Considering lifting my truck.

[H-fletch94]

Hey guys! I've been a long time lurker for while (mostly to read and get advice from y'all) and I considering lifting my truck. I own a 2014 ram 1500 black express package, 8 speed, 4x4, crew cab and 3.92 gears. I want to lift it 6 inches but I tend to over think a lot of things so I have a few questions:

1. Is the problem with the upper control arms only related to leveling kits,(Bilstien 5100s, strut spacers etc.) or is it also associated with lift kits in general?

2. How are your pinion angles? Do y'all experience any kind of vibration at high speeds?

3. What lifts would y'all recommend? I'm between the zone kit and the procomp lift kit.

4. I know a lot of people don't calibrate their speedo but I want to do everything right the first time, do they make a calibrator for the 8 speed? If so what brand?

I considered the 4 inch lift because I only want to run 35s but I know that once it's installed I'll wish I had bought the 6 inch.

Thank y'all I'm eager to hear what y'all have to say.

 

[brandonjansen]

1) That ball joints popping is not an issue with full lift kits as the kit will come with new steering knuckles which will put the upper A-arm at the proper angle so that the ball joint doesn't have excess pressure on it to pop out.

2) The kit will come with new differential drop brackets and rear control arms to correct your pinion angles. As long as everything is installed correctly you should not have any issues with driveline vibrations.

3) The Zone kit is better than the ProComp kit IMO. The ProComp kit essentially uses a large spacer on top of the rear diff for the lift which is really hokey IMO. The full lift coils from Zone are a far better option. The front kits for either system will be very similar.

4) I would take a look at a Bully Dog GT tuner or a Hypertech speedometer calibrator. I can't recall off the top of my head if they support the 8 speed (I'm pretty certain they do) but they're worth looking at.

5) Definitely go for the 6". I ran a 6" kit with Bilsteins at 1.4" on 35's on my old 1500 and it looked great. I can post up some pictures for you later if you're interested.

 

[H-fletch94]

Thanks man, that really helps. i'll look into those tuners and yeah post some pics i'd love to see your truck!

 

[xrsman]

This^^ but a trinity with the hemifever tune ftw!

 

[H-fletch94]

I'll probably wait for a tune and just do a speedo recalibration but i'll keep that in mind!

This is what i've done so far to my truck:

bone stock



first side steps and headache rack.



Next was s&b cai and catch can.




favorite pic of my truck

 

[xrsman]

Looks good man!

 

[brandonjansen]

Here's a few shots of my old 1500. As I stated above I was running a 6" RCX lift with Bilsteins at 1.4" and 35x12.5 Toyo MT's on 20x9 -12 offset Fuel Hostages.





For a similar setup with a Zone lift you would want to get the kit with the 5" rear coils and install Bilsteins at 2.1" without using their preload spacer. That should give you almost an identical setup to what my truck had.

 

[H-fletch94]

Damn that truck is badass. I'll definitely go with the 5 inch coil springs.

 

[RyanJM]

Your truck will look good with a 6" and 35's. They had a lifted black crew where I got my black Reg cab from. They used the RCX kit I assume because it's the cheapest so they can make the most money off but if they would have just picked some better wheels it would have been perfect. I don't like all flat black wheels on a all gloss black truck. Just my style.
I'd like to go back and trade in for a Black Crew and do a 7" on 37's.

 

[H-fletch94]

Thanks I can't wait to get it done, It'll be closer to summer before I get it installed. And yeah I know what you're talking about I saw a few of those trucks at the dealership I got mine at as well; cheap lifts that some how add 20k to msrp. I'll probably keep my stock wheels for a while and run 295/65r20s.

 

[RyanJM]

Ya the lady selling me the truck gave me the whole sales pitch about buying the lifted one from them and it will be keep the warranty. I just told here with the $7k I could save by having it done at a 4wheelparts or any other shop lift it after buying stock would leave me plenty of extra money to fix it if something break in a few years. Honestly I rather have the Mopar 4" super lift with the 35's the other dealer had. It was several grand less and at least they had Bilsteins on it.