3rd Gen Leveling Kit on 2nd Gen?

[TheGreatWhite]

The other day I was offered a 2in. leveling kit for an 04 3/4 dodge for helping my dads friend fix his truck, but I didn't know if it'd work or not. If I'm not mistaken, my 01 and the 3rd gens have the same front axle, steering, coils, and coil buckets correct? Couldn't really find anything on this topic elsewhere so like always, someone has to know here, thanks!

[JAG1]

Then you will need a lot more to go with that. I.E. adjustable track bar, longer front shocks, Longer end links, and rear air bags to take out the sag when loaded. I recommend not doing it. The factory track bar is too short and makes the differential stick out more on one side and then get a front driveshaft vibration until recentered. At least that my experience.

Edited October 2, 2018 by JAG1

[TheGreatWhite]

2 hours ago, JAG1 said:

Then you will need a lot more to go with that. I.E. adjustable track bar, longer front shocks, Longer end links, and rear air bags to take out the sag when loaded. I recommend not doing it. The factory track bar is too short and makes the differential stick out more on one side and then get a front driveshaft vibration until recentered. At least that my experience.

I talked to a mechanic and he said you don't need all that till you get to 3 inches whereas this one is only a 2in. puck I believe, haven't really looked at what's all there but from the sound of it the Trac and control arms are all there.

[2000Ram2500]

Shocks will more than likely become a necessity depending on what you have on there right now. Axles are not the same they used dana until the 3rd gen came out and thats when they started using Corporate and American axles in the trucks and the Chrysler 9.25 in the half tons.

 

Off topic but not... i ordered an exhaust from Summit a while back. 4" with muffler turbo back. The instructions were written to include 3rd gen trucks as well as the 2nd gen that i installed it on leaving me to believe that the frames were the essentially the same between the two body styles..

 

the coil springs might be the same diameter which would be good in your case. and track bar is gonna be a problem eventually so you might as well look into getting a better one anyways to save yourself from death wobble down the road lol

[TheGreatWhite]

1 minute ago, 2000Ram2500 said:

Shocks will more than likely become a necessity depending on what you have on there right now. Axles are not the same they used dana until the 3rd gen came out and thats when they started using Corporate and American axles in the trucks and the Chrysler 9.25 in the half tons.

 

Off topic but not... i ordered an exhaust from Summit a while back. 4" with muffler turbo back. The instructions were written to include 3rd gen trucks as well as the 2nd gen that i installed it on leaving me to believe that the frames were the essentially the same between the two body styles..

 

the coil springs might be the same diameter which would be good in your case. and track bar is gonna be a problem eventually so you might as well look into getting a better one anyways to save yourself from death wobble down the road lol

Like I said I think I'm getting a Trac bar instead, but when I bought the truck it just had the front end rebuilt the week before I got it so I'm good on that end. 

 

I thought the 3rd gens had the same front and back axles??? Gale Banks said so during his testing of diff covers on his YT channel.

 

Ultimately I'll have to see when I get it, between my truck and my dad's 03, there doesn't seem to be much difference.

[JAG1]

4 hours ago, TheGreatWhite said:

I talked to a mechanic and he said you don't need all that till you get to 3 inches whereas this one is only a 2in. puck I believe, haven't really looked at what's all there but from the sound of it the Trac and control arms are all there.

mine is the two inch leveling kit and just pucks.

[TheGreatWhite]

Just now, JAG1 said:

mine is the two inch leveling kit and just pucks.

Hmm, interesting. Do you know if the kit for an 04 will work on my 01?

[JAG1]

I don't know. 

 

What began my problem having a two in kit was the vibration at 65mph coming home from the mechanic. I got home and you could see the tires sticking out almost an inch more to one side. After the adjustable track bar and getting the wheels even the vibration went away. Had to work a bit at getting the steering wheel back straight.

 

After loading my camper I realized I needed air bags.

 

I have two second gen trucks one with the kit and one without. I enjoy the slight lift while driving on the one truck but its better to not lift it really because the dynamics are better on the standard height 4x4. Hard to explain just the one not lifted is more comfortable ride.

Edited October 3, 2018 by JAG1

[TheGreatWhite]

1 minute ago, JAG1 said:

I don't know. 

 

What began my problem having a two in kit was the vibration at 65mph coming home from the mechanic. I got home and you could see the tires sticking out almost an inch more to one side. After the adjustable track bar and getting the wheels even the vibration went away. Had to work a bit at getting the steering wheel back straight.

 

After loading my camper I realized I needed air bags.

 

I have two second gen trucks one with the kit and one without. I enjoy the slight lift while driving on the one truck but its better to not lift it really because the dynamics are better on the standard height 4x4. Hard to explain just the one not lifted is more comfortable ride.

Bags are planned, but I've only ever pulled 1 trailer so it's not that big of a deal to me. My 99 has a 3in. with all the proper parts on it and honestly it's pretty comfy to drive, more comfy than my 01, matter of fact.

[Stormin08]

The 2nd and 3rd gen trucks have different axles.

2nd gen are dana 60 front, dana 70 or 80 rear.  The 80 was order option on 2500, standard on 3500 drw.

 

The 3rd gen are AAM. 

 

That said, the later 2nd gen 00-up, can use the following....steering, trackbar with 3rd gen bracket, front brakes if using 3rd gen caliper mounts, rotors and pads.

