I thought I would start a build thread on my latest project.
Some of you may have followed my last build in 2012 which was an 08 Dakota with a Cummins ISB 170. That has been a very reliable truck and towed our 5th wheel trailer all over North America for the last 7 years. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...ave-built.html
Its time to retire it mostly because of the heavy clutch and my poor knees.
I bought a 2014 Ram 1500 Laramie a couple of months ago and have started to play with it.

 

The truck had a broken backing plate when I bought it.



So I did brakes, axle seals and bearings.



Found these MAX rotors which are made in Canada and have good reviews online and much cheaper than the local parts store.
Also added some 1.5" wheel spacers. also machined in Canada and not the cheap E bay specials.

 

Why are you running spacers??? I really am not a fan of those.... Does rude things to suspension geometry.

 

Did not want to buy new wheels. Spacers give the same geometry as an offset wheel.
Both move the center line of the tire out.

 

Are you using stock wheels??

 

Yes the stock 20 X 9

 

So the spacers move the wheels out further... which introduces side loads on the bearings (especially in front), that they weren't really designed for. It also gives the wheels/tires a longer lever-arm to work the suspension. That will alter the way the truck drives (and not in a good way....), and shorten wheel bearing life....... Not really as much of an issue on the rear axle....... Those bearings seem to last forever, regardless of what you do to them.

Nope. Just not a fan of spacers.

 

Yup, just like an aftermarket wheel with an additional 1.5" of offset and few people complain about those. They both move the center line of the wheel out by 1.5" (longer lever) so they both add load to the wheel bearings.
I don't want to start the endless debate over spacers V offset wheels, lets agree to disagree on that one and move on but thanks for your opinion.

 

Very true. It also adds another failure point.... But then, I have seen stock wheels snap off lug nuts too..... (actually, more often than with spacers..... but, spacers just aren't that common around here.)

It is your truck, so, do what ya want. (and a nice lookin' truck at that.... )

 

In order to nicely clear the 37's without a lift kit I was trying to figure out how to move the suspension forward an inch and spent quite a bit of time under the truck looking up. ;>
In the end I moved the body back 1 1/4" which was pretty darn easy. I made aluminum spacers that did a 1 1/2" body lift and 1 1/4" body shift back. Also a 1 1/4. steering shaft extension.
Here are the spacers installed on the box.