1994-1998 Dodge 5.9L Cummins Lift Kits

Lifting the 1994-1998 Ram 5.9L Cummins

On a second-gen 4x4, the solid front axle rides on coil springs and is located by upper and lower control arms and a track bar. Raise that front end and the geometry changes, which is why lifts on these trucks need a longer or adjustable track bar and attention to caster. A 2WD truck has an independent double-wishbone front that shares no parts with the 4x4, and the BDS kits here are listed for 4WD only.

What it takes to keep a lifted second-gen stable

Look at how a documented build was done. A 5-inch long-arm second-gen added a new track bar, a dual steering stabilizer, a sway bar and a steering-box brace to stay stable. Start with a solid track bar. The factory bar wears quickly on its own, with a plastic tension bushing as the weak point, and the BD adjustable track bar is one of the documented fixes. Then set caster. The 1994-1999 lower-arm eccentrics only reach about 2.8 degrees and there is no camber adjustment, so Turbo Diesel Register (TDR) members use an Ingalls 532 adjustable ball-joint sleeve to get the caster they want. While the front end is apart, check the ball joints and control-arm bushings, since the weight of the 12-valve Cummins wears them.

Standard or long arm

BDS offers its 4.5-inch lift for these trucks as a standard lift kit and as a long arm conversion, both listed for 1994-1999 5.9L Cummins 4WD trucks. On second-gens, long-arm lifts with Johnny Joints and ladder bars show up on show and pull trucks. If the truck still tows and drives daily, weigh a lift against the common second-gen setup, a 2-inch front level with Bilstein 5100 shocks.

What we carry

BDS Suspension 4.5-inch lift kits for 1994-1999 5.9L Cummins 4WD trucks, in standard and long arm conversion versions, and Wehrli Custom Fabrication universal 68-inch traction bars. The BD Diesel adjustable track bar for 1994-2002 Cummins 4WD trucks, plus more WCFab traction bar kits, brackets and hardware, are in the suspension components collection for this truck.

Fitment notes

These kits are 4WD only; a 2WD truck's independent front cannot use them. They are listed for 1994-1999, which covers both 1998 engines, the 12-valve and the 24-valve that replaced it partway through the year. Front-end parts changed for 2000-2002, so 1994-1999 parts differ from those on later second-gens. The WCFab traction bars are universal, so measure your truck and confirm the length before ordering. Verify by VIN when in doubt.

Frequently asked questions

Can I install one of these lift kits on a 2WD 12-valve?

No. The BDS kits are listed for 4WD trucks, and the 2WD second-gen uses an independent double-wishbone front that shares no parts with the 4x4 solid axle. If you want some height on a 2WD truck, look at the Daystar Comfort Ride leveling kits listed for 2WD.

What else does a lifted second-gen need besides the kit?

Plan for a longer or adjustable track bar and a caster correction. The documented 5-inch build also added a dual steering stabilizer, a sway bar and a steering-box brace, and an Ingalls 532 adjustable ball-joint sleeve is how TDR members get caster past the stock eccentric range.

Will a 1994-1999 lift kit fit my 2001 Ram?

Do not assume it will. Dodge changed front suspension and knuckle parts for 2000-2002 along with the twin-piston front caliper, and these BDS kits are listed for 1994-1999 only. Call with your VIN and we will check it for you.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.