Ram 1500 Lowering Kits: Fitment by Generation and Drivetrain

The Ram 1500 changed front suspension design twice since 2002, and that is what decides which lowering kit fits. Third-generation trucks (2002-2008, sold as Dodge Ram) run torsion bars up front on 4x4 models and coil springs on 2WD models, so a 2WD lowering kit will not drop a 4x4 front end. Fourth-generation trucks (2009-2018) moved to coil springs at the front for both 2WD and 4WD, which is why separate McGaughys and MaxTrac kits exist for each drivetrain below.

Fifth-generation Ram 1500s (2019 and newer, DT platform) switched the rear to a coil-sprung multi-link axle instead of leaf springs, so a 2019+ lowering kit drops the rear with coils and brackets rather than a shackle flip kit. Dodge kept selling the older 2009-2018 body as the "Ram 1500 Classic" alongside the new truck through 2024, so a 2019-2024 Classic needs the fourth-generation kit, not the DT-specific one. Browse the full lowering kit fitment index or the brand list if your model year is not matched below.

Most Ram 1500 lowering kits land in a similar window: 1 to 3 inches off the front and 3 to 5 inches off the rear, with the rear often adjustable through flip-kit shackle positions or coil spacers. A front-only drop without matching the rear leaves the bed line raked up, so most owners run matched front and rear kits rather than mixing brands.

Dropping the front on a 4WD truck changes camber, and at least one 4WD kit maker notes the truck may need a camber kit to correct camber fully after install. Lowering springs alone (see how lowering springs compare to coilovers) do not apply the same way to a torsion-bar or spindle front end, which is why dedicated drop kits with spindles or control arms are the norm on these trucks instead. On the fifth-generation 2019+ truck, Ram's factory 22-inch wheels use a larger-bore steering knuckle, and at least one lowering kit maker states its kit does not fit those factory 22s, so budget for different wheels if your truck came with the 22-inch option. A coil spring compressor speeds up swapping coils on kits that reuse the factory spring perches, and pairing the drop with a stiffer sway bar helps offset the softer handling feel some owners report after lowering a half-ton truck.

A mechanical lowering kit gives a fixed drop at a lower cost than air suspension, but it is a one-time static ride height. For a Ram 1500 that lowers at the curb and returns to stock height on the highway, compare these kits against the Ram 1500 air suspension options instead.