Ford Ranger: Rear Spring Shackles & Hangers

In this video I bring you along the process I use to remove and replace the rear spring hanger and shackles on a Ford Ranger that are all rotted out. -Enjoy!
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Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.

[@I-watch-at-2x]

I don't get upset over you doing a two parter. It just means I get another video to watch. Keep up the great work Mr O!

[@billynomates920]

yep! i like the two-parters. 20-25 minutes is perfect. can watch on my break.

[@hpurey]

bitter sweet though. Nice knowing there's a part 2 to look forward to but then not so nice anxiously waiting for part 2. LOL

[@marcmendes6961]

You just knew that wrench was gonna get stuck... and he went and did it anyway! Thanks for going the extra mile to keep us entertained!!! 🤣🤣

[@dennissmith8199]

Yeah, that was a forgone conclusion. When he put the hanger on without the shackle attached, I knew it would come back and bite him in the behind. I've done a couple of similar hangar changes, and I used to tack weld the nut to the hangar so I didn't have to try yo get a wrench in that space.

[@rjb6327]

What I've learned from watching Eric O: NEVER buy a used car from New York state! Always nice to see Mrs. O.

[@JSchaefers91]

The amount of rust that came off when you air hammered out those rivets will surely shave off .1 or .2 at the track. 😆

[@kalabash72]

Eric you're getting fancy with the video editing. A time-lapse with music. How'd we get so spoiled!?

[@RagnarokCo]

Have you never been on a toot around town with us? In that case, welcome!

[@kalabash72]

@@RagnarokCo What does that mean? Have I watched his videos before? Yes, for years. I might have a few and here there. This is the first I recall with this editing.

[@RagnarokCo]

@@kalabash72 He does a time lapse with music pretty often when we go on "toots around town" is all I meant.

[@hikerJohn]

@@RagnarokCo I agree but this one was somehow different as in *cooler* :o) That music generated a number of comments. Eric has a lot of music in his head.

[@BigMouth380cal]

Surprising musical interlude. Never would have pegged ya'll for that particular genre'. The fun never stops.

[@totalyep]

“Other than that she’s mint”. Hilarious.

[@erikgreenaway8645]

FORD life.... I know it well

[@chipofftheoldblock8090]

Does anyone know how come I can't post a comment I have in the past?

[@MegaNinjaMonkeyZord]

I watch a few channels dedicated to repairing Fords ( unlimited content) and every single comment there can be summed up by "other than that its mint" but there is no irony there, oh i need to rebuild my pretty much new engine with aftermarket parts correcting OEM design failures but other than its a great truck/car. Its like they all have abused spouse syndrome

[@tysshed5807]

Can't kill a ranger lol

[@Rinop321]

😂😂😂

[@ChrisLincolnHomes]

Watching all that rust fall brings back so many bad memories of working on my cars, on my back, in my driveway most of the time, in Massachusetts. Thank god I live in FL now and I have a garage and any car I have moving forward won't rot to the ground.

[@rw4437]

I can totally relate to this comment. In my younger years I lived in Pennsylvania. I was young Amd poor, so all of my cars were old and rusted beyond belief. I now live in Florida (+25 years) and it is SOOO much easier and more enjoyable to work on automobiles now. I never want to go back to working on rust buckets ever again!!

[@pilottou]

Same here! Another great thing about FL, no state inspection 😎

[@jstorrer1]

Mr. O is the Bob Ross of the garage……”Classic Reach Around” and “Here’s your problem Lady!” are his “Happy little accidents”…..keep up the good work!!! Love your videos!!

[@danleehill]

LOL

[@brucemccourt]

Eye protection a must when working on a New York vehicle,nothing wrecks your day with rust in your eyes!

[@mr.koivisto6975]

“Just do this one by feel. But just like in real life I gotta take a look first….” My man.

[@COBRO98]

🤣😂🤣😂 Idk how he says shit sh*t with a straight face

[@Tnenamrep2]

I remember changing the shackles and hangers on my '95 Ranger. Horrible job to do at home. Swapping the springs was even worse. Learned about patience, penetrating oil, brute force, and using a torque multiplier. Took me a week. I don't think I'd do it again. :P

[@joem5239]

Thanks Eric-O for the PTSD trigger. Replaced both of my '96 F150 rear shackel brackets while in my driveway. Took me 8 hours and about 1000 cuss words!

[@draidt]

"More desperate than a guy looking on his second page of his google search results" Classic, about choked on my raisin bread toast.

[@ThomasRaud]

you guys stop on second page? im on page 12 and ...

