Anyone else want to lift the front of a 2wd Dually?

[Dkevdog]

I had a conversation with National Spring of El Cajon last night, and spoke to a tech down there about custom making some coil springs to lift my 3500 up about 2". There has been some discussion on this before, and as everyone who has loked knows, there is no off the shelf solution. Spacers are just NOT an option for me, too many people having problems with them.



Anyway, I am going to get them done. The springs will be custom made, with about 2" of lift over stock, and a different recovery rate to stiffen the bounce out of the front end without breaking your teeth. They will take into account the curb wieght of the front end and account for payload as well. He mentioned that the cost of the R&D might be offset by multiple orders.



If anyone is interested in getting in on this let me know and I can shoot you ballpark pricing and details.



Kev

 

[BFC]

I'm listening... ... ... ... .



Glenn

 

[pnwradar]

I thought that replacing the 2wd front springs with stock 4wd front springs would get the 2" lift effect. Is the ride adversely affected, or some other downside?



-jon-

 

[Dkevdog]

Jon- I did check into it, and I was unable to easily find a spring from a used truck for a decent price. Besides that it would be a used spring. I spoke with an Off Road nut who has done this exact same thing on a friends gasser dodge. He told me that the ride would be stiff, and you are going to have to hunt around for springs that have been really "used" . Anything over about 2" (as in a newer shock) and you are going to have to replace arms and such- much too pricey for what I'm trying to accomplish.



Such is the reason I ended up calling National.



I just though if anyone else has been researching this or is interested in doing it, we coula all save a little.



Kev

 

[pnwradar]

The reason I asked is that yesterday I installed some 2. 5" lift/leveling Skyjacker springs on my front end, and the stock 39/40 pair -- 60k miles on them -- are sitting on the shop floor.



Dunno if it'd be worthwhile shipping them somewhere, but if someone local (PacNW) wanted to try them out . . .



-jon-

 

[Dkevdog]

Jon- If you had a means to ship them, I don't know how much they wiegh or how much it would cost. I wish I was closer, I might just give it a shot. I would be curious to know how much "stiffer" it would really make it. IMHO the ride now in the front is too spongy for me. A stiffer front end would be nice if it weren't too harsh. You almost need to have the springs on hand and set them out on the floor to measure them with the stock spring side by side to determine the amount of hieght.



Kev

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

Kev,

Call Deaver Spring in Santa Ana. They are real close to you and IMHO much better than National. National was bought out two years ago and the results aren't the same as before.

 

[RustyJC]

Kev,



If you just want to get rid of the front end "bounce" and aren't really after the lift, my old 5-position Rancho RS9000's set on "3" in the front did the job for me.



JM2CW



Rusty

 

[BFC]

I got my hands on a set used 4X4 coils (Thanks Rob!) will give it shot, see how it turns out. I'll post once they are in. I have a Ranchhand front end so it may help a little. Will see.



Glenn

 

[Dkevdog]

Greg- good to know, I have a 4x4 buddy (Ferd guy) who used to SWEAR by National, I personally have never used them before. The tech sounded pretty knowledgeable though.



Glenn- Let us (and me ) know how it works out, And if possible measure the difference of the stock spring with the 4x4 so we know what difference the spring hieghts are or need to be.



Rusty- I am after a small lift too, but I had Rancho's on my 96. Good shocks, but I wasn't terribly pleased with them. I will be going with Bilstiens on this when I change it all out. Don't want to start another :-{} war on shocks, just my preference.



Kev

 

[BFC]

Originally posted by Dkevdog

Glenn- Let us (and me ) know how it works out, And if possible measure the difference of the stock spring with the 4x4 so we know what difference the spring hieghts are or need to be.

Kev

Not a problem, will do!



Glenn