Suspension Tech General discussion of suspension for the Ford Ranger.

Front and Rear Coil Overs:

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Old 09-24-2008
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Front and Rear Coil Overs:

I am looking to switch my rear to a coil over suspension and i want to do the same to the font but:

I have no idea what i am doing.. or what i need to do..

So i am asking what parts i will need and what i should you use and what alterations need to be made.

I know some guys on here have them and well i am asking for all the input so that i can get my ranger over to coil overs.

Thanks

EDITED!!!!!!! -------------------
Okay here are my final thoughts and plans.

And i have a few questions i want everyones help on.

I have a FX4 lvl II – Does this means i sit on 2.5” blocks in the rear?

If so then is the 3” blocks from Superlift going to make a difference?

If not can i buy the front end kit for my truck and scratch buying their shocks and scratch the rear end kit.

What i would like to do is buy the front end kit from superlift and the RCD coil over conversion kit with FOX coil over shocks on my truck.

Some said just buy the RCD kit but i tried to buy it without shocks and i cant and i have heard the shocks from them sag. So why pay for what i dont want.

I want to know what everyone thinks about this and if it will work?
 

Last edited by jaycheetwood; 09-24-2008 at 04:00 PM.
  #2  
Old 09-24-2008
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Well it would all be custom work. That's as much as I know.
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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if you don't know what it needs then you shouldn't do it. It's that simple
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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But i am really thinking i should jsut swap my front axle
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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yeah just go out and get a new one and bolt it in place
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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Originally Posted by 04blackedge
if you don't know what it needs then you shouldn't do it. It's that simple
yea.. if you dont have the first idea. then dont do it lol
i jumped into my sas halfway knowing what i was doing and its still taking a while.. mainly waiting on parts but i've been looking at suspensions and steering setups for a long while.. waiting for these few weeks to come along.

but coil overs = links, correct angles, lengths ect
the rear isn't as bad as the front IMO.. then again i haven't attempted linking my truck yet.. its on my list though

Originally Posted by jaycheetwood
But i am really thinking i should jsut swap my front axle
what do you mean? sas with c/o's or just do c/o's like the RCD?
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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There are so many options your talking about here. I mean you have to come up with a way to link the rear if you want Coilovers in the rear. Unless you come up with a system that no Ranger owner has thought of yet, you'll have to move the gas tank to link the rear. Everything is going to be custom. Meaning you have to determine all your mounting angles of your coilovers and all your links, specially if you want the thing to still be streetable.

For the front, if you mean you want to do a SAS, then your talking a whole another bag o' worms. The RCD kit isn't much easier, but at least all the parts are in one purchase. All and all, getting coilovers on all 4 corners is a huge undertaking. If you really want to do it, start researching coilover suspensions (much like I've been doing for over a year now) and see what you can come up with.

Unless you have more money then you know what to do with, you had better know how to fabricate as well. Otherwise expect to be paying a shop at least 10k in just labor to do all that.
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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Hmm i think its time to get a welder and scrap metal and some sort of POS and start learning some things for later use..

Well RCD might be a good way to go for now..

It all just seem so expensive with these kits.. i am wondering on cheaper ways than paying RCD 2300 for their lift kit.
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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Do an RCD and body lift with 35's...or hybrid superlift and body lift with 35's. And get skyjacker 6" leafs for the rear instead of using a block.
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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Originally Posted by SniperX103
There are so many options your talking about here. I mean you have to come up with a way to link the rear if you want Coilovers in the rear. Unless you come up with a system that no Ranger owner has thought of yet, you'll have to move the gas tank to link the rear. Everything is going to be custom. Meaning you have to determine all your mounting angles of your coilovers and all your links, specially if you want the thing to still be streetable.

For the front, if you mean you want to do a SAS, then your talking a whole another bag o' worms. The RCD kit isn't much easier, but at least all the parts are in one purchase. All and all, getting coilovers on all 4 corners is a huge undertaking. If you really want to do it, start researching coilover suspensions (much like I've been doing for over a year now) and see what you can come up with.

Unless you have more money then you know what to do with, you had better know how to fabricate as well. Otherwise expect to be paying a shop at least 10k in just labor to do all that.

It can be done with out moving the tank.





 
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Old 09-24-2008
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http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...=RCD+SUPERLIFT

If i did what this guy is doing where he is just replacing his stock shocks with the RCD coil conversion kit would i be able to do this to my truck with any lift?

