just venting...

what a bummer.
it may not seem like a lot form the photo but you can def tell the back end is squatting. i think my expectations might have been a little too high to throw 200 pounds over the rear axle and not expect it to squat down.

I like the raked look of the stock 4x4, but it flattened. It rides SO much better in the rain and even just around town with the added weight. i guess i'll leave it out until it snows than keep it in like i was planning...

 

Half an inch is good. I call it rollin Cali.

 

^^ LOL! :)
it doesnt look like much on the tape, but visually i saw it right away, i didnt expect to! but when i got a profile view of the truck after walking back out to it later in the day

 

That's sexy right there.

 

You could throw in an ad-a-leaf so its not squatting

 

after i got my cap i had the same problem. put in a short aal and cranked the torsion bars good as new.

 

LOL. I put 300 lbs in mine and it dropped about 3/4"
I just got a set of shackles that are going in, though, so it's all good.

 

The first inch or so will squat easier than the rest of the travel remember.

My F350 will drop about 1/2" in the rear with just my 300lb SM in the bed, but it takes a lot more to than 600lb to squat a total 1".

My 94 Ranger's rear was super soft too, didn't take much to level it out. Taking the tailgate off made it sit higher, lol. I guess when the thing weighs 3380 empty that can be expected.

 

I love the ride of my truck with 300 lbs in it, though. Doesn't so much feel like being in a lifted go-kart every time I hit a bump. LOL

 

this is exactly how i feel

whats easier and less invasive, add a leaf or doing shackle?
thanks guys i wasnt expecting problem solving but i like where this is going muwhahahaha

 

Try the shackle, if it doesn't work, you have new shackles, drop it to stock height and throw in an ad-a-leaf...or Swap in Expo leafs!!!

 

will this work guys?
Ford Add a Leaf Spring LIFT KIT F150 Ranger Explorer http://r.ebay.com/iwDlQz
seems pretty straight forward, no sawing off giant rivets (shackles) :)

 

I'm sure that would likely work... but Procomp 13120s are cheaper!

 

should i stop by the dealer for the new U-Bolts, just new stock ones? seems like the only thing that kit does not contain

 

i think im going to do the add a leaf with that kit from ebay. Local truck shops around here dont have add leafs... everything im reading about doing the add a leafs say you have to replace the U-Bolt as they are stretch bolts...

heres where it sucks...
a new U-Bolt set from ford is $80 bones! 20 bucks each, ouch.

im going to call a local auto parts store to see if they have a similar one. Once i get a hold of the U-Bolts i'll buy the kit from ebay that i linked.

--edit--
i found a local spring a suspension shop, closed on weekends, i'll give them a call maybe they can fabricate a set of bolts and even a leaf and i can do this project on monday.

 

AAL is a must.

 

Check out SDTrucksprings.com.I just ordered a set of Helwig helper springs for my 02 off road.I put 350 lbs of sand tubes in the bed.squats more than i like.These should cure that.Installation is very easy.

 

In my ’95 short bed, 2x, when I had it, I carried 600 lbs of pellets at a time, 2.5 ton total.
It had a droop in the rear but always came back to std ride height, never bottomed out, even with a heavier load.

The ’03 4x4 with 6” SkyJacker springs droops a little too with the same weight but not as much, rides a little better too.

These little Rangers will haul there a$$es off with a load that should bring them to their knees and keep on GOING.

 

Well I called that spring shop... Turns out they won't just sell "parts" for me to do the work. But they will do all the work for me, install an additional leaf for a total of $625. Yes, six hundred bones. I told him I'd pass. He tried a little fear mongering by mentioning something about how adding short leafs, ebay kits, will cause the spring set to snap. I'll chalked it up with the same remarks the dealer makes when you tell them you do your own brake jobs...

So needless to say, I placed the order on eBay for the add a leaf kit and I'll pick up new U bolts from Ford.

 

Just measure your axle tube and buy the U-Bolts from a parts store.
Buy their best and the largest dia for your application.
Don’t try to get by with a thinner diameter bolt.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrambler82

Just measure your axle tube and buy the U-Bolts from a parts store.
Buy their best and the thickest for your application.
Don’t try to get by with a thinner diameter bolt.

yeah it will only be half the price of the dealer, i just picked up bolts the other day.

 

im going to pick up the additional hardware today for the install.
I picked up the new U-Bolts, and lower shock bolts in case i need to disconnect the lower part of the shock.
is there anything else i need to pick up that you guys can think of?

- I was thinking of not using the bolt that goes through the springs from the kit, thinking id buy a higher quality one at a specialty bolt/hardware shop?
- should i replace the rubber block?
- are there any bushings i should do while ive got the axle hanging down?
- while putting everything back together, is there anything that will need anti-seize or loctite?
the kit should be here next monday.

thanks in advance guys for all your help with this this...
ps i already have a new sawz-all blade for cutting the old leaf bolt and U bolt studs :)

 

don't understand why you need to lift it to keep it from squatting half an inch with 200 pounds in the back... my 88 ranger does a similar thing but it's not bad... noticeable, but not bad... then again i've had 1100 pounds in the back of my 2wd, 4cyl 5 speed ranger and it still wasn't bottomed out... sidewalls of the tires were flexing a little though...lol

 

It just happens that I put 240lb of scrap steel in the bed, at the very rear, the other day.

Ride height, hub centre to fender lip, was 19.5" before, and 18.8" after. Hard to see the difference.

 

it's really not bad... mine maybe will squat 1.25 inch with 260 lb, but c'mon, it's an 88...