Need advice...3 inch front lowering springs?

[derekd7987]

Hey guys...pretty new here. I need some help. I have a 2008 QC Ram lowered 2/4 on 24 inch rims. I'm not exactly happy with the way it sits. I'd like it to be a tad bit lower, especially in the front. The idea is to either cut the 2 inch drop springs to try and make it sit 1/2 inch or maybe close to 1 inch lower in the front or buy these 3 inch front drop springs (link below). For the back I would just drop it to the 4.5 inch setting. Has anybody done this or used these 3 inch springs? Just doesn't seem like my truck sits right. The lowering kit has been on for about 4.5 years and 50,000 miles. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated. I'll attach some pics of the way it sits. Also I'll attach some pics of the way it used to look and the way it looks now after the makeover I just gave it. Thanks in advance

252130-8 MaxTrac 3 Inch Front Lowering Coil Springs V8 for 02-08 Dodge Ram at Andy's Auto Sport

Pic 1 - stock 20s 2/4 drop with rear in 4.5 inch setting
Pic 2 - 24s with 305/35/24 with rear in 4 inch setting
Pic 3 - 24s with 305/35/24 with rear in 4 inch setting
Pics 4 and 5 - updated pics of the makeover

 

[Redtruck-VA]

IMO, it looks good, you can trim the 2" drop spring or go with the 3" drop spring, the 3" drop spring has a higher spring rating then the 2" does and if the that's the drop you want then I'd go with the 3" spring the rear you can add drop spacer's to dial in the exact amount you want when you are close. I am sure you know you will need to notch going any lower in the rear. And I am sure you already have the cups in front removed. Might try Tembren springs for bumps as they will save the ride when hitting hard bumps.

 

[derekd7987]

Thanks. I'm not sure if the cups are removed in the front. If they aren't, would that sit it lower by removing them? I think I would be satisfied by putting the rear in the 4.5 setting so I wouldn't have to notch. If i did that I would just like the front to match. I think maybe the 3 inch springs might sit it too low? Anybody know how much to cut off these 2 inch mcgaughys springs to sit it down about 1/2 or 3/4 inch? Quarter or half a coil maybe?

Also never heard of those tembren springs. Looks like a good idea and good investment.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Redtruck-VA]

look under the truck and see if the cups are still there. If they are you are sitting on them.

 

[Casper]

Garnet and Black, very nice. Go *****!

Sorry, got nuth'n on lowering.

 

[TylerB]

I'd knock the cups off they're still there and see if the front comes down any where close to what you want. If not then cut a 1/4 coil for a 1/2" or 1/2 coil for 1".

 

[derekd7987]

Garnet and Black, very nice. Go *****!

Sorry, got nuth'n on lowering.

Heck yea. Carolina theme for sure. Should be a great season!

Thanks Red and Tyler. I attached a pic. Is the cup the same thing as a bump stop? Is this is circled in red? If I remove this could it cause any damage or will it just be a harsh ride when hitting larger bumps?

If so, are they just pressed in and you pry them out? Also if you buy those tembren springs, is this where they go?

Sorry for all the dumb questions and thanks again for the help

 

[Redtruck-VA]

You can see that you are riding on the bump. This is my setup, I recommend that you use some kind of a bump stop to keep the tire from rubbing the inner fender well on full compression. I use the tembren spring seen in the picture.

 

[derekd7987]

So in order to mount that tembren spring, you removed the bump stop and then cut that metal piece off that the bump stop was in which I'm assuming is the cup?

 

[Redtruck-VA]

So in order to mount that tembren spring, you removed the bump stop and then cut that metal piece off that the bump stop was in which I'm assuming is the cup?

That is correct. Use a grinder to cut the weld facing you and the drive a chisel under the cup and it will pop off. Then grind the broken welds and a little paint and your done. The hole for mounting the bump is already there.

 

[derekd7987]

sweet. do i need to buy a different tembren since my truck is lowered or do i just buy the normal ones they sell for 2008 quad cab 1500?

also im assuming this would help the ride on the rear too, especially since i haul my quad in the back and pull trailers and boats pretty often. so same question for the rear. buy certain tembren springs or just the ones that fit a stock ram. also it looks like the rears would just bolt in place of the bump stop with no cutting?

 

[Redtruck-VA]

Tembren does not make a kit for lowered trucks. You have to buy the individual springs and mount them yourself. The fronts are A140-65 and rated at 900#. The rears are A155-65 and rated at 660#.
Single Convolution - Timbren Industries Inc. Ride Control Products
The fronts are threaded and I just bolted them using the hole. The rears you will have to make an adaptor plate to fit the OEM frame holes the center hole is a 3/8-16 hole directly over the axle and bolt the bumps to the adaptor plate using loktite, then I ground the protruding thread flat on the back of the plate and bolted it up. The bump snubs that come with a Mcguaghy flip kit have this adaptor plate. I paid something like $35 each for the springs and have lost the number of the dealer I used. I have posted this info in the past and I am sure it is hidden in more than one forum. I haul an enclosed trailer with a 850# VTX in it without issue. Good luck..

