When it comes to building a truck for hard-core off-roading, new isnt always improved. While coil-spring setups are undoubtedly smoother and better-articulating, old-school leaf springs are cheaper, simpler and are just as efficient at lifting a truck as any newer design. If your budget is smaller than your tires, and your Rams territory is more mud than country, a leaf-spring retro-fit might be just your ticket to the high life.
Cheap Conversion Kits
Nobody makes a leaf spring conversion kit for the Ram, so youre going to have to make your own. Ford used leaf-spring front suspensions on its full-sized trucks (similar in size, frame configuration and weight to a Ram) all the way up through 2005, so thats going to be your best bet for source parts. Youre going to need the springs, shackles steering rack, anti-roll bar, shocks and axle from a leaf-spring Ford of a similar year to your Rams, but avoid using anything from 1999 to 2001 F250/F350; Ford used Dana 50 axles that wont get along well with your Ram and dont offer many gear ratio options. For parts, you have two basic options: junkyard or new. If youre on a serious budget, then the junkyard will be your cheapest bet, since entire F-250 front clips can be purchased for less than $500 in most places. If youve got a little more to spend and youre lifting anyway (and you are), then consider purchasing high-arch aftermarket springs in lieu of adding lift-blocks to the stock springs.
Suspension Removal
Get comfortable with the torch, Sawzall and welder; youll be using them quite a bit for the next hundred hours or so. The entire front suspension and axle will have to go, as will the factory steering rack (on most models). You could try to retain the stock axle, but retrofitting it for leaf-spring purposes is more difficult than simply installing a gear-set into your Ford center-section and using the F-250s steering rack. Not that gear replacements are "easy," but just keep telling yourself that it builds character.
Installation
Mounting and centering the leaf-springs are the only easy part of the conversion. You need only lay the leaf-springs on the ground (arches up) and attach the axle to them. Attach the shackles to the leaf spring ends, flip the assembly over and lower the truck down so that the axle is centered in the wheel-well. Weld the shackles in place, gusset them with some 1/4-inch plate steel, and youre in business. There are only two serious hang-ups to contend with: the steering and drive shaft. Most Ford steering boxes will work with a Dodge Rams power steering pump, but youll need to have special adapter lines made. Worst case scenario, youll either need to adapt a Ford power steering pump to the motor or use a manual steering rack. Youll also need a custom transfer-case-to-axle driveshaft, but thats probably for the best since youll need a longer one anyway.
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