[JDJHNTR]

I have a front lift coming from "Rubberdown" and was wondering something? Along with my tracking number for the package Paul sent me the directions for installing his lift (front). I had already looked at Pro-Lifts instructions for his lift and have heard how quick and easy his was to install but the Rubberdown has a different aproach to installation?
My question is this...........the Rubberdown instructions involve alot more work to install by droping the strut from the bottom. Could the Rubberdown front lift be installed in the same manner as the Pro-Lift? It looks alot simpler and faster to install this way but want to be sure and do it right? Thanks to everyone for your help..........

 

[carnivore]

I can't imagine why it would be any different, it works the same way.

 

[JDJHNTR]

Thats what I thought? He sent me a link to his instructions with pictures and he basically, takes off front tire,caliper,hub,lower A-arm and drops the strut completly out of the machine? A little more work than I was wanting to do?

 

[JDJHNTR]

I would like to say for the record though that he is a stand up guy and has very high quality product!!! I paid today and he shiped today then forwarded me a tracking number. Thats pretty good service on the shipment end of the transaction anyway......

 

[carnivore]

Your right sounds like a little more work than is neccesary. Sounds like he is taking care of business.

 

[JDJHNTR]

Can you think of any reason I could'nt install his lift in the same way as the Pro-lift (from the top)?

 

[carnivore]

Its basicaly the same lift, it should install the same as Pro-lifts, and thats easy.

 

[JDJHNTR]

Well........Thats the way I see it also. Anyway....my dealer is taking his lift off Friday and I'm just gonna take him the Rubberdown and let him put it on when he takes his off. Now.........That ought to be pretty easy!! LOL........

 

[carnivore]

Getting someone else to do it, always the best way

 

[JDJHNTR]

Yea.......I told him he just have his front lift (junk) back if he'd swap em out for me!

 

[Cervezamatte]

The nethawk instructions are very easy and should work. The only thing I can think of is that, if your machine has some hours on it, in the mud and whatnot, you get a lot of funk down in all the parts that make things stiff and hard to work with on the machine. Maybe he figures, if you have to take it all apart, it is a perfect opportunity to inspect and clean all your goodies. Otherwise, it is a quick project. The alignment is the most time consuming part of it.

Matt

 

[JDJHNTR]

"Cervezamatte"..............I installed it tonight and the alinment is off? Are there any issues with this and if so, how do I correct it? Thanks...........

 

[Gbizzle]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JDJHNTR

"Cervezamatte"..............I installed it tonight and the alinment is off? Are there any issues with this and if so, how do I correct it? Thanks...........
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

how is the alignment off? Camber wise? are you tires like / instead of | | ? or is the toe off meaning if you are looking at the ranger does it look duck footed or pigeon toed? if it is the first one- the tops of the tires leaning or there isn't any adjustments for that on the ranger and it tends to settle after you drive it and cycle the suspension for a while. If it is the toe you can adjust that but I would drive it for an hour or so before. With these lifts they seem to settle themselves out after being broken in, seriously after a bit it should be fine.

If the toe is still out after driving for an hour on the engine, you can adjust the tie rods. I just measure the inside of the rims on the front side of the front tires and try to get it as close as i can maybe 1/4 wider than the inside of the rims of the back side of the front tires.

*not to insult you if you don't already know but loosen the nut on the tie rod where it enters the wheel and turn the actual rod either clockwise or counter clockwise to bring the front of the tire in or out.

But to make a long story short when I put my lift on it looked like my alignment (camber) was WAY off meaning the tops of the front tires leaned out bad. I just pretended I didn't notice it fired it up went to my favorite jumping spot, hit the throttle and jumped the ranger about 25ft five or six times and then the tires were straight up and down no problems.[]

 

[carnivore]

You should do it the way Gabe said, only one point of concern, the measurement should be taken at the center of the tread front and back. If you take the measurement at the rim you will end up with more than 1/4" at the tread. It should be 1/4" wider at the front than it is at the back.

 

[JDJHNTR]

Thanks guys!!! The weather got really bad here last night and I could'nt take it for spin after the install, but I will put an hour or two on it before I worry about it. If it is still off after that, I'll be back in touch for directions?? I will get a picture posted this afternoon of it with the new lift and tires. Thanks again...........

 

[rubberdown]

Sorry it took me so long to see this. If you can install the kit from the top, that is sure to be fine. Heres my explanation of why I had it set up the way I did. I have never installed a Ranger lift kit, I worked with Scottginfla. over the phone and the internet to design everything and after a couple rear kits, and 1 front kit, everything fit perfectly. Being that the front set-up on the ranger is very similar to a sportsman (which I own a couple of and have installed my lifts on many of them) I pretty much set up the front lift instructions the same as the sportsman. However, on the sportsman, it is required to grind away some of the strut tower near the outer CV boots location to prevent rubbing and wearing holes in the boots. To do this, you would have to remove the strut completely. After I talked to Scott and another early on customer, it was decided that the grinding of the strut wasnt really required due to the wider and lower stance of the axles on the ranger.

Soooo, after reading a few things here today, I will try to revise me instructions for the future buyers of my kit. Thanks