I just installed the Pro Comp Nitro Lift kit part number 61180K on my 2014 Ram Sport Crew Cab. i chose this kit over the 6 inch kit for one reason only...i did not want to have to cut any of the undercarriage to install the 6" lift.
we had the advantage of working at my friend's shop so had access to all pneumatic tools, impact wrench and a hoist. with the issues we ran into, install was 5 hours.
The kit offers a lift of 2.5 inch front and 1 - 1.5 inch lift at the rear depending on which website you read the part number description on. Procomp claims 1 inch rear.
overall, I'm satisfied with the quality of the kit, but there are a few things I feel i need to let everyone know who is considering this kit for their application. one thing that drove me crazy was the threads on the pro comp parts didn't match the threads on the OEM parts...not a big deal, but what the hell is my first question?
To start, the instruction manual is a little out of date. it reads that the part number is for a 2009-2011 ram 1500 4WD. now that really doesn't bother me, but some of the installation instruction I believe have changed on the 14 model (ill address these later). additionally, the bump stop included with the kit was not the same as the piece pictured in the instruction manual. no big deal, except in the manual, the bumper looks to be 1/4 thick red rubber, the one in my kit was an inch and a half tall black rubber.
The instructions are clear and usually precise, and are followed by pictures...always a good thing in my mind.
to start, i took the measurements from the ground as our work area was pretty level. front measured 37" to fender lip and rear 39". all disassembly was easy of the front lower control arm and removal of the strut assembly.
reassembly was also easy, and the instructions were accurate. we used a floor jack to raise the lower control arm back into place as per the instructions, and this is where we ran into our biggest issue. Once the lower control arm was back in place, i noticed this...
this is the upper ball joint on the upper control arm. we did not touch anything on the upper control arm, but I think the tension on the control arm from the added spacer on top of the strut assembly caused the ball joint to pop out. no big deal right? just reseat the ball joint? not a chance. we reseated the ball joint, but the tension from just the control arm hanging caused the joint to pop every time.
not only did it pop the ball joint, it looks like it rounded the hole in the stamped upper control arm. even if we removed the spacer, there was no way the ball joint was going to stay in. now I'm panicking...my biddy even said, shoulda got the 6 inch kit and cut the factory brackets! even after the bump stop was installed, every time the control arm was left to hang with the wheels off, it popped the ball joint. so we began to think what could it be? is it the wrong spacer for 2014, is it the thicker bump stop causing the joint to pop out, is it a newly designed upper control arm, is it because the upper control arm is a stamped control arm?
anyhow, none of those questions could be answered, and of course Procomp is closed on saturday so we couldn't make a call. We had to tack weld the ball joint in in order to get the truck fixed. definitely not what i expected when i ordered the kit, and definitely not what pro comp set out to think when they marketed this kit for the 2014 models. I'm assuming that from 2009 to 2014, something must have changed in the front end to cause this kit to unseat the upper balls on both sides! ill be following up with pro comp tomorrow, but this really stumped us.
Now for the rears...
The rear assembly went pretty much as described, however, we found that we had to remove the rear callipers to lower the axle enough to remove the springs...something that was missing from the installation guide. other than that, all good.
as advertised, the kit did not seem to affect the factory ride at all. the truck is noticeably higher, but handles just as well as it did before. it does need an alignment as recommended in the installation guide, and after settling the truck looks near level front to rear on level pavement.
after settled installation measurements are 39 1/4 " front and 40 3/4" rear.
before
after
I can't wait to speak with Procomp tomorrow to see what they think happened in this kit for the 2014 CC sport. I'm very concerned now about any future warranty issues with the upper ball joints/control arm. i know there is a bit of a risk with warranty claims with aftermarket mods, but having to tack weld the ball joints in really disappointed me. like i said to the point where i now regret the kit, and wish i had event with the 6" kit and made the cuts.
anyhow, thanks for looking, and ill update when i speak to Procomp.
Jeff
we had the advantage of working at my friend's shop so had access to all pneumatic tools, impact wrench and a hoist. with the issues we ran into, install was 5 hours.
The kit offers a lift of 2.5 inch front and 1 - 1.5 inch lift at the rear depending on which website you read the part number description on. Procomp claims 1 inch rear.
overall, I'm satisfied with the quality of the kit, but there are a few things I feel i need to let everyone know who is considering this kit for their application. one thing that drove me crazy was the threads on the pro comp parts didn't match the threads on the OEM parts...not a big deal, but what the hell is my first question?
To start, the instruction manual is a little out of date. it reads that the part number is for a 2009-2011 ram 1500 4WD. now that really doesn't bother me, but some of the installation instruction I believe have changed on the 14 model (ill address these later). additionally, the bump stop included with the kit was not the same as the piece pictured in the instruction manual. no big deal, except in the manual, the bumper looks to be 1/4 thick red rubber, the one in my kit was an inch and a half tall black rubber.
The instructions are clear and usually precise, and are followed by pictures...always a good thing in my mind.
to start, i took the measurements from the ground as our work area was pretty level. front measured 37" to fender lip and rear 39". all disassembly was easy of the front lower control arm and removal of the strut assembly.
reassembly was also easy, and the instructions were accurate. we used a floor jack to raise the lower control arm back into place as per the instructions, and this is where we ran into our biggest issue. Once the lower control arm was back in place, i noticed this...
this is the upper ball joint on the upper control arm. we did not touch anything on the upper control arm, but I think the tension on the control arm from the added spacer on top of the strut assembly caused the ball joint to pop out. no big deal right? just reseat the ball joint? not a chance. we reseated the ball joint, but the tension from just the control arm hanging caused the joint to pop every time.
not only did it pop the ball joint, it looks like it rounded the hole in the stamped upper control arm. even if we removed the spacer, there was no way the ball joint was going to stay in. now I'm panicking...my biddy even said, shoulda got the 6 inch kit and cut the factory brackets! even after the bump stop was installed, every time the control arm was left to hang with the wheels off, it popped the ball joint. so we began to think what could it be? is it the wrong spacer for 2014, is it the thicker bump stop causing the joint to pop out, is it a newly designed upper control arm, is it because the upper control arm is a stamped control arm?
anyhow, none of those questions could be answered, and of course Procomp is closed on saturday so we couldn't make a call. We had to tack weld the ball joint in in order to get the truck fixed. definitely not what i expected when i ordered the kit, and definitely not what pro comp set out to think when they marketed this kit for the 2014 models. I'm assuming that from 2009 to 2014, something must have changed in the front end to cause this kit to unseat the upper balls on both sides! ill be following up with pro comp tomorrow, but this really stumped us.
Now for the rears...
The rear assembly went pretty much as described, however, we found that we had to remove the rear callipers to lower the axle enough to remove the springs...something that was missing from the installation guide. other than that, all good.
as advertised, the kit did not seem to affect the factory ride at all. the truck is noticeably higher, but handles just as well as it did before. it does need an alignment as recommended in the installation guide, and after settling the truck looks near level front to rear on level pavement.
after settled installation measurements are 39 1/4 " front and 40 3/4" rear.
before
after
I can't wait to speak with Procomp tomorrow to see what they think happened in this kit for the 2014 CC sport. I'm very concerned now about any future warranty issues with the upper ball joints/control arm. i know there is a bit of a risk with warranty claims with aftermarket mods, but having to tack weld the ball joints in really disappointed me. like i said to the point where i now regret the kit, and wish i had event with the 6" kit and made the cuts.
anyhow, thanks for looking, and ill update when i speak to Procomp.
Jeff