Buddy that was one of the best videos I've watched on UA-cam explaining in detail with no gimmicks and crazy music and cutaways that I've watched. Just straight to the point, I've got a 2013 Dodge ram and it's having this same issue and I've even got a third party warranty to cover it but the full wheel parts people that I take it to they all tell me the same thing that these people will fight with them tooth and nail to get you the cheapest crap and they usually get stuff off of Amazon it's that cheap to fix just one of the spacers
So I stumbled over this video before install and was gonna send the spacers back. I could see how the center rubber bit needs to be sandwiched or it will blow out eventually like yours. I did the install anyway but added a .60 plate below the spacer. It Pretty easy to make. Trace them out on plate steel/aluminum and cut them out. Made the holes for bolts(not evenly spaced!) After a month they look solid and no noises. Hope this helps someone.
@@thecentenosfamily Its been over 3 months now and they are holding up well. No heavy off roading but I think they will stand up long term. The leveled look is much better than factory.
Great explanation of what is really going on there. I would also like to add that levelling spacer's are NOT the issue, it's the crappy design of this one that was at fault as you explained. Also when retaining the stock struts you need to install longer bump stops to prevent the struts bottoming out. New aftermarket UCA's are alway's a good add on as well. Oh one more thing, those adjustable strut's are causing a lot of people grief too with a harsher ride. The problem arises when you try to get a bit too much lift from them, with more lift you get more coil pre load. More pre load = harsher ride on road and less suspension compression offroad. Coil spring's progressively get stiffer with more compression, load rating increases.
Can you explain what you mean by more coil pre-load? What i think you are saying is “when you set the struts to a higher lift, the coil is more compressed”. Is that right?
I added the spacers to make room for a slightly larger tire on my ram 1500. It was inexpensive and tons of people raved about them. Problem is, that that elation is short lived. It starts to squeak and there is no solving it. My spacer had wear just like the one he is showing in the video. All the shavings were on top of the shock too. I then learned about lifting struts and upper control arms. No more squeaky suspension and a much better ride. Way better ride. Rough country, Bilstein and others make them.
Hope you do more stuff and get a larger following. I'm sick of seeing companies promote spacer lifts and even most of the 3"lifts claiming comfortable ride out of 5 vehicles in my life I've put a level lift on and very quickly realized spacer lifts are the worst thing for your vehicle. Very excellent explanation you went through here that I've literally never seen anyone else do. Everyone just promotes the crap out of trash leveling kits to make a quick buck
excellent video, i was damaging balljoints in my 2003 1500 ram and now i know why. i decided to order lift spindles instead and remove the useless spacers. thanks!!
I bought some 2.5 inch spacers for the front, but I only plan on keeping them in there for a few months until I can put on some Bilstein 5100s. However I agree that in the long run, spacers are not the way to go!
3yrs now driving my Ram 1500 with motofob 2.5 leveling and any issues at all, and factory upper control arms. Now Im going to upgrade my tires to a bigger size, and upgrade my UCA.
You used a factory strut and level lol. That has never been recommended, but I did see you mention it in the video. I have a loaded strut Rough Country myself, and it rides as good, or better then stock. I have the N3 loaded in the front, and V2 in the rear. Yea, anything over 2inches, and you would need to upgrade the upper control arms.
its back...done both ways...strut lift then spacer life...your wrong Stan. You stress the shit out of the springs doing this. With 5100 up 5 notches the front sat down lower on the left side to. With spacers the truck is way closer to level left to right. the ride is softer and have yet to see if the pinging is gone when the front end drops all the way out.
Just depends on the level kit you get. You get what you pay for. No issues with my Ready Lift 2 inch level kit with upgraded upper control arms. Stay away from those chinese ebay cheapies and youll be fine.
I got to tell you something that's probably going to hurt your feelings that rubber bushing goes on top of the spacer Mount Not underneath how special do you feel now thanks for telling me how to install something backwards🎉
You got 12 welders behind you and can't think to weld a flat plate matching profile with a smaller hole to the spacer... fixes at least 1 issue you talk about.
I was going to install the RC spacers but now I'm not sure. What sturts work for a v6 rwd 2021 ram 1500?i was told the RC n3 struts are not compatible with v6 models? Which ones are? Thanks
I really feel like this whole video was a humble brag I went from a $50 2-in leveling kit to oh this is a much better $1,000 2-in kit obviously if price isn't of concern everybody's going to go for it fox, Kings or Bilstein next video name about this topic I can't believe the expensive ones didn't last lol
So the million dollar question- what is the price difference? Honestly if I can get a spacer and have it installed for a couple hundred bucks I would do that. I highly doubt I will keep any vehicle for over 5 years anyway.
