I'm curious as to how much suspension lift can be done without serious mods.

For the rear, what I understand is you buy longer U bolts and blocks to put under the leaf springs and thats that, or add-a-leafs: how much can you go up without having to replace the rear shocks or screwing up the driveshaft & u joints??

For the front, I've seen those round "riser" pieces you buy that go in between the spring and upper mounts.

I realize new front shocks will have to be purchased... longer ones.

If I wanted to do a basic lift with the parts listed above, how much height will I be able to gain?? ( This means keeping stock control arms, driveshaft, rear shocks etc...) not a serious lift just something small but noticeable. I was hoping 2 inches but let me know what you think!

 

you can get 3" before you have to change the control arms, the front tires will sit slightly toward the rear, but hardly noticable. those will be the first hurdle. Depending on wether you have an off-road package, you may or may not need to add some block to the rear, the coil spacers are used in the front to usually level the truck, but if you use the 3" spacers you may need to add about a 1" block for the rear and at that height you dont really need to change the rear shocks. you can also look into getting 2500 or 3500 coils for the front, some guys here are using them and seem to like them, i know one of them will chime in here shortly.

 

Ya,

We need to know if you have the off road package before we answer.. if so, alot of the "free" lift is already used

 

go to ebay look for 3in. lift coils top gun customz has then skyjacker soft ride coils then look for a 4in. add a leaf also by top gun customz. then either rough country or skyjacker has front and rear shocks for $36 ea. pretty cheap for 3in. lift and leaveling

 

I have no idea if its off road package or not. It's a 1995 1/2 ton 4x4... reg cab long box.

 

1. Measure front ride height

2. Add 3" to said height

3. Measure rear ride height

Is the rear ride height less then the total combined height of the front? if no, jump to step 6. if yes, continue to step 4.

4. Buy proper height rear block and u-bolts to compensate for extra front height (dont stack blocks, if you already have one, buy a new one with the extra lift added)

5. Install rear Block

6. Install front spacer and shocks

7. Get an alignment

8. Drink beer

 

for the record, step 8 doesnt have to wait till step 8... its more of a reminder.

 

Its not an off road package then. Dodge didnt offer it in 95.

 

reminder / requirement haha.

Is a measurement usually taken from center of wheel arch to top of tire?

My truck is pretty much the same front and rear right now... it had a 5th wheel hookup in it when I bought it so I'd imagine thats where the sag comes from.

 

well, its really up to you where you take the measurment from. The wheel arches may be shaped different resulting in mis-information. Since one of the goals of the lift is to make the truck look good, i would extend the bodyline across the wheel openings and measure to that.