2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission '96 2500 4x4 suspension rebuild: The right stuff?

[SRath]

It is way past time to fix, once and for all, the front suspension on my '96 2500 4x4. I can't afford to keep feeding it new $200 tires. I can't stand driving the truck anymore, either, and it's our best and newest vehicle.



My plan, put together from spending many hours reading old posts and checking out various aftermarket "cures" is as follows but leaves plenty of unanswered questions such as which name-brand ball joints and tie rod ends, etc. to use. (spicer/napa, moog, etc. )



I would greatly appreciate opinions (maybe even a consensus?) as to how to fix my truck right the first time.



My plan so far:



1) Solid Steel brand adjustable track bar and mounting kits

2) Solid Steel steering stabilizer/power steering box support kit

3) Solid Steel adjustable lower control arms

4) Upgrade inverted Y components to 98/99 crossover steering components (Moog or other brand?) (Thanks Mark for the great photos and info on all of your modifications!)

5)David Bazley's column bushing kit



This leaves plenty of items yet to cover:



6) Ball joints (and all other steering components): Who makes the absolute best?? (moog, spicer, etc. )

7) Polyurethane upper control arm bushings? Or maybe aftermarket upper control arms that I don't know about?

8) Polyurethane sway bar bushings?

9) Shocks?? Currently Rancho RS5000.

10) Steering stabilizer?

11) Maybe 2" leveling kit? (which type/brand?)

12) Do shock towers need replaced or upgraded?

13) Alignment specifications?

14) Anything I've overlooked?



I need my truck daily and I use it to plow snow in the winter with a heavy Boss V (not much commercially, but I do take care of a few rural widow ladies and elderly folks, too). I want to "fix it right and fix it once".



I would really appreciate any guidance on the items I need to buy, brand names to use, things I have overlooked, or better components to use. i need to get to buying the components asap and get everything ready beforehand to minimize downtime. I wish I could say "cost is no object", but it most definitely is. On the other hand, I don't want to cut corners or redo things later.



Thanks for any guidance!

 

[Hammer]

I will add a link to my old readers rig area for you to see the Solid Steel parts mounted on my 98 12v. Their products have allowed my truck to drive better than what it did from Ma Mopars factory when it was built in St Louis in late 97. It is some of the best money I have ever spent on my truck,period. It drives as straight and true at 35mph and does not wiggle on bit even at speeds which make my CDL liscense nervous. No more chasing the steering wheel,no more wandering and no more weird tire wear.



My truck has the inverted Y as all the 98's had them. I have not done the steering column bushing deal as I have never experienced that problem so I can not offer anything on that.



On the leveling kit I use the SkyJacker D25 Coils which made my truck sit even on all four corners. It was one thing that after I did it I wished I had not done. The truck always looked like it was nose high when sitting at shows afterwards and it drove me nuts,LOL. So instead of removing the coils I did what every owner would do,raised the rear 2 inches to get the nose down look it had originally,Oh well lesson learned.



I have never used anything more than the factory steering stabilizer on my truck. I have replaced it twice since I owned this truck,once at 100,000 miles with a Monroe factory replacement and then at 160,000 miles because it was all nicked and rusty(guess I could have painted it but for $30 I just replaced it).



The shocks on my truck since the mose was lifted are SkyJacker Hydro's on all four corners. I paid $33 each for the fronts and $28 each for the rears. They are for a 3 over suspension and have given the truck a nice ride. I do not think they are as nice as the Edelbrock Performer IAS Shocks I took off though. IF Edelbrock would make their Performer IAS in a lifted shock I would have reinstalled them,but,they only are for stock ride heights and had to be removed. The Edelbrocks were one of the best shocks I ever used and are on all of my rides.



As for you question on replacement parts for your front,either use Mopar or MOOG. I have seen way to many of the others fail quickly and then you have to redo the front again.



Alignment specs I let the front end shop handle. I had the shop that Enterprise Engine uses do my last two alignments and would drive out to have them do it agian as their work is fantastic. After EEP replaced both ends of my drag link bar I went back to have the alignment checked and redone. No adjustments were made and it was still perfect even after 20,000+ miles of street use. The parts we replaced were done with MOOG parts and were the first time I ever did them on my truck.



Your shock towers should be ok and not need replaced. They rarely fail and unless they haven't been damaged in a accident will last a long time. The sway bar bushings can be replaced with Energy Suspension units as can the Upper Control arm bushings.



Hope I shed some light on this and helped you. If you have any other questions or if I missed something for you feel free to ask... ... Andy



The link to the old photos... .

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?&albumid=18562&voteval=10