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Lowering a 4x4? Is it possible?


jarfly

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Messages
729
Age
34
Vehicle Year
1987
Transmission
Manual
I am goin to be startin a project soon. Why am I wantig to lower a 4x4? I am wanting to have more of a street rig and All I got is a 4x4 to do with (Im a broke high school kid.I onley wanna go lower it about 2-3 inches.
 
Yes you can but don't. I won't tell you how to do it because that would defeat the purpose of a truck. Sorry.
 
swap in 2wd stuff. if it is the 87 b2.
 
he didnt ask your opinions, he asked if its possible and how.

it is possible, and i will tell you how.

lowering 2-3" is easy. you need to shorten your coils 2-3". you have a few options. the best choice would be to do some research to find replacement coils that are 2-3" shorter than your current stock coils. if thats not feasable, you can consider cutting loops off your current coils to make them shorter. note that i always advise AGAINST cutting coils as it dramatically reduces your ride quality and can be dangerous if not done properly.

after the shorter coils are installed, you will have to obtain some offset camber eccentric bushings (most auto parts stores and alignment shops carry them) and have the truck aligned. the ride height of most TTB trucks can only be changed roughly 2" from stock height (either up or down) and still be alignable. some trucks can get away with more, some less...so be careful. the TTB itself can safely be lowered over 4" and still function properly (as far as u-joints, axles, clearences, etc are concerned) if you can get it back into alignment.

depending on your final ride height, you might want to shorten your factory bump stops to obtain some extra suspension up travel.

if you want to take it to the extreme, you can cut and turn the beams. this effectivly elliminates your camber problems and you can drop it until something hits (likely the beams on the frame).

theres lots of info on how to lower the back already, so i wont go into that here.
 
What about the springs out of a 2wd 4 cly ranger? it is goin to be have a 302 in it if that makes a diff. And another big reson wanting 4x4 is so I can drive this thing in the winter.
 
youd have to measure. i think the 2wd springs are a smaller diameter, but i could be wrong. its something to look into.
 
youd have to measure. i think the 2wd springs are a smaller diameter, but i could be wrong. its something to look into.

hey man i have a 2008 ford ranger 4x4 sport and i was looking to do the same, drop it a few inches, is it possible with a newer model truck

:icon_welder:
 
if its anything like mine u have like and inch and a half maybe to the bump stops so no point in lowering it with 4wd beams. i would do like bobbywalter said and put in 2wd beams and just take out the drive front drive shaft and what ever else has to be changed
 
actually there was a modded d 35 truck years ago prowling the taylor area with modded frame and beams/arms. awd v8. theres others i just dont know them as i didnt build their trucks power-trains


had this gone on i would have mentioned it. i would rather incorporate an sla setup from a sploder. ranger/b2 body on modded sploder frame
 
sounds like a terrible idea, regardless. what's the reason for wanting to lower it anyways?
 
although I agree with it being an odd idea, 2-3" wouldn't look all that odd, just look like a 4x2...

I have a pair of Eibach coils for a first gen explorer in my garage (didn't know they were lowering springs when I bought the axle), I'm looking to get rid of them... the rear is dead simple, ditch the blocks and get new U bolts...
 
Even if you did what wickedsludge said, your alignment would still be screwed up big time. 2-3" out of the coils will make the beams angle up from the frame out to the wheels. Even with camber eccentrics, I HIGHLY doubt you will be able to align it. I have my truck lifted 5.5" but have 4" brackets for my radius arms, and the angle it makes from the beam to a vertical position at the knuckle is only 14* and that cant be fixed with eccentrics. You would never align it, thus having aweful tire wear, and packing bearings every frew months.
Good luck
 
trade it for a 2wd??? i dont see why you would want to lower a 4x4? but alright. your truck...
 

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