Are there any problems with lifting a 2003 ranger fx4? I was reading an article on a different website and it said something about the front driveshaft wont last any longer than 20,000 miles if I were to lift my ranger. anyone else have any thoughts?

 

Yes. You would need a different driveshaft. You can buy a Superlift shaft or make you own for cheaper. Someone will chime in with the link to making your own. I don't know what parts are used off the top of my head.

 

You have to get a superlift drive shaft.

 

For the 4" superlift, it is required eventually. I only got 4,000 miles out of my stock one. Others can last up to and past 20,000 miles. I always reccommend carrying the tools with you in the glovebox or something to remove the shaft when it does finally go.

The reason for the new shaft is 98+ front driveshafts rear joint gets put in pretty much a bind because of dropping the differential down for the lift kit. The angle is too much for the joint to handle. This overtime will bind and make the truck shake. Or it'll rip a hole in the boot then spew grease everywhere then eventually bind up and shake the truck.

Here's a thread that shows the alternative to spending the $450-550 for the Superlift shaft. Mine ran me $300 and I use all brand new parts...use junkyard parts and it'll be half the Superlift shaft price....about $200.

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...riveshaft.html



The 4" Superlift in my opinion is the best suspension lift available for the 98+ Rangers. Well...now it's the only one that's available. lol. Only downside to the kit are the sway bar end links which are poorly designed. The other kit, RCD, has quite a few downsides...but a couple upsides like coil-overs.

 

Just lifted my truck and am building my new shaft in the morning with my buddy at his driveshaft shop
other than that the SL was super easy to install and my truck loos Bad A**

 

could I modify the current driveshafts link so that it will not wear? or is that out of the question

 

there's nothing you can do....it's a **** poor design idea anyway IMO as far as maintainence goes as well.

Need something that has a better usable angles, and an adaptor and a normal ujoint or double cardon is simple, cheap, and very reliable.

Does anybody know why ford put these stupid CV joints on their front shafts anyway?

 

probaby a Mazda thing
I never understood what the problems was until went to take it off and saw how it had been rubbing and seemed to be some what bound yook it off a few days a go and wow how much quiter the cab of my truck washope my new keeps it that way but doult it twin sticks always seem louder

 

Thanks for your help guys

 

you could always go with a bodylift instead of the superlift...

you achieve the same results and you dont have to bother with the driveshaft replacement since the suspension angles havent changed...

not to mention its much cheaper.. you can get a BL for $150-200 instead of the $1600 superlift

 

I think that is probably what I am going to do for now, I plan on putting a 3 or 4 inch body lift on it and then leveling it out later with a suspension lift probably another 3 inches, and putting 35's on it.

 

anyone know where to get a black mesh grille for a 2003 FX4?

 

Ebay, junkyard, CertiFit Auto Body Parts - Home

 

The stock CV joint works fine in the original 98+ application which works through a small, nearly constant angle.

Double cardan joints are also CV's but they can tolerate much larger and variable angles. That's why they were used on the TTB's where the front diff moves with the suspension. Double cardans have to be way more expensive to manufacture than the 98+ CV's.

Money talks, overengineering (for the original application) walks.

 

well my shaft is done will get some pics up soon $322 was final cost had to order some parts my bud did not have