New shock options along w/ body lift

[SandFlea]

(hope I plopped this in the right subforum)

I recently picked up an 04 Edge std cab, 3.0 4x4 and like many, I want to even the rake of the body. I dont intend to do any hardcore off roading, light trails round here, sand, roots and occasionally mud and more sand but pretty tame trails.

I plan to nab a level kit. Looking to get T keys (1-3") and maybe rear blocks (1") from supreme suspensions, wulf or whomever (honestly not sure w the brands still looking thru reviews, cost/benefit...)

My main concern are about shocks, since the body'll be raised up and essentially maxing the stock shocks, what'd be a good aftermarket shock to go with for the additional travel, best bang for buck &
slightly softer ride if possible? I'm stumped on the shock options....

This is my 1st truck, been tinkering w cars for years but damn near clueless w the Ranger, any help is appreciated

 

[scotts90ranger]

raising the body doesn't do anything to the shocks, the torsion keys on the other hand do...

I was being cheap a decade ago when I lifted my '90 and got the Skyjacker shocks from the TRS store, they were stupid cheap at I think $75 a pair but honestly I don't have any complaints and I've put them through heck... If I put some weight in the bed and dial in the "ain't care" level the stupid thing takes high speed bumps very respectably... with TTB all my friends say it looks broken when it's doing it's thing but in the cab it's a decent ride for what it is

 

[Uncle Gump]

Actually... installing the lift keys on a SLA front suspension doesn't change a thing with suspension travel. Unless you alter the up or down travel stops... factory length shocks are fine.

 

[SandFlea]

Alright, thanks guys. I was under the impression yanking out the torsion to near max would have little to no travel or reach left within the stock shocks.
So to be clear, even with (or without) keys... the stock shocks are fine and wont feel like a dump truck

 

[Uncle Gump]

Alright, thanks guys. I was under the impression yanking out the torsion to near max would have little to no travel or reach left within the stock shocks.
So to be clear, even with (or without) keys... the stock shocks are fine and wont feel like a dump truck

The trouble with putting re-indexed keys in the SLA... IS the fact you have no down travel left. They alone create the poor ride quality. You simply have to have both compression and rebound in a suspension. I hear some people say longer shocks works so much better... but I say bunk... you still have no down travel. The HARD down stop is the upper control arm contacting the frame. That point in travel is essentially the bottom of a factory shock. Each truck seems to be a little different. My passenger side hard stop and shock length stop is one in the same... driver side I run out of shock about a 1/4 inch before the hard stop. There is no extended length shock that will fix it. Not to mention you are now at drive axle and suspension max limits... it just wears everything out at an accelerated rate.

IMHO... you would be further ahead to replace your torsion bars with the heavy duty factory bars and use your factory keys. Then adjust them to the upper limits of the factory tolerances. That alone... with the correct wheel and tire combo will get you on 33 inch... tires before a body lift.

EDIT... I also moved your post to the 4WD suspension forum.

 

[SandFlea]

Good insight, thanks (and the appropriate subforum move, noted)

So the fact of the matter seems your pretty much SOL as far as ride quality but i reckon ppl just deal w it as so many ppl run body lifts.

Looks like i got some thinking to do. Id like a better level look without overwearing other parts in the process. Ofcourse its more difficult than it seems

 

[sgtsandman]

The torsion bar suspension is indeed a very limiting factor. There is a reason a lot of the 4X4 crowd prefer the older twin beam suspension and solid axle swaps.

 

[scotts90ranger]

A body lift is an advantage in this respect as it will ride exactly the same before and after other than tire size, a body lift doesn't do anything at all to the suspension.

 

[SenorNoob]

I think body lift is all I would do to a 98+ truck. Unless you wanna spend the bucks on whole axle drop kit. (If anybody still makes one?)

Besides with a 3" body lift you can clear large enough tires on them to start breaking things anyway.

 

[SandFlea]

Ton of good info/insight from you guys, thanks

I scooted up to my local truck shop and spoke w the owner, opted to order a front leveling kit afterall which basically includes keys and bumpstop spacers. Being that i no longer have 2 ton jacks and all the toys hes gonna install it and do an alignment afterwards.

 

[fastpakr]

I think body lift is all I would do to a 98+ truck. Unless you wanna spend the bucks on whole axle drop kit. (If anybody still makes one?)

Besides with a 3" body lift you can clear large enough tires on them to start breaking things anyway.

I've forgotten who currently makes them, but there are axle drop kits still available for SLA. You can also buy the parts to convert from torsion bar to coilovers. If you want a lift that rides well, that's probably the only viable path.