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- Joined
- Aug 6, 2007
- Messages
- 5,331
- State - Country
- GA - USA
- Vehicle Year
- 1999
- Vehicle
- Ford Ranger
- Engine
- 5.0
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Total Drop
- few inches
- Tire Size
- ~30"
Hey I got a 99 Ranger that I need to rebuild the front suspension on. I know it needs upper and lower ball joints, probably tie rod ends, and shocks. Of course MOOG components. Didn't use the when I did lowers last, and look where I'm at now.
First Question: I have a 98 Explorer sitting in the back yard, will the LCA from that Explorer work on the Ranger? It's 2wd but has T-bars. If it will that'd be great, I could pull the arms on it install the ball joints and new pivot bushings, and have it ready to install when I tear into the truck. I've used the auto zone ball joint tool to do the job before and If I can just take that LCA to a press for the ball joint it'd be a lot better for me.
Second Question: The truck currently has almost 170K on it, and the front end has sagged noticeably since I bought the truck in '05 with 80K. Should I consider replacing the T-bars? I know that there are multiple spring ratings available for T-bars, if I replace them what rating should I look for and where should I look. Should I use the ones off the Explorer maybe? It's a 5.0L, 2wd but had closer to 180K so they might not be in much better condition.
Third Question: Since I'm probably going to be cranking T-bars to fit a larger tire should I go ahead and buy the cam adjusters? I'll probably stick to the two piece UCA on the passenger side (IIRC) but should I put them on anyway.
Now for the tires. The truck is currently sitting on nearly worn out 31x10.5R15 they are on 15x8 with 3.75" backspacing IIRC. I've never really been happy with the stance of this truck mostly because the tire just looks too small, looking at pictures I love the size of a 33x12.5 on this body style. Problem is I don't like body lifts and I'm not going to spend 1600 for a Superlift kit. Before going any further I have read the stuff in the tech library on tire fitment. Well that chart ain't too accurate. It says 3" BL for 32s when you can put a 32 on the truck without even a T-bar crank (mild crank at most). It also says that you need a 4" lift to clear 33s, well I've seen 33x10.5 on one with no more than a crank. From what I've read the 33x12.5 will fit without a crank but rubs. My question is where and how it rubs. Is it when turning? Is it because of not enough flex? Or is it a combination of the two? I don't do the type of off-roading or rock crawling stuff most of you do. Most of my off road is at my hunting club, where the roads are fairly smooth with a few big ruts, mostly very hilly with a lot of mud. Really it's more along the lines of old rough logging roads with a lot of mud, and a lot of going up and down. Most of the offroad stuff near me is the same or mud bogs. So can I pull off 33x12.5, or will I have to have the BL?
EDIT: Well after re-reading that I realized my truck is pretty much a mall crawler by most standards, though the only time it's ever seen the mall parking lot is when I needed a tool from Sears.
First Question: I have a 98 Explorer sitting in the back yard, will the LCA from that Explorer work on the Ranger? It's 2wd but has T-bars. If it will that'd be great, I could pull the arms on it install the ball joints and new pivot bushings, and have it ready to install when I tear into the truck. I've used the auto zone ball joint tool to do the job before and If I can just take that LCA to a press for the ball joint it'd be a lot better for me.
Second Question: The truck currently has almost 170K on it, and the front end has sagged noticeably since I bought the truck in '05 with 80K. Should I consider replacing the T-bars? I know that there are multiple spring ratings available for T-bars, if I replace them what rating should I look for and where should I look. Should I use the ones off the Explorer maybe? It's a 5.0L, 2wd but had closer to 180K so they might not be in much better condition.
Third Question: Since I'm probably going to be cranking T-bars to fit a larger tire should I go ahead and buy the cam adjusters? I'll probably stick to the two piece UCA on the passenger side (IIRC) but should I put them on anyway.
Now for the tires. The truck is currently sitting on nearly worn out 31x10.5R15 they are on 15x8 with 3.75" backspacing IIRC. I've never really been happy with the stance of this truck mostly because the tire just looks too small, looking at pictures I love the size of a 33x12.5 on this body style. Problem is I don't like body lifts and I'm not going to spend 1600 for a Superlift kit. Before going any further I have read the stuff in the tech library on tire fitment. Well that chart ain't too accurate. It says 3" BL for 32s when you can put a 32 on the truck without even a T-bar crank (mild crank at most). It also says that you need a 4" lift to clear 33s, well I've seen 33x10.5 on one with no more than a crank. From what I've read the 33x12.5 will fit without a crank but rubs. My question is where and how it rubs. Is it when turning? Is it because of not enough flex? Or is it a combination of the two? I don't do the type of off-roading or rock crawling stuff most of you do. Most of my off road is at my hunting club, where the roads are fairly smooth with a few big ruts, mostly very hilly with a lot of mud. Really it's more along the lines of old rough logging roads with a lot of mud, and a lot of going up and down. Most of the offroad stuff near me is the same or mud bogs. So can I pull off 33x12.5, or will I have to have the BL?
EDIT: Well after re-reading that I realized my truck is pretty much a mall crawler by most standards, though the only time it's ever seen the mall parking lot is when I needed a tool from Sears.
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