Besides new rod-end sway-bar...
Besides new rod-end sway-bar links, the Lorenz kit also provides aluminum spacers to drop the sway bar back into the stock geometry of the suspension.
New U-bolts are a must if...
New U-bolts are a must if you are changing something in the rear. U-bolts are supposed to be one-time-use things, so Lorenz provides brand-new ones cut to the correct length. We like that they're black too, instead of some shiny color.
In the rear, the 2.5 S.A.W....
In the rear, the 2.5 S.A.W. Racerunner shocks fit into the stock locations, but you might need to do a little grinding at the mount just to ensure that the top shock cap does not hit the side of the shock mount.
After we test-fit the shocks...
After we test-fit the shocks and towers, we pulled the shock back out and put the new infinite-rate coils in place. This is really pretty easy, as the original coil falls out almost effortlessly once you pull the sway bar, shocks, and track bar from the axle. The infinite-rate coils are specially made to get stiffer as they compress, therefore increasing the spring rate with every inch they squish. The coils raised the front of this diesel Dodge almost 3 inches. Since the shocks utilize their full 10 inches of travel before the suspension compresses onto the factory bumpstops, no bumpstop blocks are included.
Lorenz provides an add-on...
Lorenz provides an add-on leaf pack that replaces the factory overload leaf. The leaf pack lets the leaf spring flex much more easily than the overload leaf did, but still provides enough arch and spring to raise the vehicle 1 5/16 inches (by our measurements). To do this job, you'll need some C-clamps, a hammer, a big punch, and some gloves. There are two center pins in these leaf packs, so it'll be a little tricky trying to line up both center pins through all the leaves. We used C-clamps to squeeze the leaves together, and a punch to line up the center pin holes in each leaf. The hammer can be used to move an individual leaf if the C-clamp already is squeezing the leaf pack.
We had a great set of 35x13.50R18...
We had a great set of 35x13.50R18 Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ tires we'd already picked out, but we really wanted to put them on the right set of heavy-duty wheels. We saw Pro Comp's new forged wheel line at SEMA, and we knew that was the wheel for us. The U.S. Stryker is an 18x10 forged-aluminum wheel that has a 3,500-pound load rating, and a sweet styling that didn't offend us and attracted younger bling-wheel lovers at the same time. They also had a beautiful edge that basically continued straight into the curvature of the tire's carcass for a super-clean look.
Since we can't afford electrical power to our dirt lot yet, we do a lot of work with handtools and ingenuity instead of with hydraulic and electrical power. But sometimes we bring in a few tricks to help us out.
When having to remove and replace a lot of big bolts, an impact gun will save you hours of time. We grabbed a Powertank out of the back of our truck and went to town using it to replace this suspension. Except for freezing a regulator temporarily due to constant use, this worked out great, and let us keep on being cheap for a little longer.
Also, we have a great hint for you when trying to get a track bar back onto a Dodge or almost any truck that uses one. Have one friend work on the track bar with the bolt ready to go in place, while you hop in the truck and start it up (make sure not to run over your friend). When you turn the steering wheel back and forth, the front axle and tires will stay in place, while the body and frame of the truck move from side to side since the drag link is pushing them around on the springs and arms with no track bar to hold them steady above the axle. This will save you tons of time instead of trying to move an axle that weighs hundreds of pounds.
We got the kit on just in time to load up some mountain bikes and head to Moab. Moab is known for its incredible red rocks and rockcrawling, but outside of town are some pretty awesome dirt roads that you can have some pretty fast fun on with the right suspension. We spent a few days running some fire roads and ranch roads in between some trails, getting to speeds that nearly doubled what was possible with the rough-riding suspension that was on the truck just a few days before. The valving in the shocks was right on, and the truck soaked up the bumps like a pro.
But believe it or not, the best thing that this kit brought to this owner was an incredible ride on the street with more responsiveness and tighter handling. And though we hate to admit it, that's where most trucks spend the majority of their time. Since this one resides in Southern California, we were only too familiar with the incredible harshness that the freeways give its truck travelers, and the constant rear wheelhop that was so characteristic before was all but gone after retrofitting our truck with the Lorenz suspension.