Bilstein 7100 reservoir shocks installed
 

This is basically a homebrew version of the "Camburg 4x4 Shock Upgrade" for the IFS Ranger. As I understand it, that uprade is available only as an installed package with the work done at Camburg's SoCal shop.

The shock upgrade parts: Bilstein 7100 reservoir shocks and Beard/Redart limit straps.
http://home.comcast.net/~rwenzing/Bi...imit_strap.jpg



This is typical of the factory front suspension found on 98+ 4WD Rangers. The shock has a relatively short body above a stalk that mounts to the lower control arm. The shock itself is the rebound travel limiter. When it tops out, the suspension stops moving downward.
http://home.comcast.net/~rwenzing/Bi...suspension.jpg



Here's a side by side comparison of a factory LII Bilstein and a Bilstein 7100 reservoir shock.
http://home.comcast.net/~rwenzing/71...y_Bilstein.jpg



The stalk on the bottom of the factory shock provides clearance for the outer CV joint and its boot. Full length shock bodies won't fit.
http://home.comcast.net/~rwenzing/71...hock_mount.jpg



This fabricated lower mount moves the shock eye away from the boot and allows the use of shocks other than the factory stalk type.
http://home.comcast.net/~rwenzing/71..._installed.jpg



The lower mount was made from off-the-shelf chassis fab components from A&A Manufacturing. http://www.aa-mfg.com/ The shape of the base is stepped to match the stamped shape of the lower contol arm where the mount bolts on. It uses the two original shock mount holes plus a third hole drilled in the LCA.
http://home.comcast.net/~rwenzing/71...components.jpghttp://home.comcast.net/~rwenzing/71...r_bkt_step.jpg



While everthing was apart for the shock upgrade, it was the ideal time to replace some of the stock suspension and steering components with beefier parts from MOOG. New upper control arm assemblies, lower ball joints and tie rod ends were installed - all with grease zerks.
http://home.comcast.net/~rwenzing/mo...comparison.jpg



Here is the passenger side 7100, limiting strap and adjusting clevis installed. All hardware is SAE Grade 8 or the metric equivalent Class 10.9.
http://home.comcast.net/~rwenzing/71...stalled_PS.jpg

The clevis mounts to a fabricated bracket on the frame. The suspension needs a limiting strap to set the rebound travel limit to prevent overextension and CV joint bind.




The reservoir is angle mounted on the side of the frame ahead of the tire (driver side shown). Polyurethane mounts isolate the reservoir from the frame bracket.
http://home.comcast.net/~rwenzing/71..._installed.jpg

Looks awesome Bob, nice work as always.

Wow, everytime you post a mod, i think my truck is junk even more...lol. It is right now, it's been giving me some problems.

Whenever I get my 4x4 Ranger, I want the Complete How-To Guide To Modifiying Rangers!

nice work, but all of your mods always turn out awsome.

Chad

So when are you going to start selling kits!?! Haha you do some great work Bob, I'm really impressed with this one.

How's the new ride now? Do you have any before-after travel or articulation comparisons? how about a rough cost for the mod?

looks awesome Bob. you always amaze me with your mods. so clean and factory looking.

I just finished it yesterday and haven't driven it that much and not off road at all. It feels great on the street, for what that's worth....

Surprisingly, on my truck, this was only good for about 1/2" or so extra travel before I got into CV bind. From what I've heard, the real benefit is greatly improved wheel control. We'll see.

If you want this done, contact Camburg Engineering. The last price I heard was $600 for the conversion installed but that may be out of date. Now that I've done it myself, I would have to call that a good deal. Originally, Camburg was only doing the work at their Southern California shop. You could call them to see if they are willing to ship kits now.

http://www.camburg.com/

EDIT: Don't bother looking for the 4x4 IFS Shock Upgrade on Camburg's site. As far as I know, it has never been catalogued there. If you call them, they will know what you're talking about.

looks good Bob..

ive always wanted to install some of them on my truck

that is awsome bob.....you suprise me every time!!!

lookin great! i love the 7100s on my truck but i am going to dual 5100s for now.... someday hopefully i'll get the dual 7100s. they are a great shock

looks great! im gona do the upgrade after i get more lift, ive always wnated to do it. i like the new hardware you added too, looks really nice!

also which mount did you use from them, i cant seem to find it on there site

Looks good Bob, but that seems like an extreme upgrade for you, I didn't think you did that much off roading. What made you want such a great shock setup ?

I didn't use anything from Camburg. They don't have the Ranger 4x4 shock upgrade parts listed on their site anyway. You'd have to call them.

I bought the Bilsteins and limit straps from a local shop and made the rest myself.

I was looking for something to improve the ride quality of the front suspension off road.

Bob, you are the man! Many props!

Brenton

i meant the mount you said you got from that fab company.. i know camburg doesnt retail those kits, cause i called once

For each mount, I cut down these 4 parts and welded them together:

AA-202A or AA-202B (R or L) Shock mount
AA-138F Weld on threaded insert
AA-216A Chassis bracket
AA-217A Chassis tab

Cost is about $9 per mount.

http://www.aa-mfg.com/

http://home.comcast.net/~rwenzing/71...components.jpg

Aren't the mounts available pre-fabbed already? Doesn't ALON have/had this setup? I've seen a few people with it and I don't think they fabbed up their own mounts. Doesn't Camburg sell it as a kit? with mounts, limit straps, and shocks? I know you said you think it's only available installed from Camburg, just wondering.
I've been wanting to do this upgrade for a little while but the cost is keeping me away since my Rancho junk shocks are fairly new, but beaten pretty good.
How are they on road? I'm sure really great!

The only place I know that makes the mounts is Camburg. Originally they said that they would not ship the parts for installation elsewhere. It is possible that policy has changed but I don't know - I sent them an email awhile back asking that question but did not get an answer.

I'm pretty sure that Alon has a 2WD Edge. Mounting the shocks should be a lot easier without the CVs in the way.

ALON does have a 2wd edge..........

Well I think those will do it for sure. That is a killer setup you got there.