How to determine what kind of lift/leveling kit my truck has?

Well, I just got this 2015 Laramie Limited 2500, and it's obviously a bit different than stock as far as height. I'm not sure, since it's been cold and wet and can't/don't want to crawl around under it yet, what kind of lift or more likely leveling setup this has. I wouldn't care all that much, but I just noticed that the right rear shock absorber is not connected! It's an Icon shock body, and that's it (attached to the lower mount point). The guts have vacated...the body is there, and there's a threaded end on the body (internal) but there's certainly no oil and I don't know what it's supposedly threading onto up in the frame rail. This all was loose and a problem likely before I actually took ownership (the dealer I got it from wasn't a CJDR dealer, and it shows ), but it could have been a matter of NY roads making an already very loose part fall off. Either way, I need to order new shocks, and can't figure out if the truck just has a leveling kit or some form of lift kit. What should I be looking for parts-wise? Here's a side shot of the truck: granted, it's not near any other vehicles for a good reference, but it's a start. BTW: Its running 35x11.5/20 tires on Fuel wheels (also on there when I got the truck).


Side view from about 15 feet across the street (one way avenue, so no yellow line for reference!).


Passenger rear shock...that body is empty!


Passenger front shock/spring.


Driver front shock/spring.

Look at the left rear shock for make model numbers. Looks like the right rear has some make and model stickers that are still readable.

It does appear to be leveled. No spacer on front coil and I would assume at least the front springs have been changed. The rear shock is a stem type and does attach to frame and secured by a nut, PITA to get to as well. You'll have to make measurements of shocks at ride height and with the truck lifted at two corners (frt and back) to get the extend/compression measurements (Replacement shocks should collapse less than the smallest measurement and extend more than the longest measurement). I noticed the right rear E brake cable bracket is missing on the rear lower control arm, if it was Thuren Overland kit, that extended bracket would be there. It can't be over 4 inches since that is point, according to Thuren, where drop brackets and so forth are required. I'm guessing between 1.5 to 3 inches over stock height.

Just did a quick measurement on my 2016 2500 6.4 with 3" thuren springs in the front and 2.5" spacers on the rear. From center of rim to bottom of fender/ wheel well I'm at 27 and 5/8 inches up front and 29 and 1/4 rear. My tires are 295/70/18 but that shouldn't matter measuring where I did.

I have a 16 2500 cclb 5.7, with 2.5 RC level up front measuring at 27 inch center of hub to fender with factory flares, and 26 in the rear as well. That is with a mid rise cap, 5 tires, a new factory muffler, winch plate and a few other little odds and ends in the bed.

The rear shocks are Icon and they do make a 2.5" leveling kit. Weird that the front shocks are run of the mill Monroe, but maybe the fronts gave out long ago.

Looks like you have the rear air suspension package instead of coil springs…is there a spacer above or below the air bags?

If those are 35’s, the front looks to be about 3” or so taller than stock. The rear air suspension trucks usually sit low in the back (level with the front height) so i would guess you have a spacer back there somewhere.

Icon does have a 2.5” kit for rear air suspension trucks…

So for a bit of update, I cleaned out the wheel wells and measured from the center of the passenger front wheel to the lip of the fender, and got 28 1/8" at the front wheel, and 27 11/16" at the rear wheel. In poking around under the truck (on the ground), I can see no evidence of spacers/blocks/extra parts- though I'm honestly not an expert on the suspension for a Ram 2500 (with Rear Air Suspension). I am thinking that the only thing really done was to put taller springs up front, but I'm just not sure.

Here's a pic of the right rear shock as it sits today:

I need to swap the rear shocks at minimum, because this is UNSAT!



It's fully "compressed" down almost to the rear lower mounting point.



Something tells me THIS part (the top of the shock body) should be connected to something...maybe this?


That's an attempt to take a pic of what is up inside the frame rail. Clearly any bushing/or fastener or hardware for the top of the shock has vacated the premises a while ago.

I would like to swap out the shocks for Bilstein 5100s front and rear, but again, I don't know how much over "stock height" I may need.

Thoughts?

olyelr said:

Looks like you have the rear air suspension package instead of coil springs…is there a spacer above or below the air bags?

If those are 35’s, the front looks to be about 3” or so taller than stock. The rear air suspension trucks usually sit low in the back (level with the front height) so i would guess you have a spacer back there somewhere.

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olyelr:

I see no spacers, and the mounting bosses seem to be stock. Could I be wrong?

Passenger side airbag (from behind the axle under the truck):

Here's as seen from the wheel well looking in/back:


Driver side (swaybar seems to have stolen the focus):

Better shot of the driver bottom:



Thoughts?

vhmike73 said:

olyelr:

I see no spacers, and the mounting bosses seem to be stock. Could I be wrong?

Passenger side airbag (from behind the axle under the truck):
View attachment 490993
Here's as seen from the wheel well looking in/back:
View attachment 490995

Driver side (swaybar seems to have stolen the focus):
View attachment 490994
Better shot of the driver bottom:
View attachment 490996


Thoughts?

