2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2" leveling-pros & cons? need input from people that have them.

[SSolderitch]

the way I see it is and the questions I have:



cons:



driveshaft angle increase

tires/axle moved to rear of wheelwell

caster angle change

more tail down with heavy toung trailer (I am leaning down now - should be worse w/spacers installed)

front end alignment issues with cams?

2" longer shocks needed?

alignment needed after install?

is 2" too high?



pros



more clearence for trackbar knuckle - MINE hits the diff cover & took a piece out of the cover and broke off a cover bolt head.

more height for front drop with added snow plow weight.

more room for larger tires

is 2" just right?



Well I am thinking of adding a set to cure my hitting ploblem, but I would be happer with only a 1" lift, so I would get the best of the pro & cons above. Does anone make one?

Better brands? Cage solid aluminum spacers with studs or the OEM style (plates welded on tube). need input here!

Last? - did anyone try adding a 1/4 shim plate above spring & one on the mount to get 1/2" with the factory mounts? This is limited to factory studs and inner tube length. (I can get any shape precission cut/welded at work) or has anyone cut/weld/modify OEM ones?



Thanks - I want the truth - good or bad.

 

[Mhannink]

well to start ill anwser the first question. i have the leveling kit as well as 3 or 4 of my buddies one of them being a 2wd. on the 4x4s we didnt notice any real differences in your cons. on one the 305 70 16 tires do rub on the back but his body isnt exactly straight either 99. 9% of trucks wont have any problems yes it does move the axel back a smidge but longer control arms(very easy to make) will correct it. yes if you tow heavy on the bumper your gonna be tail down thats unavoidable. personaly i dont think that its too high to me its just about right it levels the truck wich looks better and can fit up to 35 inch tires.



as for the 1 inch spacer ive heard of them might be available at tough country google it online. other wise it wouldnt be hard to make the pieces you need.

 

[JPittinger]

Search this for your 'cons': DEATH WOBBLE

 

[Extreme1]

I had a 2" lift with stock length Ranch 9000 shocks. The increase in height made the ride a lot better (measure the distance between the front bump stops). I could tell when the fron end would be comming up and run out of shock travel but that can be fixed with 2" extensions. I switched to a CORR system and sold my spacers a couple years ago.



As for the alignment, go with the specs on Dave Fritz's website. Lots of castor (and no loose parts) fixes the problem. When you do get it aligned watch them close and get before and after print outs of the specs.



As for your cover damage, it can still happen even with the lift because the stops aren't changing. It won't be as likely because you will have to hit a bigger bump. The CORR set up uses a taller, stiffer stop and was one of the deciding factors for me because I wanted to install my MagHytek and not break it.

 

[BDR]

SSolderitch~
I'm running a 2" leveling kit on my 2500. I also upgraded the front shocks to some Bilsteins. Ride wise I have no problems, and death wobble isn't an issue. The axle does sit back a little, tires rub only at full turn. I took the truck to an alignment shop that has expireance with lifts and larger tires. I do however need to upgrade the trackbar. But really I have had no problems leveling my truck. I love the look and running 35s.

 

[Tinman]

Adding 2 inches won't cause any problems. The caster can be pushed out to specs with the cam bolts to be back at factory recommendations. It will make the truck nose up with any load behind it, but drives OK. I've not experienced any front end problems in the 4 years the 01 has been leveled. The only issue was tire rub with 295s. (Mostly on the passenger side b/o the driver side re-location of the axle. I put a bead of weld on the knuckle to cut the turning arc a little so no more rub. ) The 06 doesn't rub with 315s expect with full droop and full right turn. I use 4wd everyday and have run 4wd at highway speeds over long distance (icy roads) without any issues. The Power Wagon is basically leveled from factory and all those desert racing guys on the suspension thread trash their trucks with the leveled front ends without issues.



The thing to remember is if you puck the front end you'll have to limit up travel with larger bump stops to prevent the stock springs from coil binding. So no performance gain, just esthetics. I highly recommend performance springs that give you the lift and increased travel. You could also consider snowplow springs from Dodge. Better springs are well worth the money. Another disadvantage is that a leveled truck will have to have bigger tires to not look (as my wife said) like a toy. Bigger tires = less mileage. Raised front end = (theoretically) more drag = less mileage. At $3+/gal, it's something to think about.

 

[telliott]

i think you can get upgraded springs from the dealer that are made for snowplow applications. I dont have them, but i've heard they will give you about 3/4 to 1 inch more cleareance up front, and are realatively inexpensive.

 

[AFellows]

Check out Leaf Springs and Air Ride Suspension specialists offering Timbren kits, helper springs, and Air Lift kits. for HD coils. I just put some on my truck and they have raised the front end back where it should be. What springs do you have on yours? Mine had #39 and#38, they sagged really bad. I think the ones from Stengel Bros. only are about half an inch taller,but my truck is almost level now. The ride is a little stiffer, but is way better than it was.

 

[SSolderitch]

ok - Bought this truck "as-is". it has 265 tires, thuren track bar & dss bar. new ball joints, tie rods & steering box rebuilt with ratio change. NO steering shock. no drive probelms. The knuckle of the track bar is close to the diff cover - there is a piece of the flange missing & 1 bolt head broke off. Previous owner had a 760# snow plow & I will add one in the future. Truck had 5100 series Bilstein's which can handle a 2" lift. I going to look into springs or a cage kit. I also found adj. arms for $465 a set. ouch! But that will bring the axle back to center & get the right caster.

Anybody made a 2" higher bump stop kit?

Anybody have the mopar springs p/n for a snowplow on a ctd?

 

[AFellows]

I just noticed that your in the Lehigh Valley. Stengel Bros. is in Whitehall. Give them a call, they can set you up. May be you could save $ on shipping if ya pick up yourself. Forgot to mention in previous post that I have an 8ft Curtis plow on my truck.

 

[SSolderitch]

Yes I did see they are local, pricing seemed to be about $300 a pair. I may look into them. thanks.

 

[AFellows]

They are sold in pairs, price is only $157.

 

[SSolderitch]

update



I do have a 2" leving kit, so I only need to get new springs to bring me back up to correct height and hopfully more track bar clearence. thanks for the info.