To level or not??

[LChartier]

I have been yhinking about leveling the front end of my 2500 CTD. I have looked at several kits thus far. Checking further I talked to a couple of spring shops in my area that do a lot of work on these pickups and larger trucks. I was told on the Dodge it would be better to lower the rear. This was due to trying to realign after the kit was installed. I was told that the dodges were extremley difficult to align after being leveled. The proporting valves for the ABS system were also mentioned. Something about changing their setting from low to level(???????????).

How much of a pain is it really to level?



LChartier

____________________________________________________

04. 5 2500 ext cab auto

AFE Air intake, 3 gauge pillar, Westin chrome/stainless tubes, Ton. Cover

 

[KBertetto]

I leveled mine with a Revtek 2" kit. Installed in less than 2 hours, no allignment needed, steering wheel still perfectly straight and the truck tracks perfectly. If I ever got another truck (not happening anytime soon as I still love this one) I would not hesitate to use the Revtek kit again.



Bert



If you do get the Revtek kit, you will think you won't have to remove the track bar bolt for the installation of the passenger side spacer. Just remove it and save yourself 20 minutes of fiddling around.

 

[CLAYTON]

I don't think anybody here has really had a problem with leveling their trucks. I have had mine on for 36k with no problems... The main thing people run into is that the travel on the shocks has just been shortend by 2 inches and if you hit a big bump they'll top out. I had a place install and do an alignment and it felt like it tracked straighter after the kit was put on. Tires to this day are still wearing well and even. (Knock on wood)

 

[caseyd]

I put some TUFF COUNTRY 2" spacers on mine the day I drove it home.

I marked the springs on removal and made sure I put them back in exacly like

they were originaly.

The install took me about 1. 5 hrs. taking my time.

I too have never had it alligned and it rides great.

I now have 25,000 miles on it and the tire wear is perfectly normal!

 

[Bertram65]

I would not bother, I bought the Revtek kit and ended up giving it to a friend, the two reasons I would not bother are, it can cause "death wobble" and if you haul anything heavy or hook up a 5th wheel it makes the truck nose high. I ran 315s on my truck for a while, I did not have any clearence issues being stock height in the front.

 

[DJennings]

I think your guy is right and wrong. I did a 2" spring kit and it drove fine right after. You still need to do an alignment, as the toe and camber are affected whenever you lift a Dodge CTD. Mine was off a fair amount and would have worn the tires prematurely. If you want to get it right, get the alignment done.



The Service Center that did my alignment said that it could not be brought back 100% to OEM spec. It is off now by such a minimal amount that I am not concerned. It does not feel abnormal, other than a very slight increase in bumpsteer, which I believe can be cured with a dropped pitman arm, but I haven't bothered to see whats available yet.



Shocks also come into play on some trucks. You need to take the time to measure the shock at full extension, and the distance of the suspension at full travel with new springs installed. I ended up putting new shocks up front that were an inch longer. This is probably not a big deal if you never get off road, but if you get your truck in an off camber situation and a wheel comes off the ground, it could blow a shock if they aren't long enough.



The other issue is the track bar is nonadjustable. Which means as you raise it, the axle will start to migrate towards the drivers side (I think). At only 2" of lift, its not noticeable, but thats why the larger lifts come with track bar mount relocation kits.



All of these issues had a minimal impact on the driveability. I was not interested in lowering the rear, as I like my truck to stand tall, however, that guy is right. For the sake of simplicity lowering the rear is the easiest and cheapest way to go.



For all of you that didn't get it aligned because it feels fine, you may want to at least have the alignment checked. It might surprise you. Not trying to start anything, JMO.

 

[Tim]

. This is probably not a big deal if you never get off road, but if you get your truck in an off camber situation and a wheel comes off the ground, it could blow a shock if they aren't long enough.

"Topping out" a shock isn't going to damage it in most cases. If the shock was too long and it bottomed out, you risk breaking both the shock and its mounts. A shock that is too short will simply limit travel in most cases.

The other issue is the track bar is nonadjustable. Which means as you raise it, the axle will start to migrate towards the drivers side (I think). At only 2" of lift, its not noticeable, but thats why the larger lifts come with track bar mount relocation kits.

The reason larger lifts come with track bar relocation kits is the bumpsteer you mentioned before. You have lifted your truck and the track bar and drag link were previously operating in the same arc and are not now. Relocating your track bar would bring your steering geometry back where it's supposed to be and would be the best way to improve your bumpsteer problem in my opinon.

 

[KBertetto]

Getting an allignment after altering the front end is always a good idea... I would never contradict that thinking. I just felt since my truck tracked perfectly and the tires are wearing perfectly (10k since install) that it was not as big an issue, will get it done the same day I go to get new tires. I feel a lot of this comes down to the quality of the installers work. As said in a previous post, mark the springs and put them back in the exact same position. I can't stress how important that really is, and that philosophy should be applied whenever removing and re-installing any parts/equipment on any vehicle. As for death wobble, that is happening to perfectly stock trucks, but I agree that it CAN cause death wobble... but again I feel it comes down to the quality of the install.