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Just measured my power wagon from the same spots, which is leveled 1.5” up front and stock out back (so a roughly 3” taller in front and 2” taller in back, from stock 2500 with air). My measurements are roughly 27.5” out back and 26.5” up front. I would guestimate you have roughly a 4” lift up front, and a few inches out back.

Are there any spacers above the rear air springs? How about the sensor arms…do they look like they were tinkered with (as in adjusted/raised/lowered so they air up more than normal)?

olyelr said:

Just measured my power wagon from the same spots, which is leveled 1.5” up front and stock out back (so a roughly 3” taller in front and 2” taller in back, from stock 2500 with air). My measurements are roughly 27.5” out back and 26.5” up front. I would guestimate you have roughly a 4” lift up front, and a few inches out back.

Are there any spacers above the rear air springs? How about the sensor arms…do they look like they were tinkered with (as in adjusted/raised/lowered so they air up more than normal)?

Click to expand...

No spacers anywhere...at least not that are evident to ME. I do believe the Power Wagon is a bit taller (yet somewhat softer ride) than a stock 2500 gasser, but I could be just imagining I read that. Either way, I posted up some pics of the rear air springs when I quoted you: unless I'm not seeing them from looking up from the ground, then they aren't there.

vhmike73 said:

No spacers anywhere...at least not that are evident to ME. I do believe the Power Wagon is a bit taller (yet somewhat softer ride) than a stock 2500 gasser, but I could be just imagining I read that. Either way, I posted up some pics of the rear air springs when I quoted you: unless I'm not seeing them from looking up from the ground, then they aren't there.

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Yes, a power wagon sits 1.5-2” taller than a normal 2500. Yours is the same height as mine in the rear…should be a few inches less if it wasnt lifted. And yours is taller than mine up front, and mine is about 3” taller than a normal 2500. Soooooooo…

Your pics dont show the upper portion of the air bag very well, which is why i asked. There clearly isnt a spacer on the bottom side, but your rear definitely sits taller than factory, sooooooooo.

Yeah, the pics aren't the greatest, but I can't see any sign of a spacer on the top sides. I also can't tell if anything has been modified on the air sensor arm/linkages.

It would have been nice if the PO who did the work left documentation!!

vhmike73 said:

Yeah, the pics aren't the greatest, but I can't see any sign of a spacer on the top sides. I also can't tell if anything has been modified on the air sensor arm/linkages.

It would have been nice if the PO who did the work left documentation!!

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Sure would have.

None the less, however it was achieved, your truck basically has a 4” lift, with the rear leveled to that (roughly 2”).

I would venture to say if you get shocks listed for that much lift they should work. You can always measure the current shocks and make sure they are within that range. Well…that is if the proper length shocks are even on there. With the broken rear shock, makes ya wonder if they might be too short…

It might just be the camera angle, but in your original post, in the pic you have labeled "Passenger front shock/spring", it looks like the spring has a curve to it where the bottom and top are more towards the left of the shot, with the middle section more to the right

Wulf said:

It might just be the camera angle, but in your original post, in the pic you have labeled "Passenger front shock/spring", it looks like the spring has a curve to it where the bottom and top are more towards the left of the shot, with the middle section more to the right

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@Wulf I agree: the front springs seem like they're really too tall for the application. I'm wondering if someone jammed some diesel springs into the front of my gasser or something. Either way, I can't locate ANY form of spacer blocks or non-factory bracketry on either the front or rear axle...I am considering just swapping the front springs/shocks for the Bilstein leveling kit (once it's back in stock).

If it is the case, and the (or another) individual before you owned the truck did what almost amounts to a hack job on it, it might end up being worth the time, and wear and tear on the vehicle from here forward to just scrap the alternate suspension parts already on it, as you can afford to, and replace it all. To your liking, or stock, or whatever.

I'm of that mindset, actually. Pull the front springs/shocks, replace the rear shocks and while I'm at it, replace the steering damper. I don't know if some modification was made to the rear air spring linkages to have them raise higher than stock; I don't know the stock dimensions vs. what mine are currently set to.

A buddy of mine is a bit more advanced with suspension than I am; now that he's kicked the 'vid, I will reach out to him and have him look it over with me and get some ideas.

vhmike73 said:

I'm of that mindset, actually. Pull the front springs/shocks, replace the rear shocks and while I'm at it, replace the steering damper. I don't know if some modification was made to the rear air spring linkages to have them raise higher than stock; I don't know the stock dimensions vs. what mine are currently set to.

A buddy of mine is a bit more advanced with suspension than I am; now that he's kicked the 'vid, I will reach out to him and have him look it over with me and get some ideas.

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If you are unsure of the stock dimensions, the local dealers' service department might be able to shed some light on it, or the parts department might be able to tell you what parts came stock on your specific vehicle, by using the VIN.

I have been considering changing my stock rearend suspension around (a little) and either going full Rebel (4 corner air bags), or change the current back to coil over springs instead of the current separate situation they are in.