2002 dodge ram 1500 leveling, and some extra!

[farleyrf]

I have a 2002 dodge ram 1500, 4wd. I was looking to level it. Now, I know that the stock torsion bars can be cranked up by themselves, but I was just getting things to be sure, so i bought the torsion keys from rough country. I don't want a full lift kit, because I have to park it in a garage for a few years until I am out of the army. I am in afghanistan, and am getting the shop to put them on my truck when they arrive back at home. I am only planning on cranking them so the truck is level. not trying to jack them as high as they can turn. Any problems that I should tell the people back home to watch out for? or check after the keys are cranked? or even before? Also, I keep hearing about lift blocks in the rear? what's that all about? i have been googling, but the internet is rather slow over here, so not much luck...lol

I know I will need a realignment, and am going the whole nine yards, rotating tires, rebalancing, and getting an alignment. anything else I should check, or have done? or should watch out for while doing mild offroading(mainly backroads while hunting), and/or highway driving.

I am also trying to find shocks that will work with the 2" or so of lift, and also be nice offroading, and be nice on the highway too. any suggestions that will work for the truck?
also, I have 33" tires with stock rims, and they are rubbing on the... control arm I beleive, where can I find some rims that will offset them just enough that it will not be rubbing anymore?

Thanks, in advance

 

[LIVINtheLIFE]

Okay man I'll give Ya a hand...torsion keys are the way to go, crank and adjust them to whatever you feel but 2.5" is max, as you said make sure to get a wheel alignment after. Lift blocks in the rear do exactly as they are named, guys normally put them in so there rear end will retain factory rake or be level incase you lift your front too much or looks awkward to you, that's your call when you look at the truck after you do the keys in the front.
The best bang for your buck shocks you can get are definately Bilstiein 5100's, just buy them according to what you lift and you'll be happy with them both on and off-road. I have them and I hunt, fish, tow, off-road a bit and I put on lots of highway miles with work and they are great.
As for rims your right the stock rims have a 5.5" backspace that will sometimes rub with 33's on stock height, your level may or may not get rid of it. If not just find rims with less backspacing(preferably 4.5 or 5" with a 8" wide rim so they don't stick out too far). Hope this all helps! Good luck

 

[brantner22]

I've actually been wondering this myself. I have an 03. I was just going to crank the bars 2 or 2.5 inches and fit 295/65/20(35's). I'm probably going to run factory shocks for a little while too. I know most people say to replace them, but I know one guy that cranked his bars and has been running stock shocks for 2 years now. No problems and it's a daily driver.

My question is, is there any difference between replacing the keys or just cranking the existing ones?

 

[NWRQC]

I've actually been wondering this myself. I have an 03. I was just going to crank the bars 2 or 2.5 inches and fit 295/65/20(35's). I'm probably going to run factory shocks for a little while too. I know most people say to replace them, but I know one guy that cranked his bars and has been running stock shocks for 2 years now. No problems and it's a daily driver.

My question is, is there any difference between replacing the keys or just cranking the existing ones?

Absolutely no difference. You don't want to crank the stock bars more than 2"-2.25" regardless of how it's done. The ride will be exactly the same if you crank the bars using the OEM keys or if you replace the keys. All that you are doing when you crank the bars to raise the front end is applying more pre-load to the torsion bars. Whether you use key (A) or key (B) it doesn't matter.

 

[brantner22]

Absolutely no difference. You don't want to crank the stock bars more than 2"-2.25" regardless of how it's done. The ride will be exactly the same if you crank the bars using the OEM keys or if you replace the keys. All that you are doing when you crank the bars to raise the front end is applying more pre-load to the torsion bars. Whether you use key (A) or key (B) it doesn't matter.

Thanks for the info! I'll save my money and just use the stock bars