How to 1.5" Steel TGC rear coil spring spacer install

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buddy guy

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Great writeup. How high did you need to jack the differential? Just as high the pic shows? (For my reference tires look to be just a couple of inches off the ground)

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buddy guy

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Put in my rear delrin spacers today. I'm about 41" on both rear sides. 39.25" on the front. Really like it.

Wish I had kept a driveway shot to compare. First is level. 2nd added 1.5 inch today. Ultimately now that I've seen it, I'll likely get tuff truck 1223vt coils at some point. I was concerned their 1.5" lift would be too much for me. We'll see. The driveway is far from lvl btw:
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R.L.K.

R.L.K.

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Truck looks great Sir !

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Truck looks great Sir !

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Thank you. Adding a bit of rake back on gives it that aggressive look I like. Yet when I look at my wheel wells I don't feel like I MUST have a taller tire. Yet in saying that I want at least a 285 next time. I'd love to go 295 but the cost increases so much going over the stock 275.

There's a guy across the street with an F150. Not sure of trim but I think he has it set up to tow a decent size trailer. Clearly the front had been leveled but the ass sits so high you could add another half tire height wise in there from the looks of it. I HATE that look.

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Maybe a better pic for reference from the street today.first level, 2nd added rear lift. You can see it in the wheel well;

2d65b545e9fd7a3b75bd9b2cc912a15d.jpg73a841dbf3db9bd99f6920c0b07e7184.jpg

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buddy guy

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@R.L.K. By releasing the anti sway links, does the differential drop lower than just releasing shock bottoms? I had a hell of a time getting bottom mount coil spacer 1.5" in. As it turns out, in researching 1223vt springs for down the road, I ended up ordering a pair and I don't want to have to rent or figure out if I can get coil compressors in that space. I didn't remove the anti sway link ends but my sense was if I had, I would have got the diff to drop some more? I figure another half inch would have made a world of difference!

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@R.L.K. By releasing the anti sway links, does the differential drop lower than just releasing shock bottoms? I had a hell of a time getting bottom mount coil spacer 1.5" in. As it turns out, in researching 1223vt springs for down the road, I ended up ordering a pair and I don't want to have to rent or figure out if I can get coil compressors in that space. I didn't remove the anti sway link ends but my sense was if I had, I would have got the diff to drop some more? I figure another half inch would have made a world of difference!

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I believe so but it's been a while since I did this .....go to my original post and look at step 3 . The higher you support the frame on jack stands will allow you to drop the rear end further for sure [emoji106] and obviously a low profile jack aids in this as well .

Hope this helps !

Here's a screenshot of my post above step #3


3c69c9b0f67186ebd4f9e5cdea0c16a7.jpg

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buddy guy

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Thanks for this. I made blocks for my jack stands & will use to get more lift next time along with a 4 inch deep block I can use for my jack under differential as well. I would have spent a lot less time & effort I believe if I had undone those links as you did. The coils with no spacers were loose & easy. The challenge was getting that extra 1.5 inches of spacer over top the nipple! I kept on wishing for an extra pair of hands to push in while I pushed down.

My sense that the sway links were the only thing really stopping me from dropping the rear end further as I could push down on the axle & "bounce" the rear end at least a quarter inch & see the link arms flexing up & down. I also expect it would be much easier to get the coils & spacers out, with a mallet smack, then it was to lever them in. I suppose in any case, it won't take more than 5 minutes to undo the link arms & make life simpler!

I'm expecting my new 1223vt coils tomorrow sometime!

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Thanks for this. I made blocks for my jack stands & will use to get more lift next time along with a 4 inch deep block I can use for my jack under differential as well. I would have spent a lot less time & effort I believe if I had undone those links as you did. The coils with no spacers were loose & easy. The challenge was getting that extra 1.5 inches of spacer over top the nipple! I kept on wishing for an extra pair of hands to push in while I pushed down.

My sense that the sway links were the only thing really stopping me from dropping the rear end further as I could push down on the axle & "bounce" the rear end at least a quarter inch & see the link arms flexing up & down. I also expect it would be much easier to get the coils & spacers out, with a mallet smack, then it was to lever them in. I suppose in any case, it won't take more than 5 minutes to undo the link arms & make life simpler!

I'm expecting my new 1223vt coils tomorrow sometime!

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When you unbolt the end links and trackbar to drop the diff Terry,pay attention to your ABS wiring as it'll be your final stop,and you don't want to stretch the wiring to the breaking point. How big are your jackstands,i have a couple pair of fairly tall 6 ton stands you can borrow,i'll bring them over to the meet tonight
 

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Yes. I did as per the OPs video and unbolted the wiring hangers before I tried this. I just have the little 2 ton jackstands. They get the job done but sure if I can borrow your 6's that would probably be a safer idea.

The meet is tonight at the Marks lot? I thought they were thursdays?

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Never mind, Rick. I looked back at the last pm and saw it was Wed. See you there for a bit tonight.

