Leveling kit info?

[Armyman14]

So I'm in need of new tires soon but I am running 33"s right now but I'm wanting to get 35"s the only way I could do that is if I get a leveling kit, am I correct? What's the most affordable leveling kit and what exactly does It do?

 

[DodgeGirl]

Not sure about the older 3rd gens, but my 35's wouldn't have fit (or barely) without the 2.5" level. Even now with the level there is a small amount of rubbing on the mud flaps at full lock but luckily i'm not rubbing on the control arms which is what i was initially worried about.

The levelling kit will do just that... level out the stance of your truck. Instead of the front of the truck being lower to the ground then the back of it, it should sit even or pretty much even. My level is by ReadyLift but looking back I could of got a cheaper kit, however I do love mine and have no complaints about it. If I was doing it over i'd be looking into Rough Country or HBS (Hell Bent Steel).

 

[Armyman14]

Not sure about the older 3rd gens, but my 35's wouldn't have fit (or barely) without the 2.5" level. Even now with the level there is a small amount of rubbing on the mud flaps at full lock but luckily i'm not rubbing on the control arms which is what i was initially worried about.

The levelling kit will do just that... level out the stance of your truck. Instead of the front of the truck being lower to the ground then the back of it, it should sit even or pretty much even. My level is by ReadyLift but looking back I could of got a cheaper kit, however I do love mine and have no complaints about it. If I was doing it over i'd be looking into Rough Country or HBS (Hell Bent Steel).

Okay and how exactly does it level it? And is this a DIY project or something for the pros? I think 35"s would fit on it, I'm pretty sure I could clear 34"s as it Is now

 

[DodgeGirl]

Well I think there are spacers that go on top of the coils which lift the front up a bit to level it with the height of the rear. I could be totally out to lunch though lol, i'm no specialist haha. There are different types of levelling kits so you'd have to look into it a bit more. From what I understand it can be easily installed as long as you have some idea of what you're doing haha. My fiancé is a mechanic so he did mine for me, though it could definitely be a DIY project. I'm pretty sure you won't fit 35s on yours without some kind of level, but you can try. If you do get them on you'll have rubbing issues. Mine rub a tiny bit and it is leveled, I can't imagine what it would be like if I wasn't leveled. Well actually, I wouldn't have 35s if I wasn't leveled.

 

[NWRQC]

Since you have an 02 you have torsion bar front suspension. You can just crank them (turn the adjuster bolt) for free. That is if you have a 4wd.

 

[03MopaRamman]

Not a fan of cranking stock keys myself so I bought readylift keys. They actually give you 2" of lift and level a stock 02-05 Truck. You will need a ball joint service kit to remove the tension and keys/bars. The nice thing about this kit is there are no shock extensions to worry about and you can use your stock shocks or buy 0-2 shocks. Secondly the kit comes with the tool required to be used with the service kit clamp. Its a DIY but the service kit in my case was almost 200 bucks but pays for itself if you ever need to swap lower ball joints. AS for 35's you may touch the arms, but with 1/4 max allowable spacers it would work and help you also to not rub any flaps. Now I am speaking about 17 factory Rims. A 315 Tire at 34.6 " is another choice to avoid the spacers.

My plan next year is 35 12.5 17 fierce attitudes with stock rims and spacers. Worst case I will spend 200 bucks and get 1" hub spacers. But with that I may need to up to bushwacker flares from my current powerwagon ones. I also plan to install Rancho 0-2 lift shocks up front. With these tires I will be at a moddest 4.5" of lift including my 1" body lift, keys and HD leafs out back. Caddy smooth!

Long post hope the advise helps you decide.

 

[Armyman14]

Since you have an 02 you have torsion bar front suspension. You can just crank them (turn the adjuster bolt) for free. That is if you have a 4wd.

Yes my truck is a 4x4 what do I need to crank and with what tool? Where exactly is the adjuster bolt? Have a video or a write up for this?

Not a fan of cranking stock keys myself so I bought readylift keys. They actually give you 2" of lift and level a stock 02-05 Truck. You will need a ball joint service kit to remove the tension and keys/bars. The nice thing about this kit is there are no shock extensions to worry about and you can use your stock shocks or buy 0-2 shocks. Secondly the kit comes with the tool required to be used with the service kit clamp. Its a DIY but the service kit in my case was almost 200 bucks but pays for itself if you ever need to swap lower ball joints. AS for 35's you may touch the arms, but with 1/4 max allowable spacers it would work and help you also to not rub any flaps. Now I am speaking about 17 factory Rims. A 315 Tire at 34.6 " is another choice to avoid the spacers.

My plan next year is 35 12.5 17 fierce attitudes with stock rims and spacers. Worst case I will spend 200 bucks and get 1" hub spacers. But with that I may need to up to bushwacker flares from my current powerwagon ones. I also plan to install Rancho 0-2 lift shocks up front. With these tires I will be at a moddest 4.5" of lift including my 1" body lift, keys and HD leafs out back. Caddy smooth!

