2002 Sport Trac SAS finally begins

Dana 44 out of a 1989 Grand Wagoneer.

My plan is to get as little llift as possible as I dont feel like removing my body lift. So I am using the stock Waggy knuckles, spindles, hubs, rotors, calipers, and likely using new waggy steering parts as well and keeping it 6 lug.

I will leave it spring under as to keep the lift minimal, and use 4" lifted springs. Doing it this way will save me from buying high steer knuckles and a high steer setup. Is this best way, maybe not, but it saves me alot money and keeps my lift to around 5".

Now for those who are asking themselves why am I even bothering with this SAS. My reasons are that my Sport Trac goes through UCA and lower ball joints every other month, and I destroy tires in under 8 months. The truck just cannot handle 35's. PLus it will be way stronger than the IFS, and will flex much more than my IFS system.

If anyone has any thoughts/recomendations/concerns, I welcome all the help you can offer.

I hope money does not slow me down, but the cold weather might, either way my goal is to have this done well before Moab.

 

[crazyflights]

Yea. i have sport trac that i used parts from and parted out, but didnt have any good body panels, main body parts i have are window motors, side glass, and tailgate, so no help to you. Did you find a flat pitman arm yet? im pretty sure i have seen one but not sure on what, i will look thru all are parts, cause it has me wondering?

 

[chad551]

Well it looks like a 91 Ranger 2wd drive pitman may work. It is flat but I do not know how long it is yet.

 

[chad551]

went to the local pick and pull today and got a pitman arm off an older F250 superduty. Works great and my steering is ALOT better now. Amazing what a $1.50 will fix.. And the auto part stores wanted $94.00 for a Moog pitman arm????

 

[IZwack]

I'm surprised you got the pitman arm off . Unless the vehicle had like a leaking steering gearbox (or something else throwing fluid around), usually it goes like cool I found a pitman arm but I've broken all of my knuckles trying to get it off and still no go.

 

[chad551]

Yes I got lucky. I was waiting for the fingers on my harbor frieght puller to break. But a few wacks with the hammer and it broke loose.

 

[james t]

The trick is using the puller and whacking with a hammer at the same time. Ive got 99% of 'em off easy like that. The other 1%... just throw the entire box in the trash and go get another one. :

 

[chad551]

Did some more work on the truck last night. My drivers side leaf was a little weak and the drivers side was about 2" lower than the pass side (explorer ghetto lean) so I had the spring shop make another leaf to add to my leaf pack. The truck now sits level and about 98% of my steering issues have been fixed by this and the flat pitman arm. I have the parts to try and install a steering stabilizer so I may do that this week still, and figure out a sway bar to. I still need to get my driveshaft lengthened and get this thing offroad.

 

[Dannyboy]

Nice to hear it's riding better, still believe any money spent on a swaybar can be diverted to better shocks for similar result. FYI, I had a 6" kit on this truck, boosted it up 2.5" more w/ spring hangers and did not reconnect the sway bar and had no issues with handling.

I'm a big believers that sway bars are not needed, on the flip, I've heard great things about the currie anti-rock.

 

[chad551]

Well I decided to SOA on the rear this weekend. Rear sits about 2" lower then the front, and I dont want that silly desert pre-runner look

 

[RockRanger]

Looks really good Chad. Is this the first SAS Sport trac?

 

[Dannyboy]

besides the ice land sport trac, I think this is the first.

 

[redranger4.0]

On this site maybe, but Ive seen one or two others else where.

 

[crazyflights]

Have you completed raising the rear? Pics.

 

[lifeguard379]

indeed. pics!:

 

[chad551]

I have not yet done the rear SOA. I may have to wait a couple weeks as I have spent alot of money on my truck so far. And 300 for new springs is kinda more than I need to spend right now. But it may be sooner if I sell my Superlift 4" rear springs. I will try and get some pics of flexing it out today. I went and flexed it out the other night but forgot my camera. I was extremely suprised how much it flexed out.

 

[chad551]

Can someone recommend axles for the D44? I already have driveway carnage.... My drivers side axles and u joint grenaded when testing my locker. I just backed out of my driveway and turned the wheel and BAM!!!!! I know about dry pavement and having the lockers on, but what do you do when your Moab and you have to use your lockers and turn??

 

[crazyflights]

Hmm , u still shouldnt be breaking a stocker in the driveway??
but if u have to replace might as well go Chromoly, as to what brand , that im not sure what to recommend, got all my chromo shafts in vehicles or parts i purchased. never actually ordered one.
-also looking forward to you coming to the Flat Nastys October trip, the park should be very nice that time of year.

 

[chad551]

I thought it was rather strange as well to explode the axles and u joint just by backing out of the driveway.

 

[lifeguard379]

are you turning so the joint binds on it self?

 

[chad551]

I dont know how much I turned the wheel. I backed out of my driveway so it would be close to a 90* turn. Also I do not have my front driveshaft installed yet either. I t was prolly a stupid thing to do, but wanted to check the locker..