ICON Stage 5 Suspension System for 2003-2008 Ram 2500/3500 4WD 4.5" Lift

The ICON Stage 5 Suspension System lifts 2003–2008 Ram 2500/3500 4WD trucks 4.5 inches and replaces the factory front link geometry, coil springs, shocks, track bar, and pitman arm with components engineered to work together across the full suspension travel range. The complete kit includes dual-rate coil springs, tubular steel upper and lower link arms, 2.5" VS Series shocks with CDCV, a bearing-style adjustable track bar, forged pitman arm, sway bar drop brackets, track bar drop bracket, polyurethane bump stops with billet extension, and rear 2.5" lift blocks. Note: the coil springs in this kit are rated for diesel-engine trucks only.

Shipping: ICON parts ship direct from ICON Vehicle Dynamics, mostly by UPS Ground. Lead times vary by part and some items are built to order, so please allow extra time. We email tracking as soon as your order ships.

Corrected Steering Geometry Throughout the Travel Range

Lifting a solid-axle truck without addressing the track bar and link geometry pushes the front axle off-center and introduces bind that wears components and degrades handling. The Stage 5 system replaces the factory upper and lower links with tubular steel arms that eliminate the bind found in factory link bushings, restoring proper alignment range and reducing stress on steering components. The bearing-style adjustable track bar, fitted with PTFE-lined FK bearings instead of flexible rubber joints, lets you center the front axle precisely under the truck after installation and holds that position with greater rigidity than the factory setup.

External Compression Adjustment on Every Shock

The front and rear 2.5" VS Series shocks include ICON's Compression Damping Control Valve (CDCV), an external knob that lets you tune compression damping without removing the shock. One-piece impact-extruded aluminum cylinders resist corrosion and maintain a consistent finish over time. FK bearings and 7/8" shafts are used throughout for strength. Because compression tuning is accessible from outside the shock, you can adjust the ride for a loaded truck, an unladen highway run, or a rough trail without tools beyond the knob itself.

Tire Clearance Without Cutting

The 4.5" lift height and the geometry corrections built into the link and track bar components provide clearance for 35" x 12.50" tires on OEM wheels with no modifications. Some 37" tires fit with minor fender-well trimming. ICON's own wheel recommendations for this application are 17x8.5" with 5.25" backspace / 13mm offset, 18x9" with 5.50" backspace / 12mm offset, or 20x9" with 5.50" backspace / 12mm offset.

Features

• Dual-rate coil springs: matched to 2.5" VS Series shocks; rated for diesel engines only
• 2.5" VS Series shocks with CDCV: external compression-damping adjustment, one-piece extruded aluminum cylinders, FK bearings, 7/8" shafts
• Tubular steel upper and lower link arms: eliminate factory bushing bind, increase alignment range
• Adjustable track bar with FK bearings: centers front axle, improves rigidity over factory rubber joints
• Forged pitman arm and sway bar drop brackets: maintain correct steering geometry at lifted height
• Rear 2.5" lift blocks: level stance front to rear; no driveshaft modifications required

Specifications

Who This Is For and Isn't

This kit suits 2003–2008 Ram 2500/3500 4WD owners with diesel engines who want a 4.5" lift with corrected front-end geometry, external-adjust shocks, and clearance for 35" tires without cutting. It is also appropriate for trucks where the owner wants the flexibility to run 37" tires with minor fender trimming.

This kit does not fit gasoline-engine Ram 2500/3500 trucks. The coil springs are rated for diesel engines only. Trucks with 2003–2006 style steering require a separate 4" drop pitman arm (not included in this kit) or an upgrade to 07–12 steering hardware; trucks with 2007–2012 style steering require ICON pitman arm part number 214101, also not included. This kit does not fit Ram 2500/3500 2WD models or any model year outside 2003–2008. California residents: this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth anomalies, or other reproductive harm (Proposition 65).

Common Questions

Does this kit fit a gas-engine Ram 2500 or 3500?

No. The dual-rate coil springs in the ICON Stage 5 kit for 2003–2008 Ram 2500/3500 4WD are rated for diesel engines only. A gas-engine truck requires a different spring selection and this kit is not appropriate for that application.

What additional parts are needed for trucks with 2003–2006 style steering?

Ram 2500/3500 trucks equipped with 2003–2006 style steering require a separate 4" drop pitman arm, which is not included in this Stage 5 kit. Alternatively, the truck's steering can be upgraded to the 2007–2012 setup, which uses ICON pitman arm part number 214101 (also sold separately).

What tire size fits without any modifications?

The ICON Stage 5 4.5" lift system provides clearance for 35" x 12.50" tires on this Ram 2500/3500 application with no modifications required. Some 37" tires will fit with minor fender-well trimming; larger tires may require additional modifications.

Can compression damping be adjusted after installation?

Yes. The 2.5" VS Series shocks included in this kit feature ICON's Compression Damping Control Valve (CDCV), an external knob that allows compression damping adjustment without removing the shock from the vehicle. Both the front and rear shocks in this kit include CDCV.

Does this kit require driveshaft modifications?

No driveshaft modifications are required with the ICON Stage 5 4.5" lift system on 2003–2008 Ram 2500/3500 4WD trucks. The kit's geometry corrections are designed to maintain proper driveline angles at the lifted height.