4x4 i beam drop brackets

[boltonbros]

i am in the process of building my ranger and the drop brackets i was going to use cracked. i am going to build some new ones but i would like to look at some pics of some other trucks. if someone has a ranger with custom fabed brackets could you post some pictures of them. or if someone knows where to look at some pics on the web please let me know. i would just like to get an idea. thanks

when in doubt throttle it out

[Kritter]

Use the STX 4x4 factory brackets...no need to fab anything, then cut and turn the beams and you should be dialed.

Kris
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.barneysprecision.com/fabproducts.htm> Fab Parts</A>

[robert_encinas]

stock 4x4 drop brackets from the stx high rider model , a 5 1/2 " lift coil spring and 12" stroke shocks will get you 15" front wheel travel on a 4x4 ranger with the ttb suspension.

[In_the_works]

Drop brackets? Boooo. I don't know much about 4x rangers, but the drop brackets that I had on my ford gave me major problems, and put a whole lotta excess stress on the crossmember.

'96 F-150 4x4 ex cab
'02 Maico 250
'03 Sonoma

[robert_encinas]

were they aftermarket? stock brackets are way better than superlift,rancho,trailmaster,etc.
all of the 7-4x4 rangers had them.

[Kritter]

the STX bracket is factory formed...not some aftermarket bolt on junk.

Kris
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.barneysprecision.com/fabproducts.htm> Fab Parts</A>

[boltonbros]

where can i get these stx drop brackets. I have superlift crap on my truck now and they have been welded back together once already. I was going to fab some up using 1/4 inch plate if i could just see some pics. thanks for all your help

when in doubt throttle it out

[hoeker]

balton, not sure if you caught it yet, but most long travel TTB trucks use factory brackets, and then cut and modify the beam to get the alignment back with the amount of lift you run. this places a lot less load on the frame, and keeps the brackets out of the dirt at full bump.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rosshoek.com>www.rosshoek.com</A>


Some are born great, some achieve greatness,
and some have greatness thrust upon them.

[DMSRACE]

Get them from your Ford dealer...I ran them for 5 years with out one problem...

Racer

To live life half throttle would be a waste....

[JeffS]

What year Ranger 4x4 STX had these drop brackets ??

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.RedRockOffroad.com>http://www.RedRockOffroad.com</A> - There is a fine line between Hobby and Mental Illness.

[billymanfroy]

I wanna say '88-'89 or so. It's got to be the "High-Rider" option. I just found the factory print out of the exploded view a few days ago (sorry, threw it away) I bought them from a dealer a few years ago for my 2wd, and the guy said he had to get one side from Sacramento, and the other from Detroit. He also said you can't get them anymore, but I'd try anyways. They actually make the brackets longer that go up the side of your frame, and then weld in like a 1" spacer to drop the pivot points down. We did have problems with it dragging on the short course races at full compression, but you should be fine with a 4x4 and tires larger than 31". Scared the hell out of me the first time it dug in off a jump.

[robert_encinas]

i think 88-89 is correct. mine was an 88. try ALLFORD in anaheim, i believe. they are a ford only junk yard. sorry dont have the number on hand.

[slimjim]

i think the high model STX was available as early as 1986. NO AFTERMARKET DROP BRACKETS! sorry for the capitals, but i feel that strongly about it. you might not break the aftermarket drop bracket, but you surely will put enough leverage on the frame to weaken it. eventually you will get a cracked frame.

put on your seatbelt...

[In_the_works]

Or it'll wear the bolt holes out and you'll get wobbles like hell when cornering. (speaking from experience)

'96 F-150 4x4 ex cab
'02 Maico 250
'03 Sonoma

[boltonbros]

I have had my superlift brackets on my truck a long time and the first time i touched dirt with my stock brackets they broke. I also have a mazda b4000 se the higher model are the mazdas brackets weaker?


when in doubt throttle it out

[Jkrell]

old thread, new questions. So does anybody know where to find a set of the factory drop brackets? Ford dealership parts computer says nobody in the coutries got them, i've checked with pretty much every junk yard in so cal, no luck. James Duff makes a set that are the same height and look similiar to the factory cast part, the rock crawler guys say these are pretty tough, anybody here ever run these.

