small-list-digest Monday, April 5 1999 Volume 03 : Number 077



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Ford Truck Enthusiasts - Ranger, Explorer, Bronco 2 and Aerostar
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In this issue:

FTE Small - Front Brakes grab
Re: FTE Small - Torsion bar suspension
FTE Small - torsion bar suspension
FTE Small - torsion bar suspension
Re: FTE Small - Front Brakes grab
Re: FTE Small - Re:Check engine light
FTE Small - ADMIN: Web site updates
FTE Small - Questions about Superlift kits for a '97 Ranger
FTE Small - Manual Hubs
FTE Small - Stuck Truck
FTE Small - Pinging
Re: FTE Small - Stuck Truck
FTE Small - Almost Stalls
Re: FTE Small - explorer's ownersvwith v8 "read this" plug wires......
Re: FTE Small - Pinging jeff baker...
FTE Small - Whining From The Front

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Date: Sun, 04 Apr 1999 09:46:35 -0700
From: "Michael D. Sheridan"
Subject: FTE Small - Front Brakes grab

Folks:

On my 1999 Mazda B2500 Reg Cab 2.5L 4 cylinder 5 speed
which has disk brakes in front I just had the fronts start
to grab and make a scraping noise at 3200 miles.

Am I experiencing the pads seat or is there a problem
here?

Thanking you in advance,

Michael
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Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 12:53:58 -0400
From: "Eric Davis"
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Torsion bar suspension

Edlebrock just came out with the new shocks for the 98 Ranger. I know they
do have them

Eric Davis
98 4x4 Ranger,
Edlebrock muffler, K&N.
- -----Original Message-----
From: alannorthstar mindspring.com
To: small-list ford-trucks.com
Date: Saturday, April 03, 1999 10:52 PM
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Torsion bar suspension


On Sat, 3 Apr 1999 09:12:15 -0800 (PST), you wrote:

:I am a 1st time 98 4WD Ranger owner(had 2 F150 4WDs) and would like to know
:more about the torsion bar front suspension Ford used on this model. Can
:someone explain to me how a torsion bar dampens up-down movements? I
noticed
:that there is NO other type of spring cushioning the up-down movements in
:this front end, just 2 torsion bars and 2 shocks. Would it be possible to
:"soften" the ride by trying a different shock?
:Thx in advance-
:George
:
Well, two things...

Torsion bars work like regular springs, except they aren't coiled
up, but are a straight bar (but thicker, usually).

I wondered the same thing about softening the ride a little, and
talked to two Ford dealers about alternate shocks. (I have the
Off-road package, and the stiffness of the system was a little
shock to me!) One of the dealers was totally unhelpful, saying
there were about 12 shocks that Ford supplies for trucks, and I'd
have to pick, because they certainly wouldn't! Sheesh!

The other dealer said there was one I could try.

However, they salesman I bought the truck from, when I complained
about the uncooperativeness of their parts department, said I
could just run the tire pressure a little lower -- as long as I'm
not carrying a payload, the pressure can be dropped a bit. I
reduced them to 31 lbs, and have been running it that way.

Also checked into the Edelbrock shocks home page, but they only
make shocks up through '97 Rangers, and don't have any immediate
plan to make them for the '98s. From what I've read here and on
the net, they are probably the best shocks for making the ride a
little bit more comfortable, while still maintaining some control
to make the truck handle fairly well.

I'm used to the thing, now! Recently I drove a full-sized
F-150, 4x4, off-road package truck, just like mine only bigger.
While the seating and cab room were better for me (I'm big)
the truck was just too heavy, and it didn't handle very well.
Tended to wallow around a bit.

That made me be glad to get back in the Ranger. Its quirks have
become part of what I expect, and I like it a lot.

Only wish I had gotten the 4.0 engine. . . .


Later,
Alan
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Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 11:43:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: Troy Reifsnider
Subject: FTE Small - torsion bar suspension

_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?

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Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 11:45:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: Troy Reifsnider
Subject: FTE Small - torsion bar suspension

For those of you looking for smooth ride out of your 4wd drive trucks I
have some advise for you - buy a luxury car!!!

(flame away)


===
Troy Reifsnider
Fordmantroy yahoo.com
1992 Ford Ranger reg. cab long box
XLT 4x4 2.9L 5 sp.


_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?

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Date: Sun, 04 Apr 1999 13:36:41 -0600
From: BJ Tiemessen
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Front Brakes grab

The pads get seated in within the first couple hundred miles. That doesn't
sound normal, I would take it back to the dealer and have it looked at.

