How to Install the Steering Stabilizer on a 94 Ranger

The Ranger name was originally a trim level for Ford F-series trucks in the late 60s and early 70s. Ford then introduced the Ranger as a separate vehicle in 1983. The 1994 Ford Ranger came equipped with a 2.3-liter in-line four-cylinder engine in the base model, with a two-wheel drive. A 3.0-liter V-6 and a 4.0-liter V-6 were optional in the 1994 Ranger, as well as a four-wheel drive. The steering stabilizer system on the 1994 is identical regardless of the engine size, and consists of the stabilizer bar, stabilizer links, and frame mounts and bushings.

Instructions

Stabilizer Link Replacement

1

Loosen the front wheel lug nuts on the Ranger with a tire iron, but do not remove them yet. Raise the front of the Ranger with a jack. Place jack stands beneath the front axle housing for the four-wheel drive, or the front axle beam cross-member if you have a two-wheel drive. Lower the truck onto the jack stands. Remove the front lug nuts, then remove the front wheels completely from the truck.

2

Insert an open-end wrench just behind the steering knuckle on one side of the truck, onto the stabilizer link mounting nut. Remove the nut from the mounting bolt with a ratchet and socket on the bolt head, then remove the bolt. Repeat this step on the sway bar end of the link to remove the link mounting bolt and nut from the bar. Remove the stabilizer link from the truck and discard it.

3

Install the new sway bar link onto the steering knuckle, and insert the link bolt through the link and the knuckle. Install the sway bar mounting nut on the opposite end of the link bolt. Install the link bolt through the stabilizer bar then the link. If the stabilizer has dropped slightly, use your jack to raise the stabilizer bar back upward and align it with the lower stabilizer link hole. Install the nut onto the opposite end of the link bolt. Tighten the bolt and nut between 30 and 41 foot-pounds, with a torque wrench and socket.

4

Repeat steps 2 and 3 to complete the stabilizer link replacement on the second side of the truck.

5

Install the front wheel after you have double checked the torque on all four stabilizer link bolt and nut combinations. Tighten the front lug nuts with a tire iron. Raise the truck off of the jack stands, then remove the stands from beneath the truck. Lower the Ranger to the ground and tighten the front wheels to 100 foot-pounds with your torque wrench and a wheel nut socket.

Stabilizer Mount Busing Replacement

6

Loosen the front wheel lug nuts on the Ranger with a tire iron, but do not remove them yet. Raise the front of the Ranger with a jack. Place jack stands beneath the front axle housing for four-wheel drive, or the front axle beam cross-member if you have a two-wheel drive. Lower the truck onto the jack stands. Remove the front lug nuts, then remove the front wheels completely from the truck.

7

Lay beneath the front bumper of the truck and slide yourself into position to access one of the stabilizer bar frame mounts. Remove the frame mounting bolts from the stabilizer mount with a ratchet and socket. Remove the mounting clamp completely from the stabilizer bar, then remove the stabilizer bushing from the bar by hand.

8

Install a new stabilizer bushing by aligning the open slit in the new bushing, then pushing it onto and around the stabilizer bar by hand. The slit in the bushing will open to wrap the bushing around the bar. Install the stabilizer bar frame mount clamp and tighten the mounting bolts between 35 and 50 foot-pounds, with a torque wrench and socket.

9

Repeat steps 2 and 3 to complete the frame mount bushing replacement on the second side of the truck. Install the front wheels after you have double checked the torque on all of the bolts, on both frame mount clamps. Tighten the lug nuts snug with a tire iron. Raise the front of the truck off of the jack stands, then remove the stands from beneath the truck. Lower the Ranger to the ground and tighten the front lug nuts to 100 foot-pounds, with a torque wrench and wheel nut socket.