1992 Ranger 4x4 front end rebuild - shop recommendation

sumncguy

Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2020
Location
Hillsborough
Can anyone suggest a good 4x4 shop in close proximity to Hillsborough ?

My steering it really sloppy. Need all the bushings replaced. I have a kit in hand and will be buying the tie rods, and the upper and lower ball joints.

Figure rather than do it myself, A shop would be able to drop each side and so the repairs. I'm guessing that approach would be better to get at the I beam and Radius bushings.

Thanks in advance for any input you can provide.
 
Most shops aren’t going to want to install parts you supply.
Too much risk for them.
 
From experience to do the rear radius bushings most everydarn thing will have to be disconnected.
I had to do one side at a time and drop the entire twin I beam. Even the axles made it a bound up mess.
it would be way easier if you already have drop brackets from a lift. Unbolt those and slide them back.
I would replace all the rivits with grade 8 bolts and do the same if it was stock and I owned it.
The radius bushings are a pain. Awkward and heavy dangling off the front from a lift.
 
Yeah .. I think I'm going to give this a shot myself.

Just nuts and bolts right ?

The truck is jacked up. Bought it that way.
The crossmember that the radius arm goes into can be removed. Bolts are there already.
Found videos on how to replace everything up to the left side axle.

Only thing I havent found is a video on how to do the upper and lower ball joints on a 4x4.

I got the Haynes manual yesterday. Need to get an impact gun, borrow a ball joint press and the spindle socket.

Ill start to put my parts list together while waiting for them to be delivered, I'll start cleaning dust, dirt and rust with wire brush and soak everything with pb blast.

Anyone help with a ball joint video ? The search continues.

Thanks fellas !

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Yeah .. I dropped the front end ... all bushings are in .. one side is refreshed with upper and low ball joints .. inner and outer bearings and seal .. rotor .. spindle bearings.
Will do the other side, inner and out tie rods and the steering gear while everything is out. The one that is in there is OEM. The play in the wheel was 3 inches at least in either direction. The number of parts that was missing was eye widening. On one side the bearing spindle was gone .. only the race was left. Going out to the garage now to try to figure out how to get it out. Will kept you posted.
 
The answer I can provide for those Camber adjusters is to pull the clip, pull the pinch bolt, then use a pry bar and rubber mallet to beat them out. Not sure if thats the right way to get them out, but I can say that they did come out that way.
To get them back in .. I beat them in with a sledge hammer.

Take note of the position prior to putting them back and dont tighten the pinch bolt until you adjust the Camber doo dad !
 
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