 

The coils will swap and most are advertised as suck...but the 2nd gen trucks net about 3/4" more in lift.

 

If you choose the puck, at least do the shocks. The castor should be reset, and you really should do an adjustable trackbar.

[Mopar1973Man]

You'll be surprised how much 2 inch kit changes the geometry of the front axle. Its best to it right the first time.

[TheGreatWhite]

1 hour ago, Stormin08 said:

The 2nd and 3rd gen trucks have different axles.

2nd gen are dana 60 front, dana 70 or 80 rear.  The 80 was order option on 2500, standard on 3500 drw.

 

The 3rd gen are AAM. 

 

That said, the later 2nd gen 00-up, can use the following....steering, trackbar with 3rd gen bracket, front brakes if using 3rd gen caliper mounts, rotors and pads.

 

The coils will swap and most are advertised as suck...but the 2nd gen trucks net about 3/4" more in lift.

 

If you choose the puck, at least do the shocks. The castor should be reset, and you really should do an adjustable trackbar.

I'm glad you mentioned the castor, I totally forgot about resetting that. What do you mean by a 3/4" more lift?

 

24 minutes ago, Mopar1973Man said:

You'll be surprised how much 2 inch kit changes the geometry of the front axle. Its best to it right the first time.

I will definitely do it right the first time! My 99's trac bar was broke when I bought the truck because of not having an adjustable one and man was that weird to drive it after I got it home.

[Stormin08]

You can use a stock 3rd gen coil...and gain about 3/4 to 1 inch.

 

3rd gen coils will work...thuren, carli, synergy...they all sell a coil for 2nd and 3rd gen (same part number). But if advertised for a 3rd gen, you (2nd gen)gain about another 3/4".

 

I have 2" thuren coils and gain 2.75 on the money...as he claims.

 

If it needs a trackbar, i would dona 3rd gen swap, much better design.

[TheGreatWhite]

1 minute ago, Stormin08 said:

You can use a stock 3rd gen coil...and gain about 3/4 to 1 inch.

 

3rd gen coils will work...thuren, carli, synergy...they all sell a coil for 2nd and 3rd gen (same part number). But if advertised for a 3rd gen, you (2nd gen)gain about another 3/4".

 

I have 2" thuren coils and gain 2.75 on the money...as he claims.

 

If it needs a trackbar, i would dona 3rd gen swap, much better design.

Ok cool I'll consider that! My 01 is due for coils anyways, 315k on stock coils, needless to say she has a decently bad rake in the front at times. I believe this leveling kit our friend has has an adjustable trac bar, I'm not sure though, I'm just speaking through my dad who could not tell you which side is the hot side and which side is the cold side on a turbo.... But from the sound of it its all there.

[Stormin08]

Remember...a spacer setup wont fix or help worn or sagging coils.

 

A good coil goes a long way on the ride quality side of these trucks.

[TheGreatWhite]

1 minute ago, Stormin08 said:

Remember...a spacer setup wont fix or help worn or sagging coils.

 

A good coil goes a long way on the ride quality side of these trucks.

Yes you are very much correct! Coils are the plan in the near future right after I make some traction bars because my axle wrap is horrendous.

[Mopar1973Man]

When you lift even 2 inches the axle is push downward which means the track bar is too short. The control arms may be too short and change caster too much and not be able to readjust caster properly.

 

Too many people assume leveling kits are safe and don't require anything more which is false.

Edited October 3, 2018 by Mopar1973Man

[TheGreatWhite]

2 minutes ago, Mopar1973Man said:

When you lift even 2 inches the axle is push downward which means the track bar is too short. The control arms may be too short and change caster too much and not be able to readjust caster properly.

 

Too many people assume leveling kits are safe and don't require anything more which is false.

You're right! Just like with my trac bar with my 99! The stock one was broke after we got it and it has a 3in. lift on it and the guy wised up and bought an adjustable one for it. My girlfriends cousin put a 3in. level on his Ford and broke his trac bar and put major stress on his axle and now its in the shop for some major repairs due to him not knowing what is going on.

[Mopar1973Man]

I watched a shop install 2 inch leveling kit in an Ford Truck and watched the mechanic use a come-a-long to pull the axle over enough to put the bolt back in the track bar. It pulled the axle over nearly 2 inches. Then the caster was out so the vehicle wouldn't self center properly. 

 

Like one our Dodge's the caster adjustment can do only so much but when the axle angle changes so does the control arms so you can't gain the caster angle again. Like my conversation on this with alignment shop the caster adjustment can alter the thrust angle too.

 

So... Get it aligned it the shop can't get angles correct be aware you might have to change the track bar and control arms to get geometry correct.

Edited October 3, 2018 by Mopar1973Man

[TheGreatWhite]

2 minutes ago, Mopar1973Man said:

I watched a shop install 2 inch leveling kit in an Ford Truck and watched the mechanic use a come-a-long to pull the axle over enough to put the bolt back in the track bar. It pulled the axle over nearly 2 inches. Then the caster was out so the vehicle wouldn't self center properly. 

 

Like one our Dodge's the caster adjustment can do only so much but when the axle angle changes so does the control arms so you can gain the caster angle again. Like my conversation on this with alignment shop the caster adjustment can alter the thrust angle too.

 

So... Get it aligned it the shop can't get angles correct be aware you might have to change the track bar and control arms to get geometry correct.

Alright will do! If I need a new set of control arms, it'll give me an excuse to make a really cool pair of them too.