Rear Suspension Mods - 2002 Dodge Ram Dually

Steve Collins · 11-25-2007, 07:38 PM

OK, need some collective thoughts and opinions here from you guys and gals.
First, here's a side view of the new ride:

As you can see, the rear end is really high. Compared to our '98 Ram 1500,
the nose of the dually is 2" taller and the tail is 5" taller.

Since we're not going to be towing a fiver for at least another year or
two, I am thinking about getting the rear end a bit lower, and also
softening up the ride a bit. Empty, this truck has a very stiff ride and
it all comes from the back end.

I do know that the 2003 and newer Ram 3500's can be lowered in the
rear just by moving a couple of spacers in the axle/spring stack from
the bottom to the top. This will drop the rear end by 1.5" and does not
change the suspension geometry at all. As soon as I get a chance to
crawl under the truck, I'll know if that is possible on the '02.
(It's supposed to rain at least an inch tomorrow so I may not get to look for a day or two.)

What I am really interested in hearing about from others is about pulling
a leaf or two from the spring stack to soften up the ride. Thoughts, ideas,
suggestions, experiences, are most welcome. If you can even make a
good case for me to leave it as is, I'd like to hear that, too.

Pay load for this truck is 4,500 pounds. Removing a leaf or more will lower that, but should not affect what it can tow. And realistically, I don't plan on putting two tons of anything in the back of this truck.

emam · 11-26-2007, 09:41 AM

I'm not sure if pulling a leaf or two will drop the ride height that much. You might want to go to a spring shop and see about getting a custom spring pack made up. I had them made for an older truck of mine and it only cost a few hundred bucks.

I was doing the opposite of what you were trying to do though. I wanted the back end raised yet still wanted the stock ride quality. You could just raise the front end and make it look level with a set of airbags? Just throwing out some options here.

Good luck

Pat

Steve Collins · 11-26-2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emam

I'm not sure if pulling a leaf or two will drop the ride height that much. You might want to go to a spring shop and see about getting a custom spring pack made up. I had them made for an older truck of mine and it only cost a few hundred bucks.

Pat,

Check out these two links. They describe some of what I want to accompllish much better than I can in words.

2003 Ram: http://www.klenger.net/dodge/lowerin...d/slide01.html

2001.5 Ram: http://www.klenger.net/dodge/2nd-gen...ear/index.html

I did look under my truck today (in the pouring rain) and there are two spacers, same thickness as in the 2003 Ram, so I know I can get about 1.5" of drop just by moving the spacers.

Each leaf is about 3/4" thick, so pulling leaves in conjunction with moving the spacers should do the trick nicely, at least as far as height is concerned.

But, I have no clue which leaves should be pulled to soften the ride. (If that is the correct way to go.)

Now to soften up the ride... Anybody else got any thoughts?

HappyCampers · 11-26-2007, 03:44 PM

I believe they have suspension packages available to totally eliminate your springs and convert to air bags, like a tractor trailer. An on board compressor will inflate/deflate tour bags to acheive load leveling and ride feel. I may be wrong though, but it wouldn't hurt to check.

nickster60 · 11-26-2007, 06:34 PM

Steve
My 1998 Dodge 2500 sits just like your truck. And mine also rides like it is on metal wheels. When it is loaded it rides better but not like my F150 which is car like. Those older Dodges ride like a truck. If you find a cure please pass it on.

**JohnB** · 11-26-2007, 09:01 PM

Steve

My last dually was a 1975 Ford F350, stake body truck. Had the 360 engine and 4 speed manual. Empty that truck rode so hard, I would literally almost have a stomach ache driving around town. Putting only about 1 ton on it, and WOW like a new truck. Smooth and actually nice truck ride.

My Uncle had the same year, 75 Chevy 3500 1 ton dually stake body. Now his actually ride sort of OK unloaded. For a truck that is. It was night and day over my Ford.

NOW flipping gears a few years to modern trucks, my 2005 F350, even has a higher GVWR then the 75 F350 dually, is night and day over the old one. When the tires are all aired up for max load, she bounces hard on the back end. But still nothing like the old days thank goodness. My rear tires aired to 75 psi are good for 7,000# axle loads when I ride around empty the axle weight is only 3240#... It bounces

Point in all this, something to try if you have not, when not towing, find your tire manufacture weight chart per PSI. Go to the scales and weigh the truck. You do not need to drop all the way down in pressure but keep a good margin, but still this will be a lot less then your full axle ratings loaded pressure. Never go under the tire rating pressure for the weight. That’s not good.

I did this with my K2500 Suburban. Aired front and rear down to 50 psi when non towing and aired up to 65 front and 80 rear when towing. Did for towing in the rear for the weight rating and the front for stability. TI was a big improvent ridign around empty for ride.

This may not totally fix the ride, but it should help soften it out some. I do not know about pulling the springs. Never did that.

Hope this helps

John

Steve Collins · 11-27-2007, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

I did this with my K2500 Suburban. Aired front and rear down to 50 psi when non towing and aired up to 65 front and 80 rear when towing. Did for towing in the rear for the weight rating and the front for stability. TI was a big improvent ridign around empty for ride.

This may not totally fix the ride, but it should help soften it out some. I do not know about pulling the springs. Never did that.

John,

Back to basics 101! Thank you for that reminder.

I know those tires are inflated HARD, but just discovered that both the pressure gauges I have here only go to 48 PSI. So it is off to the auto parts store in a bit to find a better gauge.

I'll have a report later today.

Thanks again!

**Sunline Fan** · 11-27-2007, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Collins

I know those tires are inflated HARD, but just discovered that both the pressure gauges I have here only go to 48 PSI. So it is off to the auto parts store in a bit to find a better gauge.

Steve,

I know this is probably too late, but I like the digital gauges. I can keep all the tires at the same pressure within .5 PSI. I'm not sure how high they go, but the one I have does go above 70.

When I winterized my Sunny, I put all five tires to 48.0 PSI. I figure this can also tell me which one leaks more than another. Apparently 48 was too much for the one since it went flat. It doesn't really matter anyway since the tires will be replaced in the spring, but I can use this method on the TV too.

Jon

Steve Collins · 11-28-2007, 04:48 PM

OK, here's where I stand today.

First, I found a pressure gauge that reads up to 100 PSI.

Next, the way the valve stems are placed on the wheels, I can't get at the stem on the outer wheel of the duallies to check the pressure. The inner wheel has one of those extensions, and I can check that just fine.

The front tires and outer tires of the rear duallies all show 75 PSI which is just under the stated max inflation of 80 PSI. I think it is a safe bet that the inner duallies are also 75 PSI at the moment.

The Dodge sticker on the door frame says 55 PSI for the front tires and 50 PSI for the rears so I know I can air down.

Gotta find a way to get at those two valve stems first before I drop the pressures. I have a couple of possibilities: try to get extenders to work - might be a problem due to length and bends. Also might look at 90 degree adapters, too.

But! In the mean time, I picked up a face cord of firewood this morning and drove around a bit. The weight in the back seems to make it ride much smoother. My wife says she can't tell the difference, but I am certain that I am noticing a difference.

I am planning on leaving half of the face cord in the truck for the winter as weight in the back. Guess we'll just have to see how it goes.

nickster60 · 11-28-2007, 09:05 PM

Steve
My Dodge 2500 v10 states 50 front and 80 rear. I am now running 50 front and 60 rear. The 80 was like riding in Fred Flintstones car. I think I could drop the fronts a bit to help the ride. Ride quality can become an issue. I had a f250 that I had to run at 40 front and 50 rear or it would knock the filling out of your teeth.