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What did you do TO your RAM today?

Finished up the suspension install.

Getting at the top stud nuts on those rear shocks is stupidly difficult, and to top it off the top nut on one of the factory rear shocks was seized on at only 40k miles, so that was fun.

The new rear coils and shocks were a huge pain to get in. At full droop my driveshaft hits the crossmember, so I ended up having to disconnect the driveshaft at the axle end to get more clearance. Even then I had to jack one side of the axle up and use ratchet straps to compress the coils enough to squeeze them in. Those Thuren long travel rear coils are WAY longer than the factory coils.

Installing the new Thuren rear track mount took probably 3 hours. It wore out 2 and a half 1/2" drill bits and about broke my wrist when one of them caught. I sure hope it was worth the effort.

I also had some trouble with the Thuren parking brake cable brackets. I'm hearing something changed on the 23'+ trucks with those, but the factory driver's side frame mount looks different than the one in Thuren's pics, and to get the passenger side bracket on I had to disconnect the bracket that holds the cable at the rear diff/powerhop damper (see the last pic). This leaves it flopping around more than I'd like.

I took the truck for a quick spin to make sure everything feels right. Seems good so far, but I only had time to get a couple miles in, so I won't be certain until I've had a chance to actually drive some more and hit some bumps. The steering wheel is a bit off still after adjusting it. I've got a feeling that's going to take me some time to get it spot on.

I still have the front shock mount reinforcements to get welded on. I don't have a welder and my local shop can't get to it till the end of this week or beginning of next. I guess I'll just have to keep out of the whoops until then. :cool:

Pics below of the new bits. I'll snap one of the whole truck this afternoon when I have some time. It was too dark last night.

IMG_1521.jpegIMG_1516.jpegIMG_1523.jpegIMG_1505.jpeg
 
Finally got around to this install - ran out of steam and did not get to the boost tubes, so maybe in a couple weeks will tackle that and get everything all cleaned up nicely.

Grid heater was still in solid shape, just caked with soot. Unreal how much buildup was in the stock intake horn though after 70K miles.

At least now the only thing keeping me up at night will be when the lifters start to chatter.

FEA1F7AF-6ECE-4211-BC03-DFF7A0DDBA9E_1_105_c.jpegF4D7B5F2-40D2-4F07-96DE-2D37CCB7A86E_1_105_c.jpeg46A46B33-DB0B-455F-B975-6A00D4D45C35_1_105_c.jpegE9CB61D4-AB35-4C6E-9C10-EBBD2492FB99_1_105_c.jpeg
 
2024 3500 Megacab Laramie, bought it the end of last year. Went to look at my bed wiring harnesses to see if I could add the stock bed lights easily. No go.... While I'm under there I notice the spare is an 18" tire when my truck came with 20" inchers. Seriously, a truck that stickered for over $90k and they give me the smaller spare? Other than that though, sure love this truck so far. Have had a lot of p.u.'s and this one kills it.
 
RedStripe said:
2024 3500 Megacab Laramie, bought it the end of last year. Went to look at my bed wiring harnesses to see if I could add the stock bed lights easily. No go.... While I'm under there I notice the spare is an 18" tire when my truck came with 20" inchers. Seriously, a truck that stickered for over $90k and they give me the smaller spare? Other than that though, sure love this truck so far. Have had a lot of p.u.'s and this one kills it.
Click to expand...
I think they all come with 18-inch spares even my 2025 came with an 18 inch even though I have 20- inch
 
Xflight29 said:
I think they all come with 18-inch spares even my 2025 came with an 18 inch even though I have 20- inch
Click to expand...
I didn’t realize that’s the case. I better check my spare tomorrow. I have a night edition with 20”.
So how can a dealer sell a vehicle with a spare that can’t be used on the road with the other wheels that came with the truck lol.

Are the dealers supposed to change out the spare so it can be used?
 
Yep,
Not to pleased that my night edition on 20's has an 18 spare..
While I'm bitching, there are unused holes with no plugs and the wiring harnesses under the truck aren't too neat either.
Otherwise I'm digging it.
Miss my 98.5..
 
Dave5316 said:
I didn’t realize that’s the case. I better check my spare tomorrow. I have a night edition with 20”.
So how can a dealer sell a vehicle with a spare that can’t be used on the road with the other wheels that came with the truck lol.

Are the dealers supposed to change out the spare so it can be used?
Click to expand...
Ya, I've been sadly laughing thinking about somebody who puts that spare on their back axle in the boonies (or worse, on the freeway) and then drives forever, then tries to claim the differential destruction on their warranty and gets fully denied....
 
Aside from that, unless you're running different diameter wheels on an axle with a limited slip you're not going to hurt anything, except maybe your traction control's feelings.

With the disconnect in our front axles when you're in 2wd you've got the left front wheel turning the left axle shaft forwards, the diff spinning the right axle inner shaft in reverse, the front driveshaft may be spinning a little bit too, and the right axle stub shaft is turning forward. There's all sorts of mis matched directions and speeds going on in the front end and nothing blows up or overheats.
 
Oh, and here's the whole truck as it sits now. New tires and wheels go on Saturday.

I'm showing 42.5" from the ground to the flares at the front and 43.75" in the rear. That's on worn down 385/60R20 Duratracs, with about 300 pounds in the bed.

IMG_1527.jpeg
 
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jsalbre said:
Oh, and here's the whole truck as it sits now. New tires and wheels go on Saturday.

I'm showing 42.5" from the ground to the flares at the front and 43.75" in the rear. That's on worn down 385/60R20 Duratracs, with about 300 pounds in the bed.

View attachment 84689
Click to expand...
looks good and your driveway must be sloped uphill.
 
AZCummins said:
Finally got around to this install - ran out of steam and did not get to the boost tubes, so maybe in a couple weeks will tackle that and get everything all cleaned up nicely.

Grid heater was still in solid shape, just caked with soot. Unreal how much buildup was in the stock intake horn though after 70K miles.

At least now the only thing keeping me up at night will be when the lifters start to chatter.

View attachment 84646View attachment 84647View attachment 84648View attachment 84649
Click to expand...

Man that’s gross. It looks like your truck is a SO? I have noticed my crossover tube is purple like yours as well, indicating it’s gotten pretty hot. HO owners seems like their pipes aren’t as discolored. I think it was myself and @AH64ID discussing a while back if one uses more egr than another. Do you tow a fair amount of weight?



Riz! said:
Does that happen because of the EGR system?
Click to expand...
Yep
 
flan said:
Man that’s gross. It looks like your truck is a SO? I have noticed my crossover tube is purple like yours as well, indicating it’s gotten pretty hot. HO owners seems like their pipes aren’t as discolored. I think it was myself and @AH64ID discussing a while back if one uses more egr than another. Do you tow a fair amount of weight?




Yep
Click to expand...
Seems like another reason to fully delete all that crap. I wonder what one would look like if it was fully deleted from the first mile and ran under the same conditions for the same mileage? Is there any risk of chunks of that breaking loose and destroying cylinder walls or pistons?
 
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