Frame flex

[amccoach]

Hello i am not sure if this is the best place to post this but on my Ranger when i was taking the transmission cross member out i noticed a lot of flex to the frame on the bottom lip, i could grab it with my fingers and move it up and down and almost bend it. The frame felt like it was very weak at any spot not just by the cross member. I am wondering if that is normal, i am used to 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks so i don't know whats normal on these trucks. Thanks!

 

[rangerenthiusiast]

Definitely doesn’t sound normal. I think they changed the steel somewhere after ’92. I know that the frames rot out and snap real bad (particularly in the rear) on the ones around the year 2000. Toyota and Ford both had the same problem; Yota made good on it, Ford didn’t.

Hope yours is okay.

 

[amccoach]

Yes im hoping its ok. It does have a small crack under the rear cab mount that i have to fix. How thin would you say a ranger frame is compared to a f150 or f250 frame?

 

[rangerenthiusiast]

Yes im hoping its ok. It does have a small crack under the rear cab mount that i have to fix. How thin would you say a ranger frame is compared to a f150 or f250 frame?

I’ll try to remember to go out and measure the frame on my ’92 in that area after work today (I’ll have to do it with a tape measure, as I don’t own a micrometer at the moment). If I had to guess off the top of my head, I’d say maybe 3/16” max....


PS - If there’s any way that you can post some pics, that would really help folks here know what you have going on under there.

 

[adsm08]

I have noticed that Ranger frames of that era do seem to flex excessively. It always seems like when I put one on a lift the doors no longer open and close correctly while it's in the air.

That said, you should not be able to flex any part of that frame by hand. You have a serious issue.

 

[amccoach]

I will take some pictures this weekend of the frame. when i say it flexes its only the bottom lip not the whole thing. it just will move up and down slightly when i try to bend it with my fingers.

 

[adsm08]

I will take some pictures this weekend of the frame. when i say it flexes its only the bottom lip not the whole thing. it just will move up and down slightly when i try to bend it with my fingers.

I get that. Unless you are Andre the Giant you shouldn't be able to do that. I can't do that with a sheet of weld-plate that I wouldn't patch a frame with.

 

[rangerenthiusiast]

I’m so sorry, amccoach. I was out working on my truck today and did glance at the frame, but completely forgot to come back and measure it with a tape measure. I think it’s about 1/8” thick. Yours is newer, but if it’s much less than that, then I can’t imagine it’s providing any real structural integrity.

Please do post some pics of what you have going on, as it should really help folks know what it is your seeing on your end. And please do keep us posted with updates as you go along.

Best wishes,

RE

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Unless its rotted/flaking/peeling like a grands biscuit i cant see why it would flex that easy. Even if it was rotting usually it is still pretty stiff.

Can you take a video of this? Im imagining like bending a paperclip easy...

 

[amccoach]

I will take a bunch of pictures and a video this weekend so everyone will have a better idea of what i am talking about. Thanks for all the replies!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I am wondering if that is normal, i am used to 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks so i don't know whats normal on these trucks. Thanks!

IIRC it is the same material and thickness as a least a half ton, just the half ton has a very different shape/design of the frame to give it more strength.