Off Roading Newby with home made "levelling kit"

[SLezotte]

Here's my 99 dodge 4x4. I made strut towers out of 1" solid steel bar and 3/8th inch plate. I run King coil overs and have 37" BFG mudders on factory 17 inch rims. I had to cut and fully box my upper control arms... they're actually shaped like an open up "z" for tire clearance. I have about 30,000 miles on this set-up. It works nice. Once I finish the lower control arms, I will have 100% of my steering radius back. Right now, I rub very slightly on the lower control arms at full lock, I'll make a new lower control arm in a few weeks to alleviate this problem. I don't jump my truck 4 feet off the ground, I have a quad to hammer on so this mod has served me very well. I can let go of the steering wheel at almost 100 mph and this thing runs straight and true... no shimmy, no wobbles... .



what do ya think?

 

[Glen Pratt]

Nice work. I bet those King coilovers were pretty pricey.

 

[SLezotte]

They (King coil-overs) were a lot less money than the major (famous) company who I purchased a lift kit from. That company sold me replacement coil springs, new front and rear shocks and a complete set of new rear springs all of which sagged over 2 inches in 18 months.



Ya live and ya learn.

 

[AKAMAC]

Nice job! Welcome to the site. Mike

 

[RSergeant]

I have thought about doing this, what was the # on the king shock and what rate springs did you use, if I may ask. nice work on the upper heim mount.

 

[SLezotte]

If my memory serves me correctly, King offroad recommended an 800 Lb spring. I've actually got to get back in there and unscrew the spring collar a bit to soften up the ride a notch. Adjusting the preload is a simple matter of jacking the truck up, letting the suspension sag, unbolting the dampner and sliding it out and twisting the coller in the direction you need. I can adjust spring rate / ride height in about 15 minutes per side.

As far as what shock number, again I deferred to the techs at King and they were spot on with their recommendation. I have it written down SOMEWHERE... . but I'm sure if you call them and tell them what your intentions are they'll set you up straight.



Hope this helps.





ps. The control arm looks a bit ummmmmmmmm... . "strange" but it works wonderfully. . I would have lost a LOT of my turning radius if I had not made those modifications.