lowering a 4x4

[exotic_4x4]

hey guys! im stumped on this one! my friend chris has a 2003 ford ranger X cab 4x4, we are from wi so when winter comes we need 4x4...heres the guestion..he wants to lower his truck he was thinkin like a 2/3(4) drop to fill up his wheel wells with some 20's so it wouldnt look retarded, the rear i told him how to do already buy when it comes the the front T-bar suspensions im stumped! only thing i could think of was turn the bolts down on the T-bars to bring the front end down a little....what do u guys think..how can he lower his truck ive tried finding lowering kits for 4x4's and cant find them..maybe u guys would know..

 

[Evan]

thinkin like a 2/3(4) drop to fill up his wheel wells with some 20's so it wouldnt look retarded

I don't know if that's possible.

Tell him to sell his 4x4 and buy a 4x2. I hate to see a perfectly good truck ruined.

 

[tanbuddy]

Take out the rear block and run 2wd rear shocks, that will lower it 2.5 inches. I think u can loosten the torsion bar bolts and lower the front 1 inch or so. That would level it for pretty cheap. Just get rear shocks and alignment.

 

[rboyer]

Lowering a 4x4 Ranger and putting 20's on it?!? Uhmm... ok... He wants it lowered because of how it will look yet he needs the 4x4 for winter? The lower the truck sits to the ground is relative to it's effectiveness in snow, so if you get any big snow storms that truck isn't going anywhere. It would be the same as alot of those AWD cars out there that suck in the snow, you get 6+ inches of snow on the ground and the front bumper is going to act as a snowplow! If heavy snowstorms are not an issue then good luck, but I personally would just get a nice looking 2wd Ranger to lower and buy a cheap 4x4 winter beater truck, keep it in the back yard, and only pay insurance on it in the winter time.

 

[bobbywalter]

suburu



otherwise you will have to get creative. i have seen it done with ttb trucks too.

its not the easiest thing but it gets done. keep looking around.

 

[SGB]

Actually, you can lower a 4x4 and it performs as good or maybe even better than factory. I know - I did it to a 2007 Mazda B4000. Lowered the back by simply removing the 2 1/2 inch block between the leaf springs and axle and bought front lowering keys that lowered the front by about 2 inches. Initially had issues with premature front tire wear (excessive negative camber) but alignment shop was able to improve. Just received caster/camber bolts from SPC that is supposed to take care of adjustment problem (allows up to 2 degrees). I know what I am talking about re: performance - I live in Ottawa, Canada, and this year we have had a brutal winter so far - truck handles snow and ice conditions great. Only reason I bought 4x4 was for winter - will never see off road as long as I own this truck - which I plan to be a long time.