ranger 4x4, shackles or add a leaf?

[Tbars4]

shackles or add a leaf... on '95 rangers...mine is 4x4 with a shell and i carry tools but my rear springs are really soft...i put coilover shocks in the rear and that helped alot but now i'm thinking i need to add an 1" - 1 1/2" of shackle height...i also thought about an add a leaf but my concern is when i go off road without the extra weight, wouldn't an add a leaf be way to firm, and wouldn't that give me alot more height? also, for the front end if my rear does lift, can i still adjust the nuts for the front suspension to get extra height?
what i have now is all fenders are at 36", level all the way around...when i put the coilover shocks on the rear i went from 34 1/2" to 36" in the rear, level....this is with the shell on and the carpet kit...i just noticed after hauling loaded with tools the springs sag after a couple of days...i am thinking of adding shackles for the 1-1 1/2" lift and the sag wouldn't be as noticable...i also go off roading and don't mind the soft springs...any help, suggestions, or where i can find the shackles would help....and how come there is no ranger icon?, lmao

 

[cgriffin_5139]

i would go with AAL's you can pick them up from summit for like 30 bux.

heres the link http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=EXP-13120&N=700+0&autoview=sku

 

[Tbars4]

that wouldn't be way to stiff for offroading? what would i need to lift the front so it's almost as hi as the rear? and would this now be putting some stress on my shafts? my truck already has a factory lift...

 

[cgriffin_5139]

Well withe the shell and the tools its going to sit at about level, so no need for a lift up front.

 

[Tbars4]

cool, i've seen different ones and those look light duty enuff...the reason i say that is i've also seen some rated for 1500 and 2000 pounds for my truck....way to much spring...thanks for your help

 

[cgriffin_5139]

No promlem bud oh and im in fresno but moving to NJ this summer.

here's pics of my X

 

[little x]

If You weld on new spring perches you can use explorer leaf springs.

 

[cgriffin_5139]

If You weld on new spring perches you can use explorer leaf springs.

and would be yet softer

 

[Tbars4]

cgriffin, i used to work for huneywell construction out of smith nevada and mammoth...and as for adding explorer springs, aren't the ranger and explorer springs bound to go soft pretty quick? i'm just asking from what i've read on here...

 

[cgriffin_5139]

cgriffin, i used to work for huneywell construction out of smith nevada and mammoth...and as for adding explorer springs, aren't the ranger and explorer springs bound to go soft pretty quick? i'm just asking from what i've read on here...

Well any spring is bound to go soft over time (sag), that may take a year or ten who really knows.


I am a demolition contractor, check out this thread

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174006&highlight=toys

 

[Tbars4]

yes, we did hot and cold plants, concrete asphalt and mine work and hauling...i've played with most of those toys but mainly with 988's and up...i was born with cats in my blood, peoria ill...i guess thats why i named my little ranger the squirrel, lmao...

 

[RangerX]

my truck already has a factory lift...

What's the factory lift???

I've wheeled for years with an addaleaf. True it does stiffen the spring, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Stiffer rear suspension can help to force the front TTB to flex a little. Do you wheel with swaybars hooked up, or disconnected?

If you have a 95 4x4, there's no "nut to adjust" for the front suspension, FYI.

 

[Tbars4]

hooked up but i am going to make the quick disconnects...it sounds like i'm going to be puttin on the add a leaf at the same time...i really needed to know these things because i also need to replace the bushings in the rear springs...i got another question for you rangerx....i four wheel with the shell on, nothing to xtreme in this truck, but with the quick disconects do you think i will get a lot more body/bed twist to where i would have to worry about the shell? i know this happens on my big trucks but i haven't run acrossed it in my ranger...

 

[RangerX]

Wow, never thought about that. When I had a soft tonneau cover, there were times wheeling where the cover would wrinkle and droop from the bed twist. I have no idea whether the shell would be strong enough to limit the flex, or would crack.

If you now have a rear swaybar, putting an extra leaf in, and discoing the swaybar while wheeling seems like it would equal out to be just like wheeling with the bar hooked up.

 

[Tbars4]

and another question i know you could answer....with the add a leaf on, will this lift the rear up to where i would need to lift the front up too, to make it leveled off again? if so, what would be the quick fix to lift the front up say another 1 1/2"? i don't want to be going to hi and i don't want to be modifying this truck to much...ok, after getting this truck i do see me buying another one just like it with no shell to be my crawler project

 

[RockRanger]

I would install 63" chevy springs and remove the factory block. Should give you a bit a lift and can carry the weight. Just move the front sping hanger forward and your done.

As far as wheeling with a shell. I use to have one on my 86 ranger. After a few years it began to crack around the front window area. There were times that the back wouldnt open if I was bound up right. It didnt like being flopped and rubing up against trees so I took it off.

 

[Tbars4]

that is all good for my next truck, the tonka,,as for this truck, it's my daily driver that i use to get to my jobsites in the mountains and the desert...nothing to extreme in this little one...but i must confess, for a little truck, for me, it's the bomb...great gas and small enuff to get to any job, thru and under trees, around cliff hanging corners to the back of houses..i did read a thread by rwenzig i think who did the spring swap and i will definately do that on my next truck...

 

[RockRanger]

I did it on my 93 before I did the solid axle up front and it rode nice and smooth. I would have no problems running them on a daily driver. I like them.

 

[Tbars4]

for now i think i'm going to get the add a leafs...i've got insurance for my trucks due and then registration and smog, i know, waa waa waa, lmao...

 

[rwenzing]

i did read a thread by rwenzig i think who did the spring swap and i will definately do that on my next truck...

I took the Chevy springs off yesterday and reinstalled the stockers. I had them on for about a year but wasn't 100% satisfied with the results on a daily driver. Some people like them though.