My new to me sport trac

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The squeak is coming from the body bushings. I replaced them all with OEM rubber but some are using composite bushings that don’t wear as quickly.
Actually found the source of the clunk and squeak. It was the left lower ball joint and the lca bushings.
 
Well the 5mm wheel spacers moves the wheels out just enough to get about 1/8" clearance between front tires and uca/balljoints. I personally dislike spacers, they are a bit finicky about tightening torque and sequence, but its just temporary till i get the new shocks and rear shackles. I decided not to go with the torch key & add a leaf. Truck rides rough enough without stiffening up the rear further. So im just going to do the torsion twist and 2" shackles with rancho lifted shocks. Should be more than enough to clear 265/75r16s. Not lifting it for offroading, im a big guy and just want it to be easier to get in and out of.
 
I have used spacers for years on my jeeps with zero issues, as long as you check torque, just like new wheels they work great. I am taking my lift off and putting it back to stock for easier use and looking to run a little above stock tires and stock wheels like you mentioned.
 
Well the 5mm wheel spacers moves the wheels out just enough to get about 1/8" clearance between front tires and uca/balljoints. I personally dislike spacers, they are a bit finicky about tightening torque and sequence, but its just temporary till i get the new shocks and rear shackles. I decided not to go with the torch key & add a leaf. Truck rides rough enough without stiffening up the rear further. So im just going to do the torsion twist and 2" shackles with rancho lifted shocks. Should be more than enough to clear 265/75r16s. Not lifting it for offroading, im a big guy and just want it to be easier to get in and out of.
I’m running that size tires with my 2004 with only new aftermarket leaf springs and running the torsion bars up to level it. The ride is smooth and there’s no problems with alignment.
 
I just got my st back from the alignment shop this afternoon. Man the difference it the way it handles with all new ball joints, tie rods and an alignment. I wanted to wait until i got everything done to get an alignment, but with it in the mid to upper 90s here, i needed my truck with ac. I love my old f250, and its fine for driving the 2.5 miles from the house to work, but want my ac for driving to church and town.
 
I’m running that size tires with my 2004 with only new aftermarket leaf springs and running the torsion bars up to level it. The ride is smooth and there’s no problems with alignment.
I did look into new leaf springs for the rear at one point, but appearantly sd truck springs is out of business now. I do think that when i do the shackle install, i'll replace leaf spring bushings while im in there. Ball joint press works great for doing leaf spring bushings i have found out. And axle pivot bushings on the ttb 50 in an obs f250.
 
I have used spacers for years on my jeeps with zero issues, as long as you check torque, just like new wheels they work great. I am taking my lift off and putting it back to stock for easier use and looking to run a little above stock tires and stock wheels like you mentioned.
Yeah these seem to be fine. I got them from amazon. I will be running stock size wheels(16x7) but they are the black daytona or wagon wheels from vision. Either going to order a set of the lt265/75r16s thats on my f250, or im going to order some lt285/75r16s to put on the f250 and put its 265s on the st. I get my tires from tirerecappers.com the company is in Nashville, and the tires are not recaps, they are remolds, like treadwright tires. Difference is these are tread only remolds whereas treadwrights are bead to bead remolds.
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I did look into new leaf springs for the rear at one point, but appearantly sd truck springs is out of business now. I do think that when i do the shackle install, i'll replace leaf spring bushings while im in there. Ball joint press works great for doing leaf spring bushings i have found out. And axle pivot bushings on the ttb 50 in an obs f250.
SD Truck Springs was my source, what a shame they folded. I’d asked them some years back for a thicker rear stabilizer bar to mitigate the roll and slide from the back when cornering but it was not to be. The rear roll was actually dampened by new lift keys on the torsion bars to level front with the back. Must have pushed the center of gravity in that direction.
 
SD Truck Springs was my source, what a shame they folded. I’d asked them some years back for a thicker rear stabilizer bar to mitigate the roll and slide from the back when cornering but it was not to be. The rear roll was actually dampened by new lift keys on the torsion bars to level front with the back. Must have pushed the center of gravity in that direction.
I have found michigan truck springs. They sell them. But until i actually see a need to replace mine, im not spending $250+ for each spring. I dont really have much roll with mine. Truthfully, i drive like an old man...lol(most of the time) kinda have to around where i live, our roads are crap.
 
I have found michigan truck springs. They sell them. But until i actually see a need to replace mine, im not spending $250+ for each spring. I dont really have much roll with mine. Truthfully, i drive like an old man...lol(most of the time) kinda have to around where i live, our roads are crap.
My springs were shot and I think that contributed to some of my front end and alignment issues which haven't resurfaced since the replacement. But I brought a lot of that on myself. For the first 100K miles I drove it like I stole it.
 
Well, 3 of my 4 new wheels came in. No centercaps, but i knew that ahead of time. I think they gonna look good with stock chrome ranger centercaps.
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Well, 3 of my 4 new wheels came in. No centercaps, but i knew that ahead of time. I think they gonna look good with stock chrome ranger centercaps.View attachment 5469
Btw these suckers are heavy! Either that or im getting older....not sure which...
 
Well, 3 of my 4 new wheels came in. No centercaps, but i knew that ahead of time. I think they gonna look good with stock chrome ranger centercaps.View attachment 5469
I reached out to company Wednesday evening. They got in touch with me thursday morning. The needed a pic of the shipping label, which i sent thursday evening once i got home. They contacted me Friday morning and said they was very sorry for the mix up and that a replacement would be shipped out later that day, and for me to contact friday morning for tracking info. Wheel showed up Saturday! They overnighted a wheel directly from Vision Wheel in Decatur Al! Awsome customer service!
 
Finally! I got my new wheels and tires on and it looks so much better than it did with the wheels and tires tucked deep in the fenders! The factory style ranger centercaps wouldn't work with either my factory lug nor the aftermarket chrome ones i bought. The studs stick out to far and i would need to either trim the stids or modify the caps. Dont really care for either option. So i used my oe lugs and centers and it looks good. I need to either 3d print or make a spacer to go behind the center cap to fill in the gap. But truthfully, im not worried about it atm. I have much bigger fish to fry. Back to the cabin build for now. Next automotive project will be new pads, calipers, and hoses on my f250, getting it ready for the d60 swap this spring. I really wish the sport tracs had the old d35 ttb front end, i would go snag a d35 from a cherokee and do a sas/soa upgrade!
 

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What a score! Found a 1st gen factory bed cover finally! $50 and 30 miles away. And they had the key! Totally changed the look. Works perfect too!
 
major score,, hard to find
 
Before that, the nearest one was about 80 miles away, no keys and was $100....only took 2 years to find what i wanted...lol
 
My new rear sway bar and end link bushing set came in. Would like to do new poly bushing in the leafs as well, but cant find them anywhere. Can find them all day long for both 1st and 2nd gen explorers, but not the sport trac.
 

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