Dealer 4x4 rear leveling kit - $600 ???

[Dane]

Called Dodge with the part # for their leveling kit for the rear of the late model 3/4ton 4x4 Rams. Parts guy says it's $600 He didn't know what's included, the compooter just lists "spacer" Anyone know what's included in the kit?

 

[Jeff H]

ouch 600 dollars!

 

[FMcClaren]

You don,t get much for the money.





2 Rear shock

4 U bolts w/nuts

2 spacers- 1 7/8 inches shorter then the ones you have.

2 Height sensing rods ( you don,t need on the 2001)



If you care about the way your truck looks you don,t want

this kit. You end up with the rear end to low.

If you have to lower your truck don,t go down over

1 inch at the axle. just my 2 cents.

Have a good one

Frank

 

[Dixie Dawg]

Is there any way to lower the rear about 3/4"-1"? Dealer says they don't know (big suprise, huh).

 

[Powder Extreme]

You can have a good spring shop make you set of lower lift blocks or you can have yours cut down. Only going 1 or 2 inches won't require new shocks or u-bolts. I lowered the back end of my 3500 2 inches, blocks cost me about $100. No other expense, only takes about 20 to 30 minutes to swap out the blocks. If you'd like I could tell you how I was able to do it so fast.



Jerry

 

[**ICEMAN**]

just curious why you need to lower the rear? if your looking to level the truck,,raise the front 2"

 

[SLittle]

Speaking for myself, I need to either lower the back of the truck or raise my horse trailer at the axles. I hit the top of my tailgate with the underside of the gooseneck going over a small hill this weekend



Raising the front end 2 inches might lower the back a 1/2 inch or so I'm guessing. I don't like the thought of lowering the back so I guess I'm gonna raise the trailer. I can remove the tailgate in the mean time.



Scott

 

[Powder Extreme]

I had to lower the back of mine for pulling my 5th wheel. I didn't want to flip the axles on my trailer (38ft) Plus I hate the look of a "lifted 5th wheel" After I lowered the rear 2" it still sat about 1. 5" higher in the rear, within a quarter inch of being level with the 5th wheel on.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

I lowered mine 4" to clear the 5th whl. trailer and to make the whole thing set level.

The local spring shop made new spacers and new u-bolts for $130 and installed them. I added two new 2 whl drive shocks at $100.

Now the truck sets level w/o the trailer and squats just slightly hooked up. This has been installed for over 70k miles w/o any problems.

 

[MikeR]

Couldn't you just buy the spacers for a 1/2 Ram? They're about an inch and a half shorter.

 

[Powder Extreme]

The springs are wider on the 3/4 and 1 tons. 1/2 ton won't work.

 

[MCherry]

I have about the same problem as SLittle - tailgate and rear fenders are very close to hitting the gooseneck, especially turning into a field where you have to cross a low spot. If the front wheels drop into a deep enough low spot, I think the tailgate or fender will be damaged.



Does anyone know if the 2wd 2500 or 3500 trucks have lift blocks, and how tall they are? You'd think their springs are as wide as on 4wd 2500's, so they should fit. And you should be able to use shocks for the stock 2wd truck.

 

[Slick]

MCherry

Yes I have a 01. 5 2500 2wd and it had 1' lift blocks which I took out. I prefer the level look whether a 2wd or 4wd. My 2500 is still about 3" to 4" higher at the top of the rear wheel opening than the front. I do not at this time do any heavy towing. I still need to get the rear down probably will require a custom set of springs but I don't know if the $$$$$ will be worth it. It probably would be easier to raise the front however my wife is handicapped (why I did not get a 4wd) and I have to lift her into the truck and raising it any hire would make it difficult. I am a short ##@#%&.

 

[rod77zilla]

well this is for everybody who's not a lowrider out there... . skyjacker makes a leveling kit that is way over priced and gives you new control arms and ends up lifting the front 5"... making it lean the opposite way unless you get a reunel front bumper and a winch... . in the meantime, for about $270 dayco makes a spacer puck that slides in on top of the coilspring. southern offroad in atlanta has em' and I 'm gonna get em'... let cha know!!...

 

[MCherry]

For my purposes the front end is already high enough, nearly too high, so I don't want to raise it any more. I need to figure out how to lower the rear end and don't want to pay the DC price, so if anyone knows of any other sources or has any other ideas, I would appreciate hearing about it.



thanks



mc

 

[vross]

I checked Dodge locally for the kit. I was quoted $720. Then there is the $ to install. You must also remove the camper springs. I certainly understand the reason to lower the truck. I am pulling the goose neck horse trailer up slope, and there is no clearance on the right bump or rise.

 

[pcorssmit]

4x4 shops can get you lift blocks in a variety of heights, and new u-bolts if need be. You should be able to retain the overloads if you want. An added benefit is that a shorter block will reduced axle wrap.



Pete

 

[Posm]

I looked at mine and I think I can have the blocks shaved about an inch without buying new U bolts. Will I need to also shorten the linkage rods for the Brake proportioning valve and the track bar linkage arms???

 

[Extreme1]

As stated above "Cut off the U-bolts" (assuming they are threaded far enough to clamp the shorter lift block). You can use a hack saw if you need to.



The brake proportion linkage will need to be adjusted. Track bar won't change, the front will be the same.

 

[Posm]

Extreme1

I misspoke when I said track bar. I meant the rear stabilizer. I called a spring shop today and they recomended taking some of the bend out of the springs to lower the hieght. I also talked to a machinist, who said he could cut the blocks down if they were not nodular iron. How do you readjust the proportioning valvle? Do you shorten the rod or move the valve lever on its axis?