[@charlesdavis9755]

You're a man after my own heart, I love raisin bread toast as much as I love SMA videos.

[@K.Kelly87]

@@charlesdavis9755 Ever had Raisin-Pumpernickel bread? Or made french toast with raisin bread? HEAVEN!

[@jonminer9891]

"Other than that, she's mint" Nice! As far as that goes, so am I. Thanks for sharing! Stay Healthy!

[@orbnaes]

Look at all that rust! One of the few reasons I'm happy to live in the south.

[@joemichael3656]

Oh yea stuck here in Wisconsin my whole life and worked on this rusty crap for 40 years under warranty, no provisions made for all the rust and corrosion by the manufacturer and the money wasted throwing cars away from this miserable climate. Makes you think how stupid to spend money on cars.

[@jamesg6792]

Eric between you and Derrick over at VGG i am not sure who has the best one liners lol. Keep the great content coming.

[@wurlyone4685]

They definitely are the masters...

[@marscruz]

Please don't make me choose which one I like more. Both of these guys are worth their weight in car batteries.

[@jamesg6792]

@@marscruzAgreed!

[@zoidberg444]

Those Rangers do love to rot. I did this exact job on a 2.5 diesel Ranger with the rear spring shackles. Had a friend of mine burn the rivets out and got leaf springs from the scrapyard. That was a Gardening companies gritting truck. That thing was all rot. You should have seen the welding she had on her already and they put another 2 grands worth into her since then. Not worth spoiling a newer vehicle over. Cheaper to keep welding.

[@rw4437]

Diesel ranger??

[@zoidberg444]

@@rw4437 Yeah - here in the UK I think most of them were 4 cylinder turbo diesels. Petrol is expensive in Europe. I think the 2.5 diesel was a Mazda engine that Ford used under license. The Ford diesels in that era were generally that old 1.8 "onyx" engine used in the Focus and the 2.4 and 2.8 used in the Transits.

[@htownblue11]

Napa, sponsor this treasure of a man. Secondly, the music drop cracked me up and was out of nowhere, glad to see SMA running new plays in the playbook of automotive entertainment. Video was STRAIGHT FIRE. HAHAHAHA.

[@ForfeMac]

Yessir, there's nothing I love more than breaking out the air hammer knowing that I'll be picking rust flakes out of my everything the rest of the day. Welding jacket, collar turned up, face shield, it doesn't matter.

[@mackboss2189]

Get a few "South Main" vanity plates, add magnets, cover customer tags.

[@kellywilson5413]

The last 99 Ranger 4x4 I replaced the springs and shackles. I also removed the bed. But I sand blasted the rear section of the frame. It didn't last long.. but this is Iowa and the kid I sold it to is still driving it... I don't recall having any odd sized 21 mm bolts... oh well keep up the excellent content...

[@DIYDaveOK]

Never upset with an SMA video, no matter how many parts. Thanks as always, Eric!

[@notsoserious0944]

Thanks for the raining rust scene. I needed a good laugh. At least he didn't ask you to drop the spare and fix that. Oh my gosh...

[@CharlieMetcalf]

So glad I live down in the south. Holy cow the rot on the cars up there! I have a 13 Frontier and it has 0 rust. Up there it would be in the junk yard.

[@orionwarren4244]

I like how your frustration starts to build around the 21 minute mark, Eric! Just shows you're human. And gettin tired of the 'gruntwork'. Welcome to the (age) 40s decade, my friend. It's all white-knuckle downhill from here!

[@Mac-mu9cs]

Hitting 50 myself and still doing this stuff

[@darkdelta]

Yep you're right, I'm not forty.! However I was born in the forties, 1940s that is.

[@darkdelta]

@Robert Miller🤣🤣 To be followed with a Blue Moon "cold snack"

[@DaleAnton]

I truly enjoy your videos. Not just for the technical data, the honest diagnosis and chatter, the obvious integrity, and spot on diagnostic prowess that goes deep and methodical. It's witnessing the absolute joy and humor of a man who has mastered his craft.

[@wurlyone4685]

No shade on you for splitting this up into 2 - it's all good! Perfect length to watch over breakfast... 😁

[@gfd1166]

SMA enjoys Vice Grip Garage? Outstanding! What a great combo. You two should get together, have a couple wobble pops & do a project.

[@j.markkrzystofiak9907]

Drive ‘em till they rust in half! Rolled off the line in MN, so those are born for that kinda life!

[@tomoakhill8825]

This is one of the all time great SMA videos. At 9:35 we get a perfect demonstration of how badly salt-water (snow + salt) rusts vehicles. It is wonderful. He says, a minute later, "There are about four pounds on the floor." Rust from the frame that is.

[@nitroruski7986]

Oh Eric is a true connoisseur when it come to Vice Grip Garage

[@georgevargas2858]

What a cliff-hanger! And those segways, so awesome.

[@hikerJohn]

What a joy to live in the southwest where cars don't rust . . .

[@ryburnsjr]

Nicely done. Good thing I wear glasses I could have sworn some rust bits fell off screen 😀😀

[@paulalsup8838]

When that Astro hit the hanger bolts... It literally created a storm of rust... Changed the song "Storms in Africa" to "Storms in Avoca". That's some good power...

[@markh.6687]

"I felt the rust rainin' down in Avoca; gonna duck my head and shut my eyes!"

[@joestallbaum1593]

I haven’t commented before but I wanted to take a minute to let you know how much I enjoy watching your videos, I really find it interesting how you go about the diagnosis and the little bits of humor that you inject. My wife and I actually went right past your garage in June on a motorcycle trip to Maine from Ohio, I hadn’t started watching you yet or we would’ve stopped and said 👋, maybe next time. Thanks

[@peetky8645]

nice use of technology to blur out that lic plate number! truly a modern techno man you are

[@92Pony]

"And this folks, is why you can't trust me." LOL!!! Love his sense of humor!!

[@Countrywild]

Man! You're tellin me I can't get my complete SMA fix!? Dude you're killin me!

[@paulgallagher3122]

I wonder how many air impacts would lie dormant and dusty, full of cobwebs, if you were working on Southern cars! The people who live in the same community as South Main Auto should consider themselves lucky to have you around!

[@michaeldittmer870]

I’m always amazed at the amount of rust on these cars. That spare tire rim is so far gone it looks like it would collapse if they tried to use it. Love the videos helped me through several DIY suspense projects on our kids cars.

[@darrylhaynes9208]

That's if you can even get the spare down. Some of the lowering mechanisms are rusted in place.

[@MrWolfSnack]

@@darrylhaynes9208 It always makes me laugh how many people think the spare tire on a 15-20 year old car will still have air in it and be useable at a moments notice. Some cars that have the exhaust pipe right by the spare, over time the exhaust pipe will wiggle over to the spare tire and burn right through the rubber.

[@robpeabo509]

With all the rust that fell off I was thinking "what rust", it's rust free. frame free, cured!

[@SgtMajorJay]

Hell yeah - a little coffee, breakfast, and some SMA before starting work.

[@spike7442]

Listening to your quotes is just as entertaining as watching you at work. Double value.

[@RyanHull76]

""that we got from Crapa" - Actively building a resentment about the lack of sponsorship!"

[@markh.6687]

I thought he was commenting on the low quality of some of CRAPA'S parts! :)

[@Rik.B]

It will be a sad day when he has to start praising all those poor quality parts due to sponsorship.

[@theadventuresofjavier8698]

Lol

[@malcolmyoung7866]

Eric's new sign (sat in his shop for 5 months gathering dust) has NAPA emblazoned on it...still...'NOT A SPONSOR'...B-P

[@chrislizon7483]

@@malcolmyoung7866 He might actually have to pay Napa to use their logos on his signage. Sponsors would be giving him stuff for free. Maybe Eric will comment at some point.

[@williamdyckman9704]

Eric, like you showing the torch work, learning some tips and tricks. Amazing how much rust chips came out after using the big nasty!!

[@ChessIsJustAGame]

I had a 1974 Bronco that a worked on underneath and when I used a hammer, yeah, it rained rust. Shutting the tailgate, slamming because you had to, it sounded like it was raining broken glass inside the door. Then the passenger side door fell off when I opened it. Rust was the enemy. Loved everything else, but it was costing me so much in replacement body parts.

[@dr62220]

Amazing the amount of rust from vehicle's in the Great State of New York is something else. My 2002 Yukon should be beer cans by now there. Oh wait their not steel any more. Love your video's. Learn something every time.

[@yourlocalalexis4578]

dang, the amount of rust you have there in new york is nuts...i thought we had it bad here in Hawaii from the salt air! Good job on the repair Eric

[@MrWolfSnack]

Hawaii is just humid and salty atmostphere, NY and much of the north here they use salt or sand mixture for winter and then it gets thrown up there when people drive through the slush and snow and dont wash their car down afterwards.

[@Luckyhikes]

@@MrWolfSnack i mean most people dont want to wash their car every single time they drive. Im from Alaska and we do not salt our roads up there at all. Cars can last 20+ years there even with way worse weather than Northeast states that lay out vehicle destroying salt. I think its stupid but the salt mining industry up there probably has a hand as a special interest in keeping the practice going forever becuase ppl dont want to lose jobs.

[@ericbastion2149]

Been a few years since I’ve done one of those but back in the day I used to do two or three a week before you could get the doorman kit

[@jimgetz2898]

Eric I’m so old that I remember on TV when it used to say to be continued. Never cared for that but with you the wizard , just gives me something else to look forward to. Thank you .

[@gweggslist4460]

Watched the video to the end then had to rewind to hear the year of this truck. 2007 with this much rust! New York needs to lower the salt content on their roads, that is excessive rust. I’m from ND where it snows, gets cold and stays cold. Cars get rusty here too but not nearly that quickly. Keep up the good work!

[@Blazer02LS]

You can buy a brand new vehicle off the dealers lot and it will already have rust here in NY. Number one user of salt and brine in the US by tonnage.

[@waynegoebel395]

Glad to see you "Did the right thing" there... It's as much about the content as it is about the persons doin' the videos. You a Derrick are two guys I'd love to have a beer and a conversation with every once in a while. Appreciateja, man.

[@mattmanyam]

*cold snack

[@Guysm1l3y]

@@mattmanyam *wobble pop

[@mikerobbins5049]

Good job with that torch Eric O... I always hated cutting and welding overhead. Never did a lot of it but hated it just the same...

[@rrabbit1960]

Brings back nightmares....I mean memories from when I did the ones on my "94 Ranger about 5 years ago. I actually did them in my driveway using jack stands. And made a tool to press out the bushings. Took a lot longer than 22 minutes. LOL

[@2aminitials]

Nightmares for me too. Did my 97 without a torch, just an angle grinder cutoff wheel. I used a small floor jack wedged against the bed to push the end of the spring down in order to get access to the bushings, which had to be burned out with a propane torch due to the bolts seized in them.

[@JamesSterling]

We get to see something you don't see down here in the sunny South, a rust shower when the air hammer hits the frame!

[@devinortner5734]

Desperate for videos? Soo does that mean that toolbox tour video you mentioned Wednesday is coming soon? haha. Love your videos.

[@HotRod-wv4vm]

My favorite expression from your videos “the money 💰 light is on!”

[@robevans8625]

Is this like a "money shot'?

[@hotrodswoodshed7405]

i live in west Kentucky...and I've never seen soo much rust on such new vehicles as i see on your program... living in ignorance i suppose...but i can see now...northern vehicles are ROTTEN! GEEZZZ

[@goldduster318]

Did this exact job last year with my friend in the driveway, a DIY guy is better off taking the bed off. Then tightening all those bolts at ride height is super easy. We did replace the bushings but you basically just drill the rubber with a drill bit and install using a ball joint press. Really not bad. We didn't have a torch so we ground the rivets off but not that bad. Also needle scaled off about 10lbs of rust and crust while we were in there.

[@philmerrifield1163]

Been catching up on the 'tube today as not been online much. Always cheers me up watching SMA Eric, love the content dude, every video it brings back the days when I could do the job and keeps it fresh in my mind, so I give my thanks to you and Everyone at SMA that makes it possible. You do the world a service my friend and I thank you keep it up 😁

[@KI4HOK]

Pure o2 is only deadly if you breath it more than 15' under water. Scuba divers us it to speed decompression from a long dive, but it can only be used for the last stop.

[@Blazer02LS]

Actually it will hurt you regardless of depth, it causes major damage if you breath it for longer time periods.

[@imurtroll5242]

The ole reach around , just hilarious 🤣

[@robarnt6]

Dr. O! Get some of your customers on video reacting to the work being done on their vehicles. THAT would be very cool...

[@automotivated5934]

It doesn’t take long to look that crusty in the Southern Tier! Haha Love the Victor light show with the New Age Disco Music!!

[@craigsmith8217]

The water in the air line is the only lube that most air tools ever get.

[@woodsontr]

The air hammer works!! I like the way the crusties went flying!! 🤣

[@rc648]

Good to see an honest days work and video with man tools again. Aurgh, aurgh, aurgh...

[@markkrispin6944]

Awesome video Eric. I see that Mrs. O is looking pretty as ever.

[@gregscott344]

Hit it with Big Nasty some more, there’s still some frame left. Your video production is constantly improving 👍. Waiting to see what lit the $ light in the next video.

[@sblagg527]

A HUUUUGE thumbs up for the soundtrack playing whilst torching, does not get any better :D

[@mondragon9282]

Watched the video during my lunch break. Only took like 2 bites out of my lunch. These are so fun and entertaining to watch, I can't do anything else.

[@ericbastion2149]

Haven’t done one of those in a while used to do like one or two a week back in the day before doorman came out with a kit

[@automotivated5934]

Any time Victor and big nasty enter the building know it’s gonna be a balls to the walls Vidya! 🇺🇸🗽

[@JamesDvorak]

You know why I really like your videos? They're real. When you said, "This is stupid," it totally resonated with me because I've been to that point on so many things, not just with mechanic stuff! Thanks Mr. O. for keepin' it real.

[@BigBalledBastard]

Man, I love supporting rear ends!!!

[@RobertAdairWorkshop]

Great timing. Just started this on a Dodge Dakota last night.

[@Dymundback]

I'm being honest here, it's like hearing Beetlejuice working on these. Nice!

[@nemoisafish8675]

love the VGG reference.

[@rogerwiley7269]

When I was a young genius I would walk into the garage with my coffee in the AM and immediately stuff the torch in my mouth with full blast oxygen. The best hangover remedy available.

[@4b131]

Don't know how you deal with the steel trying so hard to return to iron! We get rust here in Calgary but nothing like you guys. Have a great fall weekend Eric.

[@pkerit308]

7:30 A 6" cutoff wheel takes about the same amount of time but creates a lot less heat

[@philvaughan4091]

This was the first time I’ve seen it rain rust!!🤣🤣!! Y’all stay safe…😊

[@jeremybarkyoumb472]

Your playing my favorite song its raining rust love working on cars in the northeast

[@MichaelSteeves]

So is the torque spec for the hangers 3 ugga duggas, or one grunt-click?

[@markh.6687]

It's 10 something-elses per whatevers.

[@jefferp]

Eric, show us the underside of your Toyota that has gotten, “The Film” for several seasons.

[@markh.6687]

Hey now! You don't just ask a man to show you the underside of his Toyota; that's personal! :)

[@tomtke7351]

Mr O is the Niagara Falls of knowledge and experience.

[@jeremyr6576]

I love your snarky way of talking about torque specs. You must have had a lot of the "torque police" comments over the years that pushed you to that. And the rust shower coming down off that frame was outstanding! Reminded me of all the crappy vehicles I have owned and wrenched on over the years over here in Michigan. And one of them was a '93 Ranger. Did the exact same shackles on that one....

[@toddstidham8374]

"If I can do it, you can do it", says the guy with all the pro air tools. Mean while I'm laying on the ground in the driveway thinking can I hammer that out with my carpenters claw hammer!?!? joking! Love the Vids Eric, thanks for the insight on so many car issues!

[@FixIt1975]

This comment reminds me of a friend of mine trying to get a wheel off an old, rusty Chicago car with a framing hammer. He calls me up, what do I do? Get a bigger hammer, I said!

[@johnmorrow1628]

"just mix it with some quick steel and paint it back on" LMAO 🤣🤣👌

[@carlmorris1580]

Your videos have all been so good I automatically hit the like button before I start watching them and have never ever been disappointed.

[@frugalprepper]

That's why you keep a couple of HF set of wrenches around. Little bench grinder action and you've got a perfect fitting wrench.

[@jake318HD]

Oh my the other day I got TWO napa sway bar links in a row, threads were sooo junk. I had to torch on the install! JAAUNNK

[@pyro323]

The air we breathe contains only around 20% oxygen. Too much oxygen can be deadly in severe cases. It's called oxygen toxicity or oxygen poisioning.

[@robertheinkel6225]

And yet our astronauts were breathing 100% oxygen in the first space capsules.

[@Blazer02LS]

@@robertheinkel6225 Yes, but only because NASA wanted to get to the moon first. Ask the crew of Apollo 1 how a pure O2 atmosphere works...

[@ranc1dm3at65]

Thanks for all your videos they have made me confident enough to take on more repairs and diagnose my problems with a lot of logic you have taught.

[@luisamoa2500]

THIS content is what made SMA the best, that and the commentary 😂😂😂

[@RobertCiampa9112]

"Hi I need a sticker" That will be 3 million dollars (:

[@josetellez1803]

I got a caveman mind this early : "See flames, me watch"

[@IgorD33]

One of a few mechanics that earns his money!

[@MRrwmac]

Always fun learning experience! Mrs O wants more O2 pumped into the office