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New coils in! Feel very nicccce! Tight as someone said, without losing the great ride at all. Unloaded lift is 1.25" it appears. Perfect for me rake. Not a lot thicker wire than my oems (hd oem coils due to 20" tires maybe?) But feel a fair bit heavier. Same height as oem so with things dropped was easy to get them out and in.the 1.5" spacer side i gave the base a smack to get it out. Right side with 1" spacer popped right out.

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osprey ram

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How to 1.5" Steel TGC rear coil spring spacer install

This is just another spacer install , similar to others , I have a couple pointers that I hope will help someone here .

I purchased these Spacers used from a member here a while back , his forum name is Sausec17 , he was from Ga. and a good seller for me .

View attachment 371317

My Truck 2014 Ram 1500 4x4 QC with Bilstien 5100s set @ +2.8" .

I installed the bils about 25,000 miles ago , I love these shocks , but I'm sitting a touch nose high , I've been saying for 2 yrs I'd be installing rear coil spacers well I finally have LOL !

My before measurements :

L/F & R/F = 39.0 "
L/R =38 3/4"
R/R =38 1/2"

Before pic

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After pic

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And now even loaded with approximately 500 - 600 lbs in the bed I'm still basically level .

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This is while hooked up to a trailer with 4,500lbs of rock / 7,800 lb total weight .
Not sure of the tongue weight ,probably 450+ lbs

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I ended up with exactly 1 5/8 " increase in hight on both the left & right side with 1.5" spacers hmm ?

My post spacer install measurements :

L/F & R/F stayed @ 39"
L/R =40 1/4"
R/R =40 1/8"

Very happy with the look now and still drives the same .

This install is a 1 hr job , took me about 2 hrs ... I was taking notes for this post , taking photos and I rotated my tires as well .
I rate the dificulty at a 2 out of 10 , very simple task imo.

Tools I used for this install :
21mm or 13/16 socket and wrench
18mm socket & wrench
13mm socket
Floor Jack & Jack stands

View attachment 371325

This is how I did it .

Step 1) chalk the front tires

Step 2) break tq. on rear wheels

Step 3) jack up the rear end @ the rear differential , remove tires and install jackstands on the Frame ( the higher the better . Higher means the rear end can drop further for the coil spring reinstall ( remember they will be taller with the spacers )


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Step 4) Disconnect the lower shock mounts both sides , 21mm socket & wrench or 13/16 works fine .
I kept my stock shocks , the upper bolt to the shock is more difficult to get to and there was nothing wrong with my stock shocks .

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Step 5) Disconnect the upper anti-sway links , both sides . 18mm socket & wrench .


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Step 6 )To aid in the smooth drop of the rear end I (loosened only) both ends of the lateral brace . 21mm

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Step 7) I removed the 13mm bolt holding the brake line to the frame , just for a bit more room for dropping the rear end.


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Step 8) Prior to completely lowering the rear end (so the coils don't fall out like some say )

I recommend identifying them R/S & L/S , I also marked for orientation .
My L/S coil was about 3/8" taller than the R/S . The left coil on my truck is p/n 05154648 , the right is p/n 05154647 .

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I've read some get the coils mixed up and end up with the R/S 1" to 1.5" higher than the left side . The p/n s are diff on my truck ....I believe this is due to the added weight on the L/S ie... gas tank & battery and always having a driver . This is about 300 -450 lbs extra wt on the left side of the truck all the time , depending on fuel load and the wt of the driver .


Step 9 ) Now remove the coils by hand , you may have to give them a firm shake as I did or smack em with a mallet , some just fall out , my right one was pretty loose once I completely lowered the rear end .


Step 10) remove the factory rubber anti-chafe topper from the coil spring and install it on the large diameter end of the spacer , place the spacer on the top of the coil spring and reinstall the coil spring and spacer ( as a single assembly ) on the correct side , just stab the smaller diameter end of the spacer into the hole above the mounting location of the coil and pop the smaller lower end of the coil assy over the hump that retained the bottom of the coil originally.


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Step 11 ) slowly jack up the rear end about 1/2 way , now reconnect the lower shock mount , upper anti-sway , brake line retainer and retighten the lateral brace .

Step 12) reinstall the tires tighten as much as you can , lower the rest the way down & torque to specs ... for mine it's 140ft lbs .

Now test drive and take measurements.


Hope this helps someone out !


Oh , I almost forgot ...

Go HOGS !

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Well done thread, helpful. shocks apeer to be stock ! Any problem with lenght?
 

osprey ram

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Glad I could help Sir !

Looking back , I wish now I'd done the 1" TGC SPACERS. ... as I'm a bit ass high .

The 1.5" spacers are perfect when I'm towing or pulling my boat , but 75+ % of the time that's just not the case ..

When I install my 6" BDS lift kit , I'll be focusing on an absolute LEVEL ....

LESSONS LEARNED

But again , glad I could help you out !
Very well done thread. Did you have any problems with shocks ?
 
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