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Thuren 1.5" Spring Install - Tips?

RHINO69

RHINO69

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For anyone who has installed the Thuren 1.5" springs on their PW, did you auto disconnect sway before install or did you manually remove the sway disconnect motor once the vehicle was on jack stands?
This is my first time doing suspension on anything other than a Toyota (IFS) system. Not sure if there is anything wrong with having the PW in 4L/sway disconnected, prior to disconnecting shocks and letting front axle go to full droop. Also curious to know if the articulation is more limited by doing an auto disconnect VS. manually disconnecting the motor?
Any info/tips or tricks would be recommended!
TIA
 
I just installed my Thuren front and rear kit a few weeks ago. I electronically disconnected the sway before starting the install. Still had to remove the bolts from the end links. It was a pretty easy install overall. Torquing the track bar was the hardest part and that was not that bad.
 
jadmt said:
did you do a before and after measurement?
Click to expand...

Yes, I gained 1.5" overall. That's what I wanted. I put airbags in the rear to get the rake just how I like it (plus it gives me the option of dealing with sag whenever towing). One thing I did find handy during the install was to have two floor jacks to adjust the compression on one side to then increase the droop on the other. Worked out well. It's not shown in this pic but I have a smaller 1.5 ton jack that I used to tweak the front springs after I had the front on jack stands.


67303634598--589B364C-CF25-44A2-A351-6FE3AFFF4C96.jpg
 
If I remember correctly, we had to disconnect the sway bar end links to get max droop regardless. So eDisconnect won't really be that useful here.

@TrailWhale made some jack stand risers to set the frame on stands, then we used two jacks for the axle. As others have said, pretty straightforward install if you've done suspension before. But it definitely helps to have two people.

PXL_20220424_174142692.jpg
 
kennyarsen said:
For anyone who has installed the Thuren 1.5" springs on their PW, did you auto disconnect sway before install or did you manually remove the sway disconnect motor once the vehicle was on jack stands?
This is my first time doing suspension on anything other than a Toyota (IFS) system. Not sure if there is anything wrong with having the PW in 4L/sway disconnected, prior to disconnecting shocks and letting front axle go to full droop. Also curious to know if the articulation is more limited by doing an auto disconnect VS. manually disconnecting the motor?
Any info/tips or tricks would be recommended!
TIA
Click to expand...
Per Thuren's instructions (click here):

To lower axle far enough to remove and install the coils unbolt the shocks, sway bar end links, track bar at the frame side and brake line brackets on each side of the axle, there are 2 bolts per brake line bracket. The axle breather and wiring harness for the front axle disconnect may also need to be unhooked or re worked to allow the axle to drop for enough to safely remove and install coils.
Click to expand...

The trick is to have the truck supported high for the axle to droop enough for the springs to come out easy. See the photo above with the truck supported pretty high, the springs just fall out when you lower the axle. Two people make the job a lot easier also.
 
austins_dreams said:
If I remember correctly, we had to disconnect the sway bar end links to get max droop regardless. So eDisconnect won't really be that useful here.

@TrailWhale made some jack stand risers to set the frame on stands, then we used two jacks for the axle. As others have said, pretty straightforward install if you've done suspension before. But it definitely helps to have two people.

View attachment 41341
Click to expand...
I ended up just unbolting the sway disconnect module and obviously the bottom shock mount and we were able to make that work. Didn't mess with any end links or anything else. Getting the sway disconnect motor lined back up was a bit of a PITA but we got the whole thing done in a little less than two hours.
 
For anyone else doing this, I did not have to unbolt the front track bar to install the springs. I swapped that out once the truck was on the ground. If you are doing the rear Thuren springs, the directions say you may need to unbolt the center axle shock, I tried without unbolting that but was not successful.
 
austins_dreams said:
If I remember correctly, we had to disconnect the sway bar end links to get max droop regardless. So eDisconnect won't really be that useful here.

@TrailWhale made some jack stand risers to set the frame on stands, then we used two jacks for the axle. As others have said, pretty straightforward install if you've done suspension before. But it definitely helps to have
Click to expand...

austins_dreams said:
If I remember correctly, we had to disconnect the sway bar end links to get max droop regardless. So eDisconnect won't really be that useful here.

@TrailWhale made some jack stand risers to set the frame on stands, then we used two jacks for the axle. As others have said, pretty straightforward install if you've done suspension before. But it definitely helps to have two people.

View attachment 41341
Click to expand...
Did you stick with the stock shocks? I have my new springs and am considering just staying with the stock shocks for a bit, and maybe upgrade them sometime next year. From what I can tell length shouldn't be an issue.
 
MikeD said:
Did you stick with the stock shocks? I have my new springs and am considering just staying with the stock shocks for a bit, and maybe upgrade them sometime next year. From what I can tell length shouldn't be an issue.
Click to expand...
I upgraded to the Thuren Overland shocks all the way around when I did my springs. This was strongly recommended by Thuren and other experienced friends. Thuren specifically warns that the shock travel and dampening rates should match the springs being used or the ride and performance could be compromised (or the shocks themselves could be damaged in high speed articulation/flex). So it may be good to reach out to them or another reputable suspension manufacturer just to get some specifics on that.
 
You could always cheat and use spring compressors, I have done that on 2 Rams previous, don't have to let the axles down so far
 
MikeD said:
Did you stick with the stock shocks? I have my new springs and am considering just staying with the stock shocks for a bit, and maybe upgrade them sometime next year. From what I can tell length shouldn't be an issue.
Click to expand...
I ran the stock shocks while waiting for my Kings to show up. Put maybe 1K miles on the Thuren springs/OEM shocks, before the Kings arrived. Didn't do any wheeling during those miles, but everything was totally fine.
 
Wobly said:
I don't think Thuren does Bilsteins. I think they only do Fox and King shocks.
Click to expand...
They do Bilsteins now, it looks like he has them. Check their website, they say a bit more firm a planted sports car feel compared to Fox.
 
Texas RAMPW said:
They do Bilsteins now, it looks like he has them. Check their website, they say a bit more firm a planted sports car feel compared to Fox.
Click to expand...
Hmmm...well, that's new. I had Bilstein 5100's on my Ram 1500 and loved them. Now, I have the Thuren Fox 2.0's on my Power Wagon and love them just as much!
 
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