- First Name
- Lee
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2025
- Threads
- 1
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 19
- Location
- Northern Arizona
- Vehicle(s)
- 2022 Bronco Sport
- Thread starter
- #1
A few months ago I downsized, traded in my 2019 Ranger for a BS BB. I thought it looked good with the Falken tires but had no idea at the time it had a lift kit.
A 1.5" lift isn't a real big change. I knew the new Bronco Sport was stiffer than my 2wd Rnger was, going around round-a-bouts there was less body roll, and going over speed bumps was more tame.
My main dislike was the much lower clearance of the Bronco Sport, I had no problem sliding under the Ranger without jacking it up to check things or change fluids.
The last couple months I've been enjoying looking for gold in the Bradshaw Mountains northwest of Phoenix. I don't find any often but enjoy looking and learning about geology.
I don't drive fast on dirt roads, even if they are fairly smooth. I keep it under 30. I remember all the rock chips by Ranger had down the sides and I didn't drive it fast or hard either. Rougher sections and washboard I slow down to a crawl. I'm in no hurry, but a lot of trucks and jeeps will come flying up behind doing 65, even if there are curves and hills. They all think they are in the Mint 400 race I guess.
A couple weeks ago, after I got home from a trip near Bumblebee, I started hearing a loud clunk whenever I hit anything more than a small bump.
It seemed to be coming from near the left front wheel but I could'n be sure, it might be from near both wheels.
I took off the splash shield and checked struts, sway bar kinks and the fasteners were tight.
I figured maybe a strut went bad and the rig was under warranty, so I made an appt. with the dealer.
I got a call when they got around to looking at it and they asked " Did you put a lift kit on this "? I said "no, but about 30 minutes before I had looked through the service records and saw that I had overlooked a lift kit being installed by a rival Ford dealer down in Phoenix. The Bronco was a month old and the dealer, Earnhart, installed a Rough Country 1.5" lift (the $200 one, not the $700 one) and replaced the wheels and tires with the Falken AT3 on Black Rhino rims.
The first owner bought it a couple months later and must have never taken it off road or near shopping carts. Not even a minute scratch or chip anywhere.
The dealer kept the rig over the weekend, long enough to check on new end links from Rough Country, they are backordered.
I started reading threads here about the early RC lifts that the end links were not the greatest. Lots of guys getting the clunking noise.
One guy said that Rough Country responded and sent him out some improved links, but he was the exception, most said they couldn't get RC to answer back.
Some have stated that the problem is merely loose nuts on the links that nylon lock nuts are needed over the RC non locking.
Mine are tight, but the bushings do look damaged at full wheel lock.
I read where some here just put the OEM sway bar link back on and said the ride quality was much improved. Wouldn't those be a bit (1.5") short to use with the spacer lift ?
And others said they went with HRG end links, a better product than RC. I might go that route, but wanted to hear what other's solutions to the RC end links were.
A 1.5" lift isn't a real big change. I knew the new Bronco Sport was stiffer than my 2wd Rnger was, going around round-a-bouts there was less body roll, and going over speed bumps was more tame.
My main dislike was the much lower clearance of the Bronco Sport, I had no problem sliding under the Ranger without jacking it up to check things or change fluids.
The last couple months I've been enjoying looking for gold in the Bradshaw Mountains northwest of Phoenix. I don't find any often but enjoy looking and learning about geology.
I don't drive fast on dirt roads, even if they are fairly smooth. I keep it under 30. I remember all the rock chips by Ranger had down the sides and I didn't drive it fast or hard either. Rougher sections and washboard I slow down to a crawl. I'm in no hurry, but a lot of trucks and jeeps will come flying up behind doing 65, even if there are curves and hills. They all think they are in the Mint 400 race I guess.
A couple weeks ago, after I got home from a trip near Bumblebee, I started hearing a loud clunk whenever I hit anything more than a small bump.
It seemed to be coming from near the left front wheel but I could'n be sure, it might be from near both wheels.
I took off the splash shield and checked struts, sway bar kinks and the fasteners were tight.
I figured maybe a strut went bad and the rig was under warranty, so I made an appt. with the dealer.
I got a call when they got around to looking at it and they asked " Did you put a lift kit on this "? I said "no, but about 30 minutes before I had looked through the service records and saw that I had overlooked a lift kit being installed by a rival Ford dealer down in Phoenix. The Bronco was a month old and the dealer, Earnhart, installed a Rough Country 1.5" lift (the $200 one, not the $700 one) and replaced the wheels and tires with the Falken AT3 on Black Rhino rims.
The first owner bought it a couple months later and must have never taken it off road or near shopping carts. Not even a minute scratch or chip anywhere.
The dealer kept the rig over the weekend, long enough to check on new end links from Rough Country, they are backordered.
I started reading threads here about the early RC lifts that the end links were not the greatest. Lots of guys getting the clunking noise.
One guy said that Rough Country responded and sent him out some improved links, but he was the exception, most said they couldn't get RC to answer back.
Some have stated that the problem is merely loose nuts on the links that nylon lock nuts are needed over the RC non locking.
Mine are tight, but the bushings do look damaged at full wheel lock.
I read where some here just put the OEM sway bar link back on and said the ride quality was much improved. Wouldn't those be a bit (1.5") short to use with the spacer lift ?
And others said they went with HRG end links, a better product than RC. I might go that route, but wanted to hear what other's solutions to the RC end links were.
