Air bags ?

[pipe539]

Hello I have a 2000 2wd range with the extended cab and a 6' box, as of now the rear springs are week and the driver side sits lower than the passenger side. I would like to put in air bags to level up the suspension but have trouble finding any for a Ranger, Has any one here used a set or know what i can do on the cheep to get it sitting right?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Cheap? Replace the springs. Go to the junkyard and snag a pair of leaf springs out of an early 90's Explorer 4-door. Flip the centering pin in the pack and bolt them on.

Seriously, it'll be cheaper than a decent set of air bags. Depending on the condition of the Explorer springs, you may or may not have to replace your rear shocks (it may lift the rear to slightly over stock height and you may have to use shocks from a 4x4 Ranger).

 

[pipe539]

Thanks I'll look for some

 

[brinker88]

I consider cheap around $350. (if you dont know how to install leaf springs thats about what your lookin at to get them replaced)

If you want to have something that you can install yourself for around that same price, look into Roadmaster Active Suspension. Best bang for your buck, personally

They act as a sway bar, traction bars and helper springs all in one.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I consider cheap around $350. (if you dont know how to install leaf springs thats about what your lookin at to get them replaced)

If you want to have something that you can install yourself for around that same price, look into Roadmaster Active Suspension. Best bang for your buck, personally

They act as a sway bar, traction bars and helper springs all in one.

It depends a lot on your local junkyard and your negotiating skills.

I hadn't done much turning of a wrench the first time I did a leaf spring swap, they really are not all that difficult (the worst part can be dealing with rust), but there isn't much there to screw up. IMHO, if you can do an air bag suspension or install those roadmasters, you can do a leaf spring swap.

I've bought a pair of 4-door Explorer leaf springs for as little as $20 before and as high as $80. In both cases the junkyard removed them for me. Sometimes I've been able to get the bolts out and re-use the bushings on the ends of the springs, sometimes I've had to replace the bushings. But you can get a full set of suspension bushings from Summit Racing (the Energy Suspension poly ones) for around $50, IIRC. A new centering pin from a spring shop should run $3-10. If you're ambitious (or like me and want to do things right from the start), you can pick up the plastic/teflon replacement anti-squeak end pads and put them on the ends of the springs - they usually run around $0.70-2.50 each depending on the type available (the more expensive ones usually have two mounting nubs and can be cut in half - thus making two individual pads). If you do have to cut the old bolts and punch out the old bushings, you can get new grade 8 bolts (stock is actually a metric version of around a 9/16" bolt, you can get away with 1/2" grade 8 bolts though if you can't find anything else) from local hardware and fastener stores.

The only way it'll cost you $350 or more to do the whole thing at that rate is if you have to buy all the tools you need too (a socket set, jack, jackstands, and possibly an angle grinder or sawzall).

 

[Rose2300]

my friend has air adjustable shocks in the rear of his ranger. has the air input things (don't know what they're called) where the bottom 2 license plate holder screws should be.