What did you do to your Ranger today? (Part Deux!)

[sgtsandman]

Replaced the antisway bar links. (Yes, I should've done it when I replaced the shocks. Never had to do them before.) It's a very easy job to do and would tell any new mechanic to try it. (Of course, mine were Florida rust free, so that made a major difference.)

I am confused though. We make a big deal about the diameter thickness of the antisway bar but the link that connects them is tiny in comparison.

They primarily only experience linear forces along it’s length. So, thickness of the bolt isn’t important. Just it’s strength along the length. Compared to other sway bar links I’ve worked on, they are pretty beefy. Even compared to the rear sway bar links on the Ranger and the Bronco II. Those are pretty spindly. Even compared to the ones my CR-Vs had in the front and back.

 

[sgtsandman]

Well… I’m still under the weather from the sinus infection, but…

Many, many thanks to @sgtsandman for coming out and helping me get after the green Ranger. It was pretty much divide and conquer and my list got considerably shorter. Few things aren’t fully crossed off, but it’s largely just things that need bolted in for good, tightened finally and the like. There’s really not a whole lot left now beyond probably a day of finishing several things. Front clip, some trim, and a bunch of welding mostly. Huge, huge progress. I’m exhausted but excited.

My pleasure. Most of it was bolting on stuff. It took more time and figuring on fabricating the mount brackets for the transmission cooler than anything else.

That and giving pointers on the Exploder brakes he now has on the rear axle.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

lol, my front swaybar links are plastic...

Made the carrier to mount a winch today.

 

[sgtsandman]

lol, my front swaybar links are plastic...

Made the carrier to mount a winch today.

If they are the OEM type, the casing is deceptive. I found that out when I took an angle grinder to mine for the front suspension work.

 

[sgtsandman]

Took the 2011 on a trip to the @lil_Blue_Ford restoration yard.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If they are the OEM type, the casing is deceptive. I found that out when I took an angle grinder to mine for the front suspension work.

They look the same as the broken plastic ones that came with my axle/swaybar

 

[sgtsandman]

They look the same as the broken plastic ones that came with my axle/swaybar

Those are way different from mine. They must be fiber reinforced or something.

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Thanks for the explanations guys! Especially about the linear forces, sgtsandman. That helps a lot.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My pleasure. Most of it was bolting on stuff. It took more time and figuring on fabricating the mount brackets for the transmission cooler than anything else.

That and giving pointers on the Exploder brakes he now has on the rear axle.

Still, bolting stuff on is a huge help. I dunno how much you could tell, but I was pretty beat by the end of yesterday. What we got done yesterday, or rather mostly you since I took a lot of the easy stuff like finding parts to feed you and cleaning bolts and stuff would have probably taken me a few days by myself to complete. Basically all the time I lost from being sick and then some got made up yesterday. It will really reflect progress once I finish getting all the bolts and stuff in and tight.

 

[sgtsandman]

Still, bolting stuff on is a huge help. I dunno how much you could tell, but I was pretty beat by the end of yesterday. What we got done yesterday, or rather mostly you since I took a lot of the easy stuff like finding parts to feed you and cleaning bolts and stuff would have probably taken me a few days by myself to complete. Basically all the time I lost from being sick and then some got made up yesterday. It will really reflect progress once I finish getting all the bolts and stuff in and tight.

I noticed. I'm paying for it today. The normal sore back I get when working on brakes. Today, aspirin and a heating pad are my best friends. I'll rinse and repeat when it comes time to do the spring maintenance on the fleet here. I'm glad I was able to put a dent in the work that needed done.

 

[Uncle Gump]

That's a bit heart warming. You two knuckle heads made me remember just how much I miss my wrenching buddies.

 

[sgtsandman]

That's a bit heart warming. You two knuckle heads made me remember just how much I miss my wrenching buddies.

You have buddies that don't involve pizza?

 

[Uncle Gump]

You have buddies that don't involve pizza?

Not many...

 

[sgtsandman]

Not many...

Anymore, I'm inclined to think that is a good thing. Real friends show up when there is nothing in it for them. Fake/good weather friends show up when there is some kind of benefit in it for them and disappear when the benefit disappears.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I noticed. I'm paying for it today. The normal sore back I get when working on brakes. Today, aspirin and a heating pad are my best friends. I'll rinse and repeat when it comes time to do the spring maintenance on the fleet here. I'm glad I was able to put a dent in the work that needed done.

Yeah, I think I was asleep by 8:30 last night, lol. First really good sleep I’ve had in days. I’m gonna just take it easy today, but I’m thinking I’ll try to at least get the brackets we made shot with some paint and some pictures. Once I get this truck done I’m gonna have to go through and re-organize my tools, I know there was a bit of treasure hunt going on for what we needed, but when I’ve gotten worn down lately I’ve had a tendency to just throw tools wherever instead of putting them back where I got them.

What you saw was the bulk of the most commonly used mechanic tools I have. Doesn’t even scratch the surface of all the tools I have. That box truck that we walked past has the bulk of the construction tools. I hate inefficiency and “making do” so I invest heavily in tools. I know you really weren’t used to having so many options, lol.

Don’t think I asked, what did you think of the bandsaw for metal work? I also have the Harbor Freight version of that saw which works about as good and actually was what I bought first. Got the Milwaukee one super, super cheap (like $40) so one can live at home and one can live with my welder and tube bender at my buddy’s.