WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO LIFT THE FRONT END?

[Walker]

ACat, What about Earthroamer? He just installed the Skyjacker 4. 5" kit with a full front bumper and winch (and a gvw of over 9000). I'd like to get his feedback before deciding on the kit or a custom coil.

Cooker, I've got the Rancho coil spacer on my 96 3/4 ton (gas)with 35's, and it sometimes looks as if it is "nose up". And it does go up pretty easy with any weight in the bed. It also catches a lot more wind resistance at highway speeds. I've grown to really like the "rake" of stock height and will raise the rear the same as the front to keep it nose down.

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2001 2500 SLT QC 4x4 ETC 5spd LWB 3. 54 Black/Agate leather. DD2's w/boost module, DD4" exhaust, ISSpro boost/pyro gauges. Custom full bumper/brush guard and headache rack, Seal-Tite tool box, B&W turnover ball.

[This message has been edited by Walker (edited 02-06-2001). ]

[This message has been edited by Walker (edited 02-06-2001). ]

 

[My 6 Eats V8's Old File]

I don't have a bumper but I have used both type of lifts on my truck.
first was a 3" rough coutry, upper and lower tube control arms, 3" spacer, track bar bracket, and add a leaf in the rear. When I got this one I also got the stage 2 meaning dual front shocks. It was deffinately a harsher ride than stock but I also figured it could have been the bigger 35's I got.

I now have a skyjacker 5. 5 inch lift off a gas 3/4 ton with a 3" spacer in the front, it also has dual shocks and a softride system, I can say it rides like a 1/2 ton now and doesn't handle loads like it used to.

 

[Paul Herioux]

The one thing that I am suprised no one has mentioned in this discussion is trac bar relocation. If the lift spacers are being put in to correct ride height after instaling accesories to the front end this is not an issue. On the other hand, if you are raising ride height past stock the front axle gets pulled further to the left the higher you go. In my 12 years in the dealership I've seen more dog tracking Cherokees and second gen Rams than I care to think about. IMO the best way to handle this would be a trac bar with an adjusting sleeve in it, but I've not been able to source one yet. Has anyone come across one?

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89 w250, 47rh trans, cleaned up exhaust, Dynomax bullet muffer, 3" lift

 

[Cooker]

I was wondering about the track bar issue too. I wonder how big of a concern it is with a 2" spacer?

Is there any way to correct this? It seems like a cusotm, lengthened trackbar would be the ticket.

 

[Arcticat]

Paul, yes DT makes an track bar with an adjustable heim joint on it. However, everyone I have talked to has said that the axle offset will not be a real problem if you are only lifting two inches in the front.

I think I will be getting the tuff country coil spacers. They are the only ones I have found that are made out of steel. Of the three other types I found, one is made of alluminum, and the other two are made of polyurethane. I dont care for the polyurethane because the shock tower is bolted to it and I wouldn't think poly is the best material to have studs mounted to. I am going to get the Ranch 9000's just because you can't go wrong with the overwhelming recommendation of this board, which means alot to my purchase decisions, plus like you said cooker they are adjustable and we all have our different ideas of how the truck should ride and this way I can decide the feel I like best.

BTW I think I will order from Jackit because the guy I talked to seemed like a real straight shooter. I asked him if I should get new lower links and he said they sell them for more aggresive lifts but for two inches it really isn't necessary. I agree with you about the profit margins maybe being the reason for his recommendations on the other stuff, but he could have sold me on the lower links pretty easy and didn't, which I apreciated.

 

[Craig DeYoung]

I bought but have not yet installed the Tuff Country 3" 'performance' suspension that comes with 3" steel spacers, upper and lower arms that re-center the axle, track-bar relocating kit (doesn't look that beefy, but I'll give it a chance), and brakeline extension kit. I purchased seperately an extension for my rear brake proportioning valve. For the front, I also got the Lindstad track-bar rebuild kit, a skyjacker 3"-6" pitman arm, skyjacker dual end-to-end stabilizers, and energy spensions urethane sway bar bushings (greasable). I will add grease fittings to the link arms (Tuff Country said that was OK to do). I also wanted to get rid of the rear blocks, so I got skyjacker DR76 springs (the ones from the 2" system)which eliminate the blocks and are supposed to lift 1-1. 5". Since I am 2. 5" arse-high now, that should keep me level unloaded. Else I'll make up some 1" blocks for the rear. I opted for Rancho 9000s because they are sized for a Ram with a 3" lift. Oh, I also got a mopar #46 spring since I have a #39 and #38, and I have a winch bumper in mind. I'll put the #46 on the driver side, move my #39 to the passenger side. I got Alcoa 16x7" classics (3400# load rating). I'm struggling to find tall skinny tires, but I have a lead on a couple. I guess this doesn't address the topic very well, but I felt like throwing it out there

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1998. 5 BE7L33 4x4, NV4500HD, 3. 54s, 255/85-16 Mud Rovers, Cummins uprate kit, VDO gauges

 

[Cooker]

Craig,
Keep us informed on the install. Were is Milford. Maybe we can get together sometime so I can check it out, and go for a ride. Look like you did your homework and put togehter a "complete" kit.

 

[DavidD]

I have the Skyjacker 2" spacer. Imstalled when I put on 315's. They rubbed a bit on the inner wheel well, Les Schwab installed them and I think it was about 200 bucks installed. It raised the truck just enough no reb and no the alignment tech. said nothing else other that an adjustment was necessay. i now have about 50K on the spacer job no with no problems andno rubbing!
Dave

09. 5 24VQC,SWB,5sp, BD Brake, exhaust, power mod. gauges, 315's on ultra alloys, bushwacker fender flairs, rancho9's still stock size!

 

[groundpounder]

articat, I just posted a thread on the skyjacker leveling kit. It was around $220 shipped to my door. That was direct from skyjacker. It comes with coils and shocks. I have had the kit on my truck for over 7 mo. +/-, and my truck still sits high in the front like I have a heavy load in the bed. Several calls to skyjacker and all they said is to add leafs to the rear. And the front end never needed aligned. Not satisfied as i wanted my truck to sit level. I did not get what I paid for. I would look into something else next time.

 

[tjpatte]

I had National Spring (about 2 miles from me) turn a custom set for my truck. I have a Prozap bumper with a Warm M12000 winch. I had them make the length 2. 5" taller than stock. They ran $275. 00 for both and I think its the best way to go. I have Ranco 9000's and singles up front are all you need. Nobody is gonna Baja jump a diesel so dual are only for looks and a bumpy ride. I wheel all over Southern Ca and the 9's are plenty.

Tom Patterson
San Diego

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[Dodge-Tech]

I just installed the Skyjacker 4. 5" kit last weekend. All I can say is the ride quality was greatly improved. I'm running single shocks all the way around, and that's all it needs. All four links are greaseable and the coil springs ride great for a taller spring.

[This message has been edited by Dodge-Tech (edited 02-11-2001). ]

 

[JEmmons]

Arcticat,

I got a friend whom went to a college in Pittsburg, Pa for auto body, mechanics, etc. He now paints and installs accessories. He does not do much with diesels, but I asked him a few months ago about a small lift for mine (98' 12v 2500 4x4 clubcab). He recommended Procomp suspension system over everyone else. Did not recommend skyjacker or tuff country. Said Rancho is overpriced vs. quality. Advised that procomp is probably the best on the market right now. website is: www.explorerprocomp.com Good luck. When I am ready to install, thats whom Im going with.