Below is a general idea of parts involved and what they do to lower a 83 to 97 ranger. this is not exact nor complete, and if you would like to add to it please Pm me and i will make the changes.
Thanks
Ricky



On the front the 83 to 97 trucks have a twin I beam suspension using one long beam and one short beam. They mount under the crossmember in front and have a spring mounted outside the frame along with the spindles and wheels etc..... If you buy lowered i beams they will be direct replacements for the stock ones, but will have higher mounting points on the beam to lower the spindle thus lowering the front of the truck 3 inches.

Lowering springs. You can lower the front end by installing a lowered coil spring which is usually the easiest way and get up to 2 inches of drop. 2 inches is the maximum drop you will get and usually be able to get a good alignment. you can combine these with the I beams to get a total of 5 inches of drop in the front.



Ok now for the rear end. In back the trucks have a leaf spring pack and a rear axle mounted on the bottom of the pack. You have a few options here.

Install lowered leaf springs. This will get you 2 to 3 inches. It is accomplished by buying lowered leafs and replacing te leaf pack on each side.

Instal a flip kit . This will get you 4 to 5 inches of drop and is the most popular and common way to drop the rear end. This is accomplished by removing the leafs and replacing them under the axle and installing a flip bracket to hold the axle in place and bolt it back up. There is much more detail to the installation than what I mentioned but that is it in a nutshell.


Lowering blocks are placed between the axle and leaf springs and require replacing the u bolts. Doing this will raise the mounting point of the axle. Here is the catch. You canot use them on a ranger unless you have already installed a flip kit which places the axle on top of the leaf spring pack.

You can also flip the rear hangers over and install the shackle upside down for 2 inches. this is done by grinding the rivits out of the rear hangers, bolting them back on upside down, and then twisting the shackle on the leaf pack to where it points down and bolting it back on. Again not total install instructions but generally speaking here it is.

Once you go lower than 4 to 5 inches in the back you will want to add a bolt in c notch above the axle. This is done by cutting a small section out of the frame for clearence, and repacing the area with a bolt in notch plate from various vendors.


You will also want to add rasied radius arm crossmembers and a rasied tranny crossmember. These are the lowest points on the frame and will drag on bumps peaks of driveways etc... They can be bought from various
places. Check the prefered vendors boards.

Dang Ricky, thats some good info, ill get mine up here soon.

hey i was wondering my plans are to put drop beams up front and cut the coils 2 inches and put a flip kit with 3 inch drop blocks in the rear getting a 5-7 drop what do i need up front isnt there shims or something im not to good with suspensions so any of your help would be greatly appreciated, somebody told me the camber is hard to pull back but i have no clue what they are talking about so if ya could help me thatd be awesome thanx

Once your done take it and get it aligned. A GOOD shop will be able to get the camber adjusted with eccentric bushings. that is as long as you don't go over 2 inches of drop with coil springs.

One thing you left out is that belltech makes a 4in hanger drop. I have one on my ranger. Nice ride.

yes yes I did. but most people for a 4 inch drop just go with a flip kit. .

Joe/Ricky, would you be interested in seeing a how-to article (with pics) about removing/installing coil springs on an i-beam ranger? nickg239 is sending me his old springs, so I'll be installing them in the next little while. Thought it might make a good tech article for those guys wanting to install drop coils.

Let me know.

Kev

Joe/Ricky, would you be interested in seeing a how-to article (with pics) about removing/installing coil springs on an i-beam ranger? nickg239 is sending me his old springs, so I'll be installing them in the next little while. Thought it might make a good tech article for those guys wanting to install drop coils.

Let me know.

Kev

I already told ya on AIM but yeah snap some pics if you dont mind. On a side note, your avatar is hilarious.

Will do hoss.

Yours is funny too ;)

yea that would be koo

hea about belltech's lowering hanger I read it only lowers your truck about 2.5 inches. Its just when they built it, it looks or is 4 inches smaller. But of ether I am not sure because i dont have them.

You can get belltech hangers (only the rear) for 2 in drop or the hanger kit (both front and rear hangers) for the whole 4 in. I have the kit on truck. My back set level with my buddy's and he had the flip. The only thing is i paid a lot more. But at the time a heard DJM sucked and their beams bent so i went with beltech

how do i lower my 97 ranger without spending any money

You are not gonna be able to lower it for free.

