I have a 2010 Ram 1500 ST 4x4. I have bought a Rough Country 2.5" leveling lit for it in order to fit 33s on the truck. The kit claims 2-4 hours to install. After 24 hours I put the truck back together (stock) and gave up. The problem (other than I am not a mechanic with fancy high dollar tools and a shop) is no matter what I tried I could not get the lower strut bolt out of the A arm. PB Blaster and a 5lb mini sledge did not have an effect at all. I did not want to use heat since I have aluminum A arms. I am looking for any advice before I take this to someone and pay to much money for something I should be able to do myself.

Thanks for the help,
Mike

 

Removing lower strut bolts is a common problem with all these trucks, 3rd gen Dakotas as well. It is a total biotech and you are not the first to give up. They usually get seized pretty good. It takes time and a whole lot of effort to do it yourself. Impact hammer, heat (not too much that it melts the bushing), PB Blaster and plenty of beer. I took mine to a shop. It was worth the $120 to me to let them deal with removing the strut bolt.

 

Thanks for letting me know I at least am not alone with this problem. So far I have found quoate for $285 to do this for me. That is more than I expected it to be but I still have some other places to check before I completely comit to someone elses services. The right tool for the right job makes all the differance.

 

Absolutely. I've read that having an impact hammer helps.

 

A follow up to end this thread about the leveling kit help. After lowering my head and throwing my hands up in defeat I took the truck to a shop this morning and dropped it off to have them install the kit. About and hour later I got a call from them with the same results. They said they could get the bolt out but could not do it without the high likely hood of the A arm being damaged and requiring replacements. That is money I just am not willing to put into this truck right now. I should have never bought a truck from a state where they get a lot of snow every year. (Dad you can now say I told you so). If anyone needs a 2.5" leveling kit let me know and we can talk. Now to figure out the biggest tire I can fit without rubbing or cutting finders.

2010 Ram 1500 ST 4x4 "stock as they come"

 

My 2wd slt has stock 33" tires. I don't think you "need" to level it to get 33s. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, the 4x4 should have a bit more clearance then my 2wd.

 

I was able to fit 32" but 33 would have rubbed a little. I really just don't like the raked look which is why I wanted it leveled. The tires filled the finder wells pretty good and made a huge difference in the look.

 

It's extremely expensive here where I live as well. You can buy the kit for under $100 but to take it to a shop for them to oreder the kit and install it is about $400 on average. "Not todaaaayyyy" best bet is either use a breaker bar and long cheater pipe or borrow an industrial style hammer wrench. With help from a trusting friend, tie a 3' or so piece of sash chord on the wrench and have the friend hold a bind on it so it doesn't slip off while you swim a sledge hammer with both hands. 8lb hammer should do the trick. Might not hurt to brush the threads best you can before putting the PB Blaster on it. Good luck.

 

same thing happened to me on both my 3rd gen and 4th gen.. took me about 3 hours on each of them.. alot of hammer time, impact gun, and pd blaster

the trick is work it in and outwith the hammer and impact gun andm lube it upwith pb blast in bewteen