Upgrading the Ram 1500 2012

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waqasrishi

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Hi,

I am upgrading the stock suspension and lifting my truck. But I don't want to go too crazy and spend like 5000 USD on it.

Was thinking more of replacing the old stock suspension and changing it with the new ones. Also, going with Bilstein 5100.

What would you recommend I change with along with the shocks?

I was thinking Upper and lower control arms, and the coil. Because I can hear a bit of noise when I'm on the Sand Dunes.

Also, could you guys please recommend the best affordable brands for the parts?

I'm sorry, I really new at this but I went through a lot of youtube videos, although they seem like they are sponsored.

Thanks alot.
 

kurek

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If you want a clear answer I'm sorry to say you've made a mistake by asking here. Apparently the only right answer is "ask Nick" even though you're in Qatar.

Randomly throw stuff at your truck it'll be as useful as every suspension thread in this forum.
 
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waqasrishi

waqasrishi

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If you want a clear answer I'm sorry to say you've made a mistake by asking here. Apparently the only right answer is "ask Nick" even though you're in Qatar.

Randomly throw stuff at your truck it'll be as useful as every suspension thread in this forum.
Haha, I kinda get what you are saying. It'll just be confused.

The problem is that when shipping usually costs as much as the item when shipped from the USA. So it's even more costly. Think of it in this way, I'm going to spend around 2000 USD on the shocks and pay another 2000 USD on shipping. That is if the custom clears it without any additional cost. Lolz. Bad right?? Imagine what I can get for 4000 USD in the US. hehe

I'm going with Bilstein 5100 to start with but thought of changing the Upper Control Arms and the Factory Coil because it has started squeaking.

Thanks anyways, man.

Cheers
 

Quick_Shifter

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Hi,

I am upgrading the stock suspension and lifting my truck. But I don't want to go too crazy and spend like 5000 USD on it.

Was thinking more of replacing the old stock suspension and changing it with the new ones. Also, going with Bilstein 5100.

What would you recommend I change with along with the shocks?

I was thinking Upper and lower control arms, and the coil. Because I can hear a bit of noise when I'm on the Sand Dunes.

Also, could you guys please recommend the best affordable brands for the parts?

I'm sorry, I really new at this but I went through a lot of youtube videos, although they seem like they are sponsored.

Thanks alot.
@knightjp is in Dubai and may be able to assist in where to source parts from. Replacement upper and lower control arms are a great place to start. There are a few threads on here about ground clearance and suspension upgrades for sand dunes so let’s start by how many miles are on your truck and how do you use your truck?
 

MrSoloDolo

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Icon makes a kit with Coilovers, upper control arms, rear coil springs, and rear piggy back shocks. Itll only raise it by 2.5” though. Its there stage 5 kit. I have Bilsteins on my setup but I know Icon is superior. Price is around 4k usd
 
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waqasrishi

waqasrishi

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Icon makes a kit with Coilovers, upper control arms, rear coil springs, and rear piggy back shocks. Itll only raise it by 2.5” though. Its there stage 5 kit. I have Bilsteins on my setup but I know Icon is superior. Price is around 4k usd
Oh thanks, yeah I saw a video on that. Someone upgraded the complete shocks and struts and everything. Looked amazing but out of my price range because of the delivery charges. It’s gonna cost me around 7000 USD.
 

kurek

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Haha, I kinda get what you are saying. It'll just be confused.

The problem is that when shipping usually costs as much as the item when shipped from the USA. So it's even more costly. Think of it in this way, I'm going to spend around 2000 USD on the shocks and pay another 2000 USD on shipping. That is if the custom clears it without any additional cost. Lolz. Bad right?? Imagine what I can get for 4000 USD in the US. hehe

The solution I usually suggest to people is the Mopar 2" kit. I have no idea why that's such an unpopular suggestion but it just is, I guess everyone wants to be contrarian or something.

The thing with the Mopar kit is that you don't have to trust me or any other internet Rando about it because Mopar is the official accessory brand of Ram/Dodge/FCA/Stellantis/whatever. Yes I installed that kit and have first hand experience with it so I can say it's great but you don't need to trust me about it, I might be an idiot. I'm sure somebody's gonna read this and say yep you sure are! :sleepy: But the fact is that's also the kit that Ram dealers will install on the truck as a dealer installed accessory and have to be liable for it working correctly.

The Mopar brand isn't a guarantee that it's the best thing in the world but it is a guarantee that the part or kit just plain works when installed correctly so you don't have to worry about making a mistake. If you just want your truck a little taller and a little more capable than stock with no surprises that's a one click solution with Mopar's signature on it and at least in the USA it's well under $1000 delivered. It consists of front Bilstein 5100's, rear extended length 5100's, rear progressive rate coil springs, rear bumpstop pad extensions and brackets to relocate the sway bar end links. It's minimal, but it does significantly increase rear suspension travel (more than 10%) and it rides very well.

New upper control arms aren't necessary with lifts of about 2" or less (so Bilsteins at the 2.1" seem to align just fine with stock arms and that is my first hand experience along with reading the same from others) - taller than that, aftermarket arms are pretty much required to reliably get a good alignment. A lot of good choices there, I went with the Readylift arms because they have a sealed ball joint (not an open uniball) and my experience with them has been good, I would get them again and I would recommend them to friends. Not a good idea at stock height because they have lift correction built in, but at ~1.5" or more lift with stock knuckles they've done well for me for ~4 years and I expect they will continue to work well. I don't actually NEED arms I'm at about 2" of front lift but for a while I was trying out 2.8" and needed them for that.

