Hey everyone, new to the ranger game. Just picked this beauty up for 1,200.

its a '98 xlt 4x4 4.0 5 speed steppie with a 4 inch super lift.

Already fixed the lift issue that Ranger024x4 posted about last night... easier fix than we thought...

the 4wd still needs attention, transfercase is engaging, vacuum hubs don't lock.

I've been reading about modifications you can do to lock them full time... anythoughts on this?

here's what i'm working with

 

glad we got the lift issue squared away. truck looks 1000x better.

 

Welcome...want your money back on it?

here is what I did to mine, but I still pull them off every time I lock or unlock to make sure.

Adding Manual Control to your 1998-2000 Ford Ranger Pulse Vacuum Hubs .: Articles

if link doesn't work just google: adding manual control ford vacuum hub

 

need to clean that baby up

 

so i went with the hub modification found here
Permanently Lock Your 1998-2000 Ford Ranger PVH Pulse Vacuum Hubs

actually only took 10 minutes for the first side then only 5 for the other... 4wd now works fine

 

Welcome!

 

So I decided it was time to go bigger and get some 35's and they fit fine... Will fit better once I get my 3inch body lift hopefully sometime next week (taking way to long to ship out)


Don't worry I cranked the t-bars back up and it sits level now


So now time for alignment


As you can see it's pretty off!
Now I brought it up to this place were my truck was the smallest in the bays for alignment and to see if they could diagnose why my wheels are bowed out

After a full checkup they reported back saying they could not do the alignment
due to the play in the driverside inner and putter tie rod ends.

They offered to fix for fix for 365 with parts and labor. I feel like that is a little steep. Is this something I can do myself?.... I'm not that mechanically inclined ( I do my brakes oil, put on the shackle lift etc and plan to put on my body lift myself but that's really about it).

If this isn't too hard to do where do I start for parts? Do these typically come as a set or individual? Any brands / stores to stay away from? Do I need a special tool? Cuz I've watched a few YouTube videos and some used the tie rod separator others used just a hammer.

Once this is done will the alignment be something that will fix the bowed tires?

Any help will be very appreciated!
More pix below

 

Inner and outer ties aren't hard at all. Just buy the parts, have a torch ready for rust, new clips for the bellows boots on the rack, get new cotter pins, lock-tite, and a wrench set.

The outers are self explanatory, the inners you need to break the clips off the bellows, remove bellows, crank wheel all the way to the side you are working on, it will expose the end of the inner tie rod so you can wrench it off, apply lock-tite to the thread and screw it in, then wrench to spec lbs of trq.


I recommend Ford Motorcraft Inner Tie Rods from the dealership and MOOG outer tie rods from Rockauto.com

 

Thanks! Does the truck need to be up for this or on the ground?

 

^up so you dont have any weight on the front end

 

Looks like your tbar adjuster feel out again

 

Naw I checked it and it seems to be in... Maybe you could look at it. Rather pay you than a shop

 

that does not look extreme (camber). Maybe a degree in.

 

Yeah you have to jack it up, it's WAYYY easier with the tires off anyway

 

Hello friends I am Jayson a newbie into this forum. Just came in to say hi..

 

Best to start a thread of your Own under inroductions. Welcome

 

I went with moog for both


Pix to come