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- Jun 10, 2009
- Messages
- 82
- Vehicle Year
- 1994
- Transmission
- Automatic
Quick question for the experts. I did away with leaf springs in my real off-roader in favor of coils long ago, and since then haven't really messed with them other than checking that they are still there on the tow pig.
2 days ago I bought a 1989 Ranger as a non runner for $150. The timing belt had slipped, the fuel pump wasn't kicking on, hole in the rear diff cover, and broken leaf spring. It was a nice truck before the kid took it out in the mud. Luckily for me the timing belt pulley got packed with mud and the truck gave up before any major damage occurred.
Anyways, now I need leaf springs. Rear springs are $65 a set at u-pull it, no matter what they are out of. I don't want any lift. I'll probably do the spring washer spacer thing upgrade to level it out, but that's it. It's a 4 banger with the dana 28, the last thing this truck needs is bigger tires or more wind resistance.
Intended use is everything. Very mild off-road (logging trails) firewood getter, DD, haul the ATV, pull a light trailer from time to time, and whatever else I may need a light truck for.
Would a 63" swap be better or worse for this? Every thread I read talks about guys making their 63's match up to their lift, but none where guys are just keeping a stock height. I hear about things like more travel, better ride, etc. Does that result in a lower weight carrying capacity? Logically it would, but I'm not 100% sure. It's a good bit of fab work and money over a guess.
How would I go about keeping the stock height? Shackle flip and keep my factory block? No flip and lose the block? If I read correctly the shackle flip is what helps with the ride quality and travel, but obviously would make the truck sit lower than with no flip.
Perhaps later on an axle swap is in order, but I doubt it. I have an off-road rig, the only way I see myself swapping this thing over would be if I somehow trash a R&P or something. There's a D44 and 9" sitting in the corner of the garage that would work nicely if I ever needed it.
Edit- Explorer springs maybe? Less fab work, maybe in better shape than used Ranger stuff?
2 days ago I bought a 1989 Ranger as a non runner for $150. The timing belt had slipped, the fuel pump wasn't kicking on, hole in the rear diff cover, and broken leaf spring. It was a nice truck before the kid took it out in the mud. Luckily for me the timing belt pulley got packed with mud and the truck gave up before any major damage occurred.
Anyways, now I need leaf springs. Rear springs are $65 a set at u-pull it, no matter what they are out of. I don't want any lift. I'll probably do the spring washer spacer thing upgrade to level it out, but that's it. It's a 4 banger with the dana 28, the last thing this truck needs is bigger tires or more wind resistance.
Intended use is everything. Very mild off-road (logging trails) firewood getter, DD, haul the ATV, pull a light trailer from time to time, and whatever else I may need a light truck for.
Would a 63" swap be better or worse for this? Every thread I read talks about guys making their 63's match up to their lift, but none where guys are just keeping a stock height. I hear about things like more travel, better ride, etc. Does that result in a lower weight carrying capacity? Logically it would, but I'm not 100% sure. It's a good bit of fab work and money over a guess.
How would I go about keeping the stock height? Shackle flip and keep my factory block? No flip and lose the block? If I read correctly the shackle flip is what helps with the ride quality and travel, but obviously would make the truck sit lower than with no flip.
Perhaps later on an axle swap is in order, but I doubt it. I have an off-road rig, the only way I see myself swapping this thing over would be if I somehow trash a R&P or something. There's a D44 and 9" sitting in the corner of the garage that would work nicely if I ever needed it.
Edit- Explorer springs maybe? Less fab work, maybe in better shape than used Ranger stuff?
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