Turblown03
Banned
So I just got done with the drop kit on my 4x4 Crew cab Express. I had a really hard time finding parts to lower a 4x4 Dodge so I figured I'd post up how I did it to help anyone else trying to do the same.
First I called and looked everywhere for a 2/4 drop on 4x4 Dodges and I found nothing. All I found was a 2/3 from Groundforce for a 4x4. There's any drop you want for a 2wd though, lol but I live is a blizzard 4 months out of the year and need 4x4.
I have a friend that works at a 4x4 lift shop and he said, why don't you custom drop the front with Bilsteins and piece together the rear? I started looking into finding just a rear kit and Groundforce never called me back after I asked for a price on just the 3" rear kit. McGy's told me "We're not allowed to sell just the rear 4" kit', and it's for a 2wd anyways!
After going over everything with a friend at the Mopar dealer we found out 2wd trucks use almost all the same parts as the 4x4 for the rear suspensoin. Track bar and shocks being the 2 biggest ones.
So here's how I did it:
Stock travel front Bilsteins for a 4x4 1500 ram have the same measurements/travel as factory struts. Bilsteins also have a retaining/snap ring that allows you to raise the front up to 2.75" by moving the snap ring up and raising the pressure on the coil. I bought two Bilsteins and had a friend machine new retaining/snap ring groves lower than the OE stock setting (pics). I did one at 1.250" below stock and one .460 above the new lowest one (in case the 1.250" was to low). You can see in the pic the new groves are darker then the original ones. If Groundforce allows their drop to use the same spindle and strut then I should be good to go with CV angles with only going down 2", same concept just different way. If you do this front drop, DO NOT FORGET TO TRIM THE BUMP STOP on the Bilsteins! Lol
After getting the front squared away I ordered the McGy's #44052 eco drop kit for a 2wd. The kit came and I started with the rear just to make sure it all would fit before tearing down the front. The rear fit perfect and install went good. The instructions don't say you have to do anything with the factory bump stop brackets that are welded to the frame but I didn't like how little clearance there was so I cut out the bracket. There's still the pad for bump stops now, I just removed the holder and gained another 1" of travel.
The front went simple other that the strut nut on top was hella seized and a pain to get off. I started at the lowest grove we machined and figured I'd go up from there if it was too low. After getting the Bilsteins installed and the truck back together, it sits perfect, rides good and handles way better. This was a little more work than just ordering a 2/3 Groundforce kit and tossing it on, but I wanted more drop and I still did it way cheaper than a Groundforce kit, plus I have Bilsteins now! lol, I just have 2wd front coils to sell now...
I just finished this two days ago and all I have is dirty pics. Like I said, I live in a blizzard... The clean pic is before the drop, I just cut the rear coils to level it out. It looks 1000 better now, I just need to get it washed! haha
Let me know if you have any questions and I'll help as much as I can. Thanks for checking out the thread.
First I called and looked everywhere for a 2/4 drop on 4x4 Dodges and I found nothing. All I found was a 2/3 from Groundforce for a 4x4. There's any drop you want for a 2wd though, lol but I live is a blizzard 4 months out of the year and need 4x4.
I have a friend that works at a 4x4 lift shop and he said, why don't you custom drop the front with Bilsteins and piece together the rear? I started looking into finding just a rear kit and Groundforce never called me back after I asked for a price on just the 3" rear kit. McGy's told me "We're not allowed to sell just the rear 4" kit', and it's for a 2wd anyways!
After going over everything with a friend at the Mopar dealer we found out 2wd trucks use almost all the same parts as the 4x4 for the rear suspensoin. Track bar and shocks being the 2 biggest ones.
So here's how I did it:
Stock travel front Bilsteins for a 4x4 1500 ram have the same measurements/travel as factory struts. Bilsteins also have a retaining/snap ring that allows you to raise the front up to 2.75" by moving the snap ring up and raising the pressure on the coil. I bought two Bilsteins and had a friend machine new retaining/snap ring groves lower than the OE stock setting (pics). I did one at 1.250" below stock and one .460 above the new lowest one (in case the 1.250" was to low). You can see in the pic the new groves are darker then the original ones. If Groundforce allows their drop to use the same spindle and strut then I should be good to go with CV angles with only going down 2", same concept just different way. If you do this front drop, DO NOT FORGET TO TRIM THE BUMP STOP on the Bilsteins! Lol
After getting the front squared away I ordered the McGy's #44052 eco drop kit for a 2wd. The kit came and I started with the rear just to make sure it all would fit before tearing down the front. The rear fit perfect and install went good. The instructions don't say you have to do anything with the factory bump stop brackets that are welded to the frame but I didn't like how little clearance there was so I cut out the bracket. There's still the pad for bump stops now, I just removed the holder and gained another 1" of travel.
The front went simple other that the strut nut on top was hella seized and a pain to get off. I started at the lowest grove we machined and figured I'd go up from there if it was too low. After getting the Bilsteins installed and the truck back together, it sits perfect, rides good and handles way better. This was a little more work than just ordering a 2/3 Groundforce kit and tossing it on, but I wanted more drop and I still did it way cheaper than a Groundforce kit, plus I have Bilsteins now! lol, I just have 2wd front coils to sell now...
I just finished this two days ago and all I have is dirty pics. Like I said, I live in a blizzard... The clean pic is before the drop, I just cut the rear coils to level it out. It looks 1000 better now, I just need to get it washed! haha
Let me know if you have any questions and I'll help as much as I can. Thanks for checking out the thread.
