I just noticed something the other day. The front end of my truck is starting sag. it's at least 2 inches lower than the rear. At first I thought it was the tires but it aint. I got to looking and it seems to need new shocks. I was wondering what would be the best O.E.M replacement?

 

Crank them torsion bars! (you might need new ones too, do a search on #1 torsion bars)

*edit* this applies if your truck is 98+

 

shocks don't add to ride height last time i checked.....

 

not if its a coil sprung truck like his is.

 

Damn it the shocks are indeed shot. The friggin brake rotors are too. The torsion bars are in pretty good shape though. I live on a rough dirt road with alot of pot holes that are pretty deep. I am surprised that the suspension lasted this long with this rough road abuse. 4 years 5 months 22 days without doing a damn thing to the suspension. That aint bad. Thanks guys.

 

Do you have torsion bars or coil overs? what year is your truck?

 

It's a 2004 Edge. I'd have to look to confirm, but it may have both.

 

you can't have both, you're an EDGE you have torsion bars.

 

Yeah, youve got torsion bars. Go buy new ones, that will solve the problem. Do a search on here for "#1 Torsion bar" for the part number. #1 is the stiffest and best for reducing sag on your front end

 

you dont have to buy new ones all you do is jack your truck up and crank them all depending on how hard you want your front end waht ford dose from the factory is the lower the front end so your truck gets less air resistance giveing you better gas millage so what i would do is just crank them

 

You're right it does have torsion bars. If I had a better pic i'd post it on here but instead all I have is a pic of my exhaust, plus I just crawled up underneath it with a flashlight to confirm it.

 

Not on this one. It sat perfectly level when I first got it and one of them looks like it needs to be replaced. On the edge model they put a slight lift in the suspension package. so what good would it do to tilt the front end down when they lifted the rangers in 03 on up? A bodyshop owner that I know has 2 rangers in there right now. one of them is an edge and it sits higher than the other and the suspension is alot different than the other. Both are the same year if you're wondering,2002. Now the other models the factory did what you said, just not on the Edge. That's why I say lower you're tailgate and keep it down. Because with the front tilted down (especially the XLT's) the tailgate acts like a dead weight spoiler. That should help with the fuel mileage some (just enough to notice) but not a whole lot.

 

for some reason i thought your truck was a 2wd xlt, my apologies for getting that mixed up.

 

Did you buy it new off the lot or used.If you bought it used some one may have already cranked the t-bars. EDGES come from the factory lower in the front because of a 2" lift block in the back.

 

That bodyshop owner I just told you about, is about to do a V8 swap in the Edge model. he's redoing the whole truck. Full frame off rotisserie restoration. That was his truck he just purchased for about $3,000 dollars. It didn't have alot of miles on it, but the kid that had it blew the engine sky high. There's a hole in the block big enough to stick your head in and say hello and it echos. Plus I thought about getting him to paint mine when I get enough dough together. PPG acrylic enamel (same color that it is: Black), with a high metal flake, and chromed accents. The labor will out cost the paint and it's a tough paint that lasts.

 

Brand New. This is my very first NEW truck. I've had 4 Rangers over the years but never got the pleasure of buying one new until 4 years ago. In fact this is my very first brand new vehicle period. All I've ever owned has been used. The last one I had was a 97 XLT and it was a lemon on count of where I bought it. A GM used lot.

 

It's an 04 Edge 2WD, 5 Speed manual with 4.10 gear ratios but it's set up to bolt on 4WD right from the factory. That's ok, i get that alot. In fact alot of guys try to argue with me about it being 4WD and I just open the door and say it is huh? and ask them if they see 2 shift levers, and ask them if they see manual locking front hubs. They shut up real quick too. Of course those guys are diehard dimer fans. That argument was also started by my car insurance man too. I like you guys. You guys and gals keep me on the strait and narrow and also keep me from doing something stupid to my truck and ruining it. Which I damn sure don't want to do. Pretty much just your basic mods like exhaust, and air intake (K&N O.E.M replacement air filter) is all that I have done to it. But with you guys and gals helping me out I should enjoy truck more, because god knows I've more than earned this privelage of driving a brand new truck for the first time in my life and I'm 33 years old to boot. Pretty much I just want a lighter version of the truck than what I have now with a basic small block V8 in it. 2 barrel carbed motor if you're wondering.

 

I am also looking at a new set of tires too. Those Uniroyal liberator tires caught my eye and aint too expensive. The tire size that I have is stock which is P235/75/R15 according to the little tell tale sticker inside the drivers door, and on the sticker inside the gas tank door. They have those tires in that size at walmart. $356.00 plus tax and disposal fee. Balancing and mounting included which aint bad.

 

hmmm... first time i have heard of one that was completely level from the lot. Guess there just wore out, replacing them should put it back to where it was, while you're at it go ahead and replace your shocks and rotors and you should be good for another 4 yrs. 5 months 22 days

 

Uniroyal liberator a/ts, thats what i have and there real good tires for the road anyway not real good in sand or mud but there a/ts so you know. They get real good mileage I've had mine for 20,000 miles and barely any tread wear. So overall if most of your driving is on road it's a good tire, if you off-road a lot get a m/t

 

Im going to havr to agree with you thats the first time ive herd of it coming level off the lot beacuse my dad has a 05 fx2 and his is tilted to the front it could be beacuse your a 4x4 who knows just trying to help

 

The dealer must have tightend up the front end for me before I bought it. They usually set the way you guys say they do but for some reason I thought it was an odd ball do to the suspension package in it. Thanks for the info on those tires. The only off roading I do is the road that I live on, which is a dirt road with potholes that are somewhat deep. I tell you this That's one tough little truck. After I hit that deer in 05 I nearly made it to the house before the steering components broke. My full coverage insurance took care of it and they used Genuine Ford Ranger parts. Took 3 weeks to finish it and costs $3,600 just to repair it. the tow truck man said that most light duty trucks wouldn't have been able to move at all after a hit like that. And to answer a question earlier, it did ride pretty rough when I first got it and drove it. Thanks for the help guys. What about shocks? I was looking at Billstein shocks but if I can't get those then monroe would be fine as well.

 

They still sag over time....

 

xlt's too....

 

all the trucks from the factory come raked 1.5 inches up to 2.

It just gets worse over time due to coils settling or torsion bars sagging.