Upgrading Truck Suspension, on a budget

[IdahoBeav]

I’ve used the coil compressors before, the kind you get for free at an auto parts store. I’ve done dumber stuff.

There was a video floating around years ago where a guy had a Tacoma on 4 jackstands and put a floor jack beneath the lower control arm to compress the spring. He backed off the top nut and then let the jack down slowly. The LCA went all the way down and the spring completely decompressed. I never tried it, but it looked slick.

 

[Scotto]

About 8 years ago , I had the Bilstein B8 5100's installed in the front and I installed Timber Grove bags in the rear of my 16 Ram 1500. Adjusted the front for roughly 2" additional height. These two additions make it ride like a different truck. Still going strong.

 

[TheCougar]

The next truck… this isn’t the season for that. Just trying to get a little better ride for the next 100k miles.

About 8 years ago , I had the Bilstein B8 5100's installed in the front and I installed Timber Grove bags in the rear of my 16 Ram 1500. Adjusted the front for roughly 2" additional height. These two additions make it ride like a different truck. Still going strong

 

[dtrkyman]

I used the 5100s to eliminate the rake on my grand cherokee, ride was on par with factory, that rig rides really nice.

Airing down off road makes a world of difference in ride, traction and not puncturing a tire!

 

[Fatcamp]

I’ve used the coil compressors before, the kind you get for free at an auto parts store. I’ve done dumber stuff.

I've done a few pairs, not a big deal. But! When I replaced the shocks on my lifted 4 runner that was sketchy. I ended up finding a guy with a press and fittings to do them. My tool couldn't get between coils.

 

[TheLastFrontier]

There was a video floating around years ago where a guy had a Tacoma on 4 jackstands and put a floor jack beneath the lower control arm to compress the spring. He backed off the top nut and then let the jack down slowly. The LCA went all the way down and the spring completely decompressed. I never tried it, but it looked slick.

Can confirm that it works because I used the same method on my 3rd gen Tacoma to swap to a heavier coil and I felt way more safe doing it that way than trying to use spring compressors. Not sure if the Rams have the same setup but if they do then its a pretty easy way to take them apart.

 

[Fatcamp]

There was a video floating around years ago where a guy had a Tacoma on 4 jackstands and put a floor jack beneath the lower control arm to compress the spring. He backed off the top nut and then let the jack down slowly. The LCA went all the way down and the spring completely decompressed. I never tried it, but it looked slick.

I saw that, didn't have the nerve to try.

 

[Thinkingman]

I saw that, didn't have the nerve to try.

Smart.
In re the OP...If you're looking to improve ride quality, using a spring perch to gain lift is going in the opposite direction.
The Toyota crowd loves to use the 5100s for lift but that's for looks, not performance.
Eibach shocks would be my choice.