sway bars

[Davis]

I have an 88 ranger 2wd 2.3 turbo. it gets up and goes, but handles quite poorly. At low speeds the power needs to be better harnessed and at high speeds, the truck gets squirrel. The front end is lifted 1.5 inches with 235/75r15s and I do go offroading, but it's definitely not low speed rock crawling, more like high speed desert running, so flex really doesnt matter to me. Now that you know my situation, I have a few questions.
1- did the 83-88 2wd rangers come without swaybars?
2- if so, why?
3- can other sway bars be adapted to fit, as I would not like to drop $170 into a front sway bar?

 

[michowski]

just look under the front end and see if theres a sway bar.

 

[F150hybred]

There should be a sway bar in the front. If memory serves, it will be attached to the radius arms and mount on the rear cross member. Kinda weird but it worked. As for the rear, if you want one, all you gotta do is find a parts truck in the wrecking yard and take everything for it. it's a bolt on affair.

 

[samsonitesamsonite]

early rangers have a sway bar behind the axle. they don't work all that well... the newer style that mounts in front of the axle works better, I bet you could pick one up at a yard for cheap.

 

[Hahnsb2]

I believe in 88 the rangers went to the "B2" style sway bar thats mounted in front of the axle.

 

[Sunk]

No my '88 had the sway bar mounted to the radius arms. They must have switched later.

 

[baddis]

my 88 is in front and attaches to the front axles.

 

[Sunk]

Well, never mind then.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Hmm, the switch must've happened sometime mid-year perhaps?

 

[rickcdewitt]

the 84 2wd 2.3l shop truck at work doesn't have sway bars.i recommend the front mount bar,grab the tabs on the axle beams and frame brackets.you'll need to get rid of the bracket bolting to the bottom of frame rails if yours has one.you can buy stiff aftermarket bars for the front mount style also.i heard some b2's had larger 1" bars versus the more common 7/8" might be worth it.the rear bar makes a huge difference also even though its small.you said you lifted the front 1`1/2",was it spacers or new coils?softer springs would make it sway more too.

 

[samsonitesamsonite]

most likley mid-year in 88 my 88 had a behind axle

 

[rickcdewitt]

the door tag will have the build date on it.i cut up my 88 for scrap so i can't say what it was,it had the rear mount bar.

 

[baddis]

mine was built 4/88

 

[samsonitesamsonite]

mine was 8/88 and it had the behind axle

 

[Sunk]

Mine was actually built 9/87