Note that no matter what rear shock you go with, the upper nut is in a real pain in the neck location and you will need either a 21mm crowsfoot wrench or a specialized tool to remove it. The specialized tool from Thuren consists of just a piece of water or laser cut steel with a hex cut out of it for the nut and a bent tab that intersects with the frame so it holds the nut while you turn the bolt on the other side - they also ship a pair of nuts welded to two more of that tool as part of the kit. You can't just fit a socket over the nut and you can't fit any kind of wrench in there with the bed on the truck unless you have a body lift.
 

kurek

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kurek

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You need thick skin around here thats for sure !

Man I don't come on here to argue, we're all truck owners and probably have a lot more similarities than differences.

It seems like every suspension thread goes the same way, somebody asks what time it is and everyone argues over the best way to build a clock.

I get that there are tons of great combinations that work but if somebody just wants to scratch an itch there are kits that work fine. The <$1k Mopar kit works fine, the $4k Icon kit works fine.. either's better than a set of strut spacers and easier than playing the mix and match guessing game.
 

Black1500Ram

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Hi,

I am upgrading the stock suspension and lifting my truck. But I don't want to go too crazy and spend like 5000 USD on it.

Was thinking more of replacing the old stock suspension and changing it with the new ones. Also, going with Bilstein 5100.

What would you recommend I change with along with the shocks?

I was thinking Upper and lower control arms, and the coil. Because I can hear a bit of noise when I'm on the Sand Dunes.

Also, could you guys please recommend the best affordable brands for the parts?

I'm sorry, I really new at this but I went through a lot of youtube videos, although they seem like they are sponsored.

Thanks alot.
I just completely rebuilt my suspension at 100k but I’m stock height.

I used all Moog parts along with 5100 shocks, freedom off-road rear control arms and track bar, and a Hellwig 7709 rear sway bar.

1) the rear upper shock bolt doesn’t take any fancy tools, just undo the front of your wheel well lining and push it up, viola accessible. A couple of 8mm or 10mm bolts.

2) coils don’t squeak, bushings / rubber parts do. The only reason to change your springs would be if you want different performance characteristics. The only way springs go bad is if they get stress fatigued (engineering stress) which will only happen if youve got TONS of miles, live in the north with salted roads and you notice visible corrosion, or if your jumping your truck and pushing them beyond their design specs.
Entire rebuild was around $1500 but again that was stock height. I know Zone is entry level BDS and what I was looking at when I was considering lifting. Just to throw another name your way. I think their kit was about $3k with their shocks.

If you’d like any help feel free to message me. I used factory torque specs on every bolt so I have them all quickly available.

Hope this helps.

James
 
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knightjp

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waqasrishi I'm not sure how much of help I can be since I live in Dubai and you live in Qatar, but I will do my best.
The unfortunate thing is living in this part of the world, most of the mechanics over in this region come from Asia (India, Pakistan, etc.,) and aren't really Petrolheads / gearheads. To most of them, its stock replacement or repair when something goes wrong or nothing at all. You need to find a shop that deals with off road kit and modifications. The reason is because you need to trust that the person fitting the items know what he is doing. Also you need to make sure that there aren't any corners being cut or bad workmanship. This is common in this region.
Which is why I take my truck to a mechanic that I can trust. If he doesn't know, he will tell you he doesn't know and will consult with those who do so that I always get the best advice.

In addition, each country has rules about lifts and mods to vehicles. So it would be good to check on that as well. Most cases, the mods will be approved as long as there isn't too much cutting and welding on the chassis. A proper shop will know about all of this and be able to do it and comply with legal requirements.

How much of a lift are you planning on putting on your truck?
The local dealer here in Dubai offers a Mopar 2" kit; which includes Bilstein shocks and stuff. I have seen a couple of people use it and they seem pretty happy with the results. Maybe check with your local Ram/Jeep/Chrysler dealer for it and see if they will fit it to your truck.
If Mopar isn't you're thing, then you could look at Zone. I believe they have a regional dealer in Saudi (according to their site).

Desert Cloud​

3944 Mohammed Saleh Nasif Street, Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA
http://www.desertcloud.sa

Otherwise, you might want to email [email protected] for a BDS kit for your truck, if you're thinking of going higher.

I am planning on lifting my truck and I have decided that I would like to get the AEV Dual Sport Suspension kit. They are currently selling it for 1400 USD. I'm not sure how much shipping would cost, but it would be worth it since their kit has good reviews.
I'm first going to contact my local off roading shop, Ramy Automotive... https://www.ramyautomotive.com/all-products/suspension/lift-kits
If they don't have it and aren't able to get it for me, then I will attempt to contact AEV and see how they can help me.
 
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Finney83

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Hiya all

I am looking to upgrade the suspension on my 2012 also. I'm not looking to modify the height/stance. I added a homeowner plow(400lbs+/-) for just my driveway. I'm looking for recommendations for heavy duty front coils and strust(not to increase the amount of load the truck can handle). I'm just looking to help offset the sag/squat when the plow is attached. Any recommendations(If anything is available in heavy duty capacity)would be appreciated. TIA!
 

kurek

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Timbren makes a plow kit that doesn't change the front suspension just adds progressive bumpstops so you don't bottom out violently while hoisting plow over bumpy roads and ice heaves. That might be a thing like what you're after.
 

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