Torsion bar lift worth it?
I have a 2004 ford ranger 4x4 xlt and i don't like the way it sits. Like most other pickups its angled towards the front and i don't really like that. I have heard about twisting the torsion bars to raise the front end up, but i have no idea how to do it. So i guess my question is: Is it worth doing? Can i do it myself? And what's a safe distance to raise it? I have heard that if raised to far it can cause things to wear early. Any information on this helps a ton!
Kits are made to lower the rear about 2 inches. Best way is to join a Ranger forum to find the best way to level your truck out. I joined one and found the best way to replace the rear spring mounts and shackles. Saved me a lot of work.
That year Ranger does sit a little nose low. More pronounced with the V-6 model. The term is "raking" like a lawn rake. There are aftermarket torsion keys that are relatively inexpensive to purchase, but the downside is the installation process/price. I would not recommend performing the install yourself, as unloading a torsion bar can be tricky if not downright dangerous for the average person. Then there's the required adjustments for camber and alignment of the front wheels after establishing the new ride height. Then there's the stiffer ride due to a higher spring rate placed on the torsion bar and suspension. Then there's the decrease in downward wheel travel because you munched up a bit with the lift. Overall, not a good option.
As James mentions, the other direction is to weigh down the back to level it out. I doubt you want to haul a bunch of stuff around only to be 2 inches lower in the back. I mean, we wanna go up… Not down!
There doesn't seem to be a huge market for suspension kits on this model, certainly not for the 4X4. I thought a spindle kit would be an option, but didn't find anything on that. If you did go with a torsion key, I would recommend you find an off-road shop to do the install and alignment. As you know, the wear and tear on your front axles will increase due to the greater angles they will sit at (straight is always best). Perhaps a set of manual hubs (if available) could disengage your front drive line and reduce that wear while also giving you an extra couple of miles per gallon.
Keep scouring the internet and look for some forums to read up on. You aren't first person to face this problem.
http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/
I have found lots of good info on this one when I had my Ranger. They are mostly desert runner types and tend to talk the 2WD lingo, but you might still find some threads that may help.
Best of luck!
Just load it up with tools and drywall…
Then it'll set level!
Don't fool with the suspension.
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