2/4 drop is a little low up front...

Dubstep Shep · Sep 29, 2015

So awhile back I installed a belltech 2/4 drop with QA1 adjustable shocks, hellwig bars, spohn adjustable arms, and support bags for the rear.

It was all good for awhile, tows like a dream etc., but I've managed to scrape the front wheels on my fender liners a few times. At first it didn't do much, but I actually managed to mess up one fender liner recently.

Truthfully I think the spring rate on the springs is wrong because the truck feels way too bouncy. I think my shock settings could also be to blame for that, but they're at a 9/18 right now.

In any case, I wouldn't mind having a little less drop up front, but I have no idea how I'd do that unless I wanted to put my stock springs back in and cut them. That's a worse idea IMO because you have what I would guess is a lower spring rate in a lowered vehicle.

I had looked at air suspension at some point, but I really don't want to spend 5k on all that. I'm not ruling it out, but it's not what I really want to do.

Thoughts?

R/T_Fire · Sep 29, 2015

Has any one researched the difference in spring rates?

My inner fender is toast on the right side, so far you are the only other person I know that has had this problem, I bought a new inner fender liner off RockAuto for $30 as a temp fix till I decide if and how I am going to bend and fab up some sheet metal liners that will clearance the lowered suspension.

I'd rather spend the money on QA-1's and sheet metal and a little wire than 5k on a air ride right now myself. maybe later

The other option I have been searching for but not been successful is finding someone to make me a lowered progressive or multi rate spring. that way it will take the soft hits but hold the harder ones.

Dubstep Shep · Sep 29, 2015

I've been pestering the **** out of Belltech for a spring rate. I may just take the spring to get dyno'd or build a rig to do it myself...

R/T_Fire · Sep 29, 2015

Let us know what you find out cause Ive been curious. give me a baseline to work with when I find someone that can make me one... if I ever do

I love how it handles and feels I just want more out of it. I'm never satisfied
:roflsquared:

PassivAggressor · Sep 29, 2015

Temporary Air-Lift bags in the front with around 10 psi?

Dubstep Shep · Sep 30, 2015

R/T_Fire said:
Let us know what you find out cause Ive been curious. give me a baseline to work with when I find someone that can make me one... if I ever do

I love how it handles and feels I just want more out of it. I'm never satisfied

Yea, I may just start turning the shocks up and see what happens. Door number 2 is to get stiffer bump stops since it likes to ride on those 24/7 anyways.

PassivAggressor said:
Temporary Air-Lift bags in the front with around 10 psi?

Where would you put them lol? The shock runs through the spring.

PassivAggressor · Sep 30, 2015

Wow. I literally just face palmed the **** out of myself for not realizing that.

BlkRamRt · Sep 30, 2015

Do you have pics of the gap in the front (fender to wheel)? I never rubbed up front with the factory size tire and now that I'm running a shorter tire I don't think it ever will.

Tray Burge · Sep 30, 2015

I had the exact same issue until I had my mechanic replace them with sport shocks. No idea what brand he went with, he ain't cheap on anything, but now I can hit any dip in the road without bottoming out and scrapping like I would before at the same spots. Whatever he went with fixed it and it still rides great, but handles like it's on rails.

Dubstep Shep · Sep 30, 2015

PassivAggressor said:
Wow. I literally just face palmed the **** out of myself for not realizing that.

Haha I figured you had just had a brain fart.

BlkRamRt said:
Do you have pics of the gap in the front (fender to wheel)? I never rubbed up front with the factory size tire and now that I'm running a shorter tire I don't think it ever will.

This is the only one I have on my work computer at the moment:

11249019_10206288787532406_2073054114190384430_n_zpsyyjsrmhm.jpg

It literally sits on the bump stops at rest. The wheels have maybe a couple of inches of clearance. Personally I'd like to go with a little larger wheel overall, not a smaller one.

