First let em say hello to all my fellow Ranger enthusiasts. This is a great site with lots of information and I'm sure you guys can advise about my concerns with my truck.

That being said here's the problem i have..it seem that something in my rear suspension has gone wrong and i cant seem to figure it out.
I have a 96 ranger XLT 2WD w/extended cab and 109k miles and recently i noticed that the bed is riding low on the left side and the rear wheel is no longer centered in the wheel well yet the other side looks fine, but the gap is a little higher between the tire and the top of the wheel well. when standing behind the truck i can see that the bed is tilted to the left.
I frequently have a 450 pound motorcycle in the back and im sure that this is the cause of my problems but im not sure what to fix and how beef up the truck to make it stronger to accommodate this xtra weight.

also worth mentioning I just installed 4 new monrore shocks

thanks for any input

 

check your shakle mount on that side i have had them break many times

 

sounds like you have a case of the typical "ranger lean". its common since the gas tank and driver are on the left side and often no extra weight is on the right side. i suggest going to a u-pull and getting a new leaf pack for the left side but take it off the right side of the doner truck.

 

Check for broken leaf springs. They can break, especially where the ubolt clamps around them over the axle. Also, check the leaf spring shackle like was mentioned above. These sometimes break and rust out. Finally, if all that checks out, you do indeed have a case of the Ranger-lean. The leaf springs get worn out and the poor weight distribution makes the lean much more pronounced. If you do replace them with a set from the junkyard, try and snag a set of springs from payload package 2. They have a slightly higher capacity and will hold the bike better.

 

i dont have any of those u pull places around here in nyc..what do they cost new? are these things i can get from the autoparts store or do i have to have to go to the stealer? thanks

 

You gotta go to the dealer for these. These are fairly big ticket items unless you go to a junkyard. That sounds like to me you had a leaf spring or a u-bolt break. The typical 'lean condition' won't off center the wheel but it definitely sounds like it broke. Be careful though because that holds your rear axle in place so if you do something stupid, something stupid is gonna happen in return.

 

is "payload package 2" something that was a option for this model? if i went to the dealer and asked for thiis would they know what i mean.will 4x4 leafsprings work on my truck? thanks again..

 

ouch...now im scaredI cant believe that this thing could break..im gonna jack it up and check it out...thanks for the tip.

 

I see the pic now!
You surely have something broken. Bad stuff will happen soon. Check those leaf springs, hangers, and shackles pronto!

 

I'm assuming you drove it with the current condition. What did that feel like? Or did you only notice it when you got out of your truck? Either way that look scary!

 

the lean is common since the left side is where all the wieght is (driver, gas tank) but the wheel being back like that is weird! I wouldnt drive it till you get the leafspring/shackle/u-bolt (whatever is broken) fixed!

 

thats the weirdest part..it tracks perfectly straight , no noises, thumping or dragging...Ill get it checked out and see what i can do...
do they make aftermarket leaf springs be used and if so, where can you get tthem?

 

It's amazing that thing is tracking straight at all. In the pic it does not look at all like the axle is perpendicular to the frame as it should be. I'd be checking everything over and making a list I wouldn't drive that to a junkyard, let alone driving through nyc to get to a jy. Find a buddie with a truck or load some tools in a backpack and take your bike. You'll need tie downs, strap the new leaf packs to your pack. Or across your passenger seat. Road trip!

 

it seems the leaf spring popped out of position b/c of a rotten bushing