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rkneeshaw
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2009
- Messages
- 469
- Reaction score
- 7
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Northern Michigan
- Vehicle Year
- 1994
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 4.0L
- Transmission
- Manual
I have a 94 4x4 ranger and just completed swapping in leaf springs from a 2006. Along the way i've discovered some interesting things to share.
First of all, all ranger leaf springs are NOT created equal. I think they are all the same length and you can get them to bolt in, but its not always an absolute direct swap.
Leaf spring eyes
It seems somewhere between probably 97 and at least 2006 the main leaf eyes got bigger. My 94 seems to have a 1.5" ID and the 06 has a 1.75" ID. The rear leaf eyes are the same.
Bushings
I started this assuming all leafs were the same, so I ordered the Energy Suspension bushing kit for the 97 ranger. I was wrong. As mentioned above, the main leaf spring eye is a different size on the newer trucks, so these will not work. Also The ES bushing kit I ordered came with bolt sleeves for the rear eyes that were too big, and seem to take a 5/8" bolt, which won't work with my stock 9/16" bolts and my shackles which have 9/16" bolt holes, so thats strike 2 for the ES bushing kit. Additionally, I cannot find ANYONE that makes aftermarket bushings, even OEM replacements, for the 2006 ranger. If you need new bushings for these newer springs, as of this posting, you have to get them from Ford.
Bolt sizes
My 94 ranger takes 9/16" bolts in both spring eye locations. The newer 2006 ranger leafs take something like a 5/8" bolt in the main leaf eye and a 9/16" in the rear leaf eye. I'm not positive of the main leaf eye bolt size for the 2006 leafs because instead of reaming out the bolt holes in my hangers I decided to use my 9/16" bolt with some "starter bushings" as sleeves which worked beautifully. These "sleeves", for reference, are carquest part number 20-3500.
Hopefully this helps someone else out.
First of all, all ranger leaf springs are NOT created equal. I think they are all the same length and you can get them to bolt in, but its not always an absolute direct swap.
Leaf spring eyes
It seems somewhere between probably 97 and at least 2006 the main leaf eyes got bigger. My 94 seems to have a 1.5" ID and the 06 has a 1.75" ID. The rear leaf eyes are the same.
Bushings
I started this assuming all leafs were the same, so I ordered the Energy Suspension bushing kit for the 97 ranger. I was wrong. As mentioned above, the main leaf spring eye is a different size on the newer trucks, so these will not work. Also The ES bushing kit I ordered came with bolt sleeves for the rear eyes that were too big, and seem to take a 5/8" bolt, which won't work with my stock 9/16" bolts and my shackles which have 9/16" bolt holes, so thats strike 2 for the ES bushing kit. Additionally, I cannot find ANYONE that makes aftermarket bushings, even OEM replacements, for the 2006 ranger. If you need new bushings for these newer springs, as of this posting, you have to get them from Ford.
Bolt sizes
My 94 ranger takes 9/16" bolts in both spring eye locations. The newer 2006 ranger leafs take something like a 5/8" bolt in the main leaf eye and a 9/16" in the rear leaf eye. I'm not positive of the main leaf eye bolt size for the 2006 leafs because instead of reaming out the bolt holes in my hangers I decided to use my 9/16" bolt with some "starter bushings" as sleeves which worked beautifully. These "sleeves", for reference, are carquest part number 20-3500.
Hopefully this helps someone else out.
