2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Factory 4" Truck Lift

[GCurrie]

I have a 99 QC 4X4 sport, with the camper option. When I purchased it used a few months ago, the dealer told me that this truck came standard with a 4" lift. I asked the service person at the dealer and he wasn't sure.



The reason I am asking, is that the rear leafs are lifted using a block. I would think that a spring lift would have been better, especially with the amount of torque the rear suspension may be subjected to.



Any comments from you dodge historians would be appreciated.



Thanks



Gary

 

[Mactruck]

My 2001. 5 2500 came with a 4" block as well from the factory. The front was not lifted and overall the truck was raked higher in the rear than the front. When I put a 2" leveling kit on (utilizing Skyjacker D25 replacement springs) I did nothing to the rear to lift it.

Some Trucks used only a 1 to 2" block due to tight clearances trying to tow a fifth wheel. If you had the 4" blocks and complained to DC, They replaced them with the lower blocks.

Thats what I know. I'm sure a few more people will chime in...

 

[Beach]

From what I've seen, all these truck's use a 4 inch block in the rear. I don't think the 2 wheel drive do. I think Ford doe's the same thing. Maybe someone else can explain better. I did read some where that maybe it's to make the assembly process easier, meaning the 2 and fourwheel drives are the same except for the front axle and the need to get the back up to match the front so it isn't doing a "wheelie". Hope I'm right!

 

[amnewsom]

Dodge has always used a rear block. Your truck does not have a 4 inch, unless it looks 4 inches higher than a like truck next to it. These truck are just tall, that's all.

 

[GCurrie]

No, this truck is lifted. At the lot there were other that were similar sitting on either side of it. I was told it was a factory lift. Just making sure. I was thinking of putting on some skyjacker rear springs to get rid of the blocks. Just cleaner that way, and I would think that it would be better for towing, since most of what I do is in 2 wheel drive.

 

[AKAMAC]

Member Greg Boardman is located in the San Diego area. It would be worth your time to get ahold of him. He installs the KORE systems and knows these suspension systems very well. I belive his company is Desert Racing Concepts. Mike

 

[JRagland]

As far as I know, there's no such thing as a factory lift on these trucks. Unless you call the height they all are a lift. All 4x4 2500 and 3500 trucks came with rear blocks that are 4 3/4" tall; the fronts sit where they do because of spring height. They are "lifted" off the axles by 4 3/4", but that was not an option as a lift; it is the way they all are.

BTW, the second gens do sit taller than 3rd gens, if the truck you bought was sitting next to new 3rd gens on the lot. The bed anyway, the hoods are close to equal.

 

[Dirty&harry]

I wounder, are the rear blocks on gen 1 6" tall??

 

[Bob V]

The ONLY "factory" lifted trucks where the 3rd gen "Power Wagons" and they where ALL gassers.

 

[Dirty&harry]

Ok. Thanks. Do You know if I can use any of those suspension komponents to gain lift on my 98 2.gen?

 

[CM_Guest]

Does whoever told you about the lift know anything about these trucks or is he a salesman? All Dodge Cummins 4wds have "lift" blocks. They're just spring spacers because a spring with enough arch to get that much ride height would be a foot thick. Dodge makes parts to DROP the rear-end of some of the Cummins 4x4s but I've never seen a 'factory" lift kit. More than likely you're seeing the factory blocks.

 

[Bob4x4]

Does whoever told you about the lift know anything about these trucks or is he a salesman? All Dodge Cummins 4wds have "lift" blocks. They're just spring spacers because a spring with enough arch to get that much ride height would be a foot thick. Dodge makes parts to DROP the rear-end of some of the Cummins 4x4s but I've never seen a 'factory" lift kit. More than likely you're seeing the factory blocks.

1st and 2nd gens not all

 

[CM_Guest]

I've never seen a Cummins 4x4 truck without them. But I also haven't specifically looked at every Cummins 4x4 I've seen to check for them. Which trucks don't have them?

 

[NIsaacs]

I've never seen a Cummins 4x4 truck without them. But I also haven't specifically looked at every Cummins 4x4 I've seen to check for them. Which trucks don't have them?

The 3rd gen don't, not sure about the 4th gen. The 3rd gen just use 3 short straight leaves about 1/2" thick about 6" long that are part of the spring pack. I never cared for the tall block on my '75 Ford Highboy or my '01 Dodge, too much leverage on the axle under high torque load.

Nick

 

[CM_Guest]

It seems to work just fine. I haven't seen many pickups launch the rear axle out from under them. Putting blocks in the FRONT axle is a definite no-no, at least according to the safety experts. A '75 Ford highboy, huh? Those trucks had all kinds of challenging engineering. My uncle had a couple of them. The divorced transfer case was a definite drawback to using them to pull a sled. And yes, we did have to install axle blocks between the axle and frame and wrap chains under the axle tubes and up over the nose of the differential to keep the axle from wrapping like crazy and snapping u-joints. Again, other brands don't have anywhere near that tendency to twist the springs under load. I pull my '85 Chevy K30 dually with no blocks or chains. The axle doesn't go anywhere. Except to the winner's circle, most of the time. The Ford highboys tend to look a lot tougher and stronger than they were, in my opinion. Especially when they get some age and the box sides start falling off.

 

[CM_Guest]

So what you're saying is that those "leaves" that really don't and can't bend at all aren't stacked to perform as a block? Maybe the reason for that design is to make the rear ride height easier to adjust in small increments than stocking half a dozen different blocks of varying thickness. Instead of a solid block doing the exact same thing. Especially if there's a pin running through those leaves or they're using some other method to keep them from sliding around on each other. On a truck that gets used with a range of loads and trailers it doesn't make much sense to have 1/2" increments. But I imagine the 5th-wheel camper guys like to have their trucks level and can adjust it more accurately with thinner spacers.

 

[NIsaacs]

So what you're saying is that those "leaves" that really don't and can't bend at all aren't stacked to perform as a block?

No, I was just pointing out that the 3rd and I think 4th gens didn't use a 4" block as such, just a small lift (about 1.5") incorporated into the spring pack with the center bolt attached.

Nick

 

[Bob4x4]

since it seems to be getting very specific here lets say center bolts ,2 per side

 

[NIsaacs]

It seems to work just fine. I haven't seen many pickups launch the rear axle out from under them. Putting blocks in the FRONT axle is a definite no-no, at least according to the safety experts. A '75 Ford highboy, huh? Those trucks had all kinds of challenging engineering. My uncle had a couple of them. The divorced transfer case was a definite drawback to using them to pull a sled. And yes, we did have to install lift blocks and wrap chains under the axle tubes and up over the nose of the differential to keep the axle from wrapping like crazy and snapping u-joints. Again, other brands don't have anywhere near that tendency to twist the springs under load. I pull my '85 Chevy K30 dually with no blocks or chains. The axle doesn't go anywhere. The Ford highboys tend to look a lot tougher and stronger than they were, in my opinion. Especially when they get some age and the box sides start falling off.

I agree, they do seem to work okay but not great. I have a 14 bolt in mine with 5/8 fine thread u-bolts to keep it there when I sled pull.

Nick

 

[CM_Guest]

Yes, they're at least that tall. At least they are in my Grandpa's 1990 W250 regular cab.