Hi there!
I'm new to the forums. Got my Ranger a while back, but didn't seem to have any issues with it at all, so I never really checked it either, which seems to have been a BAD idea! Just crawled under there and from what I can tell the shocks are in pieces. I can't imagine, how this is even possible? Have a look for yourselves. I attached some pictures.

Looks like the shocks became internally unscrewed? I just don't get it and feel awful having driven the truck like this. I just got back from a long week exploring Death Valley and it's washboard roads. That must have shot a few more joints in there!? I don't know very much about cars in general and about this one specifically. Bought it from a guy that had replaced the shocks and I think he replaced the springs as well. I saw a parts number tag on one of the springs, that I have lost since, bit as far as I could tell, it was a Ford parts number that did NOT fit the ranger. I do remember the number ending in CA if that helps? But the shocks DO fit the ranger, I have the parts number of those. The truck does also have slightly larger tires than stock and I wonder if the previous owner put on larger springs to accommodate the larger tires and they where too large and/or stiff for the shocks, so they busted them? What else could have happened? I don't want to just put on new shocks to have this same thing happen again...

The ride on this car has always been REALLY stiff and it still is. It's not soft/squishy at all. Really it seems like someone had mounted a solid piece of steel in place of the struts. I figured that's just how a truck feels and at least I don't sag which makes driving a little off-road here and there easier. But I did crawl under there today to see, if I could find something to soften the ride a bit. Washboard was just unbearable... I don't feel like that is how a car should feel with NO shocks at all? shouldn't it make the ride really squishy? Would that mean, that the springs are just MUCH too stiff? So much, that they can over-compensate the non-existent shocks?

Any help would be highly appreciated!

 

Here are the pictures:

 

Nice!

 

I know!

Any idea what could have caused the shocks to go out like this?

 

Only time I've seen that happen is when people add lift kits and don't use the proper length shocks that match the lift. Your truck doesn't look lifted at all so my best guess is they were the wrong shocks, or someone dropped the radius arms for some reason without removing the shocks and somehow just didn't notice they broke both the shocks in the process?

 

What would I look for to see if I may have some sort of lift in the car, that would have shot the suspension? Are there specific places to look for spacers etc:?

If I do indeed not find, that the truck was lifted. Is there any way, a spring that is too big and/or stiff could possibly cause this? I did take the car over some pretty rough roads and like I said, the ride has always been horribly stiff. Any way that a wrong spring may have caused the shocks to separate like that? How could I find out, what kind of spring I have currently installed? Is there a place on the spring that should have the code printed?

I still really don't quite get it: I mean, those shocks are under quite some pressure, right? Shouldn't I have noticed them separating???

 

The previous owner gave me the receipt of the shocks he installed and they aren't quality shocks at all, but they are the right kind for the ranger, so something else must be wrong with the suspension, that needs to be fixed...

 

Not too familar with that suspension. I kinda remember guys using F150 Springs to help with front end sag. Im wondering if that is what is goin on here.

 

Thanks! I was actually thinking the same thing about the F150 springs, but wasn't sure, if they could really do such damage.

I will install new MOOG springs and also ordered some Bilstein 4600 shocks. I am hoping for a little improvement in ride quality. It was really tough to drive the truck so far, since everything was super stiff. Is there anything else, I should be aware of? I think, I read somewhere that a super stiff ride might be caused by a loose front end, so I will check ball joints and such when I install the new springs and shocks. Something else, I should be looking at? I sure don't want the Bilsteins to go out like that!

 

I was gonna say maybe it has stiffer springs or a leveling kit. I still just don't think that alone is enough to bust both shocks. The shocks need to be over extended to break like that. Maybe someone could chime in and give the the proper compressed length of the stock shock for your truck and you could verify that is the same with your busted shocks. They could just be the world's worst shocks.

 

That's a great idea!

I think I found the compressed length of the Bilstein shocks I am going to install to be 10.02" so that should be close to stock length?

I'll also compare the length of the springs. The MOOG springs that should fit my Ranger have an installed height of 10.5".

I'll measure both, the shocks and the springs that are currently installed on the truck when I get home, though I am not sure, I will get the shock screwed back together properly to measure what I git there.

 

If you are replacing the springs, you also need to take a close look at your ball joints (they are usually toast at 110k-130k miles). I just did the control arm replacements and it is a PIA getting the spring back in. It is also a good idea to have an extra set of hands.

 

I finally got all the parts and had time to get under my truck today.

I took the old springs and shocks out, that I expected to be the wrong parts, since the shocks must have gotten over extended at some point. I guess their size is close enough to the parts that I got, though, so I may have had the right parts installed, after all. The old springs are slightly bigger, but only by about 1/2". Guess that doesn't make much of a difference?

I am a little puzzled by the whole geometry of the suspension. I have the new spring installed in their top seat and they do not line up with the lower spring seat at all. The axle is about 2" further to the front. Is that what the suspension should look like? Do I just force the spring in its lower seat? Or is that where the whole problem in my suspension lies? It looks like I have new radius arms installed on both sides of the vehicle. Are they too big and forcing the axle towards the front?

Any ideas on this are highly appreciated!

 

The new spring, not accepting it's lower seat position
Old spring, bending a lot between both spring seats
New and old shocks, fairly similar in size
New spring slightly shorter than old spring

 

Just wanted to come back with the results so far: the Moog springs and Bilstein shocks are a dream. Driving is much more comfortable now. It's still interesting to me, that driving the truck without the shocks made it actually feel much harsher, not wobbly. Since I do have relatively new radius arms, I am now sticking with the assumption, that someone dropped those without removing the shocks and damaged them in the process. That or the springs where the stiffer F-150 springs and did the damage. Whatever it was, I really hope it's cured now and learned my lesson to stick to some regular maintenance!

Now I will have to have a closer look at my steering components as some seemed loos while I was working on the suspension.

Thanks for the tips, guys!

 

Keep us updated if anything goes wrong. This was confusing to me too. I still think someone dropped the suspension and didn't disconnect the shocks and they pulled apart. Even with stiffer springs it's not lifted enough for the shocks to blow out like that in my opinion.