Spacers in 2 trucks. Over 100,000km (60,00miles) and NOT a single issue. Running 305/55/20s. Wait... they are FORDs.. No wonder. P.O.S Ram. You get what you pay for...
So pleased to see this before I looked into levelling the cheap route !! I have a 2008 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4(stock 20 inch A/W tires). I want to do this right. What brands would you suggest to give me a nice level 3-4 inch front lift(2 inch rear ?) with lifted struts?
I'm also interested in knowing some good brands / products for aftermarket rims that can tow, A/T tires more favourable to highway driving, 1.5 - 2 inch lift on my 2022 Ram 1500 Sport.
Shouldn't be necessary unless going over 3 inches but with a 2 inch level or lift, you could expect the front ball joints to wear out sooner than they are expected ( not by alot though usually) and when it's time for them to be changed I would say go ahead and get some designed for a little bit of lift. Don't forget your lowers too though. It's not just the uppers that get affected
So in 5 years you can just buy new struts. What's the big deal. In 5 years or so, you will have to replace the other struts as well. I had spacers on my Jeep Grand Cherokee for 5 years without any issues at all. In your 5 years, how much abuse and milage did you put your truck through?
so you bought cheap spacers and ran them for 6 years and are mad that some of your suspension components wore out? i dont get the point of this video, the rubber bushings will wear over time no matter what, especially over the span of 6 years
I found a spacer from fab tech where the hole is the same size as factory and it’s only 2” do you think I will have problems if I have the same size hole as factory? Basically eliminating the problem of the bushing coming up into the spacer hole causing wear?
yeah we played this game. the struts ping when the front end drops out a lot and rapid. going back to zero on the dam strut right now and adding Motofabs 2.5 inch lift spacer to give back the full travel of the dam strut. already have Bilsteins b12 rear coils on a 2020 new style Ram. Mike from Mumblys here in southeast Michigan just went through this with a Jeep. how do you expect to take 2 inches of the travel off the extension stroke. now instead of 7 up 7 down....now you got 9 up and 5 down...
This is the link to Shock Surplus where I purchased the shocks front and rear. www.shocksurplus.com/products/bilstein-6112-strut-spring-rear-b8-5100-shocks-set-for-2009-2018-ram-1500-4wd-w-0-2-8-lift
I am lil confused. When a vehicle is lifted 2", the centre of gravity increases. So there are roll over risks. The spacers help in reducing the centre of gravity and making the drives safe esp during hardcore offroad drives like sand dunes, etc Pls correct me if i am wrong. Secondly, in your case when you have eliminated the spacer from the new suspension, how will you mitigate the rollover risks?
He's not bolting in the top hats so I'm 100% sure he's having the same issues as his video... The spacer was not his issue, the issue was installer error...
@@--emt the part with the 3 studs/bolts sticking out that has the rubber bushing he's talking about. The strut/shock shaft goes through it and than a nut goes on top of it making it one unit. Kind of like how you see coilovers just that it won't be adjustable. He clearly installed it witout a nut holding it all together creating his problems
all this talk about the wear and tear of 6YEARS OF USE and blaming it on the spacer??? you expect stock shocks to last you that long?? coming around like you discovered something new by using lift shocks hahaha
I'm beyond thankful I came across this video. I was about to buy the level kit spacers from RC but yeah.... not anymore. Great video!!!
I’ve spent thousands trying to remediate this issue. Thousands man. I appreciate you making this video.
Great video and explanation of the issue. Heard a lot of dont's from others, however, never saw the actual resulting damage. Good job! Thanks
Buddy that was one of the best videos I've watched on UA-cam explaining in detail with no gimmicks and crazy music and cutaways that I've watched. Just straight to the point, I've got a 2013 Dodge ram and it's having this same issue and I've even got a third party warranty to cover it but the full wheel parts people that I take it to they all tell me the same thing that these people will fight with them tooth and nail to get you the cheapest crap and they usually get stuff off of Amazon it's that cheap to fix just one of the spacers
So I stumbled over this video before install and was gonna send the spacers back. I could see how the center rubber bit needs to be sandwiched or it will blow out eventually like yours. I did the install anyway but added a .60 plate below the spacer. It Pretty easy to make. Trace them out on plate steel/aluminum and cut them out. Made the holes for bolts(not evenly spaced!)
