Let's Talk About Building Your Suspension And Answer Some Questions

 

Most people contact us and say they want a suspension setup that "levels" the truck. The reality of Level is tricky because when you line up 10 trucks with a different front to rear height bias, most of the people that want a level truck would choose the trucks that are about 1/2" to 1" taller in the rear. Here's why.... (timestamp 0:32)

 

If you were looking at a measured Dead Level truck from the front corner, this angle will give the illusion that the front is higher than the rear. Most people don’t like this look because the idea of dead level actually measures out to be a truck that looks a bit high in the rear. We suggest measuring your truck's front to rear bias at the fender openings (see video for full explanation). Each truck will measure out a bit differently that's why it's important to measure out your truck before you purchase any suspension components.

 

 

How To Measure Your Truck's Ride Height

 

The stock look of the factory setup tends to leave the truck looking severely nose down or as if the front of the truck is weighed down. Even if you like this look, dialing in the suspension should be a priority.

 

The key to upgrading your suspension is that of having options, not only the ride quality but the look as well. (timestamp 2:09)

 

*Raising the front suspension height will transfer some weight to the rear resulting in the rear dropping roughly 1/4 inch.

Finding the front to rear bias measurement:

  • Park on the most level ground you can find (tip: most smart phones have a level app)
  • Measure the front from center of hub to highest point of fender opening
  • Record measurement
  • Measure the rear from center of hub to highest point of fender opening
  • Record measurement

 

 

Using the measurement information you gathered, apply the lift you would like to the stock measurements. This will give you an accurate idea of what to order when upgrading your suspension components.

 

*for future reference: we are developing a lift/height result list so you will know exactly what lift you will get, depending on your platform, without accessories, in stock form, when installing our coils. Stay tuned!

Considering additional weight

 

Because most of us utilize our trucks for their intended purposes, towing or loading the bed might be a concern all while maintaining a level suspension. To compensate for more weight in the bed simply do just that, load the bed with your usual weight i.e. motorcycles, sod, gravel, wood etc. Park on level ground and take the same measurements as stated above, order your suspension components accordingly.

 

Another thing to consider is the added accessories you've installed or plan on installing in the future. Our posted lift heights are based on the most common Quad-Cab trucks without accessories installed. Naturally it should be understood that installing accessories will affect the lift height. Anticipate roughly 1/4 inch difference from our advertised lift height.

 

With or without accessories, the Dodge platforms are not created equally. Mega-Cabs run heavy in stock form therefore 1/4 inch subtracted from the advertised lift height should be considered. If you own a Regular-Cab truck, it will sit much higher after our coil spring install (approx. 1/2 inch higher). Also, trucks with the RamBox installed weigh approximately 200 Lbs (empty) more than standard bed trucks.

How it all adds up

 

All things considered, truck configurations in their various forms reflect weight and affect your suspension kit options. Trim packages, accessories, base models vs Longhorn/Laramie editions all have different weights and should be taken into account when buying Thuren Fabrication Suspension components. (timestamp 3:30)

2013+ RAM 3500 Models

 

To achieve proper leveling for the 2013+ Ram, Thuren Fabrication Front Coils & Shocks is all you'll need. The hours of research and development we have gone through resulted in creating a valving and length combination that provides the best ride possible when used in conjunction with our coil springs.

 

If you desire a different shock manufacturer for your truck, contact us before you buy so we can advise you on spec approved part numbers for your build. The generic aftermarket manufacturer products will not perform with Thuren Fabrication coil springs.

 

Additionally, After roughly 20,000 miles of useon the stock trackbar, consider purchasing our track bar due to wear and tear of your components and to complete your setup.

 

It needs to be fully understood that the new platform (2013+Radius arms) using coil spacers to gain lift height is risky business. Unlike the 1994-2012 platform,  the location and design of the coil spring mount mandate a shorter coil spring be used.

 

The limitations of this stock design put a lot of undue stress on the OEM coils with lift spacers installed as the suspension cycles through its range of motion. If coil spacers are installed, dropping the bump stops the same measurement as the coil spacer is important to maintain the OEM geometry and stay as close to stock form as possible.

2013+ Dodge Ram Variations

 

2013+ models vary in weight simply due to the various trim packages and options available straight from the dealer. Because of these variations, it’s important to obtain measurements for your truck prior to purchasing new suspension components.

Air Ride Assist Rear Leaf Spring Model

Recently we’ve seen a lot of Air-Assist Rear Leaf Spring truck owners wanting to upgrade their suspension. We’ve determined that this model sits a bit lower in the rear in comparison to the other rear leaf spring Ram trucks.

2013+ Non-Airbag Rear Leaf Spring Model

 

2013+ non-airbag 3500’s sit ½ inch taller in the front compared to the 2500’s and this is in stock form. We list the front coil springs according to our measurements for each model so it’s important to measure your truck so you get the desired lift height and don’t have to return your ordered coils to get the proper ones. We’ve found that most customers like the ride and appearance of a one inch lift in the rear but we don’t offer that option just yet.

It needs to be fully understood that the new platform (2013+Radius arm), using coil spacers to gain lift height is risky business. Unlike the 1994-2012 platform,  the location and design of the coil spring mount mandate a shorter coil spring be utilized.

The limitations of this stock design put a lot of undue stress on the OEM coils with lift spacers installed all while the suspension cycles through its range of motion. If coil spacers are installed, dropping the bump stops the same measurement as the coil spacer to maintain the OEM geometry and stay as close to stock form as possible.

Shock Information

 

Anytime you upgrade your suspension you’ve changed the geometry designed by the OEM manufacturer. When lifting your truck 2-3 inches higher it is necessary to purchase the appropriate shocks to compensate for the additional travel of the wheel to vehicle ratio.

 

The idea is to maintain the stock configuration but at a lifted height for maximum performance and to remain safety conscious. Stock shocks do not have the proper range of movement for your truck once it’s lifted. Rear shocks can handle a 1 inch lift before requiring a shock upgrade.

Leaf Springs And Rear Suspension

*Note: it has come to our attention that some truck owners might run their airbags at 0 PSI. In concept, this might make sense except for the fact that airbags with zero air pressure actually build pressure with the action of the axle moving up and down. To have a smooth ride it’s imperative that a small amount of unrestricted travel is achieved while driving. A restricted airbag at zero PSI will drastically affect the ride quality.

Lifts Over 3" Tall, And The Reasons They Are Difficult To Build, Properly

 

Anytime you lift your truck over 3 inches every component within your suspension set up is affected and therefore you’ve invited in additional cost, additional safety concerns, and a lot more aggravation when trying to dial in your suspension.

 

Any lift over 3.5 inches will require drop brackets and the geometry of the suspension has changed dramatically. The issue arises because the drop brackets for a 6-inch lift are the same as the brackets for a 4-inch lift and for good reason, maintain geometry. The reality of your 4-inch lift is that with a 3-inch track bar and bump stop drop, you’ve only increased your compression by 1 inch.

 

While looking great, the performance of your suspension has maintained close to that of a stock configuration, and here lies the problem. Ride quality has not increased and in reality a proper, but expensive option, is at a 6-inch lift. If you take this route, be prepared for the build sheet to get longer with components being affected such as Long Arms, a Track Bar Drop, Drop Pitman, Full Leaf Springs to cancel out blocks, extended Brake Lines, possible Driveline Modifications, and on and on.

 

High lift kits exist and provide a bit of ground clearance but tend to leave out the previously mentioned components that will inevitably need attention. Without attending to these components your handling and drivability will most certainly be compromised.

 

Send us an email at thuren.tech@gmail.com if you have any questions or visit our product pages for more information.