I finally finished up my lift on my 1999 ford ranger. Man was that a pain! Here is some info and pics!
Lift consists of:
Front: Topgun customs 2" aluminium Coil spacers/ Modified 4wd Monroe Sensa-trac shocks
Rear: 2" Rear Shackles/ Modified Chevy 2500 Monroe Air Load Leveling Shocks
I'm assuming you all know how to start, Jack up the truck, block rear wheels, Jack stands before the transmission crossmember, etc. I would be very wise of you to soak every bolt that needs to be removed with PB blaster/WD-40, etc. Makes things alot eaiser!
You need to remove the brake caliper and caliper mounting bracket from the spindle and support it somehow. I used zip ties and tied it to the mud flap mounting bracket which was way out of the way. Next unbolt the sway bar endlink on both sides then you can get enough room to move it away from the lower control arm. Disconnect the tie rod end and move out of the way .Support the lower control arm with a jack, then remove the upper ball joint assembly from the spindle. I found out that you don't have to remove the spindle, there is plenty of room to take the coil in/out. Next unbolt the shock from the lower controll arm, then the lower controll arm should be able to freely move. Thus the coil spring should simply fall out.
Next use the coil spring compressor that mounts inside of the coil spring. Its a real pain to use. I used 2 vice grips to hold the hooks into place. Because once you get it compressed, half way through the hooks will slip and just spin in place and you get no where.
Next is to install the coil spacer on the bottom of the sping. I used a think bead of black silicone inbetween the spacer and the coil sping just for a little cushion and not metal on metal, also on the bottom of the spacer where it meets the lower control arm. Then wraped the spacer onto the coil spring with electrical tape so it wouldn't slip off the spring when installing.
Next time to install the coil spring, this step takes some time to get the coil spring on the little lip on the lower control arm, and to seat the spring on top. You'll have to push the lower controll arm almost vertically to get the spring in, so make sure the truck is jacked high in the air. I used the jack and the lower balljoint to jack the lower controll arm up into place. (loosen the castle nut on the lower balljoint and draw it down so it covers the threads on the balljoint so you don't mushroom the head of the stud) then takes some finess to allign the spindle with the upper controll arm so it goes into its mounting location. This took a few trial and error runs. This alone took almost 45 min to get it inline...
This pic is the driver side with shock mounted (forgot to take pic on the passanger side)
Next is to modifiy the 4wd shocks to fit on the 2 bottom studs, its very easy. One stud fit the other was a little off so I just cut a notch out of the other side. Then took a washer and sandwiched it between the shock mount and nut.
I found all the torque specs in my Hanes manual. Set it down, torque everything and take it for a test drive! I don't have any pics of the rear, I'll get some but shackes and rear shocks are pretty self explanatory...
Here are some before and after pics
Before
After
Over all, I'm pretty happy. Alot of work but it looks good! I parked next to a 4wd and I'm the same height. Even with my 235/70/16 tires. I guess after I upgrade to a bigger tire I'll be just a bit taller than a factory 4wd. The 2in lift was bassed on a v6 ranger, I have a 4cyl. I made a few measurments before and after the lift and figured out a got nearly 2 1/2 inches of lift from a 2in spacer. I'm sure my upper balljoints are not going to like me here pretty soon! So what do yall think?!