How to Drop a 2001 Dodge Truck

Building a custom truck is about taking the function and utility of your truck and modifying it to meet your needs. One popular method is lowering your vehicle closer to the ground. Lowering a truck can help improve handling, styling and performance. And although it seems like a complicated task, dropping your 2001 Dodge truck isn't very difficult at all; it involves only a fair amount of time and the correct set of tools and parts.

Things You'll Need

• Jack
• Jack stands
• Tire iron
• 3/8-inch ratchets and sockets
• Vice grips
• Open-end wrench set
• Cotter pin pulling tool
• 3-pound sledgehammer
• 24-inch pry bar
• Needle-nosed pliers
• 1/2-inch ratchets and sockets
• Cotter pins
• Lowering springs
• Lowering shackles

Instructions

Front Suspension

1. Lift the Dodge using the jack, and rest the truck on jack stands. Make sure the frame is on the stands completely, and that the axle is on stands as well, before you crawl underneath the truck. Remove the wheels, using the tire iron, and place them to the side.

2. Unbolt the bottom of the shock from the lower control arm, using the 3/8-inch ratchet and sockets. Then unbolt the top of the shock by clamping the vice grips onto the top of the shock and using the open-end wrench to remove the nut. The shock can then drop out of the bottom of the control arm.

3. Place the jack underneath the lower control arm, and jack it up. You want to put pressure on the lower control arm but not enough pressure to lift up the truck. This will stop the spring from rocketing out of the lower control arm when you disconnect the spindle, potentially damaging yourself and the truck.

4. Pull out the cotter pin that's on the nut connecting the upper control arm to the spindle, using the cotter pin puller. Then remove the castle nut, using an open-end wrench. Hit the side of the spindle with the sledgehammer. This will break the ball joint free from the upper control arm. Lower the jack, which will loosen the tension on the spring.

5. Place the 24-inch pry bar on the lower control arm and use the pry bar to pop out the spring. Then place the lowering spring in the spring pocket using your hands, and jack up the lower control arm using the jack. Reconnect the spindle to the upper control arm using the castle nut and an open-end wrench. Insert a new cotter pin into the castle nut, and pull it apart using the needle-nosed pliers. This will ensure that the castle nut won't back out. Reinstall the shock in the reverse order of removal.

Rear Suspension

1. Locate the rear leaf spring shackle on the frame. The shackle is on the very back mount of the leaf spring. It's connected on one end to the leaf spring eyelet and on the other to the leaf spring hanger, which is mounted to the frame by the rear bumper. Unbolt the shackle from the leaf spring hanger using the 1/2-inch ratchet, sockets and an open-end wrench, then pull the shackle out of the frame.

2. Install the lowering shackle into the frame in reverse of removal. The lowering shackle has two mounting holes for the leaf spring eyelet: one at the top and one at the bottom. Use the higher mount to go the lowest.

3. Reinstall the tires on the truck using the tire iron. Lift the vehicle off the jack stands, using the jack, and then lower it back to the ground.

Resources

• Western Chassis Lowering Kits (PDF)