I just purchased a 2004 Ranger XLT, 2WD with the 4.0L engine, auto transmission. Before this buy, I drove another 2004 and I was impressed with the smother than expected ride. The one I bought as not as smooth a ride. I'm sure that my Ranger was sold with a towing option. 1. the professional trailer wiring has a Ford logo on it 2. the automatic transmission has a finned cooler with a Ford part number on it. Not sure, but I think 2004 models without tow option had a 9" rear brake drum and tow option models have a 10" drum. My truck has front coil springs, and the rear leafs are 3/1 springs. What I don't know is if there are different front coils and rear leafs because of the towing option?? Did 2WD models without tow option come with 2/1 rear springs? I am not interested in getting additional lift above my factory specs. All help is appreciated.

 

2003 and earlier were 4 or 5 leaf, 2004 were 1/4" longer but should still be 4 or 5 leaf

Coil springs were the same from 1998 to 2012

Check tire pressure, run them at lower pressure and see if smaller bumps are absorbed

Next I would push down on the front and then the back of the truck, see how much added weight is needed to get springs to compress....THEN unbolt the shocks on front and rear, and bounce vehicle again to see if someone might have put stiff shocks on it.

Shocks should not be part of the suspension, they are there to stop repeated bouncing of the suspension when you hit a bump, they will get stiffer the more they are compressed, but just an inch or two movement should be all spring, no shock involved.
Some people want "off road" shocks on a street vehicle, silly yes but shock makers love them so make the shocks for these people

Ride is all about weight, "sprung weight", the weight the suspension is holding up, the higher the weight the smoother the ride, in most cases.
Pickup trucks are a little different, the bed must be able to carry the Rated Load, for a Ranger that is 1,000lbs, 1/2 ton, so with no weight in the bed leaf springs are barely compressed which makes for a stiff ride.
You can add weight in the bed, or put on softer leaf springs with an overload spring added, overload spring doesn't touch the frame until your bed load gets above 500lbs, so better ride but still have the 1/2 ton rating

Front springs should be fine, make sure no one has put in spacers for lift

 

Before buying my Ranger, I test drove another Ranger equipped the same except without the tow option. I looked at it again today and the rear leafs are the same as mine; i.e.; 3 leafs joined together and a separate shorter thicker leaf to stop bottoming out? The only difference was that the test drive unit's rear leafs had evidence of movement between the leafs where mine shows no movement--never. Perhaps the first Ranger's leafs had been changed to get a smoother ride? The front coils of both trucks do not have any spacers in the coils and the shocks on both appear to be old and weathered but age can't be determined. I drove my Ranger over the same road as my test drive of the first Ranger. Mine definitely has a much harder ride. Even the smallest bump in the paved road is felt in the cab. My tires have 30 psi. My plan is to replace all 4 shocks. Maybe that will help.

 

Well I just put (4) Monroe OESPECTRUM shocks on my 2004 Ranger. My ride is soooo much better with this upgrade. Is it a stiff truck ride? Oh yes, but these shocks have taken out the bone jarring ride. For what I will be using my truck for, I think these will be perfect.

 

What was on it before? OE Spectrums are on mine, but i have some KYB's ready to go on.

 

My 2003 Edge rides like a buckboard. Have been thinking about new shocks, but it doesn't bounce... just hits the ground hard. Not fully convinced that new shocks will improve the ride. Oh, and yes... mine is a cruise princess truck LOL

 

The shocks I removed were older SENSA-TRAC before introduction of the OESPECTRUM technology. Two of the 4 shocks were "dead". I don't know how many years they were on but before 2014. The OESPECTRUM replaced the SENSA-TRAC. Prior to the introduction of the OESPECTRUM in 2014, the last few months of the SENSA TRAC shocks production received the OESPECTRUN technology. So there are an unknown quantity of owners who swear by the SENSA-TRACKS and may have the latest technology. The part numbers remained the same for my vehicle ( and probably all others??). In my process of purchasing the shocks, I discovered that (1) of them was in a SENSA-TRACK box and the second was in a OESPECTRUM box but was a SENSA_TRAC part number. I found that (2) of my shocks had parts numbers such as 37053 and (2) had 37013. The (2) I refused had part numbers 37013ST. These may or may not have had the new technology, but I didn't take the chance that those did not. The entire details can be found at a Monroe sight and their press release. The only SENSA TRAC reference I've seen now has coil springs I think for heavy loads.

MaDMAXX---Why did you choose the KYB's?

 

Yes, as i have the OESpectrum from the PO i researched a little and found their release about it, seems they weren't for the truck until that change in tech.

