Help choosing suspension/steering parts '04 Ranger

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I need to replace most of the front suspension on a 2004 Ford Ranger 4x4 that I recently purchased, and I'm looking for recommendations for how to keep this kinda cheap, but not too cheap. I've seen 8-12 pc kits on Amazon and elsewhere for around $100, and frankly that seems "too good to be true" or at least, too cheap to be good. Maybe I'm wrong.

Some information that might be important.
1. this truck is not a daily driver, I bought it for those times when I need to haul something or move something. Probably 3K per year max, 4 at the outside.
2. It's a 4x4, which will be nice this winter, but I don't intend to do any off roading or anything like that with it. I don't need heavy duty or premium parts for that purpose.
3. Torsion bars, not coil springs.
4. Passenger side Control Arm is the one piece, so I assume I should stick with that.
5. I don't want to lower it, lift it, or anything like that.

Just by my own checking, I need to replace all 4 ball joints (at least 3 are bad, the passenger upper I'm not sure), the left outer tie rod end (did the right already), and the sway bar links look pretty rusty. Inner tie rod end on the right seemed solid, I haven't checked the left yet but I already have that if I get into it and it is bad.

I'm open to a "kit" if there's one that is worthwhile, and I'm open to ordering parts separately from different manufacturers if that's what BITOG recommends. I tried shopping a bit on Rock Auto, and realized I don't know enough about either the quality of the components I'm looking at or about my own needs to make intelligent choices. I know I could just go all Moog, and I'd be fine, but I have a feeling I'd be paying for more than I actually need.

So, can I get a little help?
 
For my truck, RockAuto has a front end refresh kit that includes all new front end components (or most of them.)

Try to find something like that.

I always try to stick with OEM stuff, or at least name brand aftermarket like Bilstein and MOOG. Check forums or even a Facebook Ranger group for good/recommended parts.
 
Yeah, I checked a couple of Ranger forums, but it seems like the most active people on them need high performance because they either want to lift the trucks a lot, they're taking them off road a lot, or both. The only response I got when asking the question seemed to be "go cheap," but without claiming any experience with said cheap brand (Detroit Axle). I guess I have to do the research to find out what the quality name brands are. For example, I wasn't familiar with Bilstein
 
If that '04 Ranger is anything like the Explorer, the upper control arms have non-serviceable ball joints, while the lowers can be pressed in and out. You need to buy new upper control arms. I had to go through that with a friend's '98 Explorer. The good news is that the new Moog arms I've installed have serviceable ball joints. I've priced out all Moog parts for that truck and it's $200 with the new control arms.

Moog Problem Solver would be my pick, then OEM TRW/Lemforder. I have my doubts with Chinese suspension parts and replacing the ball joints on these isn't a job I'd like to do twice. I've heard from The Critic that Mevotech is meh.
 
I use all Moog problem solver on my 01 F150 4x4. Best of aftermarket but even they wear out if you are rough on your truck. Tried some AC Delco and didn't last 1 year. Got an air hammer with the right sized attachments. Changes are simple now.
 
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Unfortunately I think most IFS Ranger offerings are hit or miss. I tried to get quality with Raybestos Pro back around 2011-2012, which looked decent but didn't really hold up. 3 of 4 had to be replaced after 85k miles. Bought one Moog Problem Solver lower and O'Reilly's "Precision" upper arms to replace the shot Raybestos junk. The O'Reilly Precision arms are junk too...boots already falling apart, so they will need frequent greasing to last much longer. I guess the Moog lower ball joint has been fine so far, but so far is roughly 20k miles.

My friend bought one of the many generic kits online and it at least lasted a year until he sold the truck. I am undecided on what I will do next time.

The Twin I Beam / Twin Traction Beam suspensions used until '97 may have been archaic, but at least they don't have the same appetite for ball joints.
 
Thanks all, I ended up ordering Moog versions of everything from Summit. Turned out to be a bit cheaper than Rockauto. I had no idea I'd be able to do that under 200, so thanks. Should be here Monday, and I'll do the work next week.
 
Originally Posted by Patrologia
Thanks all, I ended up ordering Moog versions


Since you've already ordered your parts, my post is irrelevant, but....
About five years ago, my cousin died. He was a Viet Nam vet who came back different then when he went there. Which is really irrelevant to my post, except his main vehicle was a '98 Ford Ranger, 3.0/manual tranny/2WD.
His brother put the Ranger in his barn for a few months and it just sat there, basically neglected. I was there fixing another vehicle of the brother and I saw it. Thinking I could get a decent bargain, I asked about it and drove it home a few days later.
Vehicle had right at 100K miles on it. The front end needed a complete rebuilding and I used Moog Problem Solvers on the whole front end. It's not that I was a Moog fanatic or anything, it's just that RockAuto had the Problem Solvers at a decent price and everything was replaced at the same time. The vehicle became my wife's favorite vehicle and now has close to 200K miles on it. She just got back from visiting her mom which is about 1500 miles round trip. While I'm not going to argue that Moog Problem Solvers are the best replacement parts out there (they probably aren't), they've held up really nice and my wife commented on how the truck drives really nice at interstate speeds. These parts do have zerks, but I very seldom grease them. When it comes to ball joints, too much grease is worse then not enough. Good luck with your Ranger.
 
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