Lower than 6" rear

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Domm337

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2015
Posts
4
Reaction score
1
Ram Year
2008
Engine
3.7L v6
So I have a 6" rear drop on my 2008 Dodge Ram 1500. I want to go lower. I have a flip kit, shackles and rear shocks that supposedly drop it 1-1.5 inches. I still have 3" of room before I even have to c-notch the frame. Now my question is if I have everything installed already how do I go lower than what is installed. I'm not worried about the front. I will install the spindles and coils once I figure out how to get the rear lower
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0297.jpg
    IMG_0297.jpg
    97.9 KB · Views: 67

charonblk07

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2013
Posts
4,056
Reaction score
2,072
Location
Calgary, Ab
Ram Year
2009
Engine
F1-A forged 349ci
Time to start raising mounting points for the leafsprings if you want to keep it static dropped. Your best option is to 4-link the rear and bag it so you have usable suspension travel. You will definitely want to notch or arch the frame getting lower than you are now. What are you planning for the front end to get it down lower?
 
OP
OP
Domm337

Domm337

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2015
Posts
4
Reaction score
1
Ram Year
2008
Engine
3.7L v6
I would prefer to keep is static dropped. Eventually I will just bag the whole thing but I want it to go as low as I can static dropped. So you would say I need to raise mounting points for my leaf springs? What if I would lower my mounting points for my shocks? And I'm the front I plan for a spindle and coil drop. I have 24s so i still want turning room in the front
 

charonblk07

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2013
Posts
4,056
Reaction score
2,072
Location
Calgary, Ab
Ram Year
2009
Engine
F1-A forged 349ci
Lowering your shock mounts just allows you to keep the same length shock you currently have but doesn't change your ride height; you need to change either your leafspring position relative to the frame or the axle position in relation to the leafspring. So either you move your leaf spring mounts higher by running a longer drop shackle, cutting and moving them, or you can install a block between the leafspring and axle but that does require a properly angled block and I don't know anybody that makes them for Dodge.

For the front, look at the JDM drop control arms as well if you want to go lower. They don't correct steering geometry which will become a real problem around 6". I would also look at the Michigan Metal Works front end kit as it would correct pretty much all the issues and allow you to drop easily on 26s.
 
OP
OP
Domm337

Domm337

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2015
Posts
4
Reaction score
1
Ram Year
2008
Engine
3.7L v6
Yes I did see the control arms and was debating. Probably will install now with an extra mind on the matter. But I'm a welder. I don't anything about how the angle of the block for the leaf spring should be cut. But I'm pretty sure if someone could tell me the angle I could make something for it. One more question. The shackle that I have on my truck has about 5 sets of holes, your saying that if I raise it up to a higher hole and cut the excess off the shackle it will drop the truck a little more?
 

charonblk07

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2013
Posts
4,056
Reaction score
2,072
Location
Calgary, Ab
Ram Year
2009
Engine
F1-A forged 349ci
You want to use the shackle at its longest setting since it should be moving the back of the leafspring closer to the body the longer it is which will lower the truck. If it's maxed out right now then you need to change the shackle to a longer one if you can find/make one or look at changing the mounting points. The problem with shackles is it will start to severely affect your pinion angle the longer they get.


To correct your pinion angle you need to shim the axle and this is where you can work with the lowering blocks, set you leafsprings to where they need to be then lift your axle to where you want it, match your pinion angle to -1 degree of your transmission's output shaft angle and cut a block to match.
 

Bullitt5339

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2015
Posts
920
Reaction score
514
Location
St Pauls, NC
Ram Year
2004
Engine
3.7
You're going to need a notch before you go any lower. I am putting a larger notch in mine because it will slam still.

Here's my current temporary setup (10" advertised, measured 9.2"):

Flip Kit
Lowering Shackles
2" block
Belltech shocks for 6" drop
Shock relocation brackets

Here's the correct way to do it, which I am currently working on (9" drop with stock shackles, around 10" with lowering shackles):

Flip Kit
Belltech springs
stock or lowering shackle, depending on how low you want to go.
Custom length rear shocks
Reclocked leaf spring perches to correct pinion angle

This is with 265/35/22s:

20161026_162630_zpsibouz0ts.jpg
 
Top