"Michael D. Sheridan" wrote:

> Folks:
>
> On my 1999 Mazda B2500 Reg Cab 2.5L 4 cylinder 5 speed
> which has disk brakes in front I just had the fronts start
> to grab and make a scraping noise at 3200 miles.
>
> Am I experiencing the pads seat or is there a problem
> here?
>
> Thanking you in advance,
>
> Michael
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Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 17:42:06 EDT
From: Bakend aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Re:Check engine light

In a message dated 4/2/99 5:39:13 PM Mountain Daylight Time, rkelso usit.net
writes:

> I would suggest taking your vehicle to the local
> dealer and having it checked by a factory trained tech.

Umm......... I don't like the factory trained techs (at least not their
bosses). That is why I am on this list. If I was near enough to our Manic
Mechanic I wouldn't hesitate to take it to him. However, in all my dealings
with the "factory authorized dealers" I have never been able to find one that
was honest and really cared about the service he provides once the deal is
made. This is just my opinion and probably will upset some, but I will
continue to tinker and get by even if it does cost me more in the long run.
Thanks anyway
Dennis Baken
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Date: Sun, 04 Apr 1999 21:41:53 -0400
From: Ken Payne
Subject: FTE Small - ADMIN: Web site updates

Following additions have been made to the web site:

- -Pictorial updated:
1998 F150 STX XLT
1965 F100 Camper Special
1978 F150 XLT 4x4
1978 F150 4x4
1999 F350 Superduty PSD
1968 F250 airport staircase truck

- -Central Arkansas Pickups added to clubs link page.

Ken Payne
Admin, Ford Truck Enthusiasts
http://www.ford-trucks.com

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Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 22:33:27 -0400
From: "Bryce Beyler"
Subject: FTE Small - Questions about Superlift kits for a '97 Ranger

HI,
I'm looking at getting either the 4 or 5.5 inch Superlift lift (probably
the 4 inch) for my
'97 Ranger XLT SuperCab 4x4. I have a few questions about it befor I spend
my money though...

1) Does my truck have any kind of Lift from the factory? I've heard that
the newer STX's and XLT's had about a .5-2 inch lift. If so, would I get
the full lift from a lift kit, or would I only get the stated ammount minus
the factory lift?

2) I have 2 inch blocks (from the factory) on the rear of my truck now. The
kit that I was looking at comes with either 2.75 (on the 4 inch) or 4.5 (on
the 5.5 inch) inch blocks to lift the rear end. (I do plan on getting
lifted springs later, but for now, the blocks will have to do.) My question
is...Do the new blocks go in addition to the factory blocks, or do I remove
the 2 inch factory block, and only get .75 or 2.5 inches of lift (depending
on which kit)?

3) I have 1.3 degree camber bushings in my truck now (this pretty much
killed just getting a set of leveling coils... or was I wrong about this?) ,
will this throw a curve at me while installing the lift or getting it
aligned later, or does a suspension lift throw it all off and the original
bushing not even matter?

4) Should I go with another brand of lift... have people had problems with
Superlifts? I can get a Skyjacker, Tuff Country or Rough Country (3inch)
for about the same amount of money.

TIA, Bryce


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Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 23:03:29 EDT
From: Blest25913 aol.com
Subject: FTE Small - Manual Hubs

Last week I had manual Warn hubs put on my '96 Ranger. The auto hubs went out
again after 40k miles. Since the auto ones are $300 a piece I decided to go
with the manual ones. Warn warranties them for as long as I own the vehicle.
Thanks to Jimmy Russ of this list for the part numbers. Maybe I'll e-mail him
directly just in case he isn't with FTE anymore. He gave me these numbers
back in '97, after I had just paid $600 to replace the auto ones. The Warns
are $100 a piece.

Ron Trampe
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Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 23:10:47 EDT
From: Blest25913 aol.com
Subject: FTE Small - Stuck Truck

In a message dated 3/19/99 5:39:57 AM,
owner-small-list-digest ford-trucks.com writes:


finally unstuck itself, it seemed to clunk forward & then it was fine.
i've had the truck since new in 12/97 and it now had 20k miles on it.
the only previous warranty work has been in 12/97 they replaced the rear
diff (a tooth was missing on a gear in the rear diff which the abs
sensor ran off of causing the abs to malfunction every time i braked.
they replaced the entire diff because it took them 10 days to find the
problem & then only when a ford engineer told them where to look, & i
was on them every day) and in 1/99 they replaced the master and slave
clutch cylinders. other than that, the truck has been great.
if anybody's got any ideas, i'd greatly appreciate it. thanks in
advance.
>>

I have this problem in my '96 Ranger in the winter, also. I reckoned it was
either the emergency brake or the front hubs. So when I park it in the winter
I make sure that the e-brake is off, and I'm not leaving it in 4WD. Another
possibility, which just occurred to me, is that the front axle u-joint are
frozen. On my '96, anyway, I don't have CV joints, just u-joints going from
the front diff. to the wheels.

