2014 RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab

[ram1500rsm]

With the stock springs, the rear will be at 40 1/8"
With the Icons 1.5" springs, i'm now at 41 1/8"
I have a 100lbs full spare bolted inside the bed (before and after), Icon claims the springs are 25% softer than stock in their 1st stage, so i guess i'm hitting part of that 1st stage at the moment

I didn't install the liners back, as i'll be testing the new flex, and i want to watch the shocks to see how they compress and if i need to add bumpstops in the back

20181007_145354 by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

20181007_145408 by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

20181007_145427 by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr


20181007_145444 by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

 

[ram1500rsm]

Got to test the shocks/springs early this morning, couldn't put the bumpstops to the max, so the coils are a lot stronger than factory,

This is before with the shocks fully compressed (though i had the rear disconnected here)
Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

This is after
I guess i could try to disconnect and see if i can get the springs to fully compress, but i don't know at that point if the coil springs will like that, this seems to be what the springs will be fully compressed with the weight of the vehicle on either side.

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

Also, i have about 2" or so of naked shock shaft with the coil stuffed
Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

So it will be a good idea to add 1" bumpstop to play it safe.
Little better drop as well, i was expecting to be able to keep that 1" uptravel, but oh well, it's what it is for almost 2" of downtravel
I think i'll add a long hose clamp to the base of the coil springs to keep the spring fully seated, i wasn't able to rotate the spring at full drop by hand, but by feel i think if i open the shocks 1" more, the spring could be unseated, it should be safe with the 1" bumpstop in there though, and straps will me the best bet, but for now a hose clamp should do along with the 1" bumpstop.

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

 

[ram1500rsm]

Had some Metalcloak 1" bumpstops i had in my Garage back when i had my JKU, Picked up a couple of bolts and nuts to fit the RAM bumpstop pads from Lowes, and they fitted like a damn glove haha
Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

 

[ram1500rsm]

Btw, i'm thinking to toss the Supermaxx HD front sway bar links away, suckers are noisy as hell, they squeak and rattle like a POS, i'm starting to trash their bushings, as i keep tigheting down the nuts compressing the bushings, because otherwise the little tube/pipe in the middle will start clicking against the bushing caps, and they're driving me insane. Good think i did keep the stockers somewhere, and they seem to be good, wonder if they're replacements that are 1" longer in the same style ?

 

[kad]

Btw, i'm thinking to toss the Supermaxx HD front sway bar links away, suckers are noisy as hell, they squeak and rattle like a POS, i'm starting to trash their bushings, as i keep tigheting down the nuts compressing the bushings, because otherwise the little tube/pipe in the middle will start clicking against the bushing caps, and they're driving me insane. Good think i did keep the stockers somewhere, and they seem to be good, wonder if they're replacements that are 1" longer in the same style ?

Core 4x4 does a set in the same style as the stock ones, but heavier and with grease zerks in a variety of lengths.

-K

 

[revitupmoto33]

Btw, i'm thinking to toss the Supermaxx HD front sway bar links away, suckers are noisy as hell, they squeak and rattle like a POS, i'm starting to trash their bushings, as i keep tigheting down the nuts compressing the bushings, because otherwise the little tube/pipe in the middle will start clicking against the bushing caps, and they're driving me insane. Good think i did keep the stockers somewhere, and they seem to be good, wonder if they're replacements that are 1" longer in the same style ?

Did you notice any difference with the longer end links vs stock? Aside from the squeaks and rattling you mentioned.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Core 4x4 does a set in the same style as the stock ones, but heavier and with grease zerks in a variety of lengths.

-K

Ty, i'll check that out.
Edited: I went to visit their website, but i don't see any reference to front sway bar links for the 1500, they have a set for the rear though.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Did you notice any difference with the longer end links vs stock? Aside from the squeaks and rattling you mentioned.

No difference at all.

 

[kad]

Ty, i'll check that out.
Edited: I went to visit their website, but i don't see any reference to front sway bar links for the 1500, they have a set for the rear though.

My apologies, I didn't notice you were looking for fronts. You might want to call or email them though, they do a lot of things not listed on the web site.

-K

 

[ram1500rsm]

My apologies, I didn't notice you were looking for fronts. You might want to call or email them though, they do a lot of things not listed on the web site.

