Leveling Kit - New Control Arms?

[Cooker]

I've been checking into a leveling kit and, like most of the purchasws for my rig, I researched the alternatives. Not wanting to replace the springs, I was at first sold on the Rancho 6476 Kit (spacers and lower control arms), but after a phone call with JackIt.com today, I'm not too sure now.

The gentleman at Jackit recomended just the spacers from Tuff Country. He said the Rancho arms are not any longer so they do nothing to affect front end geometry. Certainly the Rancho arms are stronger, but I don't plan on doing heavy 4 wheeling with this truck so the strength of the arm may be a moot point.

I must say I that I am impressed with the guys at Jackit. I called wanting to order a Rancho kit and the gentleman steered me to a cheaper kit. Maybe he has can make a higher margin on the Spacers alone, but I can't believe it equates to more money, so I don't think his suggestion is motivated by $$$ ($120 spacers or $300 lift kit).

What do you think? Since my original logic behind wanting the control arms went to hell (restore front end geometry), are they really necessary if I'm not doing serious 4-wheeling with this truck? I iapologize for the lenghty post.

As always, thanks for the input,
Ryan

 

[outlawram]

I do not have the tuff country but my brother just put it on his truck. He e loves it. It sits much better know. Higher than mine. (I am jelous) I will probably order soon. Got to have room for those 35's.

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1999 2500 white quad cab sport diesel. loaded, leather. JRE 4" Straight pipe,JRE injectors,K/N Filter,lund luner visor,lund wiper cowl,Westin nerf bars,silencer removed, 35" tires on 16. 5"x10" rims,bushwacker fender flares. Hadley air horns.

 

[**ICEMAN**]

just ordered the 2" leveling kit from tuff country yesterday for my 01 3500 ,,sounds like the way to go,,they do recomend an alignment check after installing though

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94 2500 4x4 SLT,auto,183,000 miles,3:54,brilliant blue/silver,tst 250/635 set full forward,star wheel wide open,air box ported,pump turned up 20%,k&n,gauges,cat gutted,
2001. 5 3500 4x4 q-cab slt,auto,6800 miles,3:55lsd,brite silver,tst power max 3 adjustable,3 gauges on the a-pillar,both have 12k hitches&15k's in the beds,30ft fourwinds 5er,(MY RAMS) http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1360183&a=10142301

 

[GWS]

I've had my Tuff Country 2" levellers in since last October, and everything seems fine. They really give the truck a more balanced and aggressive stance without much overall lift. The steering and handling seems pretty much the same, and you can use your stock shocks too. My steering wheel is not lined up perfectly though. What adjustment is needed to correct this?

 

[Bigramguy]

You can centre your steering wheel without affecting the alignment. Just loosen the adjuster sleeve on the drag link (the one from the steering box),and turn it to centre the wheel. Would'nt hurt to have the alignment checked though,as raising the front can affect the caster.

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1997 2500 CC 4X4,Auto

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Cooker,

I think you will be fine with the spacers.

As for the Rancho upper & lower contol arms, they are not a must with your leveling kit, but I love mine. The big improvement over the OE ones are polyurethane bushings at both ends. Makes for a tighter handling truck. I'm not sure if the OE contol arms flex or not (stamped steel) but compared to the Rancho's, they are junk.

Good info on poly bushed upper & lower links here: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum17/HTML/001285.html



[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 02-23-2001). ]

 

[pcorssmit]

On coil spacers:

1) Make sure they are metal -- some companies sell polyurethane ones for 1/2 tons.

2) If you don't want to raise the back end, I'd do a 2" max, I have 2-1/2s and now I want to raise that back a little.


3) Get the truck aligned after installation. Most trucks (except those with '98 style tie rods, not sure what other years but '97 and 2001's don't have it) will experience toe in due to the crappy steering linkage design by Dodge. My toe in was pretty severe.

Pete

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'97 2500 CC 4X4 5spd Sport
'83 K5 Blazer 350 TBI (ex 6. 2), 39. 5 TSLs, 3" lift, Dana 60/GM 14 blt, Detroits

 

[Bigramguy]

You can box the stock control arms very easily,and add poly bushings. Just pull them off and weld a plate in to make a box. It does make a big difference in steering quality.

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1997 2500 CC 4X4,Auto

[This message has been edited by Bigramguy (edited 02-23-2001). ]

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Cooker,

Here is a picture of the Rancho upper & lower links. This is not my truck #ad


#ad

 

[Cooker]

Hemi, Thanks for the pic. I'm not sure I want to go the route of the arms or not. I'm sure they would be of some benefit but for around $300 I don't know if they will be worth it. I'd rather spend the $300 on the rear end vs. the front. Steve StL's trac bars are looking like they's make a pretty nice addon. Maybe I'll have to look into the poorman's boxed control arm method?

Anyway, thanks for all the input,
Ryan