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Front Lean
Rear Lean, Ranger
Rear Lean, Explorer
Side-to-Side Lean, Ranger and Explorer
Section 04-00: Suspension, Service
ADJUSTMENTS
Front Lean
1.
Measure the left and right front ride heights by measuring the height of the right and left front fender lip openings.
2.
Compute the difference between left and right ride heights as figured above.
For Explorer, if the difference exceeds 16mm (5/8 inch) measured at the wheel house opening to ground, adjust the torsion bar as necessary. Check ride height. Refer
to Ride Height in this section.
For Ranger, if the difference exceeds 16mm (5/8 inch) and is less than 20mm (3/4 inch) measured at the wheelhouse opening to ground, add one shim to the side of
the vehicle that is low.
The shim is to be placed under the lower spring seat; service shim (part number 389117-S2) can be used on 4x2 and 4x4 models without a front stabilizer bar.
If there is a computed side-to-side difference of 20mm (3/4 inch) or more in the left/right wheelhouse openings, swap front coil springs (5310) from side to side. If the
lean condition follows the spring (lean now on other side of the vehicle), replace both springs with new ones.
Changing front ride height by adding the service shim also affects caster angles. Adding the 4.5mm thick shim (part number 389117-S2 or equivalent) may reduce
caster by up to 0.40 degrees on the side to which the shim is added.
EXAMPLES
Ranger 4x2 Vehicles
Measured LH Ride Height
25-5/16 Inch
Measured RH Ride Height
25-1/2 Inch
Calculated RH Ride Height
25-13/16 Inch
Side-to-Side Difference
1/2 Inch
Since the difference is larger than 1/8 Inch, one shim should be
added to the side of the suspension.
1.
Measure the rear ride height by measuring the height of the right and left rear fender lip openings.
2.
3.
1.
Measure rear ride height by measuring the height of the right and left rear fender lip openings.
2.
3.
Inspect the vehicle for any excess loads which might weigh the vehicle down on one side more than the other. Usually a weight of at least 50 pounds is required to cause
such a lean.
4.
If lean condition is not caused by weight, swap the rear springs from side to side.
5.
If the lean changes sides, the lean condition is most likely caused by a bad spring. Replace both springs. Refer to Section 04-02 for service procedures.
6.
If the lean condition did not change when the springs were changed, factors other than suspension are the cause.
1.
Side-to-side vehicle lean should be verified by measuring the fender lip-to-ground dimensions A and B.
Ranger
Explorer
2.
Once a lean condition has been verified, perform the following steps.
a.
Place the vehicle on a flat, smooth surface. Vehicles must be sitting on the wheels and tires, not on a hoist, jack or jackstands.
b.
Inspect vehicle for any heavy add-ons that may cause excessive weight on any corner of the vehicle. Vehicle should be empty, fuel tanks full, no cargo in the
pickup box or rear body section.
c.
d.
Check front and rear suspension. Verify the same spring or torsion bar is on left/right front and same spring is on left/right rear.
Front coil springs (Ranger) or front torsion bars (Explorer) have I.D. tags indicating the part number.
Rear springs have the part number stamped on the bottom left just behind the U-bolt attachment.
If I.D. tags are missing from front springs (Ranger) or front torsion bars (Explorer), refer to the Safety Standard Certification Label on the driver's door. If
the label is missing, there is no sure way of identifying which springs or torsion bars are installed on the vehicle. It is advisable to order springs or
torsion bars in pairs only.
e.
Bounce the vehicle's front and rear suspension to normalize the vehicle static ride height.
f.
Measure the height of the right and left fender lip openings again. If the differences are still greater than 16mm (5/8 inch) between left or right front and/or 20mm
(3/4 inch) between left and right rear, factors other than suspension are the cause for Ranger. For Explorer, check ride height. Refer to Adjustments, Ride Height in
this section.