SlugStang8997]

Off topic but does anyone have the 2001 ford ranger xlt frame specs and dimensions. I am getting my frame measured and check out i was wondering if the numbers were downloadable

 

[Lefty]

Slotted cross drilled rotors work very well especially in the rain, going down long slopes, hauling heavy loads, and occasional panic stops.

 

[superj]

dang! is that wilwood just rears? sorry, i never even noticed that when i read it

 

[Blmpkn]

Off topic but does anyone have the 2001 ford ranger xlt frame specs and dimensions. I am getting my frame measured and check out i was wondering if the numbers were downloadable

A shop that's worth bringing your truck to will have the dimensions.

 

[SlugStang8997]

A shop that's worth bringing your truck to will have the dimensions.

Thank for your reply
The shop has them but i wanted my own so i can do a comparison and know what there talking about when they tell me whats going on.

 

[Blmpkn]

Thank for your reply
The shop has them but i wanted my own so i can do a comparison and know what there talking about when they tell me whats going on.

Gotcha

 

[JoshT]

I did try a 2wd Sport track spindle on the coil truck. lower ball joint and tie rod fit. the torsion upper control arm pushed the top of the spindle WAY OUT.
that WAY OUT is probably what works for the lowered crowd as it would correct the camber at extreme lift. lowering.

That's what I was thinking. Any chance that the coil upper would have worked with the Sport Trac knuckle? Unfortunately none of them will work for me, I need longer than the Torsion bar arm. For what I'm doing I'm going to need custom built, which I'm not equipped or skilled enough to do myself. I do need to figure out if a coil spring upper joint will fit in a torsion bar knuckle. I've found someone with the plates cut to make custom arms, but his stuff is cut for a coil spring joint.