Lefty
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,718
- Reaction score
- 1,896
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Saint Paul, MN
- Vehicle Year
- 2003
- Make / Model
- Ranger Edge
- Transmission
- Automatic
We are on a similar journey. I put in a larger '97 Ford Explorer Sway Bar (thanks to the advice of some of the older members). It did wonders for the front. I've been looking for something similar to replace the rear, but no such luck so far. I stiffened up the stock bar by adding a set of leaf spring clamps, putting each clamp about 6" in front of the axle. You can get the clamps for about $17.00 at Summit Racing or Auto Zone: a very noticeable improvement. They will improve what you have already done. I am one of those who likes the James Duff traction bars which minimize axle wrap and make shifting smoother.Hey guys, I am new here and figured I would introduce my truck.
I have a 3.0 Ranger XLT that I drive pretty everywhere.
Here are the specs as of now:
View attachment 96281
- 2WD
- 3.0 Flexfuel
- 7.5 rear end with 3.73 gears
- 4R44E Transmission
- Lowered 3" front and 5" rear
- Front and rear swaybars
- Cobra replica wheels from LMR on 207s
The truck was painted around 6 months ago and was lowered around that time as well. Original leaf springs were worn out and caused the rear end to shift laterally towards one side and sagged a little. New springs have 4 leafs as opposed to 3 and definitely a bumpier ride, but the shift and sagging were corrected. Currently looking for more ways to tighten up the handling on this truck; the lowering kit came with slightly stiffer shocks and I added rear swaybar from a Mazda B3000. The rear swaybar did wonders for the handling, now the rear end of the truck is pulled into the turn and there is significantly less body roll. Steering still feels too soft, so I have my eye on a set of polyurethane bushings for the steering rack here (I just need to make sure they will fit) I installed cam adjusters for the upper control arms to fix the insane amount of camber after lowering the truck. Now it is somewhere between 1-0.5 degrees as opposed to 2-3 degrees.
I haven't done too much research on the power steering system, but I am hoping there is a way to change the steering ratio. I have plans to autocross the truck so that is why I am so particular about handling.
Future plans include:
The 4 link kit will be the most work because I will have to rearrange everything in the rear end, and this includes sizing a fuel cell that will fit around all of the linkages.
- E-Fan swap
- Stiffer swaybars
- Polyurethane bushings all around
- 8.8 rear end with 3.73 gears and limited slip diff
- Stiffening the frame (either with frame boxing or bolt-on stiffeners)
- Bigger brakes with a disc brake swap for the rear
- 302 + 5 speed swap
- This 4 link kit (out of stock but a really great deal so I hope it is still sold somewhere)
James Duff traction bar and leaf spring clamp mounted 6" in front of the axle.
Some '97 Explorer sway bars are thicker than the stock Ranger bar.
Keep us posted!