I have been contemplating a transverse leaf rear end on my Ranger and was wondering what thoughts or advice you guys had. How should I go about it? What should I do or not do? Any considerations? Would I be able to do this with the Ford 8.8 independent rear axle from an explorer? Should I go Dana 44 instead? Thoughts please.

 

if you are going to go that route

why not go the rear radius arm route with rear coil springs

 

That's not what I was asking. My point is with a little fabrication (which I'd have to do for the coil springs anyway), I can use the leaf springs I already have. I'm not asking what other ideas you have. I've already thought of those. I just want to know what would have to be done to pull this off.

 

when i first read abut that type of suspension modification

it was a interesting idea , i followed the inventor along for months after he built it

but he was plaqued with problems , mainly the leaf springs pivoting so much that they ended up ripping
off the leaf spring frame mount on 1 side then causing other damage

he ultimately scrapped that suspension and when with ( you guessed it ) lengthened radius arms and coil springs .

radius arms allow unparalled axle articulation without binding ( to a point though )

which is why i recommended radius arms and coil springs instead

simple design and very strong and very durable

 

click on link and scroll down to a little more than half way

you will see the picture click on it .

Ok Which Radius arms for the Dana 44 Swap? | Ford Explorer and Ranger Forums - Serious Explorations

lengthened radius arms done correctly along with very strong frame mounts

this builder knew what he was doing when he restored and modified his 1st generation bronco

 

Learning about the issue with the leaf spring in that situation is definitely helpful

 

this would be a better idea if you were to keep your leaf springs

https://www.google.ca/search?q=leaf+...PBpDhdKCtBM%3A

you simply cut part of the leaf spring off behind the axle pad and fab up a coil spring mount to the u-bolt plate

then bolt on a coil spring mount to the frame and add a track bar

this mod was very popular with the jeep cj and yj crowds as it allowed them to keep their stock leaf springs intact and also allowed them more axle flex

 

I suppose that would be a nice compact form of leaf suspension, and it would be rather stiff, which I would need. I'm going to try to put a picture in here, so bear with me if I can't get it. Is this what you meant?

 

that would be the picture yes

a lot of jeepers still use that type of suspension to this day

easily maintained and cheap to make

 

In terms or ride height, how would it affect me? Would it lift me or lower me?

 

it all depends on what lift of springs are used and which point on the frame that you bolt the leaf spring to

those guys simply had custom leafs made for them , with military wrap

custom 4 link bars will need to measured for and manufactured

the leaf spring is just for weight support , they are not used to locate or hold the axle in place

 

Is there some way the axle could be held without a 4 link system? I'm not sure that is road legal where I would be driving it.

 

you could use a custom made leaf spring setup with the facrtory axle pad and u-bolts

but onlty using the rear upper 2 link bars , that is what some people did , it worked quite well

but you would have to relocate the factory leaf spring mount farther forward

where the mount is located now , the leaf spring eye would be seriously stressed by too much axle pivoting , resulting in frame mount failure .

you could also lower the mounting point as well

 

here is separate articles you can read through at your leisure

TJ with a HP44 and Ford radius arms? - JeepForum.com

My Mexico 1/2 Ton TJ Build - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

there are some negative posts about radius arms , but everyone is entitled to their opinion