First, let me say hello and thank you all for the information available here for first time Ram owners.

I bought a 1994 CTD Ram 2500 4x4 about three weeks ago and got it for a good price. I knew the truck sat much lower than it would have sat stock but figured the PO lowered the truck with shorter front springs and lowering block out back. I purchased new stock front springs and installed them a week after I bought the truck. Well much to my disliking I only raised the truck 1/2" with the new springs. I looked all over the front end and couldn't figure out why it sat so low.

After looking at another truck of the same vintage, I realized that the PO had cut the top spring perches off the frame, raised them approximately 4", and rewelded them.
He did a very nice job of it as you must look really closely to tell it didn't come this way stock. If anyone wants pics, I can take a few and post them.

Now my current project, since I finished the KDP fix today, is to relocate the perches where they belong. I don't have access to another stock truck to measure the proper location / orientation and could really use some help from somebody in obtaining the proper measurements and maybe some pictures if its not to much trouble.

Thanks in advance.

 

Five days and no response. I guess will be relocating the perches tomorrow morning by estimating the proper location.

 

hi
have you considered a lift kit ?

 

that's the first thing i thought, too. just put the stock rear stuff back on and buy some 5 inch lift springs and shocks for the front. maybe an add-leaf helper spring in the back so the front isn't a lot harsher than the rear, but all that should put you even.

and can we see some pictures?

 

I'd be interested in some pictures as well.

 

If the front was lowered 4", I would be quite sure the steering linkages would be changed or modified in some way to work correctly. But yeah, I would probably look into lift coils and new shocks before cutting and re-welding. And then deal with the steering. If you reweld the perches...find another truck to take careful measurements from!

 

There was a recall that changes the upper mounts by welding new ones on, perhaps that's what you're seeing. Check recalls here, you will need your VIN
http://www.dodge.com/webselfservice/...m('R')

 

A cheap way to get the front end height back to stock is to go with a rough country or similar 5" kit. These kits use a spacer that bolts into the upper mount. Then you could use lift springs if you choose to go higher.

Dave

 

Yeah, you're 94 should be in the sprin perch recall. I might have a pic in my gallery where you can see it... I don't have a camera or I would snap one quickly. Thinking on i though, I don't think you could move the perch up much farther than it already is... I think it's already at the top of the frame?

 

Thanks for all the replies. I spent the better part of three days cutting off the perches and relocating the. They had been raised partially above the top edge of the frame with a series of welded 3/8 plate steel brackets, welded from inside the wheelwell. The previous owner had cut the perches and welded them to the brackets in piecemeal fashion.

I ended up cutting out the previously cut / welded / destroyed parts of the perches, and reinforcing / gusseting what was left into something usable. I would have been better off just fabricating my own from scratch.

I ended up locating them approximately 2.5" lower than stock, leaving me with a nice ride height in the front without using a set of lift spacers.

I may have a couple of pics on my phone of the before condition, and will tray and get some of the 'finished' (they aren't pretty , but they are strong) product.

Thanks for the help!