You will have to buy bolts if you flip the rear hangers, also any time you drop the front you must get an alignment done or wear ouit tires.

thanks for playing.

how do i lower my 97 ranger without spending any money


well you can take out a leaf spring

Rick,. What about an airbag setup for a 91 Ranger. Right now my wheels aren't tucking. With 20X8.5 on Toyo 245/35's. It was suggested that I change the front suspension setup. Going with a Mustang II setup or an 89+ Toyota pickup setup. What do you think on this matter?

if you wana lay out on I beams your gonna have a lot of work coming. then i am not sure its entirely possible and be able to get them untucked enough to turn.

I would suggest the MII suspension or a toyota front sub frame.
Ricky .

i have a 94 ranger xl want to install a rear djm flip bracket 4 inch it looks like my drive shaft is gonna rub on my frame cross member will it and did any one else have this problem????

Its should not rub, but people have had to trim the gas tank crossmember just for the reason you mentioned when they went 6 or 7 inches.

thanks alot great info!
keep truckin
ben

Which leaf ply do you take out to get 2" drop?

EDIT: And if I were to not care about camber, can I lower it more then 2 inches with stock I beams?

not caring about cabmer is kinda insane but yes you can if you want.

running neg camber to excess eats tires, cause tire wear, poor gas milage, improper handling especially when raining etc...

...and looks like arse.
Thanks for the info, doing a 2" Bell-tech coild drop in the front and Explorer swap in the rear (stock Explr mount so it's like a flip-kit).

Ok I'm a newbie to Rangers.... I'm looking to do a 2" drop all the way around can anyone fill me in on exactly what I need, I'm just itchin to install my 17" bullits but i wanna lower it first.... its a 93 4.0\

Thanks!! :)

i got a question the i beams that are on ebay with the flip kit its says there for a 88-92 i think will they work for a 87 ???? and where do i buy the drop springs i am yet to find them. i wantign to lower the truck a bit but i am wantin it to be more sport then low rider. and will mustang rims fit on my truck it being an 87 i am wanting the new saleen rims.

im thinkin of getting the 2 inch drop springs up front on my 94 ranger xlt but i was wondering getting the 3 inch drop leaf springs, would that be similar to just taking one out, b/c i have a RM125 dirt bike so i need to be able to carry the weight with out squatin to much, let me now what ya think

do i REALLY have to reverse the bolts holding the leaf springs together? and wut exactly to i have to drill for the flip kit? pls answer someone pls pls pls... thanks.....

I asked this question on another thread so ill take a chance here, i flipped my hangers on my 97 Ranger, now i want to know if I get shackle from chevy full size truck, will this drop my truck? The shackle is longer so push the leafs to the bed, i guess it's suppose to drop my truck? Now if yes i'd like to know what is a chevy full size and year? I mean, 2001 Sierra 2500 ?? Because if I want that at NAPA or any autopart they ask me those infos, thanks !

How about this, though.

If you do a flip kit on a 8.8 Ranger axle [example, a 4.0], you will get more drop since the axle tube is larger in diameter than the 7.5, right?

That sucks. What do you have to do if I don't want like, 5.5" of drop, and I want only 4"?

Just get lift shackle

Tried to find some info on here...

If I have the 8.8" axle instead of the 7.5", will the DJM Flip Kit [as I am told] give me more drop than the 4"?

If so, how can I get back to the original 4"? I am not wanting to go lower, tuck, or bag...just a nice mild drop.

I have a '95 Splash, Std Cab, 4.0, 3.55/8.8".

Thanks, guys!

hey yall i just got around here and i was thinkiin about doing a 4 - 6 dropp on my 94 splash excab but with the factory lowered stuff i was wondering if i whould dragg and if yall thought it would be level or whould a 3 - 5 dropp be better

Tried to find some info on here...

If I have the 8.8" axle instead of the 7.5", will the DJM Flip Kit [as I am told] give me more drop than the 4"?

If so, how can I get back to the original 4"? I am not wanting to go lower, tuck, or bag...just a nice mild drop.

I have a '95 Splash, Std Cab, 4.0, 3.55/8.8".

Thanks, guys!
??

hey yall i just got around here and i was thinkiin about doing a 4 - 6 dropp on my 94 splash excab but with the factory lowered stuff i was wondering if i whould dragg and if yall thought it would be level or whould a 3 - 5 dropp be better

Woww. I havee nothingg to sayy.:blink:

Tried to find some info on here...

If I have the 8.8" axle instead of the 7.5", will the DJM Flip Kit [as I am told] give me more drop than the 4"?

