I tried to pull the old U bolts off the gentle way but they weren't gonna have it. After 10 years of from the facotry torq they are welded on there. So I ordered the new Bolts from the same shop I got all the springs from. 9/16 38 inches long of grade 8 hardware. These things shouldn't move. Only problem was they sent me the wrong ones. They sent 4 inch wide and I need 3 inch wide.

So now I have a set of 4 inch wide bolts sittin here that they don't even want back and they have already shipped out the right ones. Maybe someday I'll have a spare semi around that need new U bolts that I can use these things on. Can't ask for better service then that. 2 minutes on the phone and told them what I got and what I need and poof, it's on it's way no hassles and no charge.

 

Got one side fitted up today with the helper springs, hope I put em in right. Didn't have any instructions and have never paid any attention to any trucks that had them installed so I just guessed on it. Now i think I'm gonna pull it apart and add another spacer in there though. I'll just cut a peice of 1/4" flat stock and make a pair of quick spacers to give it a little more lift. Right now it has about 3/4" of added height with the spring added.

Damn is this project ever gonna end. This is a list of all the things done to this truck since the last time it was on the road.

New front sway bar bushings and links.
New front coil springs.
New shocks all the way around.
Rebuilt the Trac Bar.
New tie rod ends.
New drums, cylinders and pads on the rear brakes.
New wheel studs on the rear wheels.
New adjustable waste gate elbow.
New helper springs on the rear.


Still in the works for the next few months.

High Idle selenoid sittin here waitin for install.
Make a new set of Nerf Bars.
Make a new set of Upper and Lower Control arms.
Get the seats rebuilt.

Then I'm done for as long as possible or until somethin else comes up.

 

My lucks holdin true here. Got the rear end together now and was workin on makin sure both axles were alligned right and snapped off an eccentric bolt. Now I'm back to waitin on parts again. Once I get a new set of bolts in though it should be ready to take in for an allignment and then bring the hay season on.

 

IT LIVES I powered the truck up for the first time in almost 2 months today. Took it in and had it aligned and it drives and rides like a dream with these new parts. These new springs make it ride like a car, no more jarrin the back over every bump in the road.

GODDOGS it feels good to have my truck back!!!!!

 

This post will be in the making for a day or two. I'll just keep editing the same post as I find the paperwork and include all the info I can think of for each item. This project has taken so long because of all the wrong parts received and un-expected things that popped up so I'll try to save other that misery here.

New front sway bar bushings. $34 Link: Energy Suspension 5-5124G - Energy Suspension Sway Bar Bushings - summitracing.com

New Front Sway Bar Links. $90 Link: Suspension Maxx SMX-1224L - Suspension MAXX Sway Bar End Links - summitracing.com

New front coil springs. $190 a pair. 2 1/2 inch lift Soft Ride coils Rubber Coated. Link: Custom Suspension

New Coil Spring Isolators. $48 for 3 sets needed to use them on top and bottom of both springs. Cheaper from Auto Zone but couldn't find their link. Link: Energy Suspension 9-6112G - Energy Suspension Coil Spring Isolators and Isolator Sets - summitracing.com

New Bilstein 5100 shocks. $400 shipped for the set. These are for 2inch lift front and back. Front: F4-BE5-6681-H6 Rear: F4-BE5-6647 He doesn't show just the shocks on his site but here is the vendor link I paid this price from: High Desert Ravelco - Automotive Anti-theft device - Performance Parts & Truck Accessories

D-T ProFab Trac Bar Rebuild kit. $45 Link: DODGE TRUCK PARTS GEN 2

New tie rod ends.
New Rear Drums.
New Rear Brake Cylinders.
New Rear Brake Pads.
New wheel studs on the rear wheels. $2 each Dorman Brand/Autozone Stock # 610-383.1 or OEM Part # 4746915 for $11 each

New adjustable waste gate elbow. $15 Link: Source Automotive Performance Diesel - Adjustable Boost Elbow

New Helper Springs on the rear. $100 per kit, can be had much cheaper elsewhere.
Link: Custom Suspension

New Grade 8 U-Bolts. $58 for the set. 9/16 thread 38 inches long grade 8. Link: Custom Suspension

High Idle Selenoid Kit. $55 for complete adjustable kit.

New Eccentric Bolts Complete W/Nuts and Washers. $56 Dealer only part.

Black Silicone Intercooler Boot Set. $199 Link: Source Automotive Performance Diesel - Intercooler Boot Kit for 94-02 Dodge


More to come, I'm still huntin down receipts.

 

You didnt have to go into such detail - wasnt expecting that....but thanks ! Great job

 

This whole project has been such a nightmare because of bad info from shops and even manufacturers about parts needed and the right part numbers. In most cases the shops were usin the guides put out by the manufacturers that gave bad info so I can't blame them but If I can keep somebody else from goin through that same thing more power to it.

If you order Polyurethane parts for your diesel truck they won't fit, period. They are all made to fit only the gasser versions of these trucks. That took a few weeks of dealing with Energy Suspension to finally figure out.

If your dealer uses his parts guide from Bilstein to look up the proper shocks for my application they are. Bilstein out a corrected list but nobody has it.

If you go to an Auto parts shop and tell them you need rear wheel studs, they will not fit our truck. The only ones they have listed are for the gasser versions. I tied this at several different stores wit the same outcome. You have to tell them you need them for a 3500 truck and then they will be right for our 2500's.

This is just a small list of the problems I fought with on this project.

 

Awesome dude! I've been eyeballing the KORE HP front leveling kit.. pretty complete for $335 then I'd buy the adjustable track bar from Thuren, and be a pretty happy camper, I think.
Scott

 

Here the KORE vs Stock Spring

 

I don't know what all is included in the Kore leveling kit but that's way to much for any, just a leveling kit. To just level the front off all I would have spent was the $190 for the new springs and it's leveled. That's the new 2" taller soft ride springs that are rubber coated and not just painted. Everything else I did was either for a different purpose like steering or just for overkill like the Poly isolators.