Ron Trampe
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Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 23:23:56 EDT
From: Blest25913 aol.com
Subject: FTE Small - Pinging

In a message dated 3/21/99 5:42:58 AM,
owner-small-list-digest ford-trucks.com writes:


Second questions: Does anyone have any other suggestions short of tearing the
top of the motor apart and cleaning everything?

Thanks in advance,
Jeff Baker
'92 Ranger 2.3L Regular Cab, Long Bed, 100K+ miles
>>

I had this problem with my '96 Ranger 3.0L. I changed the plugs, and am now
able to run 87 octane again. The plugs were platinum, and are supposed to
last 100k miles, but these didn't. I had to change them at 70k. I put in
copper plugs. I plan to just change them routinely every two years at the
maximum.

Ron Trampe
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Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 23:22:09 EDT
From: MindEfx aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Stuck Truck

In a message dated 4/4/99 11:32:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
Blest25913 aol.com writes:


was
either the emergency brake or the front hubs. So when I park it in the
winter
I make sure that the e-brake is off, and I'm not leaving it in 4WD. Another
possibility, which just occurred to me, is that the front axle u-joint are
frozen. On my '96, anyway, I don't have CV joints, just u-joints going from
the front diff. to the wheels. >>

I had a 93 Ranger 4x4 5spd and it did the same exact thing in the winter
time. It seemed to do it on days when it would rain during the day, and then
freeze at night...then in the morning it would be stuck. I just assumed it
was water inside the drums on the rear brakes, being a stick i always put the
parking brake on, so i never really thought twice about it getting stuck like
that. At least now i know im not the only one this has happened too.


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Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 23:33:06 EDT
From: Blest25913 aol.com
Subject: FTE Small - Almost Stalls

In a message dated 3/24/99 5:47:03 AM,
owner-small-list-digest ford-trucks.com writes:


From: "Michael Krause"
Subject: FTE Small - Almost a stalling problem.

Hey all. I have somewhat of a problem. When I press on the gas pedal
in the morning the engine almost stalls. >>

Your engine almost stalls? Well, I almost have an answer for you.

(just thought I'l throw in a funny)
Ron Trampe
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Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 23:30:27 EDT
From: Ding060297 aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE Small - explorer's ownersvwith v8 "read this" plug wires......

I own a 96 ford explorer with the v8 all wheel drive it now has
60,000 miles on it...I've never done any mechanical or any kind of work
around the engine the truck has ran great ever since i got it...A month ago i
started feeling the truck running a lil sluggish so i threw a tank of super
in it no change i changed the fuel filter and plugs still no change, air
cleaners a k&n i cleaned it and reinstalled it still no change just ran dull
no pep....I cleaned the throttle body and nothing...So i changed the spark
plug wires and WOW what a difference..I've never touched them or had to move
them so they were never damaged doing work around them or anything like
that...They just wore out i guess from the heat or whatever but Now the truck
runs like new again,Better gas mileage and i'm happy again....Even though
they say they have installed plugs that don't need to be changed until
100,000 miles i still in my opinion believe they should be changed at least
50.000 miles and wires at 60,000 miles...There may be a spark at 100,000
miles but that doesn't mean its a strong burning spark...Same goes with that
100,000 mile gas filter its good insurance change it at least 50,000 miles
...so if any of you explorer owner's feeling the truck not be what it used to
be ( 60,000 mile area) look into a new set of plugs and factory
wires............ding
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Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1999 23:34:37 EDT
From: Ding060297 aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Pinging jeff baker...

Jeff baker: Try finding a goodyear dealer or other good shop that
has Motor Vac its a system that they hook up to your fuel rail and run it
through for about 35- 40 minutes and it cleans the engine up nicely valves,
injectors it really peps up an engine with over 60,000 miles on it and as for
you plugs being platinium and wearing out read my next letter subject
":explorer owners with v8 read this plug wires"... it concerns platnium plugs
too.................ding
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Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1999 00:01:37 EDT
From: Blest25913 aol.com
Subject: FTE Small - Whining From The Front

In a message dated 3/31/99 5:44:49 AM,
owner-small-list-digest ford-trucks.com writes:


of
5 times in 3000 miles, but when it happens it is real loud and very
disheartening to here in a truck with 15000 miles on it.

Hubert H. Martin
....

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