After a month they look solid and no noises. Hope this helps someone.
How is it holding I was thinking the same thing. To just add a plate and it should work.
@@thecentenosfamily Its been over 3 months now and they are holding up well. No heavy off roading but I think they will stand up long term. The leveled look is much better than factory.
Any problems with the plate? Yet
No problems at all with it.
A correctly made spacer works.
Great breakdown on how and why spacers aren't the best idea.
Great explanation of what is really going on there. I would also like to add that levelling spacer's are NOT the issue, it's the crappy design of this one that was at fault as you explained. Also when retaining the stock struts you need to install longer bump stops to prevent the struts bottoming out. New aftermarket UCA's are alway's a good add on as well. Oh one more thing, those adjustable strut's are causing a lot of people grief too with a harsher ride. The problem arises when you try to get a bit too much lift from them, with more lift you get more coil pre load. More pre load = harsher ride on road and less suspension compression offroad. Coil spring's progressively get stiffer with more compression, load rating increases.
Can you explain what you mean by more coil pre-load?
What i think you are saying is “when you set the struts to a higher lift, the coil is more compressed”. Is that right?
Thank you for making this video… you saved me a load of problems… and thanks for giving the proper way to achieve leveling.
If you buy a proper spacer kit. You don't have these issues
I added the spacers to make room for a slightly larger tire on my ram 1500. It was inexpensive and tons of people raved about them. Problem is, that that elation is short lived. It starts to squeak and there is no solving it. My spacer had wear just like the one he is showing in the video. All the shavings were on top of the shock too. I then learned about lifting struts and upper control arms. No more squeaky suspension and a much better ride. Way better ride. Rough country, Bilstein and others make them.
Update. Months later still no squeaking an the ride is outstanding. Get the UCA and lifting strut.
Did you get the 2" with the struts or the 3" lift? Which brand you got, Rough country?
Nice. Are there any for the v6 rwd 2021 ram 1500?@@Baldysyoutubechannel
@@nightwizper9345 2” Rough Country.
@@milan2k11 I’m sure they have them.
Hope you do more stuff and get a larger following. I'm sick of seeing companies promote spacer lifts and even most of the 3"lifts claiming comfortable ride out of 5 vehicles in my life I've put a level lift on and very quickly realized spacer lifts are the worst thing for your vehicle. Very excellent explanation you went through here that I've literally never seen anyone else do. Everyone just promotes the crap out of trash leveling kits to make a quick buck
Wow i was planning of install spacers on my truck until I run in this video i change my mind in a 360 degree thank you very much sir awesome video.
360 degree huh…
@@hexdlr9628 lol
Thanks, I didn’t know that. After a bit of looking I found that for $350 RC makes a leveling strut.
So glad I saw your video before I put the exact same type of spacers on my Ram 😮
excellent video, i was damaging balljoints in my 2003 1500 ram and now i know why. i decided to order lift spindles instead and remove the useless spacers. thanks!!
Any recommendations? Can’t find any for my ‘05
not just all that. if your wearing ball joints need control arms.
Great video thank you! I will stay away from spacer lift and now I can see why my buddy’s Tundra is making all kinds of noises on the right side lol
Have 2.5 inch spacers on my ram and had no issues 3 years later ....I would recommend strongly to get the car alignment right after and no issues
Great video. I didn’t like the idea of a spacer now I definitely don’t.
I bought some 2.5 inch spacers for the front, but I only plan on keeping them in there for a few months until I can put on some Bilstein 5100s. However I agree that in the long run, spacers are not the way to go!
I have 2 pr on different trucks for years never had a issue. But with that said I do check them every oil change make sure they are tight.
100% correct, but nobody cares. In this County it's not about doing it right, it's about doing it cheap/easy. Never going to change that!
Okay Richard
Cynical much ?
I'm guessing your speaking for all teenagers. We do things right in the USA, you're just a dumbas
Thanks for the result for doing it wrong... that answer a lot my questions...
Explains all the squeaking I'm having. Thanks
My 2 inch works fine, no problems what so ever. I wouldn't go over 2.5 and I have ready lift control arms
Now I know and knowing is half the battle.
Good to know. This video really should have more views.
3yrs now driving my Ram 1500 with motofob 2.5 leveling and any issues at all, and factory upper control arms. Now Im going to upgrade my tires to a bigger size, and upgrade my UCA.