Also would this lift my truck any?

Would i need to new cv's or to worry about the angle of them?
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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No it won't lift it any and you have to weld to do it.
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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Really what do you weld? they make it look bolt on???
 
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You have to weld on supports to the shock tower, all the trucks weight is moved to the shock tower when you do the conversion.
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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Do you know any links for this on our forums?

Is the welding extensive?
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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MudSlanger did the conversion, the welding isn't extensive but your entire truck is riding on the welds, so they better be damn strong.
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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Originally Posted by jaycheetwood
Hmm i think its time to get a welder and scrap metal and some sort of POS and start learning some things for later use..

Well RCD might be a good way to go for now..

It all just seem so expensive with these kits.. i am wondering on cheaper ways than paying RCD 2300 for their lift kit.
Trust me. An SAS will be more time consuming and way more expensive (unless you don't want to drive your truck on the road anymore).

Originally Posted by redranger4.0
It can be done with out moving the tank.





Always proving me wrong, aren't ya.

Originally Posted by jaycheetwood
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...=RCD+SUPERLIFT

If i did what this guy is doing where he is just replacing his stock shocks with the RCD coil conversion kit would i be able to do this to my truck with any lift?

Also would this lift my truck any?

Would i need to new cv's or to worry about the angle of them?
Pretty sure that guy only did the front conversion though. Maybe I'm wrong because I haven't read through the entire thread, but I was pretty sure on that.
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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Okay here are my final thoughts and plans.

And i have a few questions i want everyones help on.

I have a FX4 lvl II – Does this means i sit on 2.5” blocks in the rear?

If so then is the 3” blocks from Superlift going to make a difference?

If not can i buy the front end kit for my truck and scratch buying their shocks and scratch the rear end kit.

What i would like to do is buy the front end kit from superlift and the RCD coil over conversion kit with FOX coil over shocks on my truck.

Some said just buy the RCD kit but i tried to buy it without shocks and i cant and i have heard the shocks from them sag. So why pay for what i dont want.

I want to know what everyone thinks about this and if it will work?
 
  #19  
Old 09-24-2008
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Originally Posted by 04blackedge
MudSlanger did the conversion, the welding isn't extensive but your entire truck is riding on the welds, so they better be damn strong.
Donny(ranger) never welded the gussets in when he did his RCD. I think he has had the RCD on for a few years now with not problems. And yes he does offroad his truck. I'm not saying I'd do it though.
 
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Old 09-24-2008
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Ignore the rear lift, do it right and get 6" skyjacker leafs from summitracing

You should do the superlift and the rcd coil over conversion!
 
  #21  
Old 09-24-2008
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Originally Posted by jrpro130
Ignore the rear lift, do it right and get 6" skyjacker leafs from summitracing

You should do the superlift and the rcd coil over conversion!
Explain the Leaf spring theory please =]

and i found the superlift for 1600 shipped.. but it seems i get what i dont want from the kit hahah.. so ill have to order it part pack for part pack.

but yeah thats what i want to do.
 
  #22  
Old 09-24-2008
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You get full leafs so you don't have to run a block. I hate blocks.

YOU COULD do it the cheaper way (like many of us did/do) and just do a shackle and add a leaf...it should be enough. I have a shackle, add a leaf, and 3" block and it's not enough, I need new leafs though...
 
  #23  
Old 09-24-2008
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you cant buy the superlift kit and run the RCD coils on it aswell, the superlift kit will drop your torsion bar brackets retaining the stock form of suspension on the truck: torsion Bars. If you want to run coilovers in the front without doing an SAS just save up and BUY the kit. if you cant weld bring it to a shop to put it on. like everyone is saying get the skyjacker 6" lift leafs for the rear AFTER you get the front set up done.

maybe i missed something in this thread about how you can run both SL and the RCd together. Never the less if you dont knwo what your doing dont try and make a kit custom work for you. You will just be getting yourself into a mess of things.
 
  #24  
Old 09-24-2008
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Originally Posted by foxyford
you cant buy the superlift kit and run the RCD coils on it aswell, the superlift kit will drop your torsion bar brackets retaining the stock form of suspension on the truck: torsion Bars.
Um yes you can, just takes a couple brackets from RCD. A member on this site did it a couple of months ago.
 
  #25  
Old 09-24-2008
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yeah i just read it up cheif. my apologys
 


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