2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Suspension Lifts

[AClayton]

The shocks on my truck simply do not work anymore. I have a leveling kit right now and the truck still sits a tad lower in the front and I was considering the Skyjacker 2. 5 with both control arms or the Tuff Country 3"spacer kit which comes with new control arms also. Price is a consideration as always but if you guys can suggest something different ... . please do. I understand the Bilsteins to be a good upgrade but any kit with control arms that place the axle in the stock location after lift is mandatory for me. I will continue to keep the 285's though... . just looking for a little extra lift that's all.

 

[12Vmudder]

I recently rebuilt the front end of my truck and when doing so went with the Skyjacker 2. 5" lift coils and bilstein shocks... So far I am very satisfied with the new ride of my truck but since I did so many things to it at once I can't tell what all did what... anyway here is a link to the thread where I talk about the parts

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...iscussions/198567-1996-front-end-rebuild.html

look specifically at post #15

Good Luck,
12Vmudder

 

[JacobsD]

I recently installed this kit from Top Gun Customz: 3" 94-02 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 4x4 Lift Kit



Its nice, and is really a rough country lift. Overall, I was very happy with the outcome. Looks good with 35" tires.

 

[AClayton]

I recently installed this kit from Top Gun Customz: 3" 94-02 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 4x4 Lift Kit



Its nice, and is really a rough country lift. Overall, I was very happy with the outcome. Looks good with 35" tires.

If your truck has 35"s then i know the 33"s will work great. Did you need to install the add-a-leaves in the rear to level yours out?I have the 2" leveling kit now but what may be happening is the stock coils are worn down. I once ordered a lift for a previous Chevy that i owned with rear add-a-leaves and they made it ride horribly. Thanks for the suggestion and I'm may very well get this kit due to the new springs. The kit from Tuff Country retailed for 459. 00 without shocks so I think this kit is better value for the dollar. Tuff Country only had lift spacers

 

[AClayton]

I ended up purchasing the Rough Country kit through Top Gunz. The adjustable control arms upgrade was also available so I got them too. Thanks for the help guys!!



Alan

 

[AClayton]

I recently installed this kit from Top Gun Customz: 3" 94-02 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 4x4 Lift Kit



Its nice, and is really a rough country lift. Overall, I was very happy with the outcome. Looks good with 35" tires.

I just recieved my lift from Top Gun and saw that there was no drop bracket in the kit for the track-bar. A call to Top Gun and I found out that Rough Country states that a 3" lift does not require track-bar mods. I argued that point because my 2" leveling kit offsets the front axle quite a bit... . not to mention the fact that the lift kit states that there is a drop bracket included in the kit. I ended up going with the Solid-Steel Ind. track bar which is far superior than a drop bracket anyway but it sure did cost alot of $$$.



Anyway,I sure hope the new springs work well after installed and the track bar finally kills the death wobble.



Alan

 

[JacobsD]

Sorry I didn't see your post... . Yes I had to add the leaf to the rear to level it out. There was a pretty noticeable difference sitting on level ground.



Mine came with a trac bar relocation bracket I had to drill a new hole and whatnot. Maybe an adjustable 3g bar would be a better choice anyways?

 

[Hammer]

Hmm. .

I wish my D25 coils would have settled down some or would have been a tad lower in the front. After I did mine a few years ago the truck would sit nose high on a level piece of ground and it drove me friggin bonkers. So instead of removing the coils I added an extra ply of spring to the rear to put the back up 2". After the install I had the rear a bit higher with the proper stance and the truck overall up 2".



Most all of the companies that make the leveling kits tell you that a adjustable trac bar is not needed. However,if you go 3" over in the front then you will need the trac bar and the longer arms to compensate.



Something else many do not think about when doing the leveling kit is the sway bar end links. I changed mine to the long Maxx Links due to them being worn and could tell a huge difference in the way the truck handled after they were done... ... Andy



Here is a shot of mine sitting on a level parking lot recently.

 

[AClayton]

Nice truck Hammer..... I have not recieved the add-a-leaves yet for the rear but I did order the Pac-Brake air bags in hopes of leveling the rear. After reading your post,I may be in for more trouble. I've had a bad experience with add-a-leaves in the past on a 70's Chevy when in College,and I am really hesitant about installing them. With Diesel torque curves,probably not a good idea to use blocks. I had better fix on ordering some lift springs for the rear too unless someone says these add-a-leaves are decent!!!



Alan

 

[Hammer]

Alan. .

The rear springs on mine are not add-a-leaves,they were done at the spring shop that build EEP's pulling springs. My rears have a leaf added from a truck trailer spring and I have gone to 3/4 inch u-bolts to keep them steady and straight. It is definitely sure footed and when you drop the hammer on it,it will do what I want. I have about $200 in parts in the rear setup to get the desired lift I wanted. The tires on my truck are 315's and it sits just the way I want it to now... ... . Andy

 

[JacobsD]

I put the add a leafs in from the link I posted above, and mine does have a decent case of torque steer. It also loosened up the U-Bolts twice in a couple months, but has been behaving since then.

 

[AClayton]

Yeah,I hate those stupid things..... I took mine to the spring shop in Hagerstown and they beefed by taking a leaf out but then added an arched leaf and then removed the overload per my request. The truck sits perfectly level and when I tow my trailer i will add air to the Pac-Brake bags to compensate. The truck rides noticeably better now unloaded but the best mod after the lift is the addition of the Solid-Steel trac-bar. I have no more death wobble now!! Anyway... . Did you like the Rough Country shocks? I found them to be less desirable... . may upgrade to something else and ditch the front shocks. What do you think about them?



Alan

 

[JacobsD]

The Rough Country shocks do ride kind of crappy... . I may upgrade too if I get the initiative Oo.