I have a 2005 ford ranger 4wd, and would like to lift it 2.5-3 inches with a suspension lift. does anybody know where i can buy a lift. i've tried every place out there and can't find one. please help.
thanks

 

First, welcome to FTE!!!

Is your truck still under warranty? If it is, you might want to wait about doing the lift mod.

 

This one is on ebay but I know nothing at all about it. You may want to take Bobs advise.



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/01-05...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Gents, There are a million lifts out there and most do not void warranty. Yes it is good to ask but the reputable companies backed by race proven products have lifts that will not void. Check out Fabtech, camburg engineering, RCD just to name a few. You can always bodylift cuz its cheaper but you do not gain anything but 3" of looks.

 

Seeing as how he wanted the suspension lift, I doubt he wants looks. I'm betting that he's looking for functionality.

 

I suggest reading the fine print in the vehicle manufacturer's warranty. They
are very explicit about mods. Since a lift drastically alters suspension and drive train geometries, a lift wojuld be considered a "performance mod". DO
NOT believe the lift companies, ask your vehicle manufacturer, in this case,
Ford.

 

Dixon Brothers has one of the best long travel kits for the newer rangers, and the highest priced as well, there are no cheap lifts for our trucks, except a torsion bar crank, and that will just level your truck. Thats what I did, and put on BF 265/75-R 16's, and it looks awesome, and the ride is still good, I didn't over crank the bars.

 

Here is a part of Ford's warranty:

Damage Caused by Alteration or Modification
The New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not cover any damage caused by:
² alterations or modifications of the vehicle, including the body, chassis, or
components, after the vehicle leaves the control of Ford Motor Company
² tampering with the vehicle, tampering with the emissions systems or with
the other parts that affect these systems (for example, but not limited to
exhaust and intake systems)
² the installation or use of a non-Ford Motor Company part (other than a
9certified9 emissions part) or any part (Ford or non-Ford) designed for
9off-road use only9 installed after the vehicle leaves the control of Ford
Motor Company, if the installed part fails or causes a Ford part to fail. Examples
include, but are not limited to lift kits, oversized tires, roll bars,
cellular phones, alarm systems, automatic starting systems and
performance-enhancing powertrain components, and performance ‘‘chips’’

 

Yeah, thats all true, alot of it depends on the dealership, I cranked my torsion bars, and my dealer realined it for me under warranty. A cording to sema, they have to prove that a modification caused damage, sema even has a hotline for it. If your dealership isn't cool, I dougt it would be worth the hassel, and most aren't.

 

Since Ford dropped the Twin Traction Beam on the 4WD Rangers, the number of companies offering a lift has dropped to just a few (not millions), and the price of the lift kit has jumped from $400 to well over $2000.

The problem is that the number of parts that need to be replaced to do the lift properly has multiplied due to the loss of the front hubs, and the change to the torsion bar "springs". With no front locking/unlocking hubs, the three drive shafts are turning all the time and their angles become much more important to maintain reliability.

Also, be careful if you jack up the torsion bars. Too much will cause vibration from excessive angles on the constant velocity joints now used on the front half-shafts. Too much angle will also shorten the life span of the CV joints.

Pat

 

I've also heard that jacking the torsion bars will result in a loss in MPG.

 

Well Bob I see you are at least consistant, you don't like lifts either? lol Sorry couldn't help but to poke a little fun - cheers!

 

I forgot, someone posted that a body lift was just for looks. That's not totaly true. It will enable you to run taller tires, by doing so it will give you a little more clearance between the ground and your diffs, the lowest point for clearance on our trucks, the end result clearance wise can be the same as with susoension, the fctor being taller tires, not weather or not you did body or suspension lift. Now saying that, I know and understand a suspension lift is by far the better way to go, for a mirriad of obvious reasons, starting with better suspension travel, better shocks, and I could go on. But many guys do both suspension and body lift in order to reach there over-all goal for there truck, you see it all the time.

Anyway I'm not trying to start a flame or three page discussion on this, the bottom line is a body lift, and re-routed tail pipe tucked back up to the body, can be a less expensive route to getting on 33's (or 31's depending on what model ranger you have), it will give you the same clearance because you lowest point of clearance is only changed by running taller tires. I'm not going to get into the warrenty issues, that's for you to decide if it's worth it or not, personally I got well past my worries about Ranger warenties three rangers ago...I modify them to suit my needs, warrenty be damned -

 

Iv'e had my torsion bars cranked 1.5 inches for going on 2 years now, on my 04, with no noticable change in ride or mpg. Cranked further than 1.5, I couldn't tell ya.

 

Yes, an inch and a half is about the upper limit for a tortion bar lift. I found out the hard way by going more, and ended up dropping back down some due to the vibration I got from the excessive angles in the CV joints. I sure would like a 4" lift, but can't justify $2500 for it.