87STX Highrider from Montana

[STX87ranger]

Hey ive been looking at this site for a good year now for tips and ideas, but just decided to make an account. I have a 4.5 Ranchero Lift kit on a ranger with 31's and I love it, but now the motor and Passanger side tire is giving me problems. motor is getting tired and the tire is leaning in at the top, idk if its ball joints, they don't have much wobble in them, but any tips or things to check for?? Thanks!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Welcome to TRS.
I took a look in the tech section for a how-to on checking out the front end and didn't come up with anything. The following advise is from a non-professional and should be double checked for my piece of mind....and maybe your life
Jack up the beam on the side you want to look at so the tire is off the ground. Grab the tire at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions and pull back and forth. You are looking to see if there is any movement. If there is then you need to get the tire 1 inch off the ground and use a shovel or something on a pivot that can move the bottom of the tire back and forth while you look at the ball-joints. Movement between the knuckle and beam at the top means the top ball-joint, at the bottom is the bottom ball-joint. Another place that could cause the problem you're seeing is the wheel bearings. If the tire moves but the knuckle stays still, then you need to check the bearings. Bearings are a subject for another time.
If you like learning here are a few articles you may find interesting;

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/BallJoints.html
http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/winter2008/steering_tech.htm
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Dana28Rebuild.html

Of course you can take your truck to a alignment shop and get them to take a look. Some will be happy to look and tell you what needs to be replaced for a minimal fee and do the alignment after you replace whats wrong.
Anywho, Good luck and again, welcome,

Richard

 

[STX87ranger]

yes thank you. I did that and it is the ball joints it shakes really really bad. it sucks. the shop wants 425 to fix it. when the parts are 70. and the tools are 120 to rent and 100% Money back after returned but ive never done it so im still not sure what im going to do.