I've just purchased a 2008 2x4, 2.3L 5 Speed

The factory specs for my truck list a 'SLA w/Coil Springs' for front suspension. Does this refer to a conventional coil set-up, or a torsion style suspension?

From what I understand most newer edge and sport models use torsion style while XLTs use conventional, but my VIN shows as '2008 Ford Ranger 2WD Reg Cab 112" XL' and '2008 FORD TRUCK RANGER /EDGE/SPLASH/XL/XLT' depending on which decoder I use.

I won't have the truck for a few days or I'd check myself, I'm just trying to plan ahead for some suspension options.

 

That depends. It will be pretty easy to tell once you're looking at the truck. All 2001-2005 Ford Ranger Edge trucks were Torsion Bar, however I have seen some 2006+ Ranger Sport trucks with coil springs. All of them were Regular Cabs 4x2's. I don't know the exact years that was offered, or why, but I have seen photographic evidence of it.

 

Hey thanks for your reply, I'm considering dropping the truck and am just trying to find out how difficult it's going to be, as I understand it the torsion style take some considerable modification to make work.

 

If it's coil sprung, DJM Suspension makes bolt-on parts to drop the truck either 2/3" or 4/5" (Front/Rear). I have their 4/5 kit installed on my 2002 Ranger and have no complaints.

Torsion bars are a different story. You can get around a 2" drop with what they call "drop torsion keys", and then you can get up to 5" lower in the back (with an axle flip kit). The problem with torsion bar trucks is that the engine crossmember and torsion bar mounts hang down so low, they limit how low you can drop without scraping.

The good news for you is that I don't believe the 2.3 was available with torsion bars. So if the truck you've bought has the 2.3 Duratec, it probably has coil springs.

 

That's what I kinda suspected. I just got the owner to double check and you're correct. I just wasnt sure because it has a "Sport" decal on it. I gave the truck such a thorough inspection for rust that it never occured to me to notice the springs haha. Thanks for the info as I'm gonna begin shopping for lowering kit options soon.

 

If it is what I think it is, it's a pretty uncommon truck. You can buy the factory Sport decals online, and even aftermarket versions, but if the truck has the Sport fender flares with the color matched grille, then it's probably the real deal.

 

I'll get some more photos when I can, there's tonnes of snow here at the moment.

 

one of my concerns with potentially lowering the truck is that I'd like to retain a little elevation in the rear over the front, I plan on moving some dirtbikes and motorcyles and I don't want the rear sitting lower than the front. Level would be fine I think but I'm just not sure what configuration is gonna work best.

 

Okay, pictures make a world of difference. lol.

That is NOT an actual Sport trim truck. The last year that Ford offered a Flareside bed like that was 2004. So, since this truck is a 2008, the bed has been swapped. Those Sport decals were only used from 1998-1999, so that's the year range your bed came from. I like the attempt the previous owner made at putting the newer style emblems on the older tailgate, but they're definitely in the wrong place. lol.

Anyways, this truck is just a bare bones 2008 Ranger XL with coil springs. No factory Sport package here.

If you want to keep the rake, you probably don't want to flip the axle over the springs. That drops the rear 5", which will level it out with the front if you drop the front 4". You can probably get away with lowering shackles out back and maybe 2" lowering coils up front. That will bring it down a little but still allow you to have the rake out back. It won't really give you that slammed static look though.

 

Yeah I suspected it was at some level a 'Frankentruck' I can't see that 'Sport' decal being something they were using in 2008(though I gotta say I kinda like it). Also I feel like on my 2007 the Ford logo was dead center, and the ranger logo was completely down and to the left on the tailgate.

All things considered I'm happy with my purchase, as far as I can tell the truck is straight and all the panels line up. Out here in Nova Scotia finding one without rotten cross-members/frame rails is tough right now.

In terms of dropping the truck one idea i'm considering is going for a 3/5 kit and then adding 1"/2" lift leaf spring shackle at the 1" mark to regain the rake. Does that make sense? Am I off my rocker?

My hope is that I could achieve a 3/4 drop, or even 3/3 if needed.

 

That should work fine. The only thing I don't like about lift shackles is how they tend to push the axle forward, thus causing the wheel to be misaligned in the wheel well. But on a lowered truck, it may not even be noticeable.

 

You mentioned you had an 02 with the 4/5 installed. Is it more or less level?