Ranger suspension?
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Gardnerville, Nv.
Ranger suspension?
I just bought a 1988 Ranger XLT, it rides like a TRUCK... I know, it IS a truck. I bought it mainly to get my R/C planes to Lake Topaz (no heavy loads) and the suspension is so stiff that all my stuff gets bounced around and could get broken.
Are there softer springs available for my truck?
Thanks,
Carlos
Are there softer springs available for my truck?
Thanks,
Carlos
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
Likes: 75
From: 3rd Rock
...Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts! If you have a minute check out the Guidelines, it will help you to navigate through and understand FTE.
Stick around someone will be by shortly to answer your question.
We are pleased you have chosen the best source for Fords!
Enjoy....and
JOIN CLUB FTE -SUPPORT THE FORUMS!
…..See you on the boards.
Stick around someone will be by shortly to answer your question.
We are pleased you have chosen the best source for Fords!
Enjoy....and
JOIN CLUB FTE -SUPPORT THE FORUMS!
…..See you on the boards.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Rangers ride rough. That's the way it is. I have owned two of them, a 92 and a 98 and the 98 was worse than the 92. Like all trucks, if you have a few hundred pounds in the bed you will notice the ride is a little better. We have a couple of Rangers here at work, and a bunch of 97-03 F150's. After driving a Ranger, the F150's feel like Crown Vic's. Good luck.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 1
shocks really won't make the ride softer. if you want a softer ride then you will probably have to spend about $500 to have a custom leaf springpack made for the rear. Softer leaf springs will soften the ride but you will no longer be able to use your truck to haul heavy loads.
Or you could do the cheap thing and buy 500 pounds of sand bags and put those in the back of the truck. This will get rid of the bounce.
Or you could do the cheap thing and buy 500 pounds of sand bags and put those in the back of the truck. This will get rid of the bounce.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Gardnerville, Nv.
There MUST be softer front springs available somewere I can use.
What about removing a leaf or two from the rear?
I'm hauling r/c planes and support equipment to the lake , very fragile.
What about removing a leaf or two from the rear?
I'm hauling r/c planes and support equipment to the lake , very fragile.
Trending Topics
Gone but not forgotten.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 2
Sounds like a good research/junkyard project to me. You will need softer springs and a way to compensate for the resultant drop they will produce. The rear should be a fairly simple change where you soften the spring pack by removing leafs and adjust the height with the hangers and shackles. The front would involve tracking down a longer coil spring from a car that has a softer spring rate and cutting it to fit to the right height. Good luck.
Dono
Dono
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Whittier, CA
While swapping for softer springs is probably your best bet, there are some other things you can try in addition to/instead of until you find a combination you like.
When you're carting your planes, you could decrease your tire pressure. You don't have an anti-swaybar in the rear, do you? If you do, you could remove that and it would soften things up a bit. Also, swapping out your rear spring shackles for longer ones (like Belltech Chevy 3" lowering shackles) will also yield a softer ride (with some lift, which you'd need if you put in softer springs); I installed extended shackles with my stock springs for lifting purposes and the rear end felt downright mushy, so much so that I put some add-a-leaves in, too, just to stiffen it back up.
When you're carting your planes, you could decrease your tire pressure. You don't have an anti-swaybar in the rear, do you? If you do, you could remove that and it would soften things up a bit. Also, swapping out your rear spring shackles for longer ones (like Belltech Chevy 3" lowering shackles) will also yield a softer ride (with some lift, which you'd need if you put in softer springs); I installed extended shackles with my stock springs for lifting purposes and the rear end felt downright mushy, so much so that I put some add-a-leaves in, too, just to stiffen it back up.
Last edited by soksniffer; Mar 13, 2005 at 03:50 PM.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Gardnerville, Nv.
"over-sprung" Rangers....
A while back I posted a question about fixing the VERY harsh ride on my 88 Ranger XLT extra cab 4X4, it road like the front suspension was "topped-out" all the time and was told there in nothing one can do, ALL Rangers ride rough!!!
NOT SO... I did some research and came up with a custom spring manufacturer called "Coil Spring Spatialities".
The make springs for Ranger's in 5 and 20% rates less than factory. I opted for the 20% springs and I can tell you they were well worth the $99.00 + shipping.
My Ranger is still "off-road" worthy but is now "street civilized" They can be contacted at 785-437-2025.
(The rear springs are not a problem, their OK)
NOT SO... I did some research and came up with a custom spring manufacturer called "Coil Spring Spatialities".
The make springs for Ranger's in 5 and 20% rates less than factory. I opted for the 20% springs and I can tell you they were well worth the $99.00 + shipping.
My Ranger is still "off-road" worthy but is now "street civilized" They can be contacted at 785-437-2025.
(The rear springs are not a problem, their OK)
Last edited by Carlos Murphy; Jul 6, 2005 at 03:03 PM.