By, founder of Black Ops Auto Works.
Every week we take the same call. An owner installs Eibach Pro-Kit or Mopar Performance springs on a Dodge Durango R/T, drops the truck off at the alignment shop, and the rear will not sit down. Sometimes it settles the first day and rises again by the end of the week. The spring is not defective. The truck did not need arms. Nobody warned you about the rear load leveling shocks, which is exactly why we are writing this.
What the rear load leveling shock actually is
Dodge shipped a bunch of Durangos, especially R/T trims with the tow package, with self leveling rear shocks. Those shocks contain a small internal reservoir and a valving setup designed to keep the rear at a set ride height regardless of load. Hitch a trailer, load a boat, throw four kids and a cooler in the third row, and the shocks quietly extend to hold the rear level.
That is a nice feature for a family hauler. It is a disaster for a lowering spring. The shock does not know the difference between a trailer tongue and a shorter free length spring, so it does what it was engineered to do, it fights the drop and pushes the rear back up. The result is a Durango sitting nose down after install, or a Durango that appears to settle then mysteriously rises again over a few days as the shocks equalize.
How to tell if your Durango has load leveling rear shocks
The easy check, if you have the tow package, assume yes until you look. The visual check, load leveling shocks on the WDS Durango have a visible reservoir tube running along the shock body and a heavier casting at the top mount. Standard shocks have a smoother, single body construction.
The certain check, pull the VIN and call your dealer parts counter with the last eight, ask if the truck was built with self leveling rear shocks. Takes them ninety seconds. Trims most likely to have them:
- Durango R/T with tow package
- Durango Citadel with tow package
- Durango Special Service Vehicle
- Some Durango GT tow package builds
Trims that generally do not have them:
- Base V6 Durangos without tow
- Durango SRT 392 and Durango Hellcat, which use performance shocks, not load leveling
Which springs are affected
All of them. If your Durango has load leveling rear shocks, the springs will not settle correctly whether you buy:
- Mopar Performance lowering springs
- Eibach Pro-Kit
- Swift Springs Low, Mid, or Extreme
- Any other aftermarket lowering coil
This is not a spring quality issue. It is a rear damper issue. The fix is identical across every spring option.
The fix, swap the rear shocks at the same time
Replace both rear load leveling shocks with standard rear shocks the day you install the springs. Do not do the springs first and wait to see if the truck settles, do them at the same time, otherwise you are pulling the rear apart twice.
Rear shock options that work on a lowered Durango R/T:
- Bilstein B6 4600 series rear shock, best balance of ride and control
- Mopar standard non self leveling rear shock, cheapest OEM option, get the R/T part number, not the SRT part number
- Bilstein B8 5100, slightly firmer, pairs well with Swift Mid or Extreme
While you are in there, replace the front struts too if the truck has over sixty thousand miles. Bilstein B6 up front matches the rear B6 for a balanced feel.
Deactivating anything electronically
The rear load leveling shocks on a Durango R/T are passive, they do not talk to the body control module or the chassis network. That means you can pull them out and install standard shocks without triggering a dash light or a fault code. This is different from the Quadra-Lift air suspension on a WK2, which does require a module deactivation. Full walk through in how to delete Quadra-Lift air suspension on a Jeep Grand Cherokee. If your Durango R/T only has load leveling shocks, no scan tool work is needed.
What the truck should look and feel like after the fix
With standard shocks and any of the lowering springs above installed correctly, the Durango R/T should settle to the advertised drop within twenty to forty miles of driving. On Eibach Pro-Kit expect roughly 1.1 inch front and 2.1 inch rear. On Swift Springs Mid expect roughly 1.2 inch front and 2.0 inch rear. On Mopar Performance expect roughly 1.0 inch front and 1.6 inch rear.
Ride quality on Eibach is firm, linear, and jittery on broken pavement. Swift Springs Mid retains the factory bounce and rebound the R/T came with, and rides closest to a factory Sport mode setting. Owners who tow occasionally also prefer Swift Mid because the progressive rate handles load better than a linear Eibach.
Alignment on a lowered Durango R/T
Same story as the WK2 platform, front camber lands roughly negative 1.8 to negative 2.0 with any of these springs, rear camber lands negative 1.2 to negative 1.5 on a two inch drop, both within the current factory range. Extreme drops beyond two inches rear need rear adjustable upper arms, covered in rear adjustable upper control arms, when you actually need them.
Frequently asked questions
Why will my Durango R/T not drop after installing lowering springs
The rear load leveling shocks are fighting the shorter spring. Replace them with standard rear shocks and the truck will settle.
How do I know if my Durango has load leveling shocks
If it has the tow package, assume yes. Look for a reservoir tube on the rear shock body, or call your dealer parts counter with the VIN.
Can I just remove one rear load leveling shock to check
No, replace both at once or the truck will settle unevenly, and you will be doing the job twice anyway.
Will removing load leveling shocks affect my tow rating
Standard Bilstein or Mopar rear shocks handle the Durango R/T tow rating without issue. The load leveling feature is a comfort convenience for loaded rides, not a structural component.
Do Durango SRT and Hellcat have load leveling shocks
No, the SRT 392 and Hellcat use performance dampers, not load leveling. If you own one of those trims, this article does not apply, see the Durango SRT and Hellcat lowering guide.
Do V6 base Durangos have load leveling shocks
Only if built with the tow package. Most base V6 trims ship with standard shocks and will drop correctly without a shock swap.
Which lowering spring is best for a Durango R/T daily driver
Swift Springs Mid for the closest to OEM ride, Mopar Performance for the shallowest drop with dealer friendly parts, Eibach Pro-Kit if you want a stiffer linear feel.
Do I need rear adjustable arms on a Durango R/T
Not on Mopar, Eibach Pro-Kit, or Swift Mid. Only Swift Springs Extreme at a 2.8 inch rear drop needs rear adjustable upper arms.
Will lowering hurt Durango tow rating or gas tank clearance
A one to two inch drop does not affect tow rating and does not reduce gas tank clearance on the WDS platform.
How long does the rear shock swap add to the install
Ninety minutes to two hours per side if the shock bolts cooperate, less if you are already in there pulling the springs.
Bottom line
If you are lowering a Durango R/T with any tow package equipped truck, budget for the springs plus rear shocks in the same order, install them on the same day, and align it after the truck has settled for forty miles. Do that and the truck sits where the spring advertises, drives better than stock, and holds its stance. Skip the shocks, spend two weekends chasing a rear that will not drop.
For the platform wide picture, read our complete WK2 and Durango lowering guide. Questions on your specific R/T build, call Black Ops Auto Works at 855-221-9728.
Related reading
- The complete WK2 and Durango lowering guide
- Dodge Durango SRT and Hellcat lowering guide
- Rear adjustable upper control arms, when you need them
- WK2 alignment specs after lowering