Suspension Tech General discussion of suspension for the Ford Ranger.

Ebay suspension kit?

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Old 05-17-2011
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Ebay suspension kit?

After 10 years and 101k mile my Ranger needs some new front suspension parts. I have been pricing the replacement parts at the local parts houses and trying to do some research on line when I came across this kit on Ebay.

Does anyone have any experience with kits like this? The price is great, but is it too good to be true?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...item23076d2c95

 

Last edited by Dragonii; 05-17-2011 at 09:26 PM. Reason: add photo
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Old 05-18-2011
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No help on this one?

If it helps, the seller is thetireclub.com.
http://www.thetireclub.com/
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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R/F as a whole will recommend MOOG suspension parts. They are the best.

As for the ebay kits, you buy cheap, you get cheap and I wouldn't suggest going cheap on the parts that hold your front wheels on.
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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I do tend to agree with that. I have just had some good luck lately with "too good to be true" deals and considering all of the work that my truck needs it would be nice to find some good deals.
I changed the lower ball joints a few years back and they sucked. They came from Autozone. The dust cover on them never sealed properly and they didn't last. I did like the fact that these looked like they were grease-able. I just wonder if they are at least as good as the stock stuff.

Any recommendations on where to get parts would help. I don't need any extremely high performance stuff, the truck is mostly just a daily driver to get to work and back.
 

Last edited by Dragonii; 05-18-2011 at 12:46 PM. Reason: correction
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Old 05-18-2011
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Do you really need new control arms? Maybe you need the ball joints or maybe the bushings for the controls arms but I don't think you need new arms. Unless they are snapped in half from an accident. Maybe save yourself some money there.
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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No, I don't need new control arms. I thought that the ball joints in upper arms were not replaceable.

Don't ask me why, but I thought that your only choice was to replace the whole arm.
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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Nope you can replace them. Go to an auto parts store and get a ball joint press and its easy to do.
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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I was under the impression that (at least of coil sprung 2WDs) you have to replace the whole upper control arm when you do upper ball joints.

Thats what I've been told.

Rockauto.com got me $210 shipped to my door all 4 MOOG ball joints and 2 UCAs.
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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Yeah, I've used a ball joint press before. I just thought for some reason that the upper ones couldn't be pressed out.

Thanks. That will definitely help.

I do want to just replace all of the parts that wear out. The steering still feels pretty tight but I have a few squeaks. The last time I had the wheels balanced and the tires rotated they recommended replacing them. I was going to sell the truck at the first of the year but have now decided to keep her so I want to get her back in shape. Plus, my tires cost too much to let them get eaten away from old suspension parts. lol

So if I subtract the upper arms from the picture above and add in the lower arm bushings, would that just about cover everything in the front that flexes / wears out?
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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Originally Posted by Masteratarms93
I was under the impression that (at least of coil sprung 2WDs) you have to replace the whole upper control arm when you do upper ball joints.

Thats what I've been told.
Same here.
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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Maybe it can be replaced...

http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/~grant/ra...t/install.html

Wonder if I can do it with a regular ball joint press from Autozone.
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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The Ford factory service manual does not have a procedure for replacing the upper ball joint. The factory indicates that the whole upper control arm is changed as an assembly with the ball joint included. For this particular model, the ball joint can be pressed out with a lot of force. I do not know if this is the case with other models. I also do not know if a regular ball joint press would have had enough force to press the ball joint out.
Upper Ball Joint:

I tried using the ball joint press. It is EXTREMELY tight. Therefore, I ended up removing the upper control arm and using a hydraulic press
Yeah, I doubt it.
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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According to this guy you have to replace the whole arm. :(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXQIVwhfCcI
 

Last edited by Dragonii; 05-18-2011 at 01:46 PM.
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Old 05-18-2011
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U have tp replace whole arm unless its been replaced before
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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Originally Posted by j99ranger4x4
U have tp replace whole arm unless its been replaced before
So once I put after market ones in I will be able to replace just the ball in the future if need be? Is that what you are saying?
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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Originally Posted by Dragonii
So once I put after market ones in I will be able to replace just the ball in the future if need be? Is that what you are saying?
That is how moog works. Once you buy the whole arm from them then you can replace just the balljoints next time. I'm not sure about any other brands though.
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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correct
 
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Old 05-18-2011
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Thats what I thought
 
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