98+ ranger front pics

sorry, every old ranger... the edges and shit have torsions but they are newer

Originally posted by tmiit







DJM arms - Z'tie rod (gusseted)UCA lifted 2"

When you guys move stuff around like upper control arms, flipping ball joints, or in this cas Z'ing the tie rod, do you ever examine the correct suspension geometry or does everyone just move and cut and weld until it lays the way you want?

This isn't directed just at you btw tmiit

good question Mike, Z'in the tie rod sounds/looks logical.. i am though still investigating on what caused my wheels to toe-in when it lays out and toes-out when lifted,(noticable with the naked eye) but the tie rod mod was more of clearance issues , of course. but thanks Mike, hopefully someone can help shed some light on this

Edited: 4/18/2007 6:29:11 AM by msturg

I can tell you right now why your wheels toe in . It's because you raised the upper control arm straight up most likely. This throws off the entire geometry of the front suspension. You need to move it up and out away from the motor if you lift them.

If you do this you won't have toe issues, but you will get an even larger amount of positive camber than you had before. I'm talking about when you air up btw.

Originally posted by msturg



Originally posted by tmiit







DJM arms - Z'tie rod (gusseted)UCA lifted 2"

When you guys move stuff around like upper control arms, flipping ball joints, or in this cas Z'ing the tie rod, do you ever examine the correct suspension geometry or does everyone just move and cut and weld until it lays the way you want?

This isn't directed just at you btw tmiit

would that cause crazy bumpsteer? just curious

I dont know if I would be comfortable with z'ing a tie rod end! A better solution might be drilling, sleeving, and flipping the ball joint...... maybe even spacing it down like i've seen others do....

Brian, nope, no bumpsteer that i have felt. i'll probably redill, sleeve, and flip the tie rod next.

some suspensions toe in and out throughout their travel, at least a little. The only thing is, what you are describing, tmiit, is bumpsteer. If you are getting large amounts of toe in and toe out throughout the range of your suspension travel AFTER you raised your upper arms, that is more than likely bumpsteer. The reason you have it now is because your pivot points of your lower arm, steering rack, and upper arm are not inline with each other, forcing them to work in separate arcs of travel, instead of a symmetrical arc (or at least halfway symmetrical, such as it is from the factory )You can probably guess where the term "bumpsteer" originates. You hit a bump (or raise/lower the suspension), and it "steers" the vehicle.

Z'ing the tie rod won't cause bumpsteer as it doesn't change the pivot point which they all need to line up. Raising the upper control arm straight up is what is causing it.

Oops. Okay, for clarification, I should have specifically said, it is not your Z'd tie rod, it is the raised UCA mounts. If they had been raised up and out, and the mounting points put back in line with the lower arms and tie rod pivot, life would be better. Not good, better.