Tray Burge said:
I had the exact same issue until I had my mechanic replace them with sport shocks. No idea what brand he went with, he ain't cheap on anything, but now I can hit any dip in the road without bottoming out and scrapping like I would before at the same spots. Whatever he went with fixed it and it still rides great, but handles like it's on rails.

Did you have QA1 single adjustable shocks before or...?

R/T_Fire · Sep 30, 2015

Tray Burge said:
I had the exact same issue until I had my mechanic replace them with sport shocks. No idea what brand he went with, he ain't cheap on anything, but now I can hit any dip in the road without bottoming out and scrapping like I would before at the same spots. Whatever he went with fixed it and it still rides great, but handles like it's on rails.

Is there a tag on the shock...

I'm actually thinking air ride after looking at it... I know nothing about air ride systems as it would be the first Ive installed and looking at ridetech's website its only about $2500, really thats not too bad if you ask me with looking at $700 ish for QA-1'a and prob $500-1000 for custom springs, I'm already more than halfway to the air system that I can dial in the ride and eliminate the problem the first time. I'm thinking this is a better route for me. just have to work it into the budget.

Tray Burge · Sep 30, 2015

Dubstep Shep said:
Haha I figured you had just had a brain fart.

This is the only one I have on my work computer at the moment:

It literally sits on the bump stops at rest. The wheels have maybe a couple of inches of clearance. Personally I'd like to go with a little larger wheel overall, not a smaller one.

Did you have QA1 single adjustable shocks before or...?

Whatever it came with stock. Did the McGuays 2.5/4 (However it's spelled) and then when I hit a severe dip it would rub the inner fender wheel rim on the front, had him (mechanic) put "sport" shocks on and the problem went away, but it's stiff, you can't bounce by hand at all.

PassivAggressor · Sep 30, 2015

Just take some 2500 springs and cut them :crazy:

DavidRam · Sep 30, 2015

Start by bumping the QA1s up to 13-14, which is the last setting I tried and the same that Richard was running. Not saying it will fix the problem entirely but it will help with the bouncing.

Dubstep Shep · Sep 30, 2015

R/T_Fire said:
Is there a tag on the shock...

I'm actually thinking air ride after looking at it... I know nothing about air ride systems as it would be the first Ive installed and looking at ridetech's website its only about $2500, really thats not too bad if you ask me with looking at $700 ish for QA-1'a and prob $500-1000 for custom springs, I'm already more than halfway to the air system that I can dial in the ride and eliminate the problem the first time. I'm thinking this is a better route for me. just have to work it into the budget.

Yea, then you also need the compressor system. Add that in. When I was all said and done it was between $4,000-$5,000

PassivAggressor said:
Just take some 2500 springs and cut them

You joke, but I've seriously considered something along these lines...

DavidRam said:
Start by bumping the QA1s up to 13-14, which is the last setting I tried and the same that Richard was running. Not saying it will fix the problem entirely but it will help with the bouncing.

I had them up that high at one point and the ride was just ****.

I'm probably asking too much, but my Corvette is lower, has a nicer ride, and still has better handling, and that's will 100k mile OEM components.

R/T_Fire · Sep 30, 2015

Dubstep Shep said:
Yea, then you also need the compressor system. Add that in. When I was all said and done it was between $4,000-$5,000

Heres the break down from ridetech, its alot cheaper than you think and this is with the fancy system

Air shocks:
Front $900
Rear $400
Trucks :: Dodge Ram 1500 09-Up :: All Options - RideTech.com - Suspension Specialist - Online Store

Control Kit systems:
Air pod $1800 add air lines and power and your ready to go.
Control Systems :: AirPod Control System - RideTech.com - Suspension Specialist - Online Store

Ride Pro Digital kit $1500
Mount yourself add air lines and power and your ready to go
Control Systems :: RidePRO Digital (4 way system) - RideTech.com - Suspension Specialist - Online Store

Ride Pro Analog $1000
Mount yourself add air lines and power and your ready to go
Control Systems :: RidePRO Standard Analog (4 way system) - RideTech.com - Suspension Specialist - Online Store

So really you can get into a very basic system for $2400
$900 for front shocks, $400 for rear shocks and $1000 for the tank, compressor and control switches.

