Load adjusting shocks with rear sway bar.

[Patrick]

Just switched my leaf springs side to side and added the official Ford anti-lean 1/4" spacer under the drivers side leaf spring to level the truck out.

My next project is to refurbish (blast and paint) some 4x4 wheels and lift the truck 1.5" all around. For the back I want to put in some load adjusting shocks, but this is what I noticed while working on the springs...

Doesn't look like much room for a coil-over shock. The existing shocks already rub a bit. Does anybody have any experience with this? Should I just take out the sway bar, or go with helper springs instead? I want the extra stiffness to keep the factory leafs from sagging more and to lift give it for 255/70R15 tires to look not too big.

I also want to avoid pulling off the u-bolts since I bought the expensive Ford ones.

Anybody ever installed these shocks on a ranger with a sway bar?

Monroe 58608 Sensa-Trac Load Adjusting Shock Absorber https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C59M8Y/?tag=959media-20

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

IIRC the sway bar clamps on the axle tube will rotate, as in they aren't welded to the tube. I would try different positions to see if you can get enough room. If not, remove the sway bar. I've found that air-shocks will stiffen the ride anyway so you may not need the bar.

 

[Patrick]

Yes, I suppose they can move. Ill see how that works and update. Not sure why they couldn't just put both behind the axle instead of having to design an asymmetrical sway bar...

Sent from my Lenovo TAB 2 A10-70F using Tapatalk

 

[volrath]

On my 94 ranger I just reversed the sway bar so that it faces the back of the truck. It was an older 7.5 Axle sway bar and I also swapped an 8.8 in. But in reverse it mounts the same.

 

[Patrick]

Interesting. I ended up just using helper springs instead. After reading about the poor quality of the Monroe load adjusting shocks (the actual shock part), I was steered away. The helper springs gave me about an inch on my extended cab. Worked out well, and the ride isn't too bad at all.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk