This Actually Worked.. // Nissan Xterra Bilstein 5100's on My Ford Ranger 

"Because Bud Light is not my perfume of choice," brilliant.

Continue not caring about the algorithm Sarah. You do you, always, without compromise. This is the recipe that has built your channel and you should never doubt it. As far as keeping the ranger OEM versus putting the best available parts on, I would split the diff when and where appropriate. Unless you're dealing with something that has true collectors value, I think going modern and upgraded wherever possible is always the best bet.

I think the Warn hubs would be a nice upgrade. Nothing will get you stuck faster than "automatic" hubs.

I see everyone saying to upgrade to manual hubs, and I have to chime in a bit. As meticulous as you are with your vehicles, I don't see you having any issues with the stock hubs. When put together right, engaged correctly, and not beat on, they will last a LONG time. Most 4X4 failures I see actually happen in the transfer case shift motor due to corrosion/age causing a dead spot in the motor windings. A little tap with a hammer (or whatever you've got) can usually save you in a pinch if needed. Plus, it's not a performance enhancement. Also, I love your videos. As a mechanic that always strives to do things right the first time, it's a pleasure to see someone go above and beyond to make it perfect, even when watching you try to press ball joints in by hand makes me ache, lol.

"Bud light is not my perfume of choice" Dear lord Sarah, that one is gonna be stuck in my head for life. That was hilarious!

The WARN hubs are so ubiquitous with Ford Rangers and Bronco IIs of the era, that they are practically standard fare. These automatic hubs were a pain to engage/disengage. Putting on Manual ones are honestly an upgrade everyone should do.

Amazement. You just re-engineered the suspension on the Ranger and it is the most beautiful-looking suspension I've even seen. Even brand new, it never looked like that. The things you do are usually done in a grimy , grease-coated shop to parts coated with road grime - which is still there when the jack comes down. I'm an Army Vet and I'm glad to hear that the Air Force has the same vocabulary - and it is alive and well. We already know what you're going to do to those old Ranger parts, don't we? You are just super, Sarah. Cheers.

“BudLight is not my perfume of choice” I lost it!

Love the fact you take your time to everything properly. Shows you take pride in your craftsmanship and I respect that. Love the show Sarah.

Do the manual locking hubs. You'll never have an issue with them. I had a Ranger years ago that I replaced the auto hubs with manual hubs and never regretted it.

I admire your patience & perseverance on this project. Your attention to detail is very impressive.

Your car collection is becoming something really cool and unique. Can't wait for more Ranger, Bronco and UR videos.

I would suggest keeping the Ranger light on heavy-duty off-road equipment, as I'm sure it's quite capable off road with the "High Rider" suspension installed. It seems like the Bronco is going to be a better choice for heavier off-road adventures since the Ranger is more of a show truck build compared to the full rally car build of Sir Codsworth.

Ball crushing, blow holes, size, and stiffness. Nailed it.

Carpro CQuartz UK 3.0 is great stuff. You were in rare form for this video. I did a lot of LOLing.

"Bud Light is not my perfume of choice"...Priceless!

It looks like you might have enough room to simply mount the swaybar on top of the axle instead of underneath. That will fix your end link issue.

Biggest heart on RU-vid and best channel from editing to entertaining. Every second is worth my investment!! THANK YOU Sarah

Again I say, I love these Ranger videos! Keep it factory +

Algorithm is temporary ,but Ranger is forever. This is a sick a build , cant wait to see more of it.

Keep the stock hubs those look sick, this is a practical everyday truck.

I enjoy your TikTok and Instagram posts. A daily dose of Sarah is appreciated.

Sarah, I converted my '95 4WD Ranger to manual hubs about 10 years ago and have been very happy with them. They also fit inside the stock Ford hubcaps on the "deer-hoof" style wheels. Warn P/N 37780 is the heavy duty option (originally for Dana 35 full float rear Jeeps). Compared to the Warn replacement P/N 29071 advertised for the Ranger, they've got a beefier hub body, and bronze outer bushings instead of roller bearings.

Some of the lines in this thing are just pure gold. You're working hard there, sport...but you've got mad skills. Manual hubs, of course.

I always try to err on the side of caution. I think I'd replace (where fiscally feasible) every old POS part. I think you can rule Bud Light out as a future sponsor! Looking forward to more content.

Thanks for all of your inuendos. They're hilarious 😂

when you said that bud lite was not your perfume of choice I actually laughed out loud, I mean REALLY LOUD!

I 100% appreciate your attention to detail in keeping things coated, clean & OEM. You do you!😎

Without question I would recommend manual hubs...they are stronger and you've already gone down the road of "restomod" so manual hubs will look proper for the year and be a decent upgrade.

Just found this by chance. This lady ROCKS!!! So refreshing to see a lady into this sort of thing and maintaining her femininity but being mechanical and understanding cars. RARE in my world. Keep up the great work you beautiful rockin' lady! Entertaining AND informative. Thank you. Cheers from Australia :-) Subscribed today.

Having had a 4x4 ranger of that year I vote for manual hub upgrade. Auto hubs were a pita when going off road. Never sure if they were locked or not until you got stuck. Nice Bronco Sarah.

Don't worry about algorithm, Sarah; it's quite evident from the comments that plenty of people watch your videos for your meticulous thoroughness and attention to detail rather than measurable progress - I know I do - so keeping with your instincts will make us keep coming back and thus be a better factor for steady, realiable channel growth.

Breathe - “as close to OEM as you can” as you said as you mounted Xterra shocks on a Ranger. Just breathe, think & do it the way Gram would have liked it. Heck, I’ve been waiting 2-months for my son to do my front suspension bushings on my truck. Soon I’ll ask my grankids…. Plus go manual hubs. Had a ‘89 Nissan 4x4, yep, ALWAYS loved manual

Favorite moment; “Aww daw daw daw da da! “. Priceless.

I suggest install Warm manual locking hubs at least for now and then see what you can do to rebuild the originals. As you know the original hubs have a tendency to self destruct at almost any time and under any conditions and this way you can preserve what you've got.

This is my favourite restoration, you’re doing a fabulous job, your Grandma would be sooooooo proud of you.

Budd lite is nor my perfume of choice. Sarah you crack me up.

Your knowledge is amazing to watch you pull apart and rebuild the Ranger. Enjoying the content.

Well, I don't care what you say, you still made progress. Nice piece of filming, with the Ranger in the background. Nice to see someone who knows how to pack bearings also. Your/Gramma's truck's going to be the best, because you always give 150%. Will you be doing a blooper vid before the end of the year?

i scroll through the internet of things. i see a wild sarah. i click. i enjoy.

LMAO the Bud Light thing is hilarious!! Left butt cheek wobble lmao! 🤣

Your humor makes me laugh. Keep plugging away and I will keep watching.

Congratulations of finding shocks that fit. Nice that they all match. I think the Warn hubs would be a nice upgrade.

A penguin using a face mask as a hammock! I bet no one saw that one coming.

I had a 92 Ranger 4x4 for 16 years never once had an issue with the auto locking hubs. Drove year around in KC Missouri. We get some snow in winter. I also did light off road use and alot of the time with my dirt bike in the back. Love the project! Have Fun!

Kiddo, go for the Warn manual lockers. They are so nice and well built. Had em on my Ranger many moons ago. You're doing Grans truck proud. Thanks for all the great content.

i think u goo 100% on builds and u dont have to but its amazing to watch how much extra care u give the builds you are awesome

DEFINITELY put locking hubs on it. The automatic hubs just do not work well. I know it won't look as factory, but if there is one thing to mod on the axles, its those hubs. BUT, if you want to use the OEM style, make sure you don't put too much grease in them. Otherwise they won't engage, and will instead make terrible grinding sounds.

Hello Sarah, I love your videos. I do a lot of front end work. I just wanted to let you know that most ball joints are clocked to get the most travel. Also I always turn new rotors before install because most all of them are warped from the factory and will make your brakes pulse and squeak. Keep up the great work!

I had to pause you, I was laughing about the squid.

I think your Gramm would be so proud and stoked at what you are doing to her truck . Do it the way you want too Sarah

"Bud Light is not my perfume of choice." I died.

Sarah, you know to do what you feel best with. So, if manual hubs or automatic hubs make you feel better, we will be fine with your choice! Thanks for sharing your time reassembling the Ranger.

Sure, the auto lock hubs are stock. I love them on my F250. But, the manual hubs would also have been a factory piece and definitely fit your theme. Go for it. You’ll be much happier in the long run.

Hey… Pengi in a HAMMOCK taking a snooze! WooHoo! Glad they’re still making cameo appearances!

I may never eat calamari again!!! Thanks Sarah..😭💩

Sarah-n-abitofCharlie-n-tuned. Charlie is a real asset. 👍

If you stay in Arizona, you know when you'll be offroading and needing to lock the hubs in. I recommend the Warn hubs.

It's nice to have a close friend..awesome video Sarah.

PPF and then Ceramic coat the Bronco. Suggestions XPEL Ultimate Plus or STEK.

All these camera angles deserves a like.

Not too fond of Bud light, either...what kind of suspension is a Johny Walker? I think manual locking hubs are a P.i.t.A. if you don't need them to ruggedize the truck.

I restored my 1970 Datsun 240z the same way. I love how clean everything looks. Keep up the great work!!!

I would go with manual hubs... I bet you will find chrome knobs that will keep as much of the original feel as possible. And yes, we all heard your shoulder pop too! You make me laugh and smile all the way through your videos. THANK YOU!

As someone who had the auto hubs on my 94 Explorer and now has the Warns...get the Warns. I think some trucks even came with them from the factory. I LOVE this build btw. My Grandpa gave me his 94 Explorer when I turned 16. I still have it and it is WAY crustier than your Gram's truck. You are inspiring me to actually get my Ex back on the road. Keep up the awesome work!

Nice cross referencing to get those shocks to fit, I've done that too a few times on older vintage vehicles. I'd wait till you have the truck all together before modifying anything for that rear sway bar, those springs will come down a lot. Stick with the stock auto hubs, I mean how often will you ever go off roading with the ranger when you have Pokey to play with now?

You are always doing things the right way instead of the fast and cheap way. I agree with your methods

I'd go with the Warn Hubs it is a simple upgrade.

Absolutely love your OCD, you do better than most could dream of doing. Be true to thyself.

I vote for the Warn manual lock hubs. I had a 1990 Ranger 4 x 4 with the auto-lok hubs and had nothing but trouble with them . Either they would not lock, or they would not unlock, or the parts inside would break.

Not easy to find OEM parts anymore for that year. I have a `98 & love my truck but you just have to do what you can and work with what you can get. I love the work you did on that frame and everything else. I'd love to work with you ! Your a riot !! Like your humor and attitude!

I thinking front locking diffs would be a "acceptable" upgrade from OEM. You will only be changing the look of the end of the hub which isn't a huge diff. Keeping the Ranger stock looking is mostly down to the color, stance and wheels. Manual hubs is an acceptable upgrade.

This a great video,very satisfying being shown the whole frame build,and yes new locking hubs are required .

Do the manual hubs. Even if you aren't doing serious offroading, it's better that the 4x4 actually works when you need it, and those automatic hubs aren't really the best in that regard

Thank you Sarah! Your puns in the first 5 minutes had me laughing to tears. Your most homourfull one ever! I just love your individual way and dry humour.

My favorite ceramic product is the little Christmas tree my grandma used to display during the holiday season.

Great to see someone not cut corners 👍

it's so cool that there are some people that spends time to do something right. Also, your new video is great present for my birthday so thanks! Keep it up! Greetings from poland.🤗

Sarah you are one of a kind. Love the content. Admire your ethic doing it right.

I have no feedback except it’s amazing what u can do! Love the channel. Becoming one of my favorites

Sarah, I heard that bone crack so loud even before you mentioned it. I am impressed with your determination. I like your verbal dirt while working LOL.

I could understand why people were shocked the shocks were too long , but at least it didn't dampen your enthusiasm

Sarah, loving the shenanigans and the content!!! You kill me!!! My thoughts are long-winded, but bear with me: Being a fan of "OE plus" and a 90s Ford truck enthusiast myself, I appreciate what you're doing, and have paid a ton of attention to your build. My 95 F150 still had its OEM hubs when I got it (they also looked like garbage, but I did save them), and I replaced them with Mile Markers and was not at all pleased; mostly, the fit and finish and build quality was all off, and I hate that. I feel like that's worth mentioning, and idk how anal you wanna be about the Ranger, but all I know is every time I polish my chrome steelies, the looseness of the aftermarket parts and how they don't shine up the same and leak wheel bearing grease onto the center caps and splatter it on everything else I just fking detailed really irks me, and I get the impression it would bother you as well if you experienced the same. Like you, I did Timken bearings and seals with OE rotors and hubs. I have not experimented with modern Warn locking hubs as of yet, however, but know there is also a conversion kit that both Rangers and Wranglers can use (Dana 27 and 30 parts sharing) that might circumvent this unique kind of headache, with the added benefit of better U-joints and stub shafts... I think it's available through Quadratec, if you wanna look? The last pair I saw was black with white "Warn" lettering, which has an OE look to it and would compliment the theme of the Ranger while blending in nicely. As an aside, my 67 Jeep Gladiator truck (yes, the real one) has factory Warn hubs (branded as International Harvester!) on it, and they're soooo silky smooth to engage and disengage after more than fifty years of use... but those were intended to be on there as OE, so this kinda supports my preference to leave things alone instead I guess?!? Or does it support using Warn!?!? lol ANYWAYS.. sorry for the tangent, but from what I've gathered over time, Ford hub parts were a collection of Warn and Dana/Spicer items that obvs have a lot of clout and tested durability (not to mention OE designed with them in mind). That said, I feel like the nature of wheeling you might ever find yourself doing will be perfectly within the realm of the OE parts, but I can understand you considering an upgrade. I feel like the Warn hubs would be a tasteful mod, but for this truck and how you're probably going to use it, I'd just rebuild and refresh the factory parts if it was me, and follow the advice by FoMoCo on how to keep them working (i.e. driving it in 4wheel on occasion) instead. The Quadratec upgrade might be the way to go if you're dead set on going manual hubs, though, and ya might wanna check them out if you haven't already. Best of luck, and I hope this was somewhat helpful :)

I like the quality in your work mutch higher than the most builder stuff at the TV

Wow, funniest video in a long time. Way to go Sarah!

"If you slam sht together you're going to get sht." Truer words were never spoken.

Hi Sarah! I agree with most of the comments here and the well deserved praise. I will not argue with the other guys about warner hubs my dad put them on his 1962 Chevy truck and every truck after that but I bought a 1999 Ranger in 2012 with 80,000 miles on it and it now has a 136,000 on it and I have not had any problems with the automatic hubs. I am not a hard core 4x4 drive by any since of the word but if your gentle with it and stop and put it into neutral before you put it into 4 wheel drive you should not have to much of a problem. If you are going to do a lot of 4 wheeling I would agree with others to put the warner hubs on. One thing to think about is that if you stay with the automatic hubs and they don't work out it is not to big of a job to switch over to manual hubs.

Bud Light is not my perfume of choice! Best line ever

I love these ranger videos. I own 2011 ranger for 7 years they are great trucks.🙂

Tomorrow it’s going to rain here in So Cal ,weird, so I’m going to binge watch Sarah n tuned videos,and I’m not even a wrench. But I like all of your clean freak projects & Penguinuendos.

Your channel is the best on you tube, Great job as usual

i have an old pipe i use to put over handles to make tasks easier. its best tool accessory ever

I still pack wheel bearings that way. Love your attention to detail

I know that whatever you decide to do will be the best solution in the end - it is what you do Sarah, not second best, but THE BEST! I am enjoying what your projects, especially this one and the latest Audi project, these two cars in particular are special to you. A different special to The Forester (Gump) and the MR2 (Mr Dos), they were great also.

Cracking job, coming along nicely. Be well and stay safe.

those Bilsteing adjustable are awesome price quality ride LOVE THEM!

Geez, thanks for that Calamari visual. . .!! There goes another favorite Italian restaurant choice. . .!!! 🤣🤣😖😖

Its hillarious looking at the difference between the two chassis when you cut between the two

I have become unhealthily obsessed with your content. The fact that I also "inherited" an old, but ridiculously nice, Ranger from a parental figure may be a factor. Your persona is grata in my worldview. You're impressive in the most unimpressive ways. Review a Kia Stinger for a boomer. Thanks for letting me explore your rabbit hole. It's clean AF in there.

Get a transfer label made with the OEM logo on it and make the hubs you install look factory. Your doing a fantastic job and it looks awesome