Suspension Upgrade

[phillipjohnw]

So here is the dilemma. My '99 ranger is in need of a new front suspension because the old tbars are about to shit the bucket. Since I'm redoing it I want to redo it properly and add a few, 4 or more, inches. From what I've gathered my only options are the dixon brothers long travel suspension which is way out of my price range or the superlift suspension which doesnt really help with the initial problem of my tbars going bad. I was just wondering if you helpful people had any other suggestions. I've heard of people swapping the entire front axle to either a different dana 35 or a dana 44 that has coil overs or leaf springs, but I don't know how much work would be involved with that. I've also heard of people building custom brackets and what not to convert their tbars to a coil over set up. The only other concern is fabrication. While I can do fabrication without to much difficulty I don't have regular access to a metal shop. Any advise, opinions, or rants would be helpful.

 

[JohnnyO]

I'd say just get new torsion bars and add the Superlift if you want more height.
A coil-over conversion by itself won't really lift the truck much more unless you add the Superlift knuckles and differential drop brackets anyway.
Doing a SAS on a 98+ is harder (but not impossible) than the earlier trucks because you don't have any spring buckets. Coil-overs and some type of control and locating links would have to be fabbed up and that would probably be the easiest way to do it and if you can do most of the work yourself it would cost less than the Dixon Bros. system.

 

[danger_ranger05]

The cheapest way to gain your four inches would be like stated above ^ get the superlift kit and try to find some stiffer Tbars like from an exploder or FX4.

There are still some RCD kits out there and that will lift you about 5 inches and removes your tbars, bout $2500

While SAS would be ideal, the problem is down time...most of the builds that ive seen take a couple months and if the truck is a DD that presents a problem.

so all in all...us 98+ owners have to pick our poison!

 

[Spowerback]

you can always just drop the cab bushing. install suspended so that your own Ford Ranger highest coil spring washer

 

[JohnnyO]

you can always just drop the cab bushing. install suspended so that your own Ford Ranger highest coil spring washer

Translated into English, that means what?

 

[Chance]

I would recommend the superlift with a coil over conversion... I think over on R/F there's a bunch of coil over conversion hardware order threads or something...

 

[2007BlackFX4]

yeah get the superlift for your 4 inches of lift and then head over to R/F and talk to nick at off road warehouse. they have a FOX 2.0 coil-over conversion kit that comes with everything you need for $650. theres tons of threads over there about them and theres people upgrading to the coil-overs by the week...

 

[phillipjohnw]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I just have a few questions. First of all I'm new to the whole forum thing and some of your jargon is a little crazy for instance what is R/F? I'm thinking right now just converting to coil-overs because my tbars have kinda been a pain in the ass, even with them cranked they still get caught on rocks and suck because they hang so low. Part of me is still wondering about switching to the SAS and using leaf springs up front due to the fact that they are less maintenance and i think they look cool

 

[Chance]

r/f is ranger-forums.com

as for the 98+ with leaves, it`s a pain but not that bad. if i did it again i`d go coils not leaves. if you do go leaves make sure you`re not retarded and place your outriggers/ outboarded leaves in the same spot as your body mounts... don`t even ask why i mention that. I`d recommend coils over leaves though for sure.

 

[2007BlackFX4]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I just have a few questions. First of all I'm new to the whole forum thing and some of your jargon is a little crazy for instance what is R/F? I'm thinking right now just converting to coil-overs because my tbars have kinda been a pain in the ass, even with them cranked they still get caught on rocks and suck because they hang so low. Part of me is still wondering about switching to the SAS and using leaf springs up front due to the fact that they are less maintenance and i think they look cool

here you go man. read up on these threads and then PM nick if you have anymore questions about the coil-over conversion.
http://www.ranger-forums.com/f101/orw-coil-over-conversion-brackets-98264/ <--- CLICK
its a long thread but theres valuable information throughout the entire thing.
heres another thread to look through.
http://www.ranger-forums.com/f36/o-r-w-fox-coilover-kit-99964/ <---- CLICK

 

[RangerSkate28]

I just started drolling a little when i saw this coil over conversion that works on stock suspension. This is cool for the money

I am so tired of TB'z!

http://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...coil-over-conversion-brackets-rangercokit.jpg

 

[2007BlackFX4]

I just started drolling a little when i saw this coil over conversion that works on stock suspension. This is cool for the money

I am so tired of TB'z!

http://www.ranger-forums.com/attach...coil-over-conversion-brackets-rangercokit.jpg

agreed. i think i'm about to replace my torsion bars with the Fox coil-overs here soon

 

[RangerSkate28]

for 650 + some limit strap i am defiantly considering it. it will ride so much better

 

[JohnnyO]

That would be a good picture for me to save to explain suspension travel, CV angle, and why you can't turn your torsion bars up to fit 35's for free.

 

[phillipjohnw]

That would be a good picture for me to save to explain suspension travel, CV angle, and why you can't turn your torsion bars up to fit 35's for free.

well are you going to explain them?