Flat washer underneath lower spring stud driver side, but not in diagram????

[steppinthrax]

I've been pulling apart the front end of my 97 ranger to repaint and replace bushings, ball joints etc.

My 97 ranger has TTB and 4wd. Upon removing the lower spring stud on the driver side, I notice there's a large thick washer just under the stud, this is the top stud that secures the beam to the radius arm. What is suspicious about this is that I didn't find any washer on the driver side. I looked at the diagram for my vehicle and it dosen't call for any washer as well. There also dosen't seem to be any good reason why a washer is there since the holes are not oblong or oversized etc. I've attached a picture of my driver side with an arrow to where I found this washer.

 

[Curious Hound]

Someone may have added that to raise the driver side slightly to get rid of the normal "lean" toward the driver side. Most people add spacers just below the spring seat. I've never heard of one being added where you found it.

 

[Curious Hound]

The more I think about it... are you sure it's a loose washer? I seem to recall a washer-shaped boss that is welded to or part of the top of the axle beam as a reinforcement in that area. Or I might be thinking of something else.

 

[steppinthrax]

The more I think about it... are you sure it's a loose washer? I seem to recall a washer-shaped boss that is welded to or part of the top of the axle beam as a reinforcement in that area. Or I might be thinking of something else.

So I actually did some searching and watching a YouTube video, I saw someone replacing the radius arm on a ranger. I don't know exactly what year but the video range cover 97. The only difference was instead of using a coil stud there was a through bolt that went from the very bottom all the way to the top, one continuous bolt. So maybe a little bit different design, maybe a older year I don't know. Anyway, there was a washer on the top of the radius arm.

This morning with daylight I looked at my passenger side and noticed if I put the coil stud in place, there's quite a bit of space between the nut of the stud and the hole underneath, as if a washer is almost necessary. The only thing I can think being as old as the truck is someone took that area apart and omitted the washer. I also noticed when I put the washer on the stud the hole in the center of the washer was perfect, it just cleared the threads on the bottom of the stud fastener. Almost like it was OEM. I was searching for a similar hardened washer at Ace hardware as well as other stores but could not find it. It's similar to a fender washer.

This washer is quite thick, almost like a hardened washer. I would say maybe 1/8. When putting the spring cup on top of this washer it does sit on top of the washer by about that much, so the total ride height would increase by about 1/8".

Now that I see the washer in the YouTube video, I think I'm going to buy a similar size fender washer for both sides so that it matches. It makes sense for it to be there.

 

[Curious Hound]

The video you saw with the really long bolt going all the way through the arm must have been 2wd.

If it needs it, use it. It does not need to be hardened. I really doubt that the original one was. There would be no need for that expense.