Old Dodge 2wd saggy front ends

Mopower

Well-known Member
Is there any way to set the front suspension of a 1989 Cummins two wheel drive ton Dodge truck up so it doesn't look like it's a worn out low rider in the front?
 
No way to answer without sounding like a wise guy. Being a ton truck it most likely has leaf springs. Best way would be to replace those 24 year old springs with new ones of the proper weight rating.
Willie
 
Most 2wd sit downhill, you could do what Willie said or, if its leaf springs like the rear the make blocks that you can put in like a lift kit, but you can get 2 inch ones and it'd probebly do the trick.
 
Yes, it is a coil spring/a-arm type. I'm assuming there's a wide vaviety of springs out there. I've had Ford twin I-beam all my life. This is my first Dodge.
 
New springs and there is someone making a coil spacer. Springs will get it up so it sits like stock, and get you full suspension up-travel, but to get it to sit level (and it will be nose-up when loaded) you will need to add coil spacers.

Someone on the DTRF did just that, and the truck looks pretty good.

While you have it apart you may as well at least replace the lower ball joints, too. You can do it without a spring compressor, but be careful, you will need to support the frame, then use a floor jack to lower the lower control arm slowly. The upper joints take a special socket, I'd get the MOPAR tool # if my manual wasn't up in the shop. The lowers press out.

Ball joints are not a good place to cheap out if you like driving it and not working on it. Moogs were the best you could get but their quality has really fell off recently, now TRW seems to be the brand to get. Oh, and give them each a shot or two of grease every oil change. I think what takes out the lower joints is the uppers going bad, which allows the lower to move more than normal, and a lack of grease.

If it leans to the left, you will need new rear springs to get it sitting level that way, too. 30 gallons of fuel, plus driver, over 1/4 million miles or more, can really wear out the left side springs.

A factory service manual will help a lot too. Haynes manuals are just about a joke.

Another leveling option is a concrete bed liner. It will ride better, too.
 
Thanks for the tips! I'll hunt for a spacer and probably new springs. It'll get a whole rebuilt front end before I put it on the road.
 
Just make sure you get the severe duty springs, the standard ones will not hold up under the weight of the Cummins. Not that the severe duty ones have that great a lifespan. There aren't really a whole lot of options, unless you really want to get into a lot of research of length, spring rate, etc.
 
There's a lot of info on these trucks in the link I put in the other post. The rebuild is actually fairly simple yourself. The only special tool you -REALLY- need is the ball joint socket. You will even find some of the part numbers you need in the "sticky". New upper control arms are often available through evilpay, lowers show up now and then. Make sure the parts you get are for the 4000 pound axle. Some parts will interchange, but like the control arms, the 3300 pound axle parts are thinner metal and don't hold up as well. Shocks and springs are unique to each axle.
 
(quoted from post at 02:56:59 11/22/13) Ive seen dually 2wd dodges and fords have leaf springs on front
like a semi.

The only 2wd Dodge's that had leafs were Cab and Chassis models.
I dont think they even made a C&C model gen 1.
Either way, when someone mentions a 2wd Dodge, 99% of the time its not a C&C so that would be the exception to the rule.

In addition, if this dude had a cab and chassis model, he wouldnt have the sagging front end issue.
 
(quoted from post at 07:15:16 11/22/13)
(quoted from post at 02:56:59 11/22/13) Ive seen dually 2wd dodges and fords have leaf springs on front
like a semi.

The only 2wd Dodge's that had leafs were Cab and Chassis models.
I dont think they even made a C&C model gen 1.
Either way, when someone mentions a 2wd Dodge, 99% of the time its not a C&C so that would be the exception to the rule.

In addition, if this dude had a cab and chassis model, he wouldnt have the sagging front end issue.
dont think the springs would get wore out in a cab ans chassis truck too?
 
They did make cab-and-chassis first-gens, but they had the same suspension as the regular pick-ups. Only difference other than not having the box was the rear axle was a few inches narrower. Can't tell you when they quit using a solid axle on the c&c trucks but it was long before they stuffed a Cummins in it.
 
Also, if your looking for a good source of Cummins info, go to cumminsforum dot com. There is a wealth of info for any issue you would ever need. From your saggin front end, to your Getrag issues. I am commonly found in the 2nd gen forums under the name of Bootstrap.
 
(quoted from post at 22:37:35 11/28/13) Can't say for certain exactly when they started, but by 78 Dodge was running coils up front on all 2wd (D-series) pick-ups.


Correct, with the exception of cab and chassis 2wd's.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top