hey yall, im back, been in ft benning Ga for the last 3 months, yea iv been in the army for 2 1/2 yrs and i got to repeat basic training, awsome lol. but anyway my buddy just got a 2005 fx4 lvl 1 and he was just wondering whats the difference between the lvl 1 and lvl 2 as far as suspension and shocks and what not.

 

um...skid plates..different shocks...different t-bars(i think)

and i think the lvl2s sit a TAD bit higher, wheels, and tires..um...cant think of anythin else

 

what? there is no level one (its just labeled FX4) They have the same suspesnion components. Some upgrades the lvl 2 has that the FX4 doesn't is the Torsen Limited slip rear, 31" tires, alcoa wheels just to name a few.... If you can get your hands on a Level II, GET IT!

 

Main difference is the 31 spline Torsen rear end, Bilstein shocks, also a factory front skid plate. Other than that they are basically the same.

 

I can't confirm this, but the LII may come w/ stiffer torsen bars in addition to the upgraded shocks. I know I have '1' coded bars. You can tell by looking at the sticker on the door jam:



The 'SPR' code indicates the spring codes. The first digit is the front, second is the rear..

 

this maybe a little off topic, but on the subject of torsion bars.

I've been wondering what is the difference in diamater size In a size 1, B, and F torsion bar? I have F, and at a quick glance the look pretty skinny

 

LII's have the highest rate #1 bars but so do the other optioned-up 4.0L 4x4 4-door Supercabs that I have seen. The bars and leaf springs are computer selected based on variables like wheelbase, engine, 2WD or 4WD, payload package, options, etc.

 

yea, i have the 1's...

 

I have "FK"........yeah, the crappiest type. LOL

 

Black interor. and basically everything they sayed with the stonger 31-spline axle. and BTW guys 06+ FX4 anything comes with alcoas now...

 

Manual tranny manual tcase in Kyles!

 

the other big difference, atleast on the 06's is a rubber floor becomes an option on the lvl2

oh ya, and the lvl2 sits about 1inch higher than non fx lvl2's i cant comment of just a fx4, but when my truck was next to bri's 05 lvl2 his truck was about 1in higher

 

Whoop!

Actually I think the Level IIs sit a touch lower if you don't touch the torsion bars because of the added weight of the skid plates and all the options.

Level IIs come with special interiors. They are all 4.0 4x4 4 dr. Rangers. They've got a 31 spline 8.8" rear axle with a torsen limited slip differential. They've got bilstein shocks, and skid plates in the front, under the tcase, and the gas tank. They are all straight-side beds. They have darker gray flairs and valences, and come with special stainless steel towhooks. From 02-04 they were the J-hooks. Starting in 05 they are just stainless steel versions of the normal black loops. They come with 15x7" Alcoa forged wheels and 31x10.5x15 BFG A/T tires. They've got all power options (locks, windows, cruise, etc). They have special chrome shifters for manual transmissions with special shift *****. 2002 and 2003 year manual transmissions also got a manual transfer case with a shifter and **** to match the chrome gear selector. They also get cloth door inserts and special silver-faced gauges. All of them have rear sliding windows. The buckets also have special colored inserts, depending on the exterior color of the truck.

I think that's all, but I may have missed something.

 

Probably because of the 31" tires.

 

BFG A/T 31's are actually 30.7" diameter when new and the 245/75R16's on other 4x4's are 30.5". So, any height difference due to the tires could only be 1/10 on an inch. This is true through for Rangers through 2004.

In 2005~2006, the non-Level II 4-door Supercab gets 255/70R16s which are 30.1". Even these will only be 3/10" lower at the axle centerline.

Level II's have the same suspension (except the Bilsteins), so they are comparable in height to other 4x4 Supercab Rangers from the same era.

 

While we're on the subject. I have an 03 FX4. The dealer told me it's a 31 spline rear with torsen LS. That contradicts everything you guys are saying. So what the heck? lol

 

Unless they swapped the rear ends, you don't. Check your axle tag. If it says R7 like NHBubba's then you do. If it doesnt, then you don't.

 

LOL you where so lied too. sorry man

 

lol, wouldn't be the first time. i'm fortelling a trade-in.

 

The label says R7 for the Torsen/31-spline/4.10 and it says the same thing for Traction-Lok/28-spline/4.10/8.8. You cannot tell the difference from the label.

If it isn't a LII, then it didn't come from the factory with a Torsen or 31-spline axles.

 

Then I guess he could check by measuring the diameter of the axle tubes?

 

Sure but I know the answer already. He has the 8.8 4.10 28-spline Traction Lok that came standard on every 2003 FX4 Off Road.

 

Could he not check the tag on the axle as well? Anyone remember the code for the 31-spline/torsen combo?

But yeah, I'd put this month's salary on it being a 28-spline..
I stand corrected..
The manual t-case was eliminated from the entire Ranger lineup in '04. Only '02 FX4's and '03 LII's had this option. And even then it was only available w/ the manual trans.

 

As far as tags, my 03 Level II Torsen has the axle ID:

N313L
4L10 88 3E15

and it had the lubrication tag:

75W140 SYNTH
OIL ONLY

Both tags are found only on Torsen equipped Rangers.

 

I don't think the extra weight will effect the ride height. The front and rear should be set to the factory ride height specification. That adjustment will compensate for the extra weight. The rear may not have an adjustment but I don't think there is enough extra weight in the rear to lower it.

Also the 2002 FX4 had the black background on the instrument panel. Picky, picky.