Really did that just break off the FRAME

[derk06dtec]

hi to all i work at discount tire and yesterday we were working on a an older ford ranger idk what year it was a 4x4 edge ik that much and the right leafspring mount broke off the frame while lifting it up in the rear with a jack the jack was placed right under the diff...it was the leafspring mount that is farthest rear of the truck and welded to the frame i think....i was just amazed ive never seen this happen....is this a common problem and also if this isnt a common problem for all of you guys to check yours and watch out i have an 06 ranger and mine looks bolted so idk if this applies to newer rangers he had so much rust im not sure if his was welded or bolted and i was just surprised considering the amount of aftermarket prerunner suspension setups out there for the older rangers you would think the ranger is a solid truck which i still think so but this incident was just odd i think

[dangeranger93]

the rear leaf spring shackles do tend to rust out and break, it happened to my truck

[beluga420]

3 out of my 4 hangers did break on my black truck on the road, last one was about to too but I changed it while doing the 3rd one lol, nothing too dangerous since the leaf are then retained by the bed. just gives a crappy handling and truck sag.

Btw they are not welded they are hold by rivets that you need to grind out to change. can be one hell of a job if the leaf bolts are stuck.

[derk06dtec]

like i said it was a truck that came in from work it wasnt mine but i thought id ask cuz ive never seen it happen before is the design the same on my 06 cuz if it is ill keep an eye on it

[beluga420]

I've never looked under newer trucks, but I don't think ford changed the design that much, if it's a 06 good are the chances they are still almost perfect.

[D94R]

Yes, common problem on older Rangers that live where they salt in the winter.
Same basic setup on all year Rangers up until now. Though, I think at some point Ford changed to using two bolts, and two rivets on one side of the rear most hanger, for reasons unknown.

Your 06 won't be a problem for MANY years to come, so no worries really. And if you wash your truck in the winter, make sure you focus on the underside too.

[Cutlass327]

Rangers, F-series, all are susceptible to this problem.

They probably changed to 2 bolts and 2 rivets to make it a little easier to change them when they finally break!

[beluga420]

at some point Ford changed to using two bolts, and two rivets on one side of the rear most hanger, for reasons unknown.

Yeah this is something really strange... On my red truck when I ground all the 4 hangers to install the belltechs ones, ONLY the rear driver side one had 2 bolts on the rear and 2 rivets on the front... Passenger side still has 4 rivets...

I have no clue why they did this...

[Tr00b]

The front ones are still solid on my bomber, but the rear ones are really bad, one is gone the other one looks like a rust mushroom...

Weird it happened on a truck that new though... Was it from rust or did the part just... Break??

[D94R]

when I pulled mine off to replace them, the one shackle literally melted in my hand. It was like paper mache. I have no idea how it held together. Both rear most hangers were pretty bad too. A couple easy wacks with a hammer had them completely deformed.

[imaprobowler]

About a year and a 1.75 years ago my 99 was making an awful squeak coming from the rear, lifted it up and the leaf on the passenger side staying on the axle while the rest went up. Shackle and brackets destroyed. Was surprised the ranger didn't appear to be handling worse and at the time the budget lift was underneath it too. Wasn't as smart and Dad was helping pay, but it had been a fortune to repair because shackles, pin, shackle brackets, and other hardware had gotten replaced on both sides. Now they don't look all that bad but at the time they were 10 year old technology, in NY all it's life where they DO SALT THE ROADS. I try to avoid salted roads, rust is an issue I'm beginning to face with my frame...