Install was easier than I thought. Rented the spring compressors from autozone which made quick work. About 2 hours to install the front. Maybe another 30 minutes for the rear stuff. Haven't really had a chance to give it a good test drive, but so far it rides great. I'm going to try and get it aligned tomorrow and do the brake mod.

Still has a slight rake, but I went the Bilstein route rather than the autospring 2.5" leveling as a result of installing these shocks on the Ranger and it drastically improving the ride. I also tow, and don't want the rear to squat as much. Might buy some bags.

Before


After


During


Next process is detailing it. Already ordered the stuff to get ready for next weekend. Just disgusted in the condition she's in uggggh.

Hellwig swaybars are probably next, along with some HID's up front with FX2 light housings, Hella LED lights out back. I'll see if I can't convince the wife to let me install a bullbar (it's her toy). Sound system will be next with some weathertech mats and will probably call her good.

 

You'll love the bilsteins, I felt like it rides more like a truck with those

 

I can already tell a difference. Better control over the truck. Brakes suck *** on these trucks though. It's the only thing I don't like on Ford trucks. And I have driven trucks of the same model year from the big three.

I have an autospring leveling kit for sale if anybody is interested.

Asking $40+shipping+paypal fees. Never used, brand new.

 

Nice, are you going to go to a bigger tire?

 

Yep, that's the plan.

Probably not anymore than a 33" tire though (as much as I want 35" tires). I live at 5500ft elevation with a density altitude of about 7000-9000ft around the year. We lose a ****LOAD of horsepower here. My Trans Am was about 100hp down in the summer from what it would normally dyno at sea level.

 

Looking good

 

Looks great and cant wait to do this, this is my next mod.

 

Looks awesome. Must be nice to have that garage! Welcome to the Bilstein club.

 

How did the autozone spring compressors work out for you? I've heard stories of people having a hard time compressing the coils on these trucks.

 

Thanks man, it's still a work in progress. I'm off to a good start.



older pic



Thanks for bringing that up. I made the mistake of decompressing the spring for the first shock and it was an absolute pain to compress it again. I used a impact gun to compress it and it required a lot of air to get it done. Not to mention I stayed out of the line of fire when I was compressing the springs in case something took a s**t. If it wasn't for the impact gun, you would have needed a breaker bar with an extension. I used a vice on my workbench to hold the spring. I also lubed the threads to help.

Needless to say I didn't decompress the second spring and swapped the shock out in 5 minutes. I made sure when I compressed it, the spring it was unseated before I unbolted the shock.

In short, it works by you're going to need some serious muscle or the right tools.

 

How bout that 2.5 AS for me?

 

Makina i might be interested in the AS kit. Is this a 2.5 kit? If so will this make my truck sit level or higher than the rear?
Thanks

 

It is a 2.5" kit. It will make the truck sit level.

Still for sale.

$40 plus buyer pays shipping. I'll eat the PP fees.

The kit weighs about 8lbs.

 

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