Front Leveling Kit / Coil spacer

[Blakers]

Im considering adding a front leveling kit to my truck when I replace the shocks. It’s an 03 with almost 300,000 miles and it’s sagged a little, but not too much since new. I’m debating whether to go 1.5” or 2”. I’m going to install a heavy duty bumper as well. I run 315-70-17 tires. Thanks.

 

[cerberusiam]

Do yourself a favor and forget the pucks, get a set of springs. I highly recommend the Thuren soft ride springs over pucks any day.
https://www.thurenfabrication.com/p...ents/coils/2-soft-ride-performance-coils.html

The 2" lifts say 2.125 but that is over stock, I gained almost 3" from the worn out stock springs and sets it perfectly with just a little rake for towing.

Also, if doing shocks consider the Biltein 5160's over the 5100's with the heavy bumper and any rough roads.

 

[Wiredawg]

I installed the 2" spacers on my former 2003 Ram QC 4x4. Ran 35s nice!

Cheers, Ron

 

[Blakers]

Do yourself a favor and forget the pucks, get a set of springs. I highly recommend the Thuren soft ride springs over pucks any day.
https://www.thurenfabrication.com/p...ents/coils/2-soft-ride-performance-coils.html

The 2" lifts say 2.125 but that is over stock, I gained almost 3" from the worn out stock springs and sets it perfectly with just a little rake for towing.

Also, if doing shocks consider the Biltein 5160's over the 5100's with the heavy bumper and any rough roads.

Thanks for the advise. I like the idea of new coils, but not sure about spending the extra $300 over the spacers right now. I know new coils will give better articulation, but if the spacers do what I want. ??

 

[Blakers]

I installed the 2" spacers on my former 2003 Ram QC 4x4. Ran 35s nice!

Cheers, Ron

What brand did you get Ron?

 

[Wiredawg]

What brand did you get Ron?

Can't remember, sold the truck 2 years. Got them on ebay. I never had any problems. I installed an aftermarket adjustable track bar at the same time.

If you do it with spacers, you need some heavy duty spring compressors... did an 02 3500 and 03 2500 and CAN NOT use just a pry bar.

Cheers, Ron

 

[EDankievitch]

Having done both springs and spacers. I went with spacers on my 2013. Got them on Ebay . They kept the factory ride. The truck I did springs Kore I think, I found them to be a bit soft for towing. Great for off road but a but soft other wise. Just my preference.

 

[cerberusiam]

You get what you pay and it trickles down to the rest of the parts. Putting pucks onto an already worn set of springs will NOT make it ride better, pucks themselves will not make it ride better. In fact, EVERY install of the pucks has always ridden worse than springs and that translates into beating on ball joints, wheel bearings and the truck in general. It is already an HD suspension that needs some help NOT to beat itself to death on the crappy roads we deal with.

 

[Regcabguy]

Having done both springs and spacers. I went with spacers on my 2013. Got them on Ebay . They kept the factory ride. The truck I did springs Kore I think, I found them to be a bit soft for towing. Great for off road but a but soft other wise. Just my preference.

The Kore's on mine are stiff as heck. They well with my camper on bu

Having done both springs and spacers. I went with spacers on my 2013. Got them on Ebay . They kept the factory ride. The truck I did springs Kore I think, I found them to be a bit soft for towing. Great for off road but a but soft other wise. Just my preference.

Kore's are the stiffest aftermarket coils out there. They work well with my camper weight but unladen they beat me to death.

 

[AH64ID]

I ran both a 1" and a 2" spacer on my 05. The 2" spacer rode horrible, thou I didn't realize it until dropping to a 1" spacer. The ride was easily twice as nice, as the control arms were at a better angle.

If you're looking for more than 1" I'd go with springs.

 

[Blakers]

Does anyone know, or is there a way to look up, the distance from end to end of the coil spring on an 03 Ram, when installed in the truck, and sitting with no load, when brand new? I'm just trying to find a base measurement to compare mine to. How much to these springs typically sag after 15 years on the road?

 

[Blakers]

I ran both a 1" and a 2" spacer on my 05. The 2" spacer rode horrible, thou I didn't realize it until dropping to a 1" spacer. The ride was easily twice as nice, as the control arms were at a better angle.

If you're looking for more than 1" I'd go with springs.

Thanks! I know the springs have sagged some since the tires slightly rub the mudflaps on turns (which they didn't used to do), but I don't think it's a full 2 inches.

 

[AH64ID]

Does anyone know, or is there a way to look up, the distance from end to end of the coil spring on an 03 Ram, when installed in the truck, and sitting with no load, when brand new? I'm just trying to find a base measurement to compare mine to. How much to these springs typically sag after 15 years on the road?

