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What did you do to your Ranger today?

Colo_Ranger

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I am going to be doing the ford tremor springs as they are multi leaf vs single on non tremors. Can this be done in the garage with basic hand tools?
Yes. It’s pretty easy. Stock springs (even tremor) are way easier than aftermarket. Make sure you have bushing grease. Took about 2 hours when @UnregistredHypercam2 did his in my garage.
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JohnnyO

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Me and my bud were unsuccessful today in our first attempt to put a leveling kit on my truck.
Lessons learned:
The ball joint and tie rod end don't pop off with the tap of a hammer like the YouTube videos when it's a rustproofed 30,000 mile truck and not a new truck. Basically that's where we got stuck. Couldn't get the tie rod end off.
No one tells you about the two negative battery cables above the top strut bolts on the driver's side that keep you from reaching the bolts. The bolts screwing them into the frame don't want to come off.
On the back two top strut bolts a regular socket is too short and a deep wall is too tall. Not an insurmountable problem with a little bit of creativity. These are the ones where the battery cables are in the way too.
Vastly easier and better to remove the sway bar bushing bolts instead of the end links on the knuckle.
Have the proper torque specs handy for putting things back together.
 

AzScorpion

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Me and my bud were unsuccessful today in our first attempt to put a leveling kit on my truck.
Lessons learned:
The ball joint and tie rod end don't pop off with the tap of a hammer like the YouTube videos when it's a rustproofed 30,000 mile truck and not a new truck. Basically that's where we got stuck. Couldn't get the tie rod end off.
No one tells you about the two negative battery cables above the top strut bolts on the driver's side that keep you from reaching the bolts. The bolts screwing them into the frame don't want to come off.
On the back two top strut bolts a regular socket is too short and a deep wall is too tall. Not an insurmountable problem with a little bit of creativity. These are the ones where the battery cables are in the way too.
Vastly easier and better to remove the sway bar bushing bolts instead of the end links on the knuckle.
Have the proper torque specs handy for putting things back together.
This happens to me all the time. I'll watch a video and say "hey that looks easy" yet when I do it it usually takes 5 hours longer than said video. I figure some jobs are just best left for the pros and I can make more money and have less aggravation working my job to pay for it .lol Hopefully you guys can get it figured out or are you just going to have someone else instal it now?
 

Wytchdctr

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This happens to me all the time. I'll watch a video and say "hey that looks easy" yet when I do it it usually takes 5 hours longer than said video. I figure some jobs are just best left for the pros and I can make more money and have less aggravation working my job to pay for it .lol Hopefully you guys can get it figured out or are you just going to have someone else instal it now?
I have done more than a few struts in my time... but I think I am going to let a shop do the fronts on this thing.. even as a 2wd. Need it aligned anyway and have a shop I trust. Ill throw the back shocks on myself to save a bit of money.
 


AzScorpion

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I have done more than a few struts in my time... but I think I am going to let a shop do the fronts on this thing.. even as a 2wd. Need it aligned anyway and have a shop I trust. Ill throw the back shocks on myself to save a bit of money.
I thought about doing that last week but I figured they're going to have it up on the lift anyways might as well just have them do the rears too. Plus they always take care of me price wise. They did my Eibach 2.0 front and rears and the alignment for $344.66. I'm not even going to attempt it for that price. lol
 

JohnnyO

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This happens to me all the time. I'll watch a video and say "hey that looks easy" yet when I do it it usually takes 5 hours longer than said video. I figure some jobs are just best left for the pros and I can make more money and have less aggravation working my job to pay for it .lol Hopefully you guys can get it figured out or are you just going to have someone else instal it now?
My bud has more tools at his house than I do. Might try it again but I'm leaning toward paying the $300 a shop quoted me plus $100 for alignment which I'll have to get anyway.
Generally I share your philosophy. My time has a certain amount of value. In this case I wasn't real happy about spending two hours accomplishing nothing. We were so close though. But then that was just one side.
 

Bsenecal

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Its blow off valve lingo BOV (unless you have a bigger turbo, you don’t need a Blow off valve)

GFB -Go fast Bits
DV-diverter valve
TS - Turbo Smart
BOV - blow off valve
I like the flag Doc!
Brian
 
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serp

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Picked up a 4.5’ awning from Overland Vehicle Systems to mount on the rear of the truck. Now the tailgate area has shade when out camping. Also added a flagpole mount to the non-opening tent side of the truck.

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What tires are u running? Rig looks great
 

TheDillweed

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Me and my bud were unsuccessful today in our first attempt to put a leveling kit on my truck.
Lessons learned:
The ball joint and tie rod end don't pop off with the tap of a hammer like the YouTube videos when it's a rustproofed 30,000 mile truck and not a new truck. Basically that's where we got stuck. Couldn't get the tie rod end off.
No one tells you about the two negative battery cables above the top strut bolts on the driver's side that keep you from reaching the bolts. The bolts screwing them into the frame don't want to come off.
On the back two top strut bolts a regular socket is too short and a deep wall is too tall. Not an insurmountable problem with a little bit of creativity. These are the ones where the battery cables are in the way too.
Vastly easier and better to remove the sway bar bushing bolts instead of the end links on the knuckle.
Have the proper torque specs handy for putting things back together.
I had to tap the drivers side pretty hard to get the ball joint to pop off. Also, I was able to loosen the right negative battery cable to access the bolts - didn’t have to remove it

The driver side took 2 1/2 hours. The passenger side was about 30-45 minutes and was much easier. My truck had 30k on it also.

Most of the videos I watched made this job look easier than it was and didn’t include the torque specs.

Good luck!
 

VoodooRanger

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What tires are u running? Rig looks great
Thanks. They are Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac. Came off my brothers Power Wagin when he upgraded to 37’s. Size 285/70/17 with a 1.5” spacer on the factory wheels
 

JohnnyO

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I had to tap the drivers side pretty hard to get the ball joint to pop off. Also, I was able to loosen the right negative battery cable to access the bolts - didn’t have to remove it

The driver side took 2 1/2 hours. The passenger side was about 30-45 minutes and was much easier. My truck had 30k on it also.

Most of the videos I watched made this job look easier than it was and didn’t include the torque specs.

Good luck!
Thanks.
The ball joint we got off after some effort, tie rod end wasn't budging and after a lot of pounding we were afraid of damaging it.
We did the same thing with the battery cable, just got it loose to get it out of the way. Bolt was groaning while I turned it and it was hard to get good leverage.
The Truxxx kit includes torque specs plus my bud has the service manual downloaded on his laptop with them.
 

Ds_2020Ranger

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Added a middle beam to the RCI rack and mounted the traction boards on the inside of the rack, kind of a pain as the 12" rack doest have a lot of room to work with inside, but a quick run to the depot for some longer cariage bolts and washers and got it spaced out enough to clear everything inside.

centerbeam.webp


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Wayne

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Been away from the forum for awhile. Not much to do on the truck during New england winters!
Finally after 6 months, got the front Eibach 2.0s installed! Dealer had been short staffed due to Covid and I wasn't pushing them. Have to say very happy with the upgrade. Gave it a quick bath today and a few vinyl accents to dress her up. Approaching 16,000 trouble free miles, she's a keeper!

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Elmosaurus

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Finally got some nice weather and was stuck at home for the whole day so I installed the weather seal for the tailgate area.

Hoping it keeps the majority of water and dust out of the bed ; not going to bother sealing the bottom edge as I’ve found that the transition flap that is part of the bed mat keeps most things out already.

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