If so, how can I get back to the original 4"? I am not wanting to go lower, tuck, or bag...just a nice mild drop.

I have a '95 Splash, Std Cab, 4.0, 3.55/8.8".

Thanks, guys!
lol a new rear end would do it... yes an 8.8" axle will look lower than 4 inches, you may be able to use a smaller flip kit??? i dunno if they make differents sizes but it seems that smaller u-bolts would make it a smaller drop :nixweiss:

Which leaf ply do you take out to get 2" drop?

EDIT: And if I were to not care about camber, can I lower it more then 2 inches with stock I beams?

take out the bottom leaf i did it

if i just take out the shackle would that lower it or lift it? :huh:

if i just take out the shackle would that lower it or lift it? :huh:

It would either do nothing, or lift it a little maybe. Either way its BAD. Talk about a bouncy ride. The shackle is what makes the whole leaf spring suspension work. It swings back and forth as the suspension goes through its motion.

does the lowered i beams and flipkit effect the ride or no? and is there any problem with doing that drop with a longbed ranger

If your not going to replace the spring with drop springs, then no. Your ride quality will be about the same. The Beams, are going to ride on factory coils, so the front will be the same. Keep the stock shocks, and it will ride like it does now. Get better shocks, and it could ride smoother. The back will ride just the same, in any case, becuase all your doing is taking the axel from underneath the leafs and placing it on top. Therefor theres no real change since the leafs still work the same way. The Shocks should be replaced on the back, and you can buy a nissan hardbody shock for a 93 and it will fit and make the truck ride like stock. Or you could go aftermarket get a higher quality shock, and get a better ride. Just don't expect cadillac cushy out of it.

whats up guys I have a 95 splash and have puchased a set of belltech 3" beams (have not installed), I talked to belltech and they said that my truck has a 2" stock drop, and with a 3" beam 4" flip setup, I would only gain a 1" in the front and a 2" in the back . My question is how did ford achieve this drop was it drop coils, beams, and what about the back? From where it sits now as stock I would like to lower the truck 3 in the front and 5 in the back. Belltech doesn't recomend this and wont tell me how to achieve this. please help thanks

You have a splash, and its got Drop Coils, and drop leafs from the factory. The Drop Coils are 1" lower then stock, and the leafs are 1.5" worth of drop, estimated. This is based on a non splash truck. So if you add the Beams, you'll be looking at a total drop of 4" versus that of a regular I beamed truck (because of your 1" lowering spring) As for the back, a flip kit would give you about 4" on a regular truck, but you'll end up seeing a drop of about 5.5-6" in the rear also becuase of the stock drop leafs, versus a non splash. However its pointless to ask, but since you'll be adding a 3/4 kit to a splash, your truck will be 3 inches lower in front, and 4 inches out back. It will just be lower then a non splash with the same drop. But you already have a thread started about this, so i guess this is pointless in stating a second time.

ok i have two inch drop springs can i cut them to go two inches lower or no? i have a flip kit in the rear and put two inch blocks but one of my twenties is not alighed...it kinda sticks out more than the other...how would i fix this???

i am lowering my truck 3/4 with djm suspension iv got the i beams and new shocks and the flip kit. but im not sure if iv got everthing that was sopost to be with the flip kit. do i need longer u bolts or plates. and my 96' ranger which i am talking about is looking pretty good buy im going to put 20' combra r wheels on them or im hoping to im not sure if they will rub or any other problems. i need some advise thanks

ok im just gathering info for when i lower my ranger.
i wanna go with a 3/5 drop.
from what i understand i'll need the beams and flip kit.
anyone have input on who makes the better beams, DJM or beltech?
i'll need the camber bushings for the front, and new shocks in the rear. are the nissan hardbody shocks decent or would i be better off getting the toxxic or somethin?
and will i need a pinion shim kit?
how about a c-notch
and finally, would this scrape badly over normal speedbumps and stuff...i cant imagine it would be lower than a small car or somethin.

k guys sorry for writin you a book but i'd just like to get all the info before i commit

I got a 88 ranger and i was wonderin is there any other way 2 drop the front without buyin i beam

ok i have a 96 xlt everything is stock but i would like to do a 2/3 drop spending as little money as possible. the allignment im glad to pay for but the drop itself i would like to get by spending the very minimum. the rear i pretty much got figured
out the rear but the front i am lost on what i should do. pls help