85 Suspension help

[85_Ranger4x4]

Two summers ago I changed out my stock front springs for new Carquest ones speced for a 4dr Explorer. They were heavier wire and did increase ride height vs my 25 year old stock springs. Then I happened apoun a set of 31" mud tires.

Put them on and they rub when I hit a healthy bump just right, it annoys the heck out of me because it sounds like the truck is trying to rip itself apart.

With Explorer leaves in the rear the truck has a tad too much rake IMO, if I lost about an inch of difference it would also look better.

I haven't aligned it yet, it has kept a pretty low profile as I have done tweaks to other things so I have been thinking about trying the washer under the spring trick in the front.

I have the better Moog alignment bushings in my toolbox, it has been awhile but I think they are the 4*ones. Whichever ones have more adjustment. Does anyone know how much you can jack around with the spring height before you can't true it up anymore? And how much washer = how much lift?

 

[JOSEPH169]

usually max on the stock TTB brackets 2" over stock is max. More than that you'll need new axle pivot brackets. But put the alignment bushings in to help make camber more true.

 

[4x4junkie]

If you want to max out it's height, stick the bushings in there set to their maximum negative camber correction, then just keep sticking washers under your springs until the tires sit straight. Note that this won't leave you much room for caster adjustments though, but maybe you'll luck out and it'll be close to the same on both sides.

Lift ratio is 1:1.5. So a half-inch stack of washers will yield approx 3/4" lift, and so on.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't really want to max it out (it is getting kinda hard to get into as it is) just a tad bit more. For as bad as it sounds it must not be rubbing that hard because it hasn't marked the tires yet.