DIY Air Ride Leveling links

[flatsix66]

If your like me it is always way more satisfying to make your own parts that are poorly engineered and far more time consuming then it's worth - then pay a legit company big $$$ to have it done right. In the case of leveling links for your 2019 Ram 1500 Limited it's pretty easy to do, took me about half a day and they actually work well!

* Qty 8 8mm ball sockets - about $20 shipped - https://www.liftsupportsdepot.com/qty-1-8mm-ball-socket-nylon-end-m6x1-0-black-with-black-band/
* Thread you own M6 x 1.0 links - about 40mm long for the front two and 50mm long for the rear. I did this on a lathe but there are various ways to do this including cutting down a long M6x1.0 bolt or buying threaded rod from MSC for about $3 total. https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn...wrKwwRpR7yYHcPRhdZ7YHepIFOQyQmdcaAoCsEALw_wcB

The end result lifted the front about 3/4" and lowered the rear about 1/2". The truck at normal ride height went from a 2" rake to 1/2".

 

[19 streak]

I've been searching all day for the proper ball sockets locally. Bring from a small town in Ontario Canada. There's absolutely nowhere able to locate them.
Do you have any pictures?

 

[bonebro]

Thanks for the info! Do you have pics of the links? Pics of your ride before and after?

 

[19 streak]

Thanks for the info! Do you have pics of the links? Pics of your ride before and after?

I just bought the revel links. I couldn't find everything I needed to make my own locally. Unfortunately the weather has been so crappy and my truck has been filthy so I haven't taken any pictures yet.

 

[bonebro]

If your like me it is always way more satisfying to make your own parts that are poorly engineered and far more time consuming then it's worth - then pay a legit company big $$$ to have it done right. In the case of leveling links for your 2019 Ram 1500 Limited it's pretty easy to do, took me about half a day and they actually work well!

* Qty 8 8mm ball sockets - about $20 shipped - https://www.liftsupportsdepot.com/qty-1-8mm-ball-socket-nylon-end-m6x1-0-black-with-black-band/
* Thread you own M6 x 1.0 links - about 40mm long for the front two and 50mm long for the rear. I did this on a lathe but there are various ways to do this including cutting down a long M6x1.0 bolt or buying threaded rod from MSC for about $3 total. https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tnpla/04355004?cid=ppc-google-New+-+Clamping,+Workholding+&+Positioning+-+PLA_s38rNbJRj___164110813848_c_S&mkwid=s38rNbJRj|dc&pcrid=164110813848&rd=k&product_id=04355004&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjszhBRDgARIsAH8KgvekYhk9QFMckmdn0kpEHuSwrKwwRpR7yYHcPRhdZ7YHepIFOQyQmdcaAoCsEALw_wcB

The end result lifted the front about 3/4" and lowered the rear about 1/2". The truck at normal ride height went from a 2" rake to 1/2".

@flatsix66 how have these been working?? What was the OAL of the front DIY links? Thanks for the info!

 

[ExcursionDiesel]

Just made my own DIY adjustable links using the LiftSupportDepot.com ball sockets listed above. I bought 6mm x 1.0 threaded rod from Amazon. Total cost $30. They are much better made than the flimsy stock links.

I used a bolt cutters to trim the rod to the required lengths to match the original links. Used a file to clean up the threads after cutting. I then cut some shorter and longer rods in 1/4" increments so I can play with various ride heights. I can adjust within 1/4" per rod by turning the ends up to 3 turns each.

I dropped the rear 1/2" and raised the front 1/2". The truck now has a 1" rake. I noticed that the front got a tiny bit stiffer and the rear got softer....but the truck still handles great. Air bags get firmer as pressure is increased to lift the vehicle so there are some adverse affects from raising the front and dropping the rear too much. I suspect psi sensors reading out of spec from altered links is what is causing the suspension error messages some are seeing.

 

[riccnick]

I suspect psi sensors reading out of spec from altered links is what is causing the suspension error messages some are seeing.

The truck knows what the acceptable range of psi is for each corner of the vehicle, in each ride height selection, so any deviation greater than expected would trigger the warning. The appropriate thing to do is to add spacers on top of the air struts (if that's even possible, I don't know enough at this time), and then adjust the links to return the position sensors to within range, and then modify the bump stops to contact the suspension again before the struts bottom out. Just shortening or lengthening the links is only airing up the bags without maintaining the parameters they are designed to function within.

 

[Samson75]

I've been searching all day for the proper ball sockets locally. Bring from a small town in Ontario Canada. There's absolutely nowhere able to locate them.
Do you have any pictures?

I’m in Vancouver and these guys mailed my 8mm stainless ball with 6m - 1.0 metric thread . I purchased stainless rod in 6m and cut 2 @ 40mm long for a total of 60mm . Daystar spacers = factory ride lift
Total cost . $35 bucks for links $150 for spacers . $175 for alignment

End Fittings – Metal Ball Socket – LST Gas Springs / Lift Supports

 

[Samson75]

I've been searching all day for the proper ball sockets locally. Bring from a small town in Ontario Canada. There's absolutely nowhere able to locate them.
Do you have any pictures?

End Fittings – Metal Ball Socket – LST Gas Springs / Lift Supports

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