how bad....

urntfstenuf · Jun 2, 2013

I have. 2003 Ram 1500 2wd that sits at 34 1/2in on all four corners. Im going to lower it 3in in front and 2in in rear, using 3in drop springs and 2in shackles. My question is how bad is this going to affect my front end alignment? I'm going to clone the SRT10. I have 20/9in srt10 wheels with 285/50/20 on all around. And have ordered the srt front facia along with the drop kit. Interior is done in black leather and silver suede inserts with Ram logo on headrests. She's coming around just nicely.. when I'm done front will sit at 31 1/2in and rear at 32 1/2in, measured from ground to lip. Does any one on here have the same measured drop? And if you do, do you have pics?

HemiBabe · Jun 3, 2013

Welcome to RF.

I'm not positive, but I'm think it will need to be realigned afterwards since you're using the coils instead of spindles.

Hemi450hp · Jun 3, 2013

What is done to the suspension right now to make it sit level on all 4 corners? If you had a factory suspension, then the rear should be about 2.5" taller than the front. You want to know what is on the truck now before buying parts that may not work with your current suspension setup.

I don't remember what the fender to ground measurements are on a stock truck, but if you sit level now, then you either already have a drop kit on the truck, or the rear at least has drop shackles as well as the overload leaf removed.

WhiteExpress · Jun 3, 2013

Could also have a pair of busted leafs. Seems pretty common on the Gen III Rams.

urntfstenuf · Jun 4, 2013

I bought the Dodge the way it sits back in 09 for the X wife. So I really have never touched it til now. She passed away in Jan and I'm fixing ( changing it) as my daily driver but don't like how high it sits. So I don't know what was done to suspension.

urntfstenuf · Jun 4, 2013

Hemi450, what should I look for in order to tell what is on there? As I have already ordered the springs and shackles. Now, if it sits even at 34 1/2 rightnow. Wouldn't I get the measurement I'm looking for by just subtracting from where I'm at now? Why don't you think the 3in springs and 2in drop shackles won't work ?

Hemi450hp · Jun 4, 2013

First off, I'm very sorry about your wife.

If you already have 2" shackles in the rear right now, then the shackles you ordered may very well be what is already on the truck, and you cant stack shackles on top of each other for more drop. If it already has the drop shackles on there, then you are going to need to replace those with a 4" flip kit or get a set of 4" drop leafs to run with a set of stock shackles. That is the only way to achieve 4" of rear drop.

If you get a chance, take a pic of your current suspension, or at least a side view of the truck so that we can see how it sits. I've seen enough of these trucks that I should be able to tell you what is on there just by seeing a side profile pic.

urntfstenuf · Jun 4, 2013

ok, let me go take a pic.

urntfstenuf · Jun 4, 2013

ok, let me see if I can post the pics now.

urntfstenuf · Jun 4, 2013

Are those stock or after market shackles?

05singlecabHEMI · Jun 4, 2013

I think those are drop shackles. Dont look long enough to be stock. Thoigh it looks worn. Was there an owner before yall bought it?

Hemi450hp · Jun 4, 2013

That looks like a stock shackle, but the rear ride height is definitely lower than stock. How many leafs are in the leaf pack, and does the leaf look flat or arched? Someone either removed half the leafs, or de-arched the springs to give that drop.

The drop shackles are going to give you about a 1.5" rear drop, so I would go with a 2" front coil instead of the 3". A 3" front coil is going to be difficult to get aligned, and it is going to make the front sit a good 1.5" lower than the rear.

Hemi450hp · Jun 4, 2013

Here is what the McGaughys drop shackles look like...

urntfstenuf · Jun 4, 2013

Hemi450, I want the front 1 in lower than the rear as I like the slight rake look. But you say the the 2in drop shackle will only give me 1.5in drop? So rear should sit at 33 and front at 31.5 inches measured from lip to ground. I can live with that. Now I will have front end re-aligned after I install the springs. You think it will align ?

Hemi450hp · Jun 4, 2013

Because your rear suspension setup is unknown, I would install the shackles first and measure just how much drop you get out of them. Most shackles only offer a true 1.5" of rear drop. I had 2.5" of front drop on my 03, and we had to open the holes up a bit to get it aligned. With a 3" spring, I don't think you will get it aligned perfectly.

urntfstenuf · Jun 4, 2013

I just looked at the leaf springs and there are 2, how many should I have?

urntfstenuf · Jun 4, 2013

I want to add the sway bars for more stability. Or will I even have to after I lower it ?

Hemi450hp · Jun 4, 2013

That's why it sits level. There should be 3 leafs plus a thick overload leaf on the bottom (So 4 total).

With you only having 2 rear leafs, it is probably very soft in the rear. A swaybar is something you can always add later, so I would wait to see what you think after the drop goes on before buying the swaybar.

urntfstenuf · Jun 4, 2013

Thanks, you have everyone have been helpful. I will post pics after I lower it. By the way, what do you mean by soft in the back? Bouncy over bumps ?

Hemi450hp · Jun 4, 2013

No problem. I'm excited to see how it comes out when finished.

And yes...I was referring to the rear being bouncy and you probably have a very limited carrying capacity. Are both leafs in the pack the same size, or is the lower leaf thicker than the top? If the lower leaf is thicker, then you still have an overload and should be fine. If they are the same thickness, then it is probably very soft feeling in the back. The softness will also give you more body roll around the corners.

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