4th Gen Ram 3"/5" drop

Uaintlo · Aug 16, 2016

rileybrennan said:
Running a 2/4 on 24's. Have given a little thought on cutting could but I've been hesitant because I don't know what that would do to my clearances and ride.

what size tires are those?

Uaintlo · Aug 16, 2016

I want to lower mine this weekend,
but its been so damn hot outside, and I don't have a garage..

Jonv8944s · Aug 17, 2016

So last Friday I bought a new 2016 Ram 1500 Reg Cab. 2WD. By Saturday I figured out it needs to be lowered.

I ordered the BellTech 2/4 kit, and the HellWig sway bar. All of it should be arriving by the end of the week so I can hopefully install it all.

I have a couple of questions:

1. How much of an issue am I causing if I dont get the adjustable upper and lower links? I know that whole pinion angle stuff is the big concern, but what if the car drives fine after I do the lowering, do I still need to get this done, as it will inevitable cause some issues?

2. I remember reading that with the BellTech SP kit, that I should keep the stock fronts and just replace the stock rears with the SP shocks. I cannot find that thread, and I am wondering if this is consensus, or do I need to just use all 4 of the supplied SP shocks and replace the full stock setup?

Fantastic thread btw, thanks so much for all those who have assisted.

Jon

razor1 · Aug 17, 2016

Jonv8944s this was my experience with my 2016 R/T

http://www.ramforum.com/f39/lowering_2016_r_t_experience-83285/

Jonv8944s · Aug 18, 2016

razor1 said:
Jonv8944s this was my experience with my 2016 R/T

http://www.ramforum.com/f39/lowering_2016_r_t_experience-83285/

Yup, I literally have read every new one of the 'lowered' threads I could find on this forum. I reread them many time too. I am just trying to remember which one said to leave the front shocks stock, but use the SP's in the rear when doing the lowering. If the concensus is to just use all 4 of the SP shocks in the belltech setup, then I will. The QA1's sound great, but I am already buying headers and trinity tune, belltech 964SP, Hellwig rear sway bar (mine came with no rear one, so I got one), and then some other dodge/ram stuff like bed liner rug, aluminum ramps (helps to get gokart cargo in there :happy107:

) and a trailer hitch (to just tow a jet ski).

So I have to set a budget somewhere, and this is what I THINK I need to be happy with the truck. The only thing I am trying to do is maximize my setup and make sure I am putting the proper setup together for the shocks.

Anyone have any insight if that thing I read somewhere on here (cant find it anymore), is right about just using stock front shocks but using the SP rears?

Thanks,

Jon

moregrip · Aug 18, 2016

Jonv8944s said:
Yup, I literally have read every new one of the 'lowered' threads I could find on this forum. I reread them many time too. I am just trying to remember which one said to leave the front shocks stock, but use the SP's in the rear when doing the lowering. If the concensus is to just use all 4 of the SP shocks in the belltech setup, then I will. The QA1's sound great, but I am already buying headers and trinity tune, belltech 964SP, Hellwig rear sway bar (mine came with no rear one, so I got one), and then some other dodge/ram stuff like bed liner rug, aluminum ramps (helps to get gokart cargo in there ) and a trailer hitch (to just tow a jet ski).

So I have to set a budget somewhere, and this is what I THINK I need to be happy with the truck. The only thing I am trying to do is maximize my setup and make sure I am putting the proper setup together for the shocks.

Anyone have any insight if that thing I read somewhere on here (cant find it anymore), is right about just using stock front shocks but using the SP rears?

Thanks,

Jon

I'm getting ready to do my Belltech drop soon and I'm leaving both front and rear stock shocks on there for a little while. Like you, due to the cost of everything else I will have to do this in stages and plan to swap those out with more performance oriented parts in the future.

With the tires, drop springs, sway bars, rear control arms and panhard bar the cost adds up! :patriot:

Uaintlo · Aug 19, 2016

Cut the coils of my Belltech 2/4 kit last night, gunna install them tomorrow

razor1 · Aug 20, 2016

this is the point where the ride is going to suffer I think. At speed and small bumps ,mine is fine with the 2/4 drop. Big drips in the road, potholes etc, mine hits hard even with Airlift bags in the rear.