You had it on for 6 years of course it’s gonna be all worn out 😂
Great video. Don’t cheap out people. Those bilsteins are not even very exspensive.
Very happy I seen this,,,TY Sir,! 😎✌
You used a factory strut and level lol. That has never been recommended, but I did see you mention it in the video. I have a loaded strut Rough Country myself, and it rides as good, or better then stock. I have the N3 loaded in the front, and V2 in the rear. Yea, anything over 2inches, and you would need to upgrade the upper control arms.
So glad I watched this before applying a lift
Nice explanation! Thank you.
Spacer are not being use on the front spacer are being use in the rear to level the truck up nicely
Hence why the hole is so big
great information ... thanks Alex Lifeson (Rush) .. I mean Stanley LOL :)
very very informative thank you
You are correct sir I just recently put a 3.5 inch rough country left with the preloaded struts best thing I've ever done
If you buy a proper spacer level (or lift) kit, you shouldn't have these issues. Readylift is one that comes to mind
Excellent Video. Thank you.
thanks for the vid man.
its back...done both ways...strut lift then spacer life...your wrong Stan. You stress the shit out of the springs doing this. With 5100 up 5 notches the front sat down lower on the left side to. With spacers the truck is way closer to level left to right. the ride is softer and have yet to see if the pinging is gone when the front end drops all the way out.
Just depends on the level kit you get. You get what you pay for. No issues with my Ready Lift 2 inch level kit with upgraded upper control arms. Stay away from those chinese ebay cheapies and youll be fine.
I got to tell you something that's probably going to hurt your feelings that rubber bushing goes on top of the spacer Mount Not underneath how special do you feel now thanks for telling me how to install something backwards🎉
I got a RC lift and it lowered my front end.. the rear is higher now and I don’t like it. I have to add spacers
Yep there are always potential hidden issue with simple fixes.
You got 12 welders behind you and can't think to weld a flat plate matching profile with a smaller hole to the spacer... fixes at least 1 issue you talk about.
"fixes at least 1 issue you talk about" Yeah, "fixes" the issue...kinda like a Band-Aid fixes a gunshot wound.
I was going to install the RC spacers but now I'm not sure. What sturts work for a v6 rwd 2021 ram 1500?i was told the RC n3 struts are not compatible with v6 models? Which ones are? Thanks
Great video thanks! I wonder what the Mopar kit looks like as I saw one listed in a brochure at the dealership.
I really feel like this whole video was a humble brag I went from a $50 2-in leveling kit to oh this is a much better $1,000 2-in kit obviously if price isn't of concern everybody's going to go for it fox, Kings or Bilstein next video name about this topic I can't believe the expensive ones didn't last lol
So the million dollar question- what is the price difference? Honestly if I can get a spacer and have it installed for a couple hundred bucks I would do that. I highly doubt I will keep any vehicle for over 5 years anyway.
Leveling spacers are perfectly fine if you get good quality ones
Back it up with facts
Spacers in 2 trucks. Over 100,000km (60,00miles) and NOT a single issue. Running 305/55/20s.
Wait... they are FORDs.. No wonder.
P.O.S Ram. You get what you pay for...
So pleased to see this before I looked into levelling the cheap route !!
I have a 2008 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4(stock 20 inch A/W tires). I want to do this right. What brands would you suggest to give me a nice level 3-4 inch front lift(2 inch rear ?) with lifted struts?
I'm also interested in knowing some good brands / products for aftermarket rims that can tow, A/T tires more favourable to highway driving, 1.5 - 2 inch lift on my 2022 Ram 1500 Sport.
I have a 6 inch lift on my 08 dodge 1500. What size lift strut would you recommend??
Or, find a spacer with a smaller hole.
Have a 95 Ram 2500 and was thinking about leveling it out with spacers now I'm thinking maybe not. Tks.
Should you swap the upper control arms to help with the ball joint issue or not necessarily
Shouldn't be necessary unless going over 3 inches but with a 2 inch level or lift, you could expect the front ball joints to wear out sooner than they are expected ( not by alot though usually) and when it's time for them to be changed I would say go ahead and get some designed for a little bit of lift. Don't forget your lowers too though. It's not just the uppers that get affected
So, I’m a machinist. If I was gonna machine my own spacers. How big would the hole have to be to not allow it to move around
So in 5 years you can just buy new struts. What's the big deal. In 5 years or so, you will have to replace the other struts as well. I had spacers on my Jeep Grand Cherokee for 5 years without any issues at all. In your 5 years, how much abuse and milage did you put your truck through?
