MJA
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2019
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 1
- Location
- Michigan
- Vehicle Year
- 2000
- Make / Model
- Ford Ranger
- Transmission
- Automatic
Hey, thanks everyone for their responses. I've enjoyed sitting back and watching people probably more knowledgeable than me debate.
Here's what I "know" so far:
-I have relatively high Max PSI tires (50). This seems high to me since anything I've ever driven on has had a recommended or max around 32-35. The tires it came with are garbage and toward the end of their life. A couple of the tires were up around 50PSI, another at 20, and the last at 35. I took them all up/down to 30. Slight but definitely noticeable improvement with my complaints. I did this part semi-scientifically. Driving the same roads before and after at the same speeds, etc.
Also: the tires are not factory size. Different aspect ratio. This may or may not affect the handling from what I've read. Since these tires are such garbage, and there's a good sale down at the local gettin' spot, I'm putting some factory sized, semi-premium tires on. Will update here about ride quality and handling.
- While it's apparently arguable if my torsion bar adjustments were cranked too stiffly or if this could cause my complaints, they WERE slightly uneven. The truck sat slightly lopsided if looked at closely or measured. I loosened the tighter of two down to match the other. (Judging solely by ride height once lowered). Improvement: More than slight, less than great. If I had to guess about why it improved, it has less to do with the stiffness than my impression that the more tensioned side was throwing the vehicle crossways since the less springy side had not recovered yet... just a guess.
It's handling on washboard is now roughly comparable to the second worst handling vehicle I've owned, a '90 GMC Safari van with blown out, and ridiculously worn suspension and steering components. Terrible to drive, but it never left me anywhere (w/500k miles on the clock).
A note to a later comment by 4x4 junkie: The steering/suspension components are worn, but not badly. Once it's warmer I'm doing the tie rods and ball joints. I hope this is a further improvement, but I don't have high hopes. Driver's side wheel bearings are new, did it myself. That's how I got the truck for a decent price. Passenger side was done within a year, according to the seller. I guess he had a hell of a time getting the old out, and didn't want or need to go thru that again.
Overall, over the past couple months, I have become gradually a Ranger convert. I f-ing love this little truck. It's a hell of a lot of fun to drive, decent on gas, and really relatively easy to work on. (Coming from a long, proud line of Astro, Safari and Dodge vans). I'll never forgive GM for making the later model Astros so difficult to service. This truck has some other issues and I'll be back on here to pick your brains and contribute as I learn more.
Thanks!!
Here's what I "know" so far:
-I have relatively high Max PSI tires (50). This seems high to me since anything I've ever driven on has had a recommended or max around 32-35. The tires it came with are garbage and toward the end of their life. A couple of the tires were up around 50PSI, another at 20, and the last at 35. I took them all up/down to 30. Slight but definitely noticeable improvement with my complaints. I did this part semi-scientifically. Driving the same roads before and after at the same speeds, etc.
Also: the tires are not factory size. Different aspect ratio. This may or may not affect the handling from what I've read. Since these tires are such garbage, and there's a good sale down at the local gettin' spot, I'm putting some factory sized, semi-premium tires on. Will update here about ride quality and handling.
- While it's apparently arguable if my torsion bar adjustments were cranked too stiffly or if this could cause my complaints, they WERE slightly uneven. The truck sat slightly lopsided if looked at closely or measured. I loosened the tighter of two down to match the other. (Judging solely by ride height once lowered). Improvement: More than slight, less than great. If I had to guess about why it improved, it has less to do with the stiffness than my impression that the more tensioned side was throwing the vehicle crossways since the less springy side had not recovered yet... just a guess.
It's handling on washboard is now roughly comparable to the second worst handling vehicle I've owned, a '90 GMC Safari van with blown out, and ridiculously worn suspension and steering components. Terrible to drive, but it never left me anywhere (w/500k miles on the clock).
A note to a later comment by 4x4 junkie: The steering/suspension components are worn, but not badly. Once it's warmer I'm doing the tie rods and ball joints. I hope this is a further improvement, but I don't have high hopes. Driver's side wheel bearings are new, did it myself. That's how I got the truck for a decent price. Passenger side was done within a year, according to the seller. I guess he had a hell of a time getting the old out, and didn't want or need to go thru that again.
Overall, over the past couple months, I have become gradually a Ranger convert. I f-ing love this little truck. It's a hell of a lot of fun to drive, decent on gas, and really relatively easy to work on. (Coming from a long, proud line of Astro, Safari and Dodge vans). I'll never forgive GM for making the later model Astros so difficult to service. This truck has some other issues and I'll be back on here to pick your brains and contribute as I learn more.
Thanks!!