blksn8k
Well-Known Member
Well, I finally got around to installing the Rancho loaded shocks and struts that I purchased last winter for my 2007 Limited 4x4. I had back surgery for a herniated disc in mid April so I had to lay low for a few months. I took my time and spent pretty much all day in my garage last Saturday installing the Ranchos as well as new front brake pads and I also rotated the tires. I used 1/2" and 3/8" drive air ratchets wherever possible.
The brake pads were in surprisingly good shape for having over 83,000 miles on the originals. I probably could have waited another year but since I already had the parts and was going to have the wheels off anyway....
The shocks and struts were another story. On the rear I obviously had to remove the lower bolt that attaches the bottom of the shock to the lower control arm. What was not so obvious was that I also had to remove the bolt connecting the lower control arm to the spindle as well as the sway bar end link. This was necessary to get the lower control arm low enough to be able to get the old shock/spring assembly out and the new one in. I actually started using a pair of spring compressors but soon decided that disconnecting stuff to gain space was going to be a much easier and quicker approach.
The nice thing about the Rancho Quick Lifts is that they come with a new spring already installed (thus the term "loaded") which also means you do not need a spring compressor to swap the old springs onto new shocks. They also include new polyurethane bushings and insulators making them a true bolt in assembly. The only part reused from the old shocks was the lower mounting bolt. The only real surprise in the back was that the driver side sway bar end link was broken. I did a temporary fix on that until the new Motorcraft replacement end link assembly arrives.
The front struts were a very similar process to the rears with the exception of disconnecting the upper ball joint to allow the spindle and lower control arm to drop together as opposed to just the lower control arm on the rear.
The most annoying part of the whole process was getting at the three nuts on the the top of each assembly that are on the studs that hold the upper cans to the frame brackets. The ones on the rear were rusted badly and you have reach up between the frame bracket and the bed to get at them. Not fun. Lots of PB Blaster and many scrapped knuckles. Not so bad on the front as the nuts were accessible from the engine compartment. However, one of the nuts on the driver side is under some sort of emissions fitting or something on the inner fender and it was pretty much an open wrench deal as even a socket and universal wound not fit properly in that space. I'd like to strangle the fool who made that decision.
All I can say is I wish I could have done this six months ago. The shocks and struts are 9 position adjustable. The truck already rides so much better than stock and I have not even fooled with the settings yet. This also cured the thumping sounds from a worn out insulator on the right front strut as well as the front end axle tramp that was present from the day I bought the truck new. I always thought something wasn't right but I just assumed it was a piss-poor front suspension design. It was most obvious when driving over a speed bump or large rock off-road as the frontend would drop suddenly causing a loud crashing noise. I attributed this to too much rebound in the stock struts. I drove through a very rough construction site on Sunday and never had that happen once nor has it happened since on the two speeds bumps in the parking lot at work.
The Ranchos also gave me some lift at the rear which should help to cure a tire rub issue with the oversize 265-65-18 BFG All-Terrain TAs when towing my trailers or hauling my ATV. They are advertised to provide about 1.5 inches of lift all-around but on my truck it only seems to have lifted the rear about an inch which is fine for my needs. The only thing left to do now other than the one sway bar end link is to get a suspension alignment scheduled.
The brake pads were in surprisingly good shape for having over 83,000 miles on the originals. I probably could have waited another year but since I already had the parts and was going to have the wheels off anyway....
The shocks and struts were another story. On the rear I obviously had to remove the lower bolt that attaches the bottom of the shock to the lower control arm. What was not so obvious was that I also had to remove the bolt connecting the lower control arm to the spindle as well as the sway bar end link. This was necessary to get the lower control arm low enough to be able to get the old shock/spring assembly out and the new one in. I actually started using a pair of spring compressors but soon decided that disconnecting stuff to gain space was going to be a much easier and quicker approach.
The nice thing about the Rancho Quick Lifts is that they come with a new spring already installed (thus the term "loaded") which also means you do not need a spring compressor to swap the old springs onto new shocks. They also include new polyurethane bushings and insulators making them a true bolt in assembly. The only part reused from the old shocks was the lower mounting bolt. The only real surprise in the back was that the driver side sway bar end link was broken. I did a temporary fix on that until the new Motorcraft replacement end link assembly arrives.
The front struts were a very similar process to the rears with the exception of disconnecting the upper ball joint to allow the spindle and lower control arm to drop together as opposed to just the lower control arm on the rear.
The most annoying part of the whole process was getting at the three nuts on the the top of each assembly that are on the studs that hold the upper cans to the frame brackets. The ones on the rear were rusted badly and you have reach up between the frame bracket and the bed to get at them. Not fun. Lots of PB Blaster and many scrapped knuckles. Not so bad on the front as the nuts were accessible from the engine compartment. However, one of the nuts on the driver side is under some sort of emissions fitting or something on the inner fender and it was pretty much an open wrench deal as even a socket and universal wound not fit properly in that space. I'd like to strangle the fool who made that decision.
All I can say is I wish I could have done this six months ago. The shocks and struts are 9 position adjustable. The truck already rides so much better than stock and I have not even fooled with the settings yet. This also cured the thumping sounds from a worn out insulator on the right front strut as well as the front end axle tramp that was present from the day I bought the truck new. I always thought something wasn't right but I just assumed it was a piss-poor front suspension design. It was most obvious when driving over a speed bump or large rock off-road as the frontend would drop suddenly causing a loud crashing noise. I attributed this to too much rebound in the stock struts. I drove through a very rough construction site on Sunday and never had that happen once nor has it happened since on the two speeds bumps in the parking lot at work.
The Ranchos also gave me some lift at the rear which should help to cure a tire rub issue with the oversize 265-65-18 BFG All-Terrain TAs when towing my trailers or hauling my ATV. They are advertised to provide about 1.5 inches of lift all-around but on my truck it only seems to have lifted the rear about an inch which is fine for my needs. The only thing left to do now other than the one sway bar end link is to get a suspension alignment scheduled.
