The Journey Toward a Bigger Rebel

[clazer]

First, big shout out to DieselDak and a bunch of other people in this forum for all of the great info on leveling the Rebel air suspension. Once I saw that 37s could fit on my air ride Rebel, I’ve been working on how to make it happen.

To complicate it a little more, my parking garage has a clearance of 83”/6’11”, so I’ve also been toying with how to not hit the crossbars.

Here’s my general walkthrough with a few pictures and a bunch of measurements. Hope it’s helpful for anyone else interested in lifting their air suspension fifth gen.

Stock measurements to fender over wheel center (front/rear):
Off-road 39.5”/41.5”
Normal 38.5”/40.5”
Aero 38”/39.75”
Entry 35.5”/37.75”
Fin is 79” high in normal, about 2.5” above roof line. 80” in off-road.

At this point, mark a spot on your garage door that shows where your headlights shine before the level. Makes it a lot easier. I backed to the end of the driveway and used masking take on the garage door.

Step 1: make the air ride links from some ball sockets ordered online and some all-thread rod (M6x1.0 stainless). I’ll post up the link once I find it. I’d recommend ordering some spare ball socket ends (they are super cheap) in case you break one of them during adjustment. I found it easiest to use two eyeglasses sized small flat bit screwdrivers to move the retaining clip. I always remove the solid end first (not attached to the sensor) to minimize risk of damaging the sensor.
Front link can be seen on the right (shorter makes your truck taller)

Rear link (longer makes your truck taller)

Qty (1) 8mm Ball Socket, Nylon End M6x1.0 Black with Black Band

This Various Manufactures PC1456 fits a wide variety of vehicles and includes a 1 year warranty. $6.99 Express Shipping on qualifying orders $29.00 and over.

www.liftsupportsdepot.com

All in, I think it was $30. Leveled the truck like this but the ride was awful with the airbags completely full, even in aero mode.

Step 2: install Daystar leveling kit (KC09139BK for front and rear, only used the front) and Mopar 2” Lift Upper Control Arms (68323530AA and 68323531AA). There’s much debate over the arms, but it was $130 so I bought them.

Called around and had a wide variety answers. Dealers said they would install for $1000 or higher. I found a shop that installed plus aligned the truck for $350.

$350 labor+ $125 Daystar +$120 UCA = $595 for this step.

Air bags with the spacer pucks mounted on top

I tweaked the height a little more and here are the final measurements. It drives really close to stock.

New measurements with level and factory tires:
Aero 40.125” front and rear
Normal 40.5” front 41.25” rear (may raise the nose a little more)
80” fin in normal 79” in aero

Drove the truck to work and wow is it close to the parking garage cross beams. So close that I opted for an experiment. A little bit of tape and a laminated piece of cardstock and I made a feeler 2” taller than the fin. It definitely hits, so going straight to 37s isn’t an option with the shark fin antenna there.

Now I’m researching switching to the Puck style antenna with a cell antenna delete. Some folks are saying that they still get (weaker) cell signal by plugging in the delete connector on the roof end of the wire. More to come. Let me know if anyone knows about replacing or relocating the shark fin antenna.

The truck already looks way better but now the wheel wells are looking empty. Hope this can help some people out.

 

[clazer]

Installed the Bora hub centric spacers on all four corners today. Went with aluminum- 1.25” in front and 1.5” in back. The factory rear track width is 0.4” narrower in back, so this evened it out. I like the factory rebel rims, so this is a way to keep them with bigger rubber. The factory rims are supposed to be 18x8 with +19.05mm offset. People have been putting 37’s on 18/9” rims with -12mm offset which pushes the centerline of the wheel out 31mm (1.22”).

The Bora Spacers seem to be really well made. 22mm deep socket for the factory lugs and 19mm deep socket for the adapter lug nuts. 130ft-lbs managed to break one 19mm socket, so had to get another while putting on the last spacer.



There is a ton of room in the back of the factory rims to take the studs.



A few hours later, all installed and properly torqued. I like the poke- all tread under the fenders but a little sidewall out past the fender.


Next was a little trial fitting of my full size spare. Nitto Ridge Grappler 37x11.5x18. Spare rim from eBay along with a 2019 DT sensor.

I’m getting interference at all ride heights at the rear of the front wheel well. Otherwise the tires tuck in nicely.

 

[clazer]

It all fits!!!

I did the mild front wheel well modification that’s stickied in the tires/wheels section. Worked like a charm.

No rub in aero or normal. Obviously can’t turn in entry/exit.