-K

No worries.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Removed the aftemarket sway bar links and added my stockers back, when they go out, i'll buy stock replacements, here is a side by side view, that tube in the middle where you can see the sticker is the one banging on the bushing caps, i can tight the bushing as much as i can to prevent that, but couple of days later the bushings will deflect as expected, and the hole assembly gets loose again, and the thing will start cluncking like a mofoker going through speed bumps and the like.

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

 

[ram1500rsm]

Also added my rear coil springs retainers, $1.50 from Home Depot, 5-7" steel hose clamps. those suckers aren't going anywhere haha, i don't think i need them after adding the 1" bumpstops, though this doesn't hurt anything either, so they're more for the just in case.

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

 

[ram1500rsm]

Added DeeZee HD bed mat, fitted like a glove, had to cut 3 holes to fit the thing on top of the brackets holding the spare
deezee_mat by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

 

[bruiserRAM]

Thanks for all the updates! Helping my own plans out a ton.

 

[bruiserRAM]

Actually, I have a question on your tow hooks...I have a 2017 Express...and NEED tow hooks. Some recommend fabricating a special bracket so they can face outward (the "correct" way) because of clearance issues. Sme turn them inward like yours.

How is the clearance between the hook and the bumper on yours?

Is there anyway you could snap a pic of two up close, perhaps even with rope or straps through them, next time you're messing around? thanks!

 

[ram1500rsm]

Actually, I have a question on your tow hooks...I have a 2017 Express...and NEED tow hooks. Some recommend fabricating a special bracket so they can face outward (the "correct" way) because of clearance issues. Sme turn them inward like yours.

How is the clearance between the hook and the bumper on yours?

Is there anyway you could snap a pic of two up close, perhaps even with rope or straps through them, next time you're messing around? thanks!

There were no instructions in the box, and if i remember correctly, that’s the only way they fit naturally in their mount, I tried to reverse them and the bracket holes wouldn’t align in the mount.
I’ll snap some pics for you this morning.

 

[ram1500rsm]

Here you go, this is all passenger side just to give you the idea, clearance is the same on the driver side

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

No problems fitting my ARB recovery strap or even the tow strap i have through the hook, sure it touches the bumper, but it wouldn't cause any issues.
Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

Once it goes inside the hook, clearance is fine
Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

If you're trying to fit a shackle, then yes, that might not work well for the factory bumper, but i remember i was trying the same, assuming the bracket is reversed and the hook faces the other way, clearance will be the same because of the way the hook mounts, maybe like you said you'll need some sort of bracket that changes the way the hook fits, i don't see how using the stock holes/factory hook

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

In the pic above, the schackle itself rest at the bottom of the bumper in this pic, and the pin will rest at the top, if you put pressure on a pull, chances are the bumper might get damaged.

 

[bruiserRAM]

Awesome. Thanks!!

 

[ram1500rsm]

Awesome. Thanks!!

Np

 

[ram1500rsm]

Installed longer rear sway bar links, (Thanks to 78Staff for the inquiry ), the links are from Teraflex, company that makes a lot of stuff for Jeeps, i had these laying around in my garage from back when i had my JKU, and i wanted to test fit them to see how the rear would look with those in place. Honestly i didn't even think i needed longer links as the truck felt ok, or ar least i thought it did, so this happened to be a test that i ended up liking a lot.

Factory sway bar link measurement: 11 1/4" eye to eye
Teraflex 1754500 measurement: 12 1/4", eye to eye, $56 from Amazon for the Kit (2 sway bar links with lower nuts)

In this picture:
Longer link is the Teraflex 1754500, shorter is the factory RAM 1500 sway bar link
The bolt at the top is the factory upper sway bar link bolt, and it'll be too short to use with this links.

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

Bought some larger ones from Lowes
M12x1.50x70
Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

And this is how it looks mounted, fitted like a glove, only thing you'll need if you do this links are the upper bolts, the factory nuts will be reused with the new longer upper bolts.
Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

Before:
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Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

After:
Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr

Untitled by Wrangler RSM, on Flickr



For the best part, the truck actually handles better than before, and like i said in the other thread where we were talkking about the mod, is not that the truck did handle bad before, but the difference it made after is nice, cornering, crossing speeds bumps diagonally, etc.