BlauSplash
Feb 12 2005, 09:12am
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.
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.