softer front springs?

[blueovalnotch65]

hey guys, i had a questions about the front springs and articulation on my 86 ranger. im new the the whole off road thing so im still getting a feel for the little tips and tricks to make the suspension systems work... but anyways
heres what i have... 86 ranger 4x4 single cab long with but i bobbed 14 inches off the back. put a 4 inch suspension lift from rough country. ive noticed that i can get a nice amount of articulation from the rear axle but my front axle stays pretty level to the body. im pretty sure its cause of the i beam style suspension but im just curious if there is a softer spring or some way to get my flex without changing to a solid axle? thanks guys!

 

[engdept]

You can get a set of Skyjacker front springs if you don't want to do any other modifications.

If you are interested in modifying, then you can go with Jeep XJ springs or early Bronco springs. Both will give you good amounts of front travel.

 

[metalmacguyver]

Skyjacker soft ride springs do flex pretty well from what I have seen. This is why I am using them on my lift. They should be here in a few hours actually.

 

[JohnnyU]

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Spring2003/TTBTuning.htm

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Fall2003/MaximumFlexForTheTTB.htm

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you haven't you may want to remove the front swaybar as well, keep in mind it will effect handling.

 

[Ranger44]

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Spring2003/TTBTuning.htm

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Fall2003/MaximumFlexForTheTTB.htm

amazing....we have a tech library? lol.

Yeah read up. Extend Radius arms are the biggest improver. Skyjacker XJ 6" springs are a nice 240ppi, and will allow for some great travel. They'll sag out to about 5-4.5" under a regular cab Ranger. Keep in mind though other mods are necessary to run them, and make them useful.

 

[rangerslim]

Ive got some trailmaster 4" springs that are super flexy if anyone is interested..

 

[blueovalnotch65]

cool. thanks guys. i did look around the tech library but didnt see those two write ups. guess i didnt look very good.
question about the "TTB 1.5:1 leveraging effect"..he talks about if you only get the extension plate for the right bracket and not a completly new bracket then you will put a whole in your diff. im not sure if im grasping how this would happen? anybody had experience with this mod?

 

[JohnnyU]

he talks about if you only get the extension plate for the right bracket and not a completly new bracket then you will put a whole in your diff. im not sure if im grasping how this would happen? anybody had experience with this mod?

This has happened to almost everyone that has used the drop plate, and ventured as far offroad as hopping a curb. It's very common.

 

[Sunk]

Your 86 came with the D28, and it's not a problem with that axle. However, if you or somebody else swapped in a D35, then it's an issue.

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah the drop plate is very common on the inexpensive kits.

Rough Country has used that plate up until just very recently, so chances are good you'll need to watch out for this.


Heres another one on the TTB that may offer some help.
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29

 

[mkpecor]

i just got a pair of the sky jacker 6'' coils about 3 month's ago and they are awsome , great for daily drivein and flex damb good wheeling. i highly recomend you get SJ coils, they are the softest out there. with out havein to fab any thing to make them work. if you havent already get rid of that front and rear sway bar, i daily drive my rig with out them sway bars and cant even tell they are gone. but when you get off road you can.

 

[blueovalnotch65]

i took the sway bar off the front a long time ago, the rear doesnt have one.
so im looking around at extended radius arms and the jeep springs...
so im looking for the 6" spring? even though i have a 4 inch lift on the truck?

 

[4x4junkie]

6" SKYJACKER XJ coils (pt# JC60F) may work well on yours, being it's not a Supercab. You may also be able to use V8 Jeep ZJ coils (any brand) spec'ed for a similar amount of lift.

Other brands of XJ coils seem to be variable in their stiffness though (you don't want to be much softer than about 240PPI or so)
I've found the quality of SJ coils to be above that of many others anyway, and they hardly cost more.

Just make sure you have your steering linkage angle in check, and that all clearances in & around the axle (and RH shaft) are good before you put the coils in (read the Jeep Springs sticky here if you haven't yet, that'll give you an idea of what bad steering will do lol).