2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Front Leveling Springs

[HEMI®Dart]

Has anybody added 2-3" leveling springs on the truck and then noticed the front wheels are no longer centered in the wheel well, but about ½" back towards the cab? Also if you stand in front of the truck you'll notice the DS wheel is out say ¾" and the PS wheel is in about ¾"? (I may have got this in reverse)

These 2 things were prominent on my truck when I added new coil springs.

 

[AEdelheit]

Ya all short arm trucks will do that, as the axle goes down the control arms pull it back and the track bar will pull it to the drivers side. That is why companies like Carli and Thuren make longer control arms and adjustable track bars.

 

[Regcabguy]

Yep. I had a Kore 2.5" lift on my '98.5 and never did center the axle even when adjustable tb's came out.

 

[cerberusiam]

Sure, they all do it to varying degrees. Cannot chnage the ride height of a control arm design suspension without changing the axle placement. Along with the springs and shocks you need a set of adjustable control arms and and an adjustable track bar or components built to specs of your suspension.

 

[JMcCoy]

The whole geometry gets thrown out, even with a 2-3 inch lift. You are probably noticing an increase in bump steer as well. You will need control arms (5/8 longer), adjustable 3rd gen track bar, drop pitman arm. You may need taller shocks. When I installed 2'' spacers, my shocks would top out. Longer sway bar end links may not be a bad idea either.e you have an increase in bump steer

 

[AEdelheit]

If you decide to get control arms I strongly recommend fixed, NON adjustable control arms. When the front axle is fully cycled it can come within 1/4" of the track bar, oil pan and cross member. Carli or Thuren arms are the perfect length , if you get adjustable ones and they are not set right it can do serious damage. With that said there are thousands of trucks out there with just leveling spacers and no other components that are doing just fine, its not ideal but realistically it works.

Here are some pics of my friends truck, running Carli control arms and a PLM diff cover that ended up hitting the track bar

#ad


#ad


#ad

 

[JMcCoy]

From the looks of the pictures, that aftermarket cover isn't helping him much either.

 

[AEdelheit]

No its deffenitly not but if you look at the track bar bracket to coil bucket there still is very little room to change control arm length for any reason.

 

[cerberusiam]

Install anything wrong and the results are less than stellar. Some of thos ediff covers are just useless, expecially when the suspension cycles. You almost have to pull th esprings and set the axle distance for full compression then adjust the upper for cater and live with the results. The 3rd gens aren't to bad with the 2-4 inch leveling\lift components, an adjustable track bar will usually suffice. The 2nd gens were a lot worse, arms were to short and angle too high stock.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have Carli suspension on my 94 with a 3rd gen track bar bracket and a Maghitec front cover fits fine