Since i wont be offroading anytime soon when time came to replace my sh!ty stock tires i chose the stock size tires but i got the Toyo Open Country A/T's. They are pretty sticky. I wont be lifting my truck anytime soon for many reasons, so I too am gonna keep the stock height.

But my question is will a rear sway bar help me out any with the stock hight and Bilstein shocks? Could I add JD Traction bars one day?

 

Yes it will. from what I understand Bilstein shocks are very sturdy...but they still give just like any other shock does. Traction bars Im not sure, someone has and had to modify the ends of it I think. Getting a Sway bar will really help out, you can get them from Hellwig, Belltech, junkyards (Broncos), and Roush. I have a Belltech swaybar waiting for me at the house, I plan to do a short how-to on it. I dunno why people state that Hellwig is the way to go because I've never seen anyone with a Belltech o.O

 

A good swaybar will help any suspension improve lateral roll, regardless of your height.....

Go for it!!

 

Very true...I just haven't had the time or resources to rig one up.....

There are some things I'm wanting to do to my truck that are borderline fanatical, like brake cooling ducts and whatnot.

I was just saying a swaybar was a good economical way to get better handling, among other things.

Concerning the racing.....I did a little bit of autocross last year. Nothing major; no paint-swapping. Just raced in SM2 class with a few bimmers and miatas....and a crazy *** Taco that kicked everyone's ***. I'm looking to really get into it more in depth this coming year.

 

OK I will check them out. And those Bilsteins were the best improvement i've made to my handling yet.

 

I put a set of factory bilstien shocks and 15x8 rims, just those together made a huge difference. I drive this thing like a car and even with 4x4 height it is very stable.

 

i didn't know they had a rear bar?

 

Some Rangers got them, some didnt. I do believe the Sport versions got them from the factory.

 

I know this is an old post, but don't pay $300 for the roush swaybar kit, it's only 79.95 on ebay from hillbank motorsports. They also sell a 2" drop for approx. $145 with everying, including new front springs and 4 shocks. The swaybar kit has a bigger front swaybar and the compleate rear bar. They are the pieces from the thunderbolt ranger. hillbank bought all of roush's stock and are pretty much the only place you will find the stuff. Their prices are much better on ebay than on there website.

 

and also.. Greg (Scallion).. i selling his.

Man.. never read this post.. but it's funny ask shiii.....

 

actually its more expensive from ebay cause they charge 30bucks for shipping....theres no shipping charge when ordered from their site so you save $10 if you order direct. And dont forget tax for cali orders from either site.

 

how can i tighten up my wheel? like in my trans am i turn it one turn and the wheels are all the way over but in my truck i turn the wheel 2 or 3 turns and its all the way over....how can i tighten it up some like the car?

 

waht about a sport rake drop, toxic shocks and a rear sway bar?

i dunno but that is what i would do

 

was that to me? i want to turn the steering wheel a little and move the wheels alot

 

what?

why would you put drop shocks if you keep the rear stock but only add a sway bar without the rear dropped at all? Maybe if you flipped the rear hangers and put shocks on and a sway bar yes..

I have a a 5/6 drop DJM arms up front with belltech 3 inch coils and flipped rear axle in the rear without a swaybar in the rear and the thing rides on rails literally it handles so much better than stock and the truck barely sways.

 

haha 3/4 inch drop aint nothing to my 4/6 inch drop! yea u right most people do lift there trucks not lower, but if u like to scrap the road a.k.a scrapin the coast.. which was a badass show!

 

In my case I did the following:

I did the typical 2" lowering with DJM front springs, adjustable camber bolts, and flipped the rear spring hangers followed by an alignment (of course using the highest grade 8 hardware for replacements).

I installed a '90 Bronco II 7/8" rear sway bar that was refurbished with new urethane bushings and again replacing the bolts with grade 8 parts.

I installed a set of Doestch Tech shocks specifically made for a 2"-3" drop which came with urethane bushings.

My wheels are 17" Mustang Bullits and P-255/50/17 Kuhmo tires with 5/16" spacers, front and rear. I could have gone with 245s, but preffered the 255 size as it provides a wider tire, a little more sidewall for pot holes, and is the closest I could find to the stock height to not throw off the speedometer and they just look more "beefy" than the 245 typical Mustang size.

These simple upgrades made a huge difference, espeically the rear sway bar and stiffer shocks. Even after lowering the truck, the ride was still kind of sloppy and whats the word..."wallowly" I guess but the sway bar and shocks fixed that and then some. Even on a stock height truck these mods will make a huge difference in firming up the ride. I can really power it down a curvy back road and enjoy the firm ride and handling now. The Doestch shocks really add a much stiffer feel to the truck so keep that in mind. I really enjoy it though. I have considered a set of traction bars that would further stiffen up the rear end but I don't race or have much problem with axle hop. A friend/neighbor borrowed my truck a few weeks ago to pick up a water softener and said that it rode and handled tight like the '99 Firebird T/A he owns. I'm sure it's not that good, but it made me feel good to get another persons approving opinon on it. I would say that the only disadvantage to what I have done so far is that while trying take a fast turn quickly and powering into it, one of the rear wheels loses traction and spins because of the rear sway bar but I still have an open 3:55 rear axle which I hope to soon replace with either an aftermarket limited slip unit or maybe an Explorer rear axle with disc brakes and a limited slip. The other thing I have to complain about is the stopping power of the Ranger. A nice brake upgrade would be nice if I could still fit my stock 15" wheels on for winter/salt months. I would be happy to hear from some others as to how to improve this as I still run the stock brakes. I still use my Ranger as a truck (we tow our 3500 lb. boat around in the summer along with utility trailers full of mulch and top soil in the spring) so I can' make many major suspension mods that would compromise that, but I like to have a fun to drive, nice handling vehicle the rest of the time.

 

i was thinkin of better handeling at stock hight
soo ill keep this thread in mind

soo john your doing work for 2 now lol

 

Here the Roush racing sway bars for $36.

But they wouldn't fit a 96 would they?

 

One of the "smarter" post that I have seen on all of the forums. I mean have a purpose, develope a plan, do your homework then spend your money.

 

im planning on doing the 2/3 drop on my 01.
i found a kit on jegs. but i was wondering if there were any other places to find a complete drop kit?

 

Yes it's called lower the truck..air ride..coil-overs...shocks...springs...anything to lower the center of gravity will make it handle better.

 

same issue with barrman. I have did that and guess what, a good result I got. Thanks to you.