I have found some interference between the front right air ride sensor and the upper control arm after installing the Daystar spacer. If I go over a sharp bump, the arm goes to (more than) full droop and knocks the sensor. Going to play with the geometry to see what I can do.

 

[CaptainCJ35]

Looking good! Love to see how you address the sensor/upper control arm and how it works out.

 

[DAWNHAMMER]

Looks great, I'll be doing this to a bighorn ORP in the next few weeks. -12 backspacing on the wheels and I'll heat the splashguards up and mold them out of the way to fit the tires with no rubbing.

Your truck is coming along nice, brother.

 

[Midnight1988]

It all fits!!!

I did the mild front wheel well modification that’s stickied in the tires/wheels section. Worked like a charm.

No rub in aero or normal. Obviously can’t turn in entry/exit.

I have found some interference between the front right air ride sensor and the upper control arm after installing the Daystar spacer. If I go over a sharp bump, the arm goes to (more than) full droop and knocks the sensor. Going to play with the geometry to see what I can do.

Maybe I misunderstood but you test fitted you’re full size spare. You were able to fits 37” tire in the spare wheel well?

 

[clazer]

Maybe I misunderstood but you test fitted you’re full size spare. You were able to fits 37” tire in the spare wheel well?

Yes, I have a full size spare on another Rebel rim from eBay, but it doesn’t fit below the bed (I think the max is a little under 35”). Trying to figure out a secure way to mount it vertically in the bed behind the driver with the ram box. Minimal space and vision loss.

 

[DAWNHAMMER]

Yes, I have a full size spare on another Rebel rim from eBay, but it doesn’t fit below the bed (I think the max is a little under 35”). Trying to figure out a secure way to mount it vertically in the bed behind the driver with the ram box. Minimal space and vision loss.

I’m going to be using an Nfab bed mounting kit. Addictive Desert Designs also makes a kit for the bed.


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[clazer]

Looking good! Love to see how you address the sensor/upper control arm and how it works out.

The fix is.... tightening the nuts above the shocks and securing the sensor with a rubber band. I don’t think there is interference anymore now that I finished the install shop’s job. I bought another one through the dealer for $70, which now rides in my RamBox just in case. Took about a month to come in.

Just installed mud flaps all around since I wasn’t a fan of all the debris hitting the rockers: https://5thgenrams.com/community/threads/mud-flaps-with-fender-trim.14020/#post-198226

Also, I’ve been mocking up the tire and I may make my own bracket for the bed mount. Positioned like this but difficult to steal is the idea:

 

[rome5982]

Nice truck! Did you ever figure out how to handle the shark fin antenna's extra height? Did you remove or replace with a low profile puck? My truck is on order and I am planning on doing the mopar 2" lift with ORP and 35" tires. My garage door height is 84" and with the hurricane reinforcement cross members I only have 82" clearance at the lowest point.

 

[clazer]

Thanks! You should be fine with a 2” lift and 1” lift from your tires. You’ll definitely be fine in aero mode. I never changed out the shark fin- I probably have 1/4” clearance in my parking garage. If you want to be super safe, just do a 2” level and don’t lift the rear(or lift it less)

 

[Midnight1988]

I got my hitch gate used and it was fairly inexpensive. Ik it’s not the best option for everyone but it works great for me when I go on trips.

 

[clazer]

View attachment 57174
I got my hitch gate used and it was fairly inexpensive. Ik it’s not the best option for everyone but it works great for me when I go on trips.

I like that setup! I’ve actually just used two regular ratchet straps to hold it right behind the drive side cab. Attached to the front low loop and the other ends go through the spokes to two of the factory adjustable rail attachments. Pretty solid- and it lets me put my big cooler and big Plano tub next to it for trips. Only pic I can find of the setup- I have since turned the rim around due to where the metal hooks land.

 

[Mustangmike66]

I like that setup! I’ve actually just used two regular ratchet straps to hold it right behind the drive side cab. Attached to the front low loop and the other ends go through the spokes to two of the factory adjustable rail attachments. Pretty solid- and it lets me put my big cooler and big Plano tub next to it for trips. Only pic I can find of the setup- I have since turned the rim around due to where the metal hooks land.View attachment 57327

Is your truck leveled with stock Rebel wheels and tires?


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[clazer]

Is your truck leveled with stock Rebel wheels and tires?


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Leveled with stock Rebel wheels, BORA hubcentric spacers and 37” ridge grapplers. There’s some earlier pics in the thread of leveled with factory rubber.