Opinions on Skyjacker Lift I Am Planning

[dbrutherford]

I have a 1995 Ford Ranger, Extended Cab, 4.0L, 4x4, Manual Transmission, Auto 4x4, Warn Hub Conversion, 31x10.50-R15 BFG AT's, 146k miles.

It has the dreaded Ranger nose dive springs in the front. So I recently purchase a set of Sky Jacker 132X front springs. They are +2" lift and the X model is for an extended cab due to the extra weight. I also ordered a set of rear Sky Jacker 4" lift leaf springs. And of cousre a set of Sky Jacker Nitro shocks for 0 to 2" of lift.

My goal is to remove the rear factory lift blocks and put the leafs right onto the spring perch. That way the rear will have around 2 to 2.5" of lift as well.

Eventually... in the coming months, I plan to purchase an Explorer rear end and do a swap. My Ranger is severly ticking me off with the rear brakes. I have changes shoes, wheel cylinders, ect many times and yet somethign always screws up and breaks making awful noises when you drive. My posi is on the way out anyway so I think a swap will be for the best.



So what do you guys thinks of my lift plan? I use the truck for evening drives, light wheelin, and weekend driving. I have a companyvehicle I use to commute to work in. I just want my truck to last another 5-10years since it is still in pretty good shape. You name it, I have replaced it...


DAVE

 

[BlackBII]

Without axle pivot drop brackets, you will need to get an alignment afterwords, as you camber will be rather positive, like this: \ /

You can get adjustable bushings to account for 2" of lift in most cases.

 

[4x4junkie]

Camber should be correctable with the 2" 132X coils.
I'd recommend a set of the 2-piece fully adjustable camber/caster bushings for it though (Ingalls 594, etc.), these will save you some hassle if you decide to modify something in the frontend at a later date, you shouldn't have to buy new bushings again, you can just re-index the ones you got for the new setting and then reinstall them.

 

[dbrutherford]

Thanks guys, I apologize for the delayed response. I guess I didn't have email notifications turned on.


I had planed on having an alignment done after installing the lift. I just figured the alignment shop would have the bushings to put the front end in propper alignment and was goign to have them do it.

I am now questioning using the following rear lift setup:

Skyjacker 4 in. lift leaf springs
Factory axle blocks
Rear shackle/bracket flip (flip the spring hanger upside down)

or what I mentioned earlier:

Skyjacker 4 in. lift leaf springs
Remove the factory axle blocks
use shorter u-bolts


Not sure which would be best. I am worried about the spring hanger flip causing the shackle to hit the underside of the bed. I do not have a body lift at the moment. I eventually plan on getting one, preferrably a 2 inch.

I need to go to the junkyard and find a good Explorer rear end. My posi has been on the fritz for years. I said to heck with it, when it breaks, I will fix it then. Some of the fingers broke off on it and I just cleaned/changed the diff oil a few times. My e-brake cables have been replaced twice and they are sticking at the moment. This causes the brake to drag on one side. Every now and then I have to work some WD-40 down the cables and replace the hardware kit on the drum brakes. This is why I want/need an Explorer rear end. I am tired of the crappy rear brakes that are always braking on me.

The problem is I have the same situation as most of us... I only make so much money and have so many bills. lol I am debt free but pretty much every penny I make goes towards a down payment on a house I am about to buy. So I kind of blew my truck fix up fund on the lift. I am thinking of just putting the lift on for the short term while I save up a grand for the rear end swap. I only drive the truck around town since I have the company vehicle. So hopefully the rear end can hold up another 4-6 months... I bet I just jinxed myself.


DAVE

 

[dbrutherford]

Well there has been cold snowy weather for the past two weeks and I have had cabin fever. So I set out to tackle the front end spring/lift swap. I am also doing an Explorer rear end swap in the coming weeks so I needed to get the front donw first. If the front was way too tall, I planned on putting on the rear 4" Skyjacker leafs without the factory Ranger blocks. Well the nose is a hair high but I also have an Explorer rear end in the back. I should have measured the front height before putting on the springs but I forgot and now it is too late. It will definetly need an alignment done as there is a bunch of positive camber. I will order some Ingals shims tomorrow. I hope to add a +2" body lift but that isn't looking too promising. I want to change the body mounts to polys but I can't find a 2" lift anywhere, only 3" ones. Really a 1.5 would suite me fine as one day I want to get a 4" suspension lift with new radius arms and all. I just think 3" lifts look bad and with a 4" suspension that would make the truck too tall.

Well I have typed enough so here are the pics: