Frame, alignment? IDK suspension, steering?

[bigredscowboy]

As none of you are looking at the truck I will do my best to describe the situation and hope for reasonable theories.

94 Ranger 4x4 4.0 stock. Had a head-on collision on the driver side at about 20mph 3 yrs ago. Had the frame measured and it was fine, and also had it aligned. When I got it back i noticed it pulled to the right. Had it realigned a while later and he said he tweaked it to the extreme so it must be a frame issue. Because the engine was bad I didn't fix it and bought a Tacoma. I know its a sin. Couldn't afford the taco so i've reverted to the Ranger. Took it to a second frame shop. The bracket at the rear of the driver radius arm was bent forward and the bushings were shot, but the frame measured straight. He fixed that, but to no avail. Still pulls to the right (have to hold wheel at 11ish). It is atrocious in 4x4 when it comes in contact with pavement (snowy roads that are sometimes clear). Have to hold the wheel at 9 o'clock and the front tires are fighting each other, chattering and the front end is bouncing all over the place. Unfortunately I have taken all the body parts off the frame for a body lift, but I did note that the bed was significantly closer the cab on one side, just can't remember which side. Also the new used bumper I put on didn't fit without loosening the brackets and some minor bending.

Ford charges $250 just to put it on the frame machine and $50/half-hour of labor. Both body shops I've taken it too measured for free. I really don't want to pay the dealer $400 to tell me the frame is in fact straight. Any suggestions would be helpful

Just had a moment of stupidity (which doesn't explain the pull to the right) but I changed out the stock rear 3.73 for a 4.10. Do I have to change the front too?

 

[snomaker321]

Just had a moment of stupidity (which doesn't explain the pull to the right) but I changed out the stock rear 3.73 for a 4.10. Do I have to change the front too?

absolutely!
Otherwise dont use 4wd. Your front and rear wheels will be spinning at different speeds and it will reek havoc on who knows what. very bad idea. That could at least partially explain your driving issues in 4wd

 

[adsm08]

Well is sure does sound like the frame is tweaked, but I can also think of about a dozen other parts that could be bent to cause this, including radius arms, steering knuckles, etc.
Set your wheels (not the steering wheel) straight, on a level surface and look carefully at both sides. Make sure everything looks the same, distance from tire to knuckle, ball-joints all pointing the same way.

And yes, you need to change your front gears to match the rear or you will break something, like a drive shaft, or a t-case.

 

[bigredscowboy]

Well is sure does sound like the frame is tweaked, but I can also think of about a dozen other parts that could be bent to cause this, including radius arms, steering knuckles, etc.
Set your wheels (not the steering wheel) straight, on a level surface and look carefully at both sides. Make sure everything looks the same, distance from tire to knuckle, ball-joints all pointing the same way.

Will do

And yes, you need to change your front gears to match the rear or you will break something, like a drive shaft, or a t-case.

Are any of the TRS calculators capable of determining the gears needed in the front?

 

[country0001]

As long as ur tires are all the same size, ur gears should be the same front and rear.

 

[bigredscowboy]

As long as ur tires are all the same size, ur gears should be the same front and rear.

I put in a LS factory 4.10 rear end off a 2001. Does Ford also make a LS 4.10 for the front? or a better suggestion?

 

[heptofite]

you don't need limited slip, you only need 4.10 gears.

 

[bigredscowboy]

its not about need...

 

[adsm08]

As long as ur tires are all the same size, ur gears should be the same front and rear.

Yeah, your gears should match front and rear. I know that years ago when Dana was making the front axles sometimes there would be minor minor differences (ex rear had 4.10s and front had 4.11s). But your front and rear diff should always have the same gears in them.

 

[Nhaz]

Don't forget tires. If the truck was driven any length of time out of alignment you could have worn 1 side of a tire down more then the other.

This tire will now and FOREVER pull in one direction no matter how much you align it.

so try swapping a pair of good tires that you know are equally worn or of course try new ones.

 

[adsm08]

Don't forget tires. If the truck was driven any length of time out of alignment you could have worn 1 side of a tire down more then the other.

This tire will now and FOREVER pull in one direction no matter how much you align it.

so try swapping a pair of good tires that you know are equally worn or of course try new ones.

I wouldn't say forever. You can run them on the rear about 10K miles and they usually won't pull any more.