I didn't get any action in my previous post so Ill try again with more defined questions.

1.) My suspension is very week, so I need new shocks. I want to stay around $200, and the bilsteins that everyone talks about are out of my price range, so I found rancho RS5000 shocks in my price range. Are these shocks decent?

2.) Is it a pain to replace shocks on our trucks and is there a write up somewhere?

3.) I also want to get an AAL so that my suspension doesn't sag so much when I have my quad in the bed and my friends quad on my trailer. They are on summit, should I get the 2" lift or 3" lift? and are they simple to install?

4.) Will the AAL require longer suspension in the rear since its supposed a add a couple inches? Or will the regular rancho RS5000 shocks designed for a stock ranger be fine?

5.) Will the AAL put more stress on the ball joints up front? I think it will be back to normal since my tbars are cranked.

6.) Does the front need longer suspension with a tbar crank?

7.) does anyone have pics with AAL + Tbar crank + BL?

 

I also found these:
Shocks and Struts - SummitRacing.com
Procomps for $30 a piece. Would these be worth it? They would probably at least me stiffer than my suspension now right? My truck has 125k miles on it with origional suspension.
Or should I stick with the more expensive shocks?

 

anyone?

 

I have the Procomp ES3000. They ride like a dream. I got them from jackit.com. They were $188 for all 4 with boots and shipping. If you go that route I will get you the correct model number for the rear. Procomps books say that the 2wd and 4wd rear shocks are the same....they are not.

The shocks are pretty easy to replace. On the fronts to remove the top bolt, use a vice grips to hold on to the flange under the mount or else it will just spin as you try to loosen the bolt.

For the rears, remove the nuts, then spray the bolts and the bolt should slide right out.

 

will they work with an AAL? or be too short?

 

I dont know anything about AALs. All I know about it the stock set up.

 

I just talked to jackit and they said they will give me the procomps es3000, an extra 2" front and rear for the aal and the tbar crank and a 2" AAL for $250 shipped. I am about to order but I need to know from someone if its a good idea or not to put in the AAL because I dont want to put too much stress on my ball joints up front.

 

I dont think it will put any stress on the BJ's. Cranking your T-bars will though. If you still have the stock BJs they are going to go soon anyways so why not just do it and worry about it when it comes time to replace them. You will have to do it sometime anyways.

Ask the people at jack it. They know alot about suspension stuff.

 

The shocks are real easy to do. And yea what Matt said about the t-bar crank and aal's with the ball joints.

 

Why would lifting the rear stress the front? It won't, don't worry about it.

 

Alright, I don;t know I just figured its at more of an angle. I still don;t understand where ball joints are or how they work or go bad.
How much does it cost to have a shop replace them?
I might crank my tbars a little more.
Heres how she sits now:



With a 2" aal I might need to crank the front a little more.

 

I have done some reading on the BJs but it seems like everyone (even the ones who know what they are doing) have a real hard time with the BJ's so I would probably have a shop do them.

 

Ball joints aren't really hard, just need a BFH and some patience.

 

do you have a good friend that has a nice garage and tools and some knowledge?

 

not knowledge, but his dad has a nice garage and lots off tools, thats where i did my bl

 

Also, I wanted to ask about the drive shaft. I know that when you get a superlift or any of the suspension lifts for the 4wd rangers they say your DS wears out in 25k miles, and to buy one of theirs. That is with a 3" lift right?
With 2" lift in the rear, and 2 - 3" lift in the front, will this have the effect on my DS? and wear it out after 25k miles?

 

Here you go:

www.trent.mpmnc.com/LowerBJ.pdf

 

No you'll have no worries there. I think the DS wears out from the differential drop brackets moving the angle of the driveshaft.

 

Alright awesome! thank you!
and that looks pretty detailed Im going to look over it and when I get parts, Ill give it a try

 

Yeah thats direct from the Ford workshop manual which is so much better than a Haynes.

 

My gf used to have a hard time with BJ's but now shes totally comforatable with it. lol

Tires plus quoted me $467 to do just the lowers. $180 of that is for parts. The rest is labor, shop fees and tax.

 

Hahaha LOL

 

Dang, I just dropped $900 to get the uppers on both sides, the thing that attaches the uppers to the truck got replaced, 2 new tires and an alignment.

I wish I knew more about trucks so I could have done it myself...