I chose KYB as the Japs are pretty good at suspension and they have a good name for it, i also just fitted them to the Wife's car and they're great.

 

MaDMAXX---My truck is zero off road. Yours's? After the KYB's are installed, let us know how those perform vs the OESPECTRUM. I'm very interested. Thanks.

 

Mine is essentially zero offroad, most would be a trail up to a spot in the woods to shoot. It's for hauling stuff and handling snow etc.

I wonder if i can get the shocks on next weekend....

 

I did my rears this past weekend, now the rear rides a lot smoother, lost all the bobbling i was getting from the back end. It wasn't bad, and i've little truck experience, but i'm sensitive to things in vehicles, so i noticed it.

Left front on tonight, have to wait until tomorrow for the last one.

 

I stopped my bump steer with two different sized shocks in the rear and softer shocks in the front.

Brands unknown !

 

Different each side in the rear?!! and yes, softer damping on the front helps bump steer.

 

As posted in another Thread... I got my work done by Off=Road Warehouse and a guy that worked there that really knew his stuff, and he was suggested by a Very Good Metal Fab Guy that builds Off-Road Racers at Steel Nuts Fabrication.

I didn't want to get it done by bucked up and paid the money and Wham Bam, got a new truck out of it.

So what I am saying is, "If you like and intend to keep your ride, find someone that know suspension work, talk to them get all the info out about your wants and needs and pay the price".

 

If you don't mind me asking... what price did you have to pay? I'm not made out of money and I'm not a suspension guru. Best I can do by myself is cruise these forums and try to buy something decent.

 

It was around $800.00 !
Not a lot to pay for a good ride but I thought it was a lot at first for four shocks !

 

Good Lord! Okay, back to researching shocks! LOL

 

Hope you can determine the correct shocks.

On the rear, Hang your rear axle, see if there is enough travel... disconnect the lower mounts and see if the rear end drops, if it does you may need longer shock.

Not sure if there are any instructions... somewhere, that tells you how to measure for the correct shock length; actually I think it would be a good read.

Again, someone that really knows about shocks would be a good person to talk to.

Luck with it !

 

Yeah, I just don't know anyone around that specializes like that. My 2003 EDGE 4x2 still has the original OEM shocks on it. It isn't bouncy, just harsh as hell. You would think it would be easy to find a decent set of shocks to provide proper damping, yet still a reasonable ride comfort... or is that too much to ask? :)

 

OK on the 4x2 EDGE then all you need are two rear shocks.

The actual dampening rate is one thing and if you are still at OEM ride height then replacing shouldn't be a big deal, contact any of the larger Off-Road Stores and talk to them but have them show you the specs.

The front T-Bars, now that is another thing, an adjustments in them may require realignment of the front end, so be careful. There are different rate T-Bars, I can't go there because I don't have a good idea, I can't even be dangerous and suggest something because I'm lost here.

My stock EDGE, when I first bought her, had a great ride, almost didn't want to lift her and if I had to use the T-Bars I wouldn't have lifted it. I ended up with Coil-Over Shock Setup being sold on this site at the time, I think it has made the truck more stable but you need someone that knows them when making changes.

Sorry I can't do more than talk about it, but there has to be something out there to help !

 

I am still at stock ride height. The reason I bought the EDGE is because of the taller ride height built in. My truck sits pretty level, so I wouldn't think I would have to mess with the T-bars. I had a 2001 EDGE years ago and I don't remember it riding this harsh, so I am hoping the shocks will help. Probably won't do it until spring, but it is definitely on my to do list.

I appreciate the input and suggestions. I will see what I can do when I get some funds available. :)

 

OK on stock height EDGE, I started there.
If you are going to do the rear shocks yourself, the most important thing is to make sure the shock don't over extend, put some frame supports in, allowing the rear axle to hand all the way, then measure for full extension.

Luck,

 

Mhoward, I have a 4x2 Edge as well. How many miles do you have on your shocks?

If your suspension seems very hard, it's likely one or more of the shocks has partially seized, one of my front shocks was fairly rough when I compressed it and it only had maybe 30k on it.

I, as you can see above, bought the KYB ExcelG models, the ride is now what I'd expect from a truck. Whilst I'm not really used to trucks so much, suspension, I am.

If I was going to buy them again, I think I'd like to buy the KYB Gas-a-Justs which are slightly fancier.

 

Thanks for the info and tips! The truck is coming up on 107K, most of that is highway. I bought it at 78K in June 2015. I am thinking waiting until spring to do this, as funds are pretty tight at the moment.