Will first gen rear springs work on a 97?

[Z3CHYD]

My 97 2wd ranger needs rear springs. So could I use rear springs from a first gen. 2wd ranger? The junkyards i go to are chock full of first gens, not so many third/fourth gens. Thanks for any help

 

[koda6966]

I'm putting rear shocks from an 88 onto my 93, nada clue as to the spring size though. I run into the same problem of a lack of 93+ trucks in the yards.

 

[Z3CHYD]

Yea I've been told that first gen rear springs would work, but i wanted to make sure before i go to a yard and yank em off and buy em only to find out they dont fit

 

[koda6966]

I think they might be the same but I hear that the rear axles are shorter.. so that might play a factor in the size of the springs but like I said, I'm not sure.

 

[ILLEGALCONCEPTS]

Just measure the width of the spring pack and eyelets. I think you should be fine though as long as you don't have the mono fiberglass spring on your truck now. I have a GEN II rear end in mine and everything mounted up the same even though it is 2" shorter.

James

 

[Z3CHYD]

Just measure the width of the spring pack and eyelets. I think you should be fine though as long as you don't have the mono fiberglass spring on your truck now. I have a GEN II rear end in mine and everything mounted up the same even though it is 2" shorter.

James

I measured the width and length eyelet to eyelet, and they all are the same sizes, so I guess then it would work? But if i remember right, the first gens have 4 leafs not 3 like the newer springs....maybe that would be good in my condition, i need the rear up a lil bit more so i can run duals

 

[Z3CHYD]

Well I'm going to the junkyard this weekend hopefully to get some first gen rear springs then

 

[Z3CHYD]

Well an update, I bought the rear springs from the junkyard, 20 bucks (as it turns out the ranger the junkyard man let me take the leaf springs out of happened to be the only one with new bolts holding the springs in, so there was no struggle to get em out at all....not the case with my 97's springs, the bolts are fused/rusted to the metal bushing, so i cant get them out, but im going to use a very large breaker bar this weekend (I'll have picks of the monoleaf spring thats in my 97 right now, to show everyone what can happen when u monoleaf it...the spring is bent lol
I also got the rear bumper from the same ranger, new bolts holding that in to, 10 bucks, i was happy that day, I love that junnkyard he sells stuff cheap

 

[Z3CHYD]

I swapped the springs today, i had to cut the old bolts out, they were completely fused into the metal bushing, it was a PIA, and when i went to install the left leaf spring, the top spring broke.....soo seeing as i have 4 rangers i took the left leaf off of my v8 ranger and used that for now...good thing i have alota rangers sittin round but now i need a flip kit, it sits to high now

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

83 to 09 the rear springs are all the same length and width, just FYI.

 

[Z3CHYD]

83 to 09 the rear springs are all the same length and width, just FYI.

dang i wish i knew that before or i would of bought the springs long before i did. But since installing them, i have ALOT smoother ride and no more vibrations from the driveshaft, i just need to buy/make a flip kit now
(BTW my avatar is me removing the old leafs/ flipping the shackles....what a long day that was lol)

 

[djm3452004]

83 to 09 the rear springs are all the same length and width, just FYI.

Would that apply to the Mazda B-series springs as well? I have a source for a pair of '96 Mazda leaf springs that I wanted to put on my '94 Ranger.

Thanks!
Dave