Lowering a 4x4

[Froggmann]

I've been contemplating lowering my 99' recently to improve highway handling, hopefully slightly improve fuel economy and improve looks via reduced fender gap. Also, it'd make it easier to load my quad--my ramps are only 6' long.

I'd like to remove the 2.5 inch rear blocks and get new 2wd u-bolts. Will I need new shocks as well, or will I be able to get by with the stockers?

Is a drop of 1.5-2 inches in the front possible with the stock torsion keys and backing the bolts out? With a 2" drop, will the truck be riding low enough for the bump stops to become a issue?

Any ideas or advise is welcome.

Thanks,
Jeremiah

 

[Daven]

Sorry, i cant tell you how you would do this as i dont know.

But i was wondering why you would want to do this? Sounds in-practical for a 4x4. Wouldnt you just be better off with a 2wd in that case? Couldnt see you getting thru much with a lowered 4x4... lol Just interested tho

 

[Froggmann]

I don't take it off road and I used 4wd frequently in the winters here. I'll still retain 30x9.5 all season tires. It won't be slammed, slightly lower than a 08-up 4x4 Ranger,

 

[scotts90ranger]

uncrank the torsion bars and take the blocks out of the rear then get an alignment, should be able to get a couple inch drop that way. The only thing I'm unsure of is if there's enough length in the torsion bar bolt.

 

[JohnnyO]

'08+ 4x4's have lower torsion bar keys and rear blocks than earlier models and you could swap those in. Look at a new Ranger and see if that's what you'd like.

 

[Froggmann]

The 08 torsion keys is the route I'd like to go, however, the rear blocks are only 1" shorter on the newer trucks. I'm not sure if that would be enough.

 

[scotts90ranger]

just pull the block out, that's 2" drop with just some new U bolts.

If you got the different torsion keys and took out the blocks I'm sure you could fine tune it to your liking.

 

[racsan]

shoot, you dont even need to get new U-bolts, just pull them , lower the truck so the spring pack is on the axle, sit the block on top of the spring pack, then the U-bolt plate and put the U-bolts back in, you'll have all the parts right there if you ever decide to put it back to stock height. for the front you could just back off the torsion key bolts all the way.