Also, Anybody see any problems with running 'cut and turned' beams with the factory drop brackets.

Thanks.

[steveG]

Autofab builds brackets that have the same geometry as the factory STX brackets. I've used them in the past and they are super strong & well built.

The problem with using the stock pivot brackets is that wheel travel is limited due to the center u-joint binding too soon. With stock brackets and stock width housings, you're limited to about 12" of travel. With the STX brackets you can get 16" of travel. Wider beams of course are capable of more.

[Jkrell]

Hey steve thanks for the reply, ya ive done a lot of research on these front ends and i've come up with the same stuff. Auto fab is great stuff i'm sure, he just wants a 1000 bucks for beams and the pivot brackets. The right side bracket would be easy to extend 2 inches and make plenty strong, but the left side one is a little trickier because its cast. From all the pics i've seen the factory drop part, autofabs, and also james duff's part are all cast....and my furnace doesn't get that hot...so i need to buy it...just trying to explore all my options and i was hoping somebody here would know where to track them down.

[RocketMan]

Call AutoFab.....Better than stock...IMO

[steveG]

The OE passenger beam pivot bracket is not available unless you find it in a wrecking yard.

The Autofab bracket isn't cast.

http://www.supermotors.org/getfile/314865/fullsize/f150exp%20(8).JPG

[Jkrell]

hey steve, thanks for the pic. The pic auto fab has on their site is of a cast part. ya i just got word back from John, 3 bills for the pass bracket and 5 bills for both. Guess i just need to decide if its worth it for me to make them or not. Thanks again!

[steveG]

No problem. Keep in mind if you use the STX style pivot brackets The beams need to be modified with the 2" drop bracket in mind. If you go out and buy housings modified for 4" of lift with stock pivots you'll end up with 6" of lift.

[Jkrell]

ya thanks for the heads up on that steve, that is the next step i have been considering.

[movindirt]

No problem. Keep in mind if you use the STX style pivot brackets The beams need to be modified with the 2" drop bracket in mind. If you go out and buy housings modified for 4" of lift with stock pivots you'll end up with 6" of lift.

No you will end up with negative camber and lower ride hieght.

Jkrell, your profile shows your job is fabrication. I would just make the pivots. Heck I have had ProComp drop brakets on for a long time and the have held up okay. I have had to beaf them up some but nothing major. Granted my ranger is a 2wd but that really doesn't matter as far as the pivots go. With a 4wd you want some drop in your pivot brackets so the TTB are centered better in the travel, if that makes sense. Just don't get crazy and drop the pivots to much or they will drag as others have mentioned. I have attached a pic that might help you.

[steveG]

I think he knew what I meant, but I'll be more specific so there's no confusion. If he didn't use beams modified for use with 2" pivot brackets, he would end up with pivot brackets designed to give 2" of lift and beams that were designed to give 4" of lift. The amount of ACTUAL lift will depend on the springs/coil-overs,etc.

[Jkrell]

Hey steve/tony thanks for your responses. Whomevers work is in that picture is very impressive. I'm still in the research phase. The issue has less to do with the ability to fabricate the parts than it does with time. It wouldn't be all that difficult to build a couple of brackets but the time required to cycle, determine geometry, and custom fabricate a complete and clean front end is in the weeks, not days category. That being said i dont mind paying a few bucks if that time has already been spent by somebody else qualified to do it, if you think about it, it actually saves me money. Thanks again for all your guys input...I'll let you know what i come up with.

[gwm]

This is a little off-topic because I have an F250 diesel not a ranger but I broke two Superlift drop brackets on the pass side (the truck sees a LOT of Baja) before I had Jeremy Spirkoff brace it to the back of the crossmember and the frame rail with 1 1/4 .120. I've put maybe 60,000 miles on it since then without a problem. I will concede though that modified beams and stock brackets are better. They were just WAY more expensive in '97.

[movindirt]

George, Superlift drop brakets are normally have to much drop and that is the problem. You really don't want more then 4" drop in the pivot point and even that is a bit much. You may have to beaf up a drop bracket or brace it like you did but it can sovle a lot of other problems very easily and works well.