Long post hope the advise helps you decide.

Why are you not a fan of cranking stock keys? I do need to replace the ball joints soon but tires are pretty important right now and I don't wanna have to spend more than I have to, the sooner I can get new tires the safer!
I'm new to all this stuff sorry for all the questions guys, do spacers just move the wheels out a little bit so they are further out and have less chance of rubbing on the inside?

 

[Davy120]

My truck is torsion lifted and fitting 315/70r17 no problems, no rub, nothing. But did have to install a shock adapter since my front end sucked going over bumps but have since upgraded to some nitro 8000 skyjackers

Sent from my MAN CAVE using Tapatalk 2

 

[quietpeen]

here is the "how to" for cranking your torsion bars. Its located in the 3rd gen diy section. Check the section out for many other how to's.

http://www.ramforum.com/f76/leveling_02-05_4x4-9788/

 

[Armyman14]

I'm the very beginning it says to measure all corners, he's talking about each corner and height from the ground correct?
How will this effect my performance?, less suspension, more suspension, less handling too probably right? So buying new an better shocks would be good to so shortly after cranking it right?
Oh and I just read that cranking it up 2.5 inches is "wayy"too much how how could I go? FYI I actually don't have any cv joints on the front end right now haha the guy I bought the truck from neglected telling me the CV joints were bad,shoulda tried out 4 wheel drive on the test drive!! And the cv joints somehow stripped out the front differential splines, now I have to get the whole thing rebuilt ): I got it estimated at 750 ):

 

[moparman33]

I'm the very beginning it says to measure all corners, he's talking about each corner and height from the ground correct?
How will this effect my performance?, less suspension, more suspension, less handling too probably right? So buying new an better shocks would be good to so shortly after cranking it right?
Oh and I just read that cranking it up 2.5 inches is "wayy"too much how how could I go? FYI I actually don't have any cv joints on the front end right now haha the guy I bought the truck from neglected telling me the CV joints were bad,shoulda tried out 4 wheel drive on the test drive!! And the cv joints somehow stripped out the front differential splines, now I have to get the whole thing rebuilt ): I got it estimated at 750 ):

i know whether cranking the torsion bars or going with a set of keys, its gonna require new shocks either way. if you dont, you are going to have a issue with the front shocks topping out. as i have stated in another thread, i learned this the hardway after having a set of keys installed on my truck. once i installed a set of new shocks for lifted trucks, the ride was alot better. another thing that is important whether you have keys installed or crank the bars is to make sure you get an allignment right after.

 

[Armyman14]

Okay so to crank the torsion bar up I will need:

The tool to crank it whatever that may be
Jacks to lift it up
New shocks.
Money for an alignment
Is this correct? I was going to do this today but I'm gonna have to wait as I don't have money for new shocks right now. Anyone recommend a certain brand? Never purchased shocks before haha

 

[Davy120]

I like my nitro 8000 skyjackers and they are cheap got 4 for 180 bucks. Bought from summit racing. Heres a video for torsion lift hope it helps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiAoeH1948g&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Sent from my MAN CAVE using Tapatalk 2

 

[moparman33]

Okay so to crank the torsion bar up I will need:

The tool to crank it whatever that may be
Jacks to lift it up
New shocks.
Money for an alignment
Is this correct? I was going to do this today but I'm gonna have to wait as I don't have money for new shocks right now. Anyone recommend a certain brand? Never purchased shocks before haha

tool to crank torsion bar (a wrench or a socket with a ratchet), the shocks are up to you. i used a set of rancho rs5000's for the front. part number:
RS5283 their for trucks with lifts up to 4 inches. pretty much your choice though. if im not mistaken they cost me around $56 a piece.

 

[Armyman14]

How is the Monroe brand? I'm over at my local pep boys store and they have only Monroe brand

 

[moparman33]

How is the Monroe brand? I'm over at my local pep boys store and they have only Monroe brand

i know they are pretty good factory replacements, i dont personally know if they make shocks for lifted trucks

 

[Armyman14]

i know they are pretty good factory replacements, i dont personally know if they make shocks for lifted trucks

Oh yeah that's another question, what size am I looking for? I'm probably gonna run up to the 4 wheel parts store and get more information

 

[moparman33]

Oh yeah that's another question, what size am I looking for? I'm probably gonna run up to the 4 wheel parts store and get more information

if your choosin to level i would suggest shocks for a 4 inch lift and under. 4 wheel parts is pretty good, that is where i got the ranchos i got on mine from.

 

[Armyman14]

if your choosin to level i would suggest shocks for a 4 inch lift and under. 4 wheel parts is pretty good, that is where i got the ranchos i got on mine from.

How much did those run you?

 

[moparman33]

How much did those run you?

i think it was somewhere around $56. give me a second n i will post a link