I tow an 11k 5th wheel and agree the front was picked up a little more than I liked, but the addition of some Firestone Ride Rite air bags took care of that. After having the bags I would even put them on a stock truck, the ride difference is unreal when towing heavy. This is a good discussion worthy of much attention as many members contemplate adding leveling kits. Lots of good info so far.



Bert

 

[CLAYTON]

I would not bother, I bought the Revtek kit and ended up giving it to a friend, the two reasons I would not bother are, it can cause "death wobble" and if you haul anything heavy or hook up a 5th wheel it makes the truck nose high. I ran 315s on my truck for a while, I did not have any clearence issues being stock height in the front.

I have no problem with towing my 5th wheel... if you have a saggy rear end just throw on some airbags and you'll be fine. :-laf In my opinion I think the truck looks better with it leveled.

 

[Grunt]

I have been yhinking about leveling the front end of my 2500 CTD. I have looked at several kits thus far. Checking further I talked to a couple of spring shops in my area that do a lot of work on these pickups and larger trucks. I was told on the Dodge it would be better to lower the rear. This was due to trying to realign after the kit was installed. I was told that the dodges were extremley difficult to align after being leveled. The proporting valves for the ABS system were also mentioned. Something about changing their setting from low to level(???????????).

How much of a pain is it really to level?



LChartier

____________________________________________________

04. 5 2500 ext cab auto

AFE Air intake, 3 gauge pillar, Westin chrome/stainless tubes, Ton. Cover

Check out this thread... . rear spring spacers

 

[DJennings]

Tim,



Topping out shocks can not be a good thing?



As for the track bar relocation, that was the point I was trying to make (Sorry I was a little vague). The track bar has a direct effect on axle position, but also affects steering characteristics. Those big lift kits also come with drop pitman arms to help keep the drag link and track bar angles as close to OEM spec as possible. As minimal as 2" lift is, there is still an effect on steering geometry and alignment.



The only point I was trying to make, is that even though this is a 2" leveling kit, there is more to it than just popping in a couple of springs or spacers I thought LChartier might appreciate the extra input. JMO

 

[jersey diesel]

Can anyone tell me what leveling our truck is and why one would do it? Tks.

 

[DJennings]

Its a 2" lift for the front end only that levels the vehicle front to rear when empty -- Why? looks, better fitment of larger tires... mostly looks.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

With a piece of 1" plywood, Line-X, and a Transfer Flow tank, mine is now level.

 

[LChartier]

To level or not

I would like to thank everyone for their input. I feel a little more at ease for going ahead and doing the leveling. Once again thanks to everyone.

larryc

 

[robert4570]

I have been yhinking about leveling the front end of my 2500 CTD. I have looked at several kits thus far. Checking further I talked to a couple of spring shops in my area that do a lot of work on these pickups and larger trucks. I was told on the Dodge it would be better to lower the rear. This was due to trying to realign after the kit was installed. I was told that the dodges were extremley difficult to align after being leveled. The proporting valves for the ABS system were also mentioned. Something about changing their setting from low to level(???????????).

How much of a pain is it really to level?



LChartier

____________________________________________________

04. 5 2500 ext cab auto

AFE Air intake, 3 gauge pillar, Westin chrome/stainless tubes, Ton. Cover

i have seen several duallys that have done the rear instead of the front .

The front is left stock , no new problems and your ridin' level .

Also no cost, just time wrenching.

 

[JHardwick]

I personally like a little rake in my truck. The worst thing that can happen is to put a load on it and make it look like it's saggin ***.



Years ago when all I did was off road, I still ran an inch or two of rake ... ... ... personal preferance I guess.



Oh, another thing to remember ... ... ... ... if you run these Dodges heavy very often, the rear will settle ... ..... that'll make you saggin *** empty :-laf

 

[GSX600]

Has anybody with Firestone air bags removed the rear spacers? I carry about 1000 lbs. of cargo all the time. Would the truck "bottom out" due to the reduced travel height of the air bags running 10 lbs. of air?



2003 QC LB HO 48re 4x4 Cooper Discoverer ATR's

 

[rbattelle]

As DJennings points out, even a 2" lift changes the stock geometry. What I'd like is a 2" kit with front spacers, track bar drop bracket, and maybe even a pitman arm drop, and upper/lower control arms.



Unfortunately, no one makes such a kit. Skyjacker makes a 2" kit that includes new springs, bump stops, and lower control arms.



DT Profab makes a fine replacement track bar for 2nd gen trucks, but none for us. I emailed them to see if they plan to make one for us...



-Ryan

 

[KBertetto]

DT Profab makes a fine replacement track bar for 2nd gen trucks, but none for us. I emailed them to see if they plan to make one for us...



-Ryan

Ryan,

Thanks for looking into this for us, please keep us posted on the info you receive from DT Profab... I for one would be interested as well as many others I'm sure.



Bert