 

[derekd7987]

Thanks Red. How did you decide what timbrens to get? I was reading you should have about a 1 inch gap from the bottom of the timbren with the truck unloaded. Is this your thought too for the front and back?

In your second pic the timbren is touching the rear axle. Is your truck loaded in the pic or is that how it sits unloaded?

I want to use the timbrens on the front and back but don't know if i should get the same exact ones you did or get the truck to sit the way I want it to and then measure and buy ones that leave a 1 inch gap in the front and back unloaded?

 

[Redtruck-VA]

Thanks Red. How did you decide what timbrens to get? I was reading you should have about a 1 inch gap from the bottom of the timbren with the truck unloaded. Is this your thought too for the front and back?

In your second pic the timbren is touching the rear axle. Is your truck loaded in the pic or is that how it sits unloaded?

I want to use the timbrens on the front and back but don't know if i should get the same exact ones you did or get the truck to sit the way I want it to and then measure and buy ones that leave a 1 inch gap in the front and back unloaded?

I'm not really touching static in the rear or front. I measured the travel distance I had and compared that to what was available in the chart and selected what I thought was a good weight and considered the minimum height they would compress to. This would give me the maximum usable travel from the spring. The ones I mentioned do a great job. I have an 1/8" shim under the fronts that kept the wide tires I was using at the time from rubbing the inner fender liner. The transition from off the bumps to full compression is smooth and unremarkable. You will be surprised how well they ride. I have chased ricers on the back roads of Virginia where they were going airborne and was hitting hard but no slap. IMO, everyone needs these.

 

[derekd7987]

Sweet. Gotta love messin the ricers. I ended up dropping my rear today to the 4.5 setting. I also took the bump stops out of the front so that it was sitting all the way down on the spring. The front only dropped about 1/16 inch. With the rear being in the 4.5 setting I still need the front to come down between 1/4 and 1/2 inch. What would you do for the front? Try to cut these 2 inch springs or buy 3 inch springs and maybe have to run a 1/2 inch spacer or something? Attached are the pics from today. All three pics are with the rear in the 4.5 setting and the front with the bump stops removed so its not being held up.

Also I did some measuring and calculating today. I ended up deciding the best Timbren springs would be the ones you mentioned. I ordered them about 10 min ago for the front and the rear. Can't wait to get them on.

 

[Redtruck-VA]

I think you are going to be very happy with those springs. They are a valuable piece of my suspension strategy. Mounting the fronts are easy, I used a old 3/8-16 header bolt. I bolted it up and checked on how much thread was showing inside and removed and cut the bolt so only a thread was protruding. The rears I used a allen head cap bolt with almost all the head ground off, just enough for the allen wrench to hold the bolt while I tightened it. Do not modify the rubber spring. The front have threads in them, The rears have only a mounting hole. Good luck Here in this picture you can see the snubber plates I used. If you don't have these you will need to make a pair or drill and tap the frame directly over the axle. As for the lowering less than a inch, I would trim the spring as I did on mine. A quarter of the coil equals in most cases a quarter of an inch. The rubber isolators rotate so positioning is not an issue.

 

[derekd7987]

Cool. Price wasnt bad either on those timbren springs either. I got all 4 shipped for $115.80. I believe I have the plates you are talking about. I think thats what came with with my mcgaughys kit and what the rear bump stops are in now. Doesnt sound bad at all to mount them.

The front already rides no much better now that its not sitting directly on the bump stops and actually has some up travel.

How is your rear sitting right now? Is it just in the 4.5 setting or did u lower it more somehow?

 

[Redtruck-VA]

You are set with the mcgaughys snubber plates. The rear on mine is 4.5" with the O/L spring removed. The front is using 2" spindles and a trimmed spring for a 3" drop. Mine doesn't look that low because I have 28" tires. The dropped looked is enhanced by a narrow fender gap.

 

[derekd7987]

Cool. I will probably try to cut about a 1/4 of a coil off the front springs this weekend. hopefully all goes well and it sits the way I want it to on the first try. I will post more pics after I cut the springs and install the Timbren springs.

Just for future knowledge, what does removing the O/L spring give you, about another 1/2 inch?

 

[derekd7987]

I think it would look better if I removed the O/L spring and got the 3 inch drop springs but I think I read you cant align it right and get the camber in spec with the 3 inch springs? Do you know if this is correct?

If it is I guess if I wanted to do 3 inches I would need to buy 2 inch drop spindles and trim my stock springs and put them back in to get 3 inches in the front?