I got my 2" Daystar Leveling Kit today in the mail. I have an appt. to get it installed this Friday. I chose to take it to a shop to get installed being that I don't know much about suspension components and whatnot, don't wanna risk breaking anything on my DD. Anyhow, quick question, after looking at the outside of the box, it states that the kit is for a 2006-2008 Dakota 2+4WD. But then after looking at the instruction sheet inside the box, it says its for a 2005-2007 Dodge 1500 Non-MegaCab. What does this mean? My truck is an '05. You think this'll fit? I can take pics if that'll make it any easier.

 

1500 and our daks have the same mounting system and struts for the front of our trucks, many of the suspension parts swap. I even found a thread where rough country was developing a suspension for the new rams and the dakotas would also have the same lift. Never happened but maybe someday.

Congrats on the lift and yes it will fit your truck and a 1500 non megacab.

 

Congrats on the leveling kit. Depending on which leveling kit configuration you recieved, the location of the spacers may be in between the perch and strut assembly, or between the spring and spring seat. If you locate the spacer between the spring and spring seat, you will see a small improvement in stiffness in the front end.

 

I have also noticed a stiffness in the front end of my above strut leveling kit. Attributed to the new angles of the lower a arm. I like the way it rides so much so that I dont plan on getting shocks until these either leak or bust.

 

Since the daystar kit re-located the top 3 mounting bolts, somewhere in the instructions it was say, "rotate the upper strut mount plate 180 degrees"

This is worded HORRIBLY. What they mean is, litterally take the entire strut assembly in your hand, after the kit is mounted on top, and turn it around 180 degrees, so the bolts line up to the top mounting locatation.

This kit is the kind that just bolts to the top of the strut plate, no spring compression required. The shop should charge you no more then 2 hours of labor.

 

So I guess with all the changes in these kits, has anyone figured out which is better? In strut or above? I seem to remember a year or more ago, inside was the only way to go because of cv shaft angles... and that above the strut could cause binding.

I'm still interested in one of these myself, but seems like no 2 methods can be agreed upon...

 

Whether two inches is gained through in the strut or above, is exactly the same to the CV angles. 2" is 2". The only difference is, that at "full droop" the strut will limit the down travel with the TM kit, within spec, and with a 2" kit like mine, daklorado's and soon firstdodge05, the strut can extend 2" beyond the factory "spec" which could put further stress on CVs and Ball joints.

But as you can see in daklorado's write up:
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...stall-diy.html

..that doesn't really happen with this truck either way, he has the truck at full droop with the kit installed, and it seems ok.

When i Had my old Trailmaster leveling kit installed, it gave me 1.5" of lift, so I would imagine with only 1.5" of lift vs 2", that the angles would of course be closer to the stock static position. But if your trailmaster kit gives you 2", and so does an on the top of the strut kit, I really don't see a difference, especially if your truck is wearing it's front sway bar, the full droop only goes so far due to other factors in the front end.

 

Thanks Monkeywrench for your post. My 2 inch lift does NOT stress the balljoints nor the boots of the front CV shafts. 2.0" is the biggest you can go without hitting the spring and maxing out the ball joint angles.

I am going to go and say above strut lifts are better, I come to this conclusion due to the easier install. You wont need to actually take the strut apart to get the lift in. I did the entire install in just over 2 hours with basic handtools without dismanteling the strut.

The ride does change (manufacturers claim the ride doesnt change). I feel its stiffer and more controlled! Seems contradictory to lifting but its only 2 inches and the angles are different on the lower control arms. It no longer bounces like its on airbags going down the highway.

Daystar, CCM (ebay) and other above strut lifts will yield the same results.

Completely satisfied with the lift and ride.

 

Oh and i forgot, 1 big advantage to doing the above the strut like our kit, is that it does not extend the strut at static hieght, because it simply moves the whole assembly down 2", so factory stut size is the correct size for the kit. The Trailmaster kit actually with stretch the strut a few inches, thats why it changes how the truck rides.

I had them both, the Trailmaster, and now the daystar, and I would go with an above the strut hands down.

 

damn, this is why I went lower...

...toooooooooo confusing for my head...