What is recommended for a 2019 classic 2wd?
No leveling is good, it throws your ball joint at a bad angles, need to at least get a lift with the angle correct top A arm
How does a 2" lift strut change stress on the ball joint? 2" spacer or 2" lifted strut is still going to put the same angle on it
What brand shock is the new one . I've bought the spacers but now . Prefer the shock. 2013 dodge ram 1500 tradesman
Lol, my friend that shock will end it up exactly like the spacers.. i know cause i got 60k out of it and now rough ride and vibration as well..
Can I install the Ready Lift SST 3.5 inch lift and the Bilstein coilover shocks to my 1500 Ram?
so you bought cheap spacers and ran them for 6 years and are mad that some of your suspension components wore out? i dont get the point of this video, the rubber bushings will wear over time no matter what, especially over the span of 6 years
I found a spacer from fab tech where the hole is the same size as factory and it’s only 2” do you think I will have problems if I have the same size hole as factory? Basically eliminating the problem of the bushing coming up into the spacer hole causing wear?
You have a link for those struts?
yeah we played this game. the struts ping when the front end drops out a lot and rapid. going back to zero on the dam strut right now and adding Motofabs 2.5 inch lift spacer to give back the full travel of the dam strut. already have Bilsteins b12 rear coils on a 2020 new style Ram. Mike from Mumblys here in southeast Michigan just went through this with a Jeep. how do you expect to take 2 inches of the travel off the extension stroke. now instead of 7 up 7 down....now you got 9 up and 5 down...
I replaced my struts and shocks with Billsteins and now I have squeaking, any ideas why?
Thank you. I have is very issue. Should i also install a new upper control arm too with the new strut?
If your factory control arm feels in good shape and you don’t feel any play in it I would reuse it.
Whats that product called? Can you put a link on where to get it
www.shocksurplus.com/products/bilstein-6112-strut-spring-rear-b8-5100-shocks-set-for-2009-2018-ram-1500-4wd-w-0-2-8-lift
So what do I do to raise the front of my truck, it has shocks not struts.
when you lift a truck with spacers at 100,000, that is going to happen.
Can we have the strut brand and part number and the spring specs thank you your video was completely helpful thanks for the correct information
This is the link to Shock Surplus where I purchased the shocks front and rear.
www.shocksurplus.com/products/bilstein-6112-strut-spring-rear-b8-5100-shocks-set-for-2009-2018-ram-1500-4wd-w-0-2-8-lift
So I see the shock is bilstein but what spring is that ?
I am lil confused. When a vehicle is lifted 2", the centre of gravity increases. So there are roll over risks.
The spacers help in reducing the centre of gravity and making the drives safe esp during hardcore offroad drives like sand dunes, etc
Pls correct me if i am wrong.
Secondly, in your case when you have eliminated the spacer from the new suspension, how will you mitigate the rollover risks?
You are basically contradicting yourself and answering your question at the same time.
Do I need new UCAs with a 2” strut lift?
Best advice in the world, just don't use spacers. Don't be cheap save your dough and get Bilstein adjustable. Spacers are for muppets and gay boyz
Is any update how those bilstein work with that truck. I have the same truck how is the ride quality is it firm or like factory?
He's not bolting in the top hats so I'm 100% sure he's having the same issues as his video... The spacer was not his issue, the issue was installer error...
@@AverageArms what are "top hats " any links to read more about this?
@@--emt the part with the 3 studs/bolts sticking out that has the rubber bushing he's talking about. The strut/shock shaft goes through it and than a nut goes on top of it making it one unit. Kind of like how you see coilovers just that it won't be adjustable. He clearly installed it witout a nut holding it all together creating his problems
@@AverageArms o ok I didn't see him assemble the new one but clearly there was no bolt on the old 1.
all this talk about the wear and tear of 6YEARS OF USE and blaming it on the spacer??? you expect stock shocks to last you that long?? coming around like you discovered something new by using lift shocks hahaha
Can i share your video on 4th gen Facebook group ?
Feel free to share the video.
@@stanleytownsdin4717 thank you ... i shared it on my Facebook page
😲😲...👍👍
Anything that cost $70 for a truck when it comes lifts is going to fail.
Tsk tsk
Never understood the reason why people want leveling to begin with
✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔
He's not kidding the puck leveling kits suck