In the big scheme of things thats not really that bad imo.

sicmadek · Sep 30, 2015

You can try mcgaughy springs or 4 dr springs. Both should give you less drop.

Dubstep Shep · Sep 30, 2015

R/T_Fire said:
Heres the break down from ridetech, its alot cheaper than you think and this is with the fancy system

Air shocks:
Front $900
Rear $400
Trucks :: Dodge Ram 1500 09-Up :: All Options - RideTech.com - Suspension Specialist - Online Store

Control Kit systems:
Air pod $1800 add air lines and power and your ready to go.
Control Systems :: AirPod Control System - RideTech.com - Suspension Specialist - Online Store

Ride Pro Digital kit $1500
Mount yourself add air lines and power and your ready to go
Control Systems :: RidePRO Digital (4 way system) - RideTech.com - Suspension Specialist - Online Store

Ride Pro Analog $1000
Mount yourself add air lines and power and your ready to go
Control Systems :: RidePRO Standard Analog (4 way system) - RideTech.com - Suspension Specialist - Online Store

So really you can get into a very basic system for $2400
$900 for front shocks, $400 for rear shocks and $1000 for the tank, compressor and control switches.

In the big scheme of things thats not really that bad imo.

$900 for the front springs and shocks.
$400 for the rear springs.
$250 minimum for the rear shocks. Up to $800 for the best ones. I like the $350 ones.
$1,200 minimum for the control unit because you have to have the larger tank on a truck. Up to $2,000 for the unit that I want.

That's $2,750 at a minimum and $3,650 for the setup I'd like to have. If you add in the auto leveling that puts you over 4k.

Their prices have come down a little bit since I last looked, but it's still a lot.

sicmadek said:
You can try mcgaughy springs or 4 dr springs. Both should give you less drop.

That was one reason I've been pestering the **** out of Belltech for spring rates. If I can see what the difference is, I can make some meaningful comparisons.

R/T_Fire · Sep 30, 2015

Still not bad if you look into the whole scheme of what you get in the end vs the alternate routes of lowering and performance handling available.

For someone who hasn't already spent the cash on a lowering kit and wants more performance so they will need custom parts to match the performance of the air ride its not to bad... its alot of cash yes, but look at the HP costs just to gain so little hp in my opinion is alot... tuner super charger injectors and supporting mods your well over 10k just to hit the 500is hp mark.

But thats why these are our hobbies. They are never cheap... especially when you have your truck and the vette to dump money into. The money goes fast.

Dubstep Shep · Sep 30, 2015

R/T_Fire said:
Still not bad if you look into the whole scheme of what you get in the end vs the alternate routes of lowering and performance handling available.

For someone who hasn't already spent the cash on a lowering kit and wants more performance so they will need custom parts to match the performance of the air ride its not to bad... its alot of cash yes, but look at the HP costs just to gain so little hp in my opinion is alot... tuner super charger injectors and supporting mods your well over 10k just to hit the 500is hp mark.

But thats why these are our hobbies. They are never cheap... especially when you have your truck and the vette to dump money into. The money goes fast.

No argument there.

I could sell my belltech and QA1 setup and probably get close to a grand all said and done. I could also probably find a controller, compressor, and tank a lot cheaper than there.

In the end though, That's spending a lot of money, and it's money I could be spending on the race car... I'd much rather find a cheap fix like using Crew cab springs or 2500 springs if possible.

I may yet look into the air system, but it's going to be awhile before I actually would get it. Too many things to buy for the Z06.

2/4 drop is a little low up front...

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Banned

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Similar threads

Forum statistics

Share this page