If you're deciding on a 6-inch lift kit for your '03-and-newer eight-lug Dodge, you may want to investigate Superlift's Dodge lift kits. Our installation should give you a good idea of ride quality, alignment, steering geometry, how and where the components fit the chassis, and just how far that first step up to the cab is now.
| The '03 Dodge 3500 4WD came in with a 2-inch leveling kit in the front. This is a spacer that fits between the coil spring and the upper spring pocket.
The '03-and-up eight-lug 4WD Dodge pickups have relatively simple suspension systems using coil springs in the front and leaf springs at the rear. This time-tested straight-axlehousing approach in both the front and rear makes this installation easier than some of the more complicated suspension systems. With Superlift's 6-inch kit, your truck will retain its ride qualities and the steering geometry, and the kit is alignment-friendly. The Superlift brand has been around since 1975, so you are dealing with a very reputable company.
The complete 6-inch lift kit (PN K760) covers the '03-'05 2500 and 3500 Dodge diesel 3/4- and 1-ton pickups and V-10 models, while the '06-'07 Dodge diesel 2500 and 3500 3/4- and 1-ton pickups (they have the same suspension) use PN K823. The only differences between the two kits are in the transmission drop bracket (PN K823 lowers the trans about 1 inch, giving the driveline a more favorable angle to the rearend) and the coil-spring wire diameter (based on vehicle weight).
| The 6-inch Superlift kit is designed to make the truck sit level. Longer front coil springs and rear blocks achieve the stance. The truck sits on American Eagle 102 aluminum 17-inch wheels with a 5-inch backspace and 35X12.50-17 tires.
This installation on an '03 Dodge 3500 1-ton with a Cummins turbodiesel engine was performed by Coos Bay Off-Road in Coos Bay, Oregon, where it seems everybody wants to drive a lifted truck. Before the Superlift 6-inch installation, the truck had a 2-inch leveling kit in the front, simply a 2-inch spacer on the top of the front coil springs (which were removed).
The installation started with replacing the front coil springs and shocks with the taller Superlift coil springs and longer, gas-filled shocks. Since cross steering is used in this vehicle, a new front track-bar bracket, which lowered the mounting point, was installed along with a 2-inch dropped pitman arm on the steering box. While the old Dodge tie rod was mounted in the top of the pitman arm, the Superlift's dropped pitman arm mounted the tie rod from the bottom for an additional 1-inch drop.
New, longer, urethane-bushed front tubular control arms in the kit replace the factory control arms. These new Superlift arms feature a grease fitting at both ends, unlike the stock arms, and steel sleeves inside the urethane bushings to control wear and overtightening of the bushing. The control arms were tightened last, with the truck on the ground and all the weight on the suspension to prevent preload (or wind-up) on the urethane bushing. Since the truck's body is being lifted away from the drivetrain components, a new, longer, urethane front compression stop (or bumpstop) must be added from the kit. It fits in the same position as the factory piece.
With the lift kit installed, the Dodge steering tie-rod end could be adjusted to straighten the steering wheel in the cab to view the gauges as the factory intended. With cross steering, the drag link (between the steering box and right spindle) could be adjusted to center the steering wheel in the cab without affecting toe-in and toe-out during alignment. This is the nice part about Superlift kits, and the Superlift design even retains the use of all the stock fasteners except the new, longer rear-spring U-bolts.
At the rear, the stock factory springs are retained and 4-inch steel blocks are placed under the springs to level the truck out with the front lift. The goal of the kit is for the truck to sit 6 inches higher and level, and since the truck sat higher in the back to start with, it will now be level and 6 inches higher (even though it doesn't seem to work out mathematically). Next, the new, longer, rear gas-filled shocks and new, 4-inch-long, urethane bumpstops and brackets were added.
After installation, alignment is critical, and Coos Bay Off-Road always includes the alignment. On our install, the Hunter S611 computerized alignment machine hit the mark within the grid for proper alignment. It's always a good idea to ask the installation shop before you buy the kit just how alignment-friendly the kit is. Since Dodge has a solid front axle with the camber built into the housing, no camber adjustment is necessary, only caster adjustment. While the vehicle is on the alignment rack with its weight on the suspension, the front track bar and the four control arms can be tightened and the steering wheel centered.
This easy-to-install (by a professional) Superlift kit for the Dodge 2500-3500 pickups is a real winner, and because no welding or cutting is required for installation, you could always go back to the original suspension if you wanted to.
