Part Two: The Rear
Moving to the rear, Ruben used a stand to compress the rear leaf pack just a bit before removing the shocks with a 15mm on the top and a combo of a 15mm and an 18mm for the bottom hardware. The upper nut for the shock has a little ear attached at the factory, so you won't need a wrench to hold it. You can thank Dodge for that little time-saving detail.
 |  1. With the shock undone and...  1. With the shock undone and the rearend housing supported, Ruben broke out the big gun fitted with a 21mm socket and removed the U-bolts. Be aware once you get the lower plates off, the pinion is going to want to rotate down and take the driveshaft with it. Nothing will get hurt but it might be a little unsettling to see it move. |  2. Look what we found. As...  2. Look what we found. As you can see, the center hole on the axle perch is bent out of shape. At some point, the location pin that protrudes from the spring pack wasn't lined up before it was tightened. Because the hole is booger'd up, Ruben had to clean it up a bit with an air grinder (inset) so the lowering block would install correctly. |
 |  3. As you can see, installing...  3. As you can see, installing the lowering block is pretty straightforward. Just make sure you have the shorter side facing toward the front of the truck. This will reset the pinion angle and prevent pinion shake and undue wear on the U-joints. |  4. Ground Force uses a combination...  4. Ground Force uses a combination of a block and a shackle to get the 3-1/2 inches of drop. Ruben removed the hardware and tossed the shackle in the extra parts box. |
 5. The new rear shackle features...  5. The new rear shackle features urethane bushings that will need to be greased and installed before being placed in the truck. |  6. The factory hardware will...  6. The factory hardware will be reused to install the new shackle, another way to keep the cost of the kit down. |  7. The new rear shocks complete...  7. The new rear shocks complete the installation, but the job isn't done. |
 8. Before the wheels were...  8. Before the wheels were mounted, Ruben made sure the rotors were free from any greasy fingerprints, and every nut and bolt was torqued to proper specs. This is why it's nice to go to a professional shop. The attention to detail might be a lot higher than you and your buddy after a few drinks in the driveway. |  | |