Jonv8944s · Aug 20, 2016

so even the 2/4 drop causes issues when you hit decent bumps? And yes, even though I would like to go lower, my belief is that anything more then the 2/4 is likely a huge trade off in ride quality vs looks, and honestly ride quality trumps looks at a certain point. Matter of fact, I am only really doing the drop so I can get better handling, as I am an aggressive driver, and this truck wobbles around too much when pushed hard.

Lastly, ANYONE want to confirm or deny if I should be using the full belltech SP shock setup, or if I am supposed to mix oem fronts with SP rears?

Thanks!

Jon

R/T_Fire · Aug 20, 2016

razor1 said:
this is the point where the ride is going to suffer I think. At speed and small bumps ,mine is fine with the 2/4 drop. Big drips in the road, potholes etc, mine hits hard even with Airlift bags in the rear.

Mine does this also, but wasn't bad or as bad before I put the spoon arms on.

To get the axle centered and such it puts a arch in my springs and the bumps don't align very well anymore. I'm thinking I'm going to pull the axle back forward until I get in and realign everything to have the right geometry to match the modified drop.
I know it works and many drive like this but to me its not 100% right and I can improve it to be right so I will when the bed comes off, gas tank is relocated for balance and I design and fab up a watts link for the rear. Its alot of work for a little gain but its my hobby and enjoy Fabwork and redesigning things to work. so its worth it to me

Jonv8944s said:
so even the 2/4 drop causes issues when you hit decent bumps? And yes, even though I would like to go lower, my belief is that anything more then the 2/4 is likely a huge trade off in ride quality vs looks, and honestly ride quality trumps looks at a certain point. Matter of fact, I am only really doing the drop so I can get better handling, as I am an aggressive driver, and this truck wobbles around too much when pushed hard.

Lastly, ANYONE want to confirm or deny if I should be using the full belltech SP shock setup, or if I am supposed to mix oem fronts with SP rears?

Thanks!

Jon

I too am a very aggressive driver with a estimated 3/5 drop. as I mentioned above all what mine did and how it road well prior to me adjusting the spohn arms. If your ok with the axle being forward in the wheel well then you should be fine. Me I'm not so thats why I list my over the top solution. but that fits me cause I plan to use this truck in Auto-X racing for sport. not planning on winning any trophies with it.

Uaintlo · Aug 21, 2016

installed my cut Belltech kit today

moregrip · Aug 21, 2016

Uaintlo said:
installed my cut Belltech kit today

Solid!

Jonv8944s · Aug 23, 2016

Anyone have their drive shaft Harmonic balancer (big circle right near differential Universal Joint), rub up against the gas tank heat shield?

mine does when driving aggressively in a turn. (Straight no issues).

Do they all have this very large vibration balancer on all years, or was this a 2016 thing?

Thanks,

Jon

razor1 · Aug 24, 2016

mine is a 16 also, I have it and really had to bend the crap out of the shield to get it to stop touch the ring.

DERJ · Aug 25, 2016

When my 2014 R/T was dropped 5" out back, I had the same thing, too...

Jonv8944s · Aug 29, 2016

razor1 said:
mine is a 16 also, I have it and really had to bend the crap out of the shield to get it to stop touch the ring.

Phew, ok, at least I know I didnt do anything wrong

. I was wondering why no one made mention of it in any of the threads I read on the subject.

I'll see what I can do to reduce the likelihood of rubbing.

Thanks!

Jon

Uaintlo · Aug 29, 2016

Put my wheels on tonight, 24" Intros
the back is too raked for my liking, so Im gunna have to cut more to get it to come down a bit more

KAOTIK Motorsports · Feb 26, 2017

My 3/5 drop
HD conversion

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

FlynDutchman · Feb 26, 2017

KAOTIK Motorsports said:
My 3/5 drop
HD conversion

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Looks good. What lowering kit did you start with? On the HD conversion what parts needed to be replaced? Hood, Grill, Bumper, bumper...? Thanks in advance

KAOTIK Motorsports · Feb 27, 2017

I started with the McGauheys 2/4 drop.....
For the HD conversion you'll need hood, grill, headlight fillers and bumper.... bumper brackets must be modified in order to fir the 1500 frame

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

4th Gen Ram 3"/5" drop

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