Lower rear of 2020 Ranger

Superdannyboy

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Hi Folks,

When we started to develop the SCCA Racetrucks, the lowering drastically altered handling and we needed to work hard to get the truck back to neutral handling and go from there to get to the best handling trucks in the series...particularly to adapt to Steve Saleen's weird driving style as well as balance the truck. Lesson here is that just dropping the truck lower may not be the answer without more development of both the front and rear suspension, including new alignment specs too.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired
SCCA race trucks
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HenryMac

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Well, I have searched the forum for a specific thread for this question but no luck.

So, this thread looks like a good place to ask THE question: what is the good,, bad and ugly of removing the shorter (one on the bottom) and just run the main spring??
Will it lower the truck?? Obviously, the load capacity will go down but can be replaced with air bags (had them on my 2005 Ranger...) worked great.

@SOHK_Alumni : was it straight forward to move the spring under the axle?? I mean, do it on the driveway?? or the spring shop had to do it...
More details on @SOHK_Alumni mod's here
 

PltFX4

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Hi Folks,

When we started to develop the SCCA Racetrucks, the lowering drastically altered handling and we needed to work hard to get the truck back to neutral handling and go from there to get to the best handling trucks in the series...particularly to adapt to Steve Saleen's weird driving style as well as balance the truck. Lesson here is that just dropping the truck lower may not be the answer without more development of both the front and rear suspension, including new alignment specs too.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired
Valued advise there Phil. Agree that care must be taken with this kind of suspension modifications... but these mods WILL be done/tried by the hot roders in the group... and all I'm looking for at this point is: has anyone tried removing the lower spring and does it make difference, good, the bad or otherwise.

But to be clear: I don't want a race truck, just a daily driver that does not have the excessive rake the Gen5 Ranger does. The front is high enough as is, so the rear has to come down.
 

HenryMac

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..... has anyone tried removing the lower spring and does it make difference, good, the bad or otherwise......
That bottom spring does nothing until the truck is heavily loaded.. it's a helper spring.
 


SOHK_Alumni

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Well, I have searched the forum for a specific thread for this question but no luck.

So, this thread looks like a good place to ask THE question: what is the good,, bad and ugly of removing the shorter (one on the bottom) and just run the main spring??
Will it lower the truck?? Obviously, the load capacity will go down but can be replaced with air bags (had them on my 2005 Ranger...) worked great.

@SOHK_Alumni : was it straight forward to move the spring under the axle?? I mean, do it on the driveway?? or the spring shop had to do it...
Sorry, missed the question: Yes, absolutely an easy driveway job. Hard part was finding the 3 1/8 spring perches (Eastern Gear), the shorter shocks (Early 2000's Nissan Fronteer). U-bolts and spring plates were easy. Careful cutting of new front shock spring seat retainers was the one tricky bit.

For some, finding a spring shop to add 3" of arch is likely the hardest bit.
 
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Ranger Dave

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Back in my “Sport Truck” days, some guys lowered their vehicles with lowering blocks. BellTech makes a 1 or 2 or 3” universal aluminum lowering block kits with a 2 degree taper to keep the driveline in proper alignment.

While not all Sport Truck guys liked or even went this direction (some went with bags, some did dropped shackles and lowered front spindles, C Notch, or a mixture of several things), it -was- an option.

I think several companies make them (Chassis Tech may be another)

like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2838583323...rentrq:00dd467f1790ab8edf53c47bffe18a54|iid:1
 

HenryMac

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Back in my “Sport Truck” days, some guys lowered their vehicles with lowering blocks. BellTech makes a 1 or 2 or 3” universal aluminum lowering block kits with a 2 degree taper to keep the driveline in proper alignment.

While not all Sport Truck guys liked or even went this direction (some went with bags, some did dropped shackles and lowered front spindles, C Notch, or a mixture of several things), it -was- an option.

I think several companies make them (Chassis Tech may be another)

like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/283858332305?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20160908105057&meid=12b0d9531b464722a4987bfd33756ad8&pid=100675&rk=5&rkt=15&mehot=none&sd=254681694469&itm=283858332305&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2380057&brand=Belltech&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci:d71af05d-a483-11eb-8cf5-929a4ecfdd6f|parentrq:00dd467f1790ab8edf53c47bffe18a54|iid:1
Since the leaf springs on our trucks are on top of the axle, lowering blocks are no help.

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TechnicallyReal

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I would like to lower the rear of my 2020 Ranger Ex Cab to make it easier to load my dirt bike. Are there any kits available for this or has anyone found a way to do it?
Belltech in CA will have their lowering kit available on the 15th of this month. It will be a 6" flip.
 

PapaBill

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Do you have any photos of the suspension after this mod?
Belltech in CA will have their lowering kit available on the 15th of this month. It will be a 6" flip.
Mike , when you say a 6" flip, not quite sure what you mean.
Please advise how you did this lowering.
Thanks,
Bill
 

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I would like to lower the rear of my 2020 Ranger Ex Cab to make it easier to load my dirt bike. Are there any kits available for this or has anyone found a way to do it?
Come to Carolinas...although I heard the state will be banning this fashionable trend... ?
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