awesome thread so far guys keep it up!

 

I ordered a new angle finder...and it should be here Friday afternoon. If all goes well (hint hint UPS guy!), I'll bring my brackets in from the garage and try to get you those angles you want...plus verify a few others if needed.

Took a little longer than expected...sorry guys!

 

Well the UPS man got here early with my angle finders.

My brackets aren't exactly the same dimensions as what you have started, so the angles might also be different...but I hope this information helps.

So here goes....

 

Had some time avoiding homework so I slapped these together.





The only thing they are really missing is hole locations, if somebody can get me distances for each of the holes from the 2 closest edges I can fully define these and get blue prints out. also are the ORW ones 3/16 or 1/4in steel? I might mock up a set over spring break and see how they fit.

 

Thanks a lot for that info I will put it into my drawings. Mikerider, looks pretty good-is that solidworks?

On hole dimensions: for proper hole dimensions someone would need to take angles and measurements of every side/piece of the brackets. If someone was willing to do this either mikerider or myself seem to have to tools to make fully dimensioned parts. Would be really cool to have a set of prints anyone could use.

I am still going to try to get a FULL part and material list together with the prints. The more info and input from others I get the better it's going to turn out. Thanks for all the help everyone

 

The only essential info I need to get a full blue print is the positions of the 2 pre existing holes on the a arm for the lower bracket and the angle between the shock mounting tabs and the rest of the bracket so they line up correctly. The rest dosen't really mater as long at the dimensions are close.

 

One of the dimensions thats is absolutely necessary for bracket construction is the tabs on the lower bracket. Not just the distance between, but the correct placement for the coilover to line up with the upper bracket. I am not sure if this is best left to be "welded into place" or if it can be welded in ahead of time. ORW must have quit making these for some reason, whether they didn't fit all vehicles or some other problem...

Edit: What I mean by placement of the tabs is the angle of the tabs to the a-arm side of the bracket.

 

Thanks again logan03CO, if you have your brackets just laying around and don't mind taking a few dimensions, could you help me out with my incorrect dimensions? just to the 1/8" should be fine.



Ok the 2.37 and 2.57 are not necessary dimensions, disregard them, they are just positioning the drawing on the screen. All of the other dimensions I just made up to look like what they should. If someone could grab all the angles it would clear everything up, thanks.

 

Yeah I can verify a few of them...problem is my brackets are not shaped exactly like what you have drawn. The outer perimeter is very similiar but some parts of my bracket are curved (along the lines of what mikerider posted) instead of the way you have them drawn.

It's not the best angle to show it, but it's the only ones I have on hand:






EDIT: Maybe I will just try to trace the upper brackets onto graph paper for you guys this weekend. I won't be able to finish the drawing until Monday...but I'll make sure to have a 1" scale bar on the drawing so you will know if it's really still "to-scale" after you print it out.

EDIT to the EDIT: Cancel that tracing idea.....

 

The upper mounts shape shouldn't matter much, as long as the dimensions clear the coilover and locate the top hole correctly in the coil bucket for aduguate load distribution and strength. The biggest thing is going to be getting the lower coil over mounts located correctly on the lower bracket so there are no clearance issues with the upper control arm and brake caliper.

anybody happen to have a CAD model of the Ranger front suspension kicking around lol.

 

Yeah, I know the shapes being different won't matter on the actual install...but I meant I won't be able to use mine as a template to verify anything else, since they are constructed differently.

I won't mess with making a drawing of my exact ones since you guys have a workable design on the uppers already rolling.

 

If it warms up a little next week I am going to make a template of my truck and see about getting the holes in the right spot, from there I can adjust the lower coilover mounts from there.

 

If someone has a lower bracket off and could take measurements that would be great. I am just trying to get all info on upper mount then will start on lower.

The position of the lower bracket on the A-arm is very important, no only for clearance, but keeping the angle of the coil over the same on both sides. Different angles on each side would make the load on each side different.

I suppose if you were within a half an inch on each side you would never notice though.

 

The shape and position of the lower bracket doesn't really matter as long as you can hit the available holes to locate the bracket, the lower shock tabs are the critical part they need to be located based on the two existing holes on the a arm and not referenced on the bracket. Once you have one side done all you have to do is mirror the bracket to the other side

 

I will try to put together pictures of the lower bracket with "measurable" items... Trust me just drawing the prototype model was difficult as the bracket is angled, mounted at an angle, with angled tabs, attatching to an angled piece. My computer did not like trying to define all of that in space.

Anyone want to send me an A-arm from a ranger? haha

 

You just have to define based off of planes and reference to other lines, which is slightly trickier with pro E but doable. The hole pattern is the only essential part that needs to be defined in the part they are the reference point from the a arm to where the shock mount tabs need to be which in turn locate the coilover.

 

Thats what I had to do. The only part of the lower bracket that is unknown is the hole placement, and the angle of the shock tab mounts in comparison to the bracket... I still am going to try to get a measurable picture, to attempt to get this.

I know I am asking everyone a lot, but it is cold as hell here and I'm not at my dad's shop to be taking things apart and doing my own measurements.

Thanks everyone for the help.

Mark

 

Ya I here ya the high today was 7.

 

Lookin' good guys--some real talent there.
Keep up the good work.
MikeR

 

Upper Bracket Hole Information:

Side Mounting Hole:


Side View:


Top View:


Hope this helps...and thanks for the base pictures Ridin434!

 

logan03CO:

The dimensions you gave me is exactly what I needed. Thanks so much for the help, been trying to get that for months.

 

No problem...glad to help!

 

Switching gears a little...

Coilover Spacers (Qty of 8 Required - Part #FOX-213-18-005-B):

A quantity of eight will come standard with the pair of Fox coilovers to go on either side of the actual coilover between the mounts.

Sample Installed Location (Top & Bottom Similar):


Close-Up:


Quantity of 8 needed:


Dimensions:

 

Alright, I have few dimensioned drawings done... I saved them as .pdf, how do I post them?

 

I had to convert my PDF's to JPEG's in order to post them on photobucket.

EDIT: I bet there is another hosting site that we could put the PDF's directly onto to make sure scale and everything stays correct.