We’ve had Dodge products in the past and liked them, and our riding buddy swears by his new crew cab 1500, but Dodge trucks have by and large been neglected by the industry. Especially when it comes to suspension upgrades for the 4wd Rams. It’s hard to find a “lift kit” let alone any sort of “long travel” system.
Pure Performance is changing that perception with their Chase Series Long Travel System for the 4x4 Ram 1500’s. Giving the front end 16-inches of wheel travel, the PPCSLYS replaces the stock arms with boxed units (the upper utilizes a Uniball) and adds a shock as there are now two Prodigy units per side. The system also adds 3-inches of width and height to the front end, but supply longer CV shafts, a steering extension and longer, braided brake lines to make up that difference.
The rear suspension is upgraded with adjustable control arms and track bar, and one remote reservoir-equipped Prodigy Bypass shock per side. The new coils springs are progressive, which work well with the bypass shocks. Everything that’s needed to do the install is provided, as are detailed instructions.
Another thing that the PPCSLYS does is to allow for use of 37’s, and this owner had a set of the new 37-inch General Grabber tire and was dying to put them on. The new tires are awesome but all that mass has to go somewhere, so a set of Fiberwerx fenders were installed as was a cool Mopar hood to tie everything together.
This install does require some cutting and welding, so this owner went to 4 Wheel Parts in Riverside, CA to have the work done. The crew had it done in short order.
These are the parts for the front end of the Ram. Combined, the boxed arms, shock mounts and hoops and dual per side shocks will give the Ram 16-inches of wheel travel.
The stock Ram suspension is fine for plonking around, but is not up to any runs through a long whooped-out section.
Disassembly begins on the front suspension.
All suspension items, as well as the axles will be removed.
The stock upper shock mount needs to be modified for the new PPCSLYS bracket. Pure Performance supplies instructions on where to make the cuts.
A large piece of the upper section is removed.
The PPCSLYS upper shock mount is welded in place.
A supplied Secondary Shock Hoop is welded in place too, giving the PPCSLYS additional strength.
Once the welding is done, the welds are steel brushed and the area is painted. This is a necessary but you get a two-fer in that painting is good for rust prevention, but it also just looks better.
The stock lower ball joint is removed and will be installed into the new PPCSLYS lower arm.
The lower arm is installed.
The upper arm is installed. Note that the upper arm is equipped with a sealed, yet re-buildable Uniball.
On goes the Prodigy Remote Reservoir Race Series Coil Over shock.
Then the Prodigy Race Bypass shock is installed.
Here’s the Pure Performance Chase Series Long Travel System in all its glory. The system adds 3-inched per side of track width and approximately 3-inches of lift while giving the Ram 16-inches of wheel travel. Speaking of wheels, this system allows for up to a 37-inch tall tire to be used. Also note that the system comes with Chromoly steering extensions that have also been installed.
The stock axle’s CV is disassembled in preparation for the new Pure Performance unit
The pieces are simply removed from the stock axle and installed onto the new one.
Pure Performance supplies longer, braided steel brake lines.
With the axle in, brake lines plumbed and everything tightened for a second time, the front half of the PPCSLYS is done. Now for the rearend.
The back half of the system comes with progressive rate coil springs, heavy-duty adjustable control arms, a solid alloy double adjustable track bar and remote reservoir Prodigy bypass shocks (though know they’re an upgrade).
The rear suspension is disassembled.
Doing one at a time, the new control arms are installed.
With heavy-duty adjustable Heim joints, the rearend can be fine tuned to track perfectly straight.
The progressive rate coil springs are installed.
Heim joints on both ends of the track bar makes centering the rearend easy.
The Prodigy bypass shock is installed.
Proudly wearing 37-inch General Grabber tires, this Dodge Ram 1500 is ready for whatever nature can throw at it.
