What coils will fit a 1989 Ranger?

[aknott1994]

My Ranger has a 1989 Chassis and is ttb 4x4, the front is pretty low compared to the rear and I don't have a ton of money but want to bring the front end up and I also believe they are the factory 1989 springs. What junkyard vehicles will give 1.5-2" of lift and fit in the Ranger? Will 79 F100 coils fit? I seen one of those out there with brand new coils on it

 

[scotts90ranger]

You'll want to stick with TTB Rangers and Explorers for donors, they need the stiff springs... If you went with an extended cab 4x4 4.0L spring ('90-97 Ranger) they should be stiffer, or '91-94 Explorer, I don't remember anymore but I'm pretty sure those are the best options.

The cheapest option is to go to a bolt supply store and ask for some non plated 1 1/4" washers, they'll have the 1 3/8" hole necessary to go under the spring seat. They should be 1/8" thick and you can fit a full 8 of them under the spring seat which will give you almost 1.5" of lift I think. At that point you will need more adjustment in the alignment bushings for the upper ball joints most likely to get the camber under control, and you'll need an alignment, with TTB everything changes everything...

 

[aknott1994]

I thought about this but the stock springs are shot, I only have about 1.5" between the stop and TTB arm, they might as well be slammed. Pot holes literally hit so hard the visors drop and the glovebox opens.

 

[Elutheros]

I just put a set of Skyjacker 132 coils on the front of mine and they raised it almost 2". The springs were $155, adjustable camber/caster bushings were $55, and alignment around $70. Just wanted you to know what it cost to go with new stuff.

 

[gaz]

aknott:

Another option, very cost minded and will not only improve your ride hieght but restore some suspension is a set of "coil spring spacer" DONUTS. There are very easily found at AutoZone, O'Reilly's and Westbay/Napa, they cost approximately $20 a set and you could use easily use 2 per coil.

Each set will restore at least ½" of ride height each and you can use them with new to get more height later when you have more to spend or meet some other ride height goal.

They are a simple hard rubber donut shape that you slip in between the spring coils. I usually aply some petroleum jelly to help them slide in faster. So $40 later, your front is an inch taller, a little more room for bumps, little more suspension action. They do a good job of taking out the little bumps at highway speeds too.

 

[gaz]

Elutheros:

Those Sky-Jacker Hi-Ryder coils are very nice. My Ranger has a 2"suspension lift that was sagging a little on the front and I bought their 2" lift coils, I love how they work!!!

 

[aknott1994]

So I pulled the old coils out today, had to hammer a 1 inch socket on to get the nuts off they were so rusted and use a 6ft fence post to break them. The coils didn't expand at all, when I jacked up the truck they just fell out of the buckets and the shocks had no tension either. Getting new nuts in the morning and we will see how it goes.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The nuts should use a 1 1/8" socket, but I imagine up in Michigan there's some rust involved, probably reduced the coil wire diameter as well which wouldn't help anything. The stock nuts are lock nuts so they should have resistance all the way.

That's actually how it should work, there's no preload or anything on TTB coils unless the shock is limiting the travel.

 

[aknott1994]

I couldn't find the nuts on hand anywhere this morning but I got some 5/8-11 stainless nuts and some lock washers and have the passenger side done. The f100 springs are a little wider at the bottom but I believe the retainer will hold them. The front came up about 1 1/4" so not completely level but manageable. Now I get to fight with the driver's side. Then take it apart again next week to replace the sway bar links I broke.

 

[scotts90ranger]

with stiff springs a sway bar is over rated... with soft springs they're apparently good to have but I don't miss it on my '90, haven't had a sway bar for 10 years... a fair amount of body roll but it still takes corners fast enough while still staying planted.