There are some charts in here that will help you determine the sag, but they are all with stock tires so you will need to adjust the numbers for your oversize tires.

http://www.rambodybuilder.com/2004/dr/drquad/drquad2500mo.pdf

 

[Wiredawg]

Here's maybe the answer if your concerned about the condition of you existing springs, but are concerned about the harshness of t
he ride with after market ones: Buy new factory ones and purchase 2" spacers. You're hearing a wide variety of suggestions:

- Replace springs with aftermarket ones.
- Keep springs and install 1" spacers.
- Keep springs and install 2" spacers.
- Buy new factory springs and install 2" spacers.

Everyone can share with you, but in the end is what you really want.

Let's throw one more element to consider: Is this a "street" 4x4 or are you going offroad it? With those big tires you may get some rub with that big rubber.

So, anyway, it WILL be interesting what you decide to do.

Cheers, Ron

 

[CVR222NV]

When I added my Buckstop bumper and winch I had the local spring shop order new coil springs that added 650 lbs capacity and 2" height. You can do just about anything you want with custom springs. I also added Carli control arms to push the axle out 1 1/2" which allows me to run chains without rubbing the fender.

http://www.coilsprings.com/

 

[Blakers]

Here's maybe the answer if your concerned about the condition of you existing springs, but are concerned about the harshness of t
he ride with after market ones: Buy new factory ones and purchase 2" spacers. You're hearing a wide variety of suggestions:

- Replace springs with aftermarket ones.
- Keep springs and install 1" spacers.
- Keep springs and install 2" spacers.
- Buy new factory springs and install 2" spacers.

Everyone can share with you, but in the end is what you really want.

Let's throw one more element to consider: Is this a "street" 4x4 or are you going offroad it? With those big tires you may get some rub with that big rubber.

So, anyway, it WILL be interesting what you decide to do.

Cheers, Ron

All I'm trying to do is bring it back up to stock height. It would be great if I knew how much it sagged since new, but I doubt if it is more than an inch, so I may purchase some 1" spacers to install when I install new shocks.

My truck is used mostly on road through all conditions, though sometimes off road, but not in competition. Previously I used my truck to tend gas wells for three years where it had to go into some extreme conditions, including lots of mud, snow up to the headlights, steep grades, washed out lease roads, and fording small streams. I've never had any issues with my 315 tires rubbing the fenders.

 

[Wiredawg]

Im considering adding a front leveling kit to my truck when I replace the shocks. It’s an 03 with almost 300,000 miles and it’s sagged a little, but not too much since new. I’m debating whether to go 1.5” or 2”. I’m going to install a heavy duty bumper as well. I run 315-70-17 tires. Thanks.

I apologize, I was under the impression you wanted lift spacers. I had those tires on a 2003 Ram 2500 4x4 QC stock springs and 2" spacers. With 180K miles on mine, front spring weren't tired, but wanted extra clearance for the same tires you ref. Nothing more I can say.

Good luck deciding,

Ron

 

[Blakers]

I apologize, I was under the impression you wanted lift spacers. I had those tires on a 2003 Ram 2500 4x4 QC stock springs and 2" spacers. With 180K miles on mine, front spring weren't tired, but wanted extra clearance for the same tires you ref. Nothing more I can say.

Good luck deciding,

Ron

Thanks! No need to apologize. I wouldn't mind a little extra lift, but I don't want to mess with new springs or blocks in the back, so I'd be happy with a bit in the front. It's not a huge deal, but just figured for the small price it wouldn't be a bad thing. I know it's settled a little as the tires do rub my mudflaps on turns, which they didn't use to do.

 

[Wiredawg]

Thanks! No need to apologize. I wouldn't mind a little extra lift, but I don't want to mess with new springs or blocks in the back, so I'd be happy with a bit in the front. It's not a huge deal, but just figured for the small price it wouldn't be a bad thing. I know it's settled a little as the tires do rub my mudflaps on turns, which they didn't use to do.

I just think you can't go wrong with 2" and no rubbing. Even some off roading without worry. I never went diagonal across a ditch, so can't guarantee no rubbing there, but way less chance than stock.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Regcabguy]

Thanks! No need to apologize. I wouldn't mind a little extra lift, but I don't want to mess with new springs or blocks in the back, so I'd be happy with a bit in the front. It's not a huge deal, but just figured for the small price it wouldn't be a bad thing. I know it's settled a little as the tires do rub my mudflaps on turns, which they didn't use to do.

No blocks necessary with Thuren's adjustable rear shackles. 3 settings.
https://www.thurenfabrication.com/p...nts/overview/thuren-performance-shackles.html