In need of a rear leaf guru (Brad)

I have noticed more and more lately, the rear of my truck is swaying pretty bad on bumps. I believe it may be due to the Superlift blocks. I have been thinking of getting rid of them. What would be a good replacement? Would it be Expo leafs to bring it to the proper height or another type of leaf?


If it is a leaf pack I could use, I would like to buy brand new. Any tips or input scores you cool forum points here and I will owe you one big time! I am thinking of parking the ranger in the garage for the winter and doing some tweaking.

On a side note.....Anyone local that has a frame that will fit an 01+ supercab, let me know as well....I am going to attempt something I have never done before....frame swap!

 

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Can you clarify on frame swap? is your's borderline toast?

 

My truck is a rebuild from a crash on the prior owner. The frame has a slight tweak in it where the passenger side tire sticks out about 1/4 farther than the other. I know the tweak is just on that side and i want to be sure I have a solid frame for coil overs and also to try the build myself from the frame up.

 

Wow, sounds like a big project to tackle.

 

I removed my blocks completely.

I used explorer main leaf, ranger leaf, explorer leaf, ranger leaf, explorer leaf, and the rest are ranger leaves. I eliminated the overload leaf (bottom leaf) and used Belltech shackles.

This coupled with my Ballistic fabrication Axle seats (almost 1/2" higher than stock and bulletproof) netted me around 4.5-5" lift, and flex great.

 

I went with a SkyJacker Softride 6” Lift Spring Pack and removed all of the blocks.
Good idea to get rid of the block but not to sure on my ride.
I have bee working with different shocks for a while now trying to get rid of the bump steer cause by what I think is a stiff spring pack.

My next move, weight the truck, front half, rear half and whole truck then contact a spring maker and talk to them.

I purchased a set of Adjustable shocks and are working on moving the setting around before getting new spring but I think it i the only way to solve my problem.

Luck on the springs and post your findings.

 

Thanks guys, I will look into both spring packs Brad and Scrambler mentioned. I found out today that some beefy James Duff traction bars may solve the swaying issue. Looks like its time for research so I will let you know what comes of it. Any other input is appreciated as well.

 

When you say Sway Issues, do you mean roll on corners ?

If so do you have or is your sway bar connected ?

Maybe a larger diameter bar is needed for those 100 mph corners ?

 

No roll on the corners. If I hit a pot hole or a bump, the rear end of the truck sways back and forth. If its a large pot hole, it really goes back and forth where it feels like the rear goes side to side for a bit.

 

Are we talking severe bump steer ?

If so, first off Ranger are noted for it and from what I have heard a stiffer shocks might help.
I am working on the same thing.
Got some adjustable shock, installed and I am working the settings now 1-5 I am on 3 and it MIGHT be a little better.

I need to go up one more step and see where that takes the truck, so to speak.

A friend of mine has a Toyota ext cab and he had the same problem after installing his 4” lift.
He went to stiffer shocks and it helped a lot or so I am told.

luck

 

Unfortunately with his brand of lift, he's stuck with one brand of shock (for the front)

 

stop pretending your a rally racer! my truck does that if i hit wash board wash outs too far

 

He said he was having a problem with the rear swaying not the front !?

So Clinton, what are we talking about here ?

He can use any shock that fits the spec or his truck, not just one brand, so I am not sure where you are coming from Brinker; I am a little slow so please help me out.

 

Correct, the only other shock that I can use would be the coilovers

But I'd like to be a rally racer lol

I think what Brad is saying is with the Superlift, there is NO other shock that will fit. I believe it is a clearance issue with the CV's and mounting points. I have looked and the only other option for the front was the superlift shocks. Standard 4x4 shops in my area dont do coilovers or any extreme shocks front and back for some reason. The rear swaying I believe is due to the stacked blocks. From what I have learned, If I get rid of the blocks, and use a home made leaf pack or the one you have mentioned, I would have to find a place that sells shocks to my trucks specific height AND their mounting points.

I believe ORW may have what I need, and I can get some great insight from doyouquax, being that he has done alot of custom work.

 

All that is funny to me.
I did the Coil-Over with the lift but the SuperLift (SL) front shocks look like std shocks to me both front and rear.
I used the SL Shocks in the rear and blamed them for my ride but I am not sure that was it, as I said working on it.

The BLOCKS, they scared me, more than 2” of block is too much.

Just asking but did you recheck the u-bolts ?

So you want ot be a rally racer in a jacked up truck; well with the Coil-Over setup and a better rear sway bar I you might. Mine corners well, relatively flat, the wife even commented that the truck corners better than her car, so get the coil-over done, good setup.

Ok I will back off of the swaying thing, all yours.
Let me know what you change and IF I take my Coil-Overs/Brackets off I will let you know…

 

The U bolts are good, I have noticed from time to time the stacked blocks appear to be shiftedin the rear, so I think that may be my issue. As for the coilovers, I REALLY want to get them done. The shocks, like I said, the 4x4 shops near me all say SL shock is the only ones to get. Luckily I found that Fox makes some to fit (Thanks Shane) and I just have to save some money to get the setup and put it on hopefully with a new frame.

 

If that is the issue get it fixed asap, not good.
When I first put the SL Kit in I didn’t like the block but more so wee the size of the U-Bolts to hold the blocks.
If I hadn’t already decided to replace the blocks I would definitely got new larger diameter u-bolts.

Maybe they said the SL Shocks were the only ones because that is the only kit out there but once you know the length, diameter of the tube and shaft it is all just a matter of ordering.

Off Road Warehouse had a kit at one time but did away with it when sales slowed down but they still have all of the info and the Fox Coil-Over Shocks.

Do you have any of the parts so far, i.e. brackets ?
I asked a guy I know from one of the other sites if he would make some/more of his bracket kits and he said he didn’t want to get in that again. Must have been a hugh PITA; he sold a lot of kits.

I did see a thread on R-F.com about making brackets for this setup, anything there yet ?

Luck on getting things together and the install.
If, for some reason I take mine off, I will post up...