2014 R/T BellTech 2/4 Drop

[The Q]

Spent some personal time with my new R/T today! I received my BellTech 964SP kit Monday, but I worked a 16 hour shift; so there was no doing this until my day off today. Total time for the install was about 5 hours in my driveway by myself. I had read a bunch of threads here and other forums, so that helped a bunch. I sure would have hated to approach the rear shocks without the knowledge gleaned from the forums.

I took a few pictures along the way because when I was surfing for pictures of the front suspension i couldn't find any.

Here is the stock rear end with the fender liners removed.



I used a 13/16" crows foot on a 3/8' breaker bar for the nut side and a Craftsman 1/2" drive battery powered impact for the bolt side of the shock nut.

Here is the BellTech Street Performance rear shock mounted on the upper perch.



Here's a comparision of the rear bump stops.

Stock


BellTech


Spring comparison.


BellTech's PanHard Bar relocation bracket



Here is how the PanHard Bar sits with the truck back on the ground.



Rear suspension complete! You can see the sway bar end links BellTech provided in this shot.

 

[The Q]

2014 R/T Front Suspension BellTech 964SP Drop Kit

Now on to the front!

Stock front end.



Didn't really take a bunch of front suspension photos. Here's a shot of everything back together, along with the BellTech bump stop. You'll notice i reused the stock R/T front shocks. I did this because I really didn't like the bushing for the top shock mount on the BellTech shocks, and I had read a couple of threads where guys said the BellTech front shocks didn't ride that good. So, back in went the stock R/T shocks. Of course I tried to use the stock upper shock mounts on the BellTech shocks, but the stud wasn't long enough. This added to my install time as I tried several different combinations using the top shock mount bushings. In the end, I think I made the right choice.






When I took her for a spin today the ride felt better than stock. Turns are flat with very little body lean. Braking seems to have less nose dive. It got late on me, so tomorrow I'll get her aligned.

Have to thank all of those who have taken the time to post their feedback in the forums. Without your posts, this would have been a real pain in the a$$ to do.

Now to fill out that rebate form and get $150 back from BellTech

 

[BlkRamRt]

it came out awsome.

 

[DavidRam]

Looks great and nice write up!

 

[14RAMRT]

Did your mirrors come color matched. The silver one I'm going to look at tomorrow has black mirrors.

 

[The Q]

Did your mirrors come color matched. The silver one I'm going to look at tomorrow has black mirrors.

Yes! The one you're going to look at may have the tow package. The dealer I was dealing with through TrueCar.com (130 miles away from me) talked me out of the tow package because of the mirrors and how they take away from the looks of the Sport R/T. Plus, I wasn't ever going to need the trailer brake

 

[The Q]

Update:

Got the truck aligned this morning and the tech was able to get it back within factory specs. I may still buy a Spohn Pan Hard Bar. The rear is within specs (11*) but I'd like to see it at zero if possible.

The truck rides much better now. Not as harsh as it was before and nothing like lowered cars I've driven.

 

[14RAMRT]

Yes! The one you're going to look at may have the tow package. The dealer I was dealing with through TrueCar.com (130 miles away from me) talked me out of the tow package because of the mirrors and how they take away from the looks of the Sport R/T. Plus, I wasn't ever going to need the trailer brake

Makes sense. They do look like towing mirrors. How's your mpg combined. Have you timed it 0-60

 

[The Q]

Makes sense. They do look like towing mirrors. How's your mpg combined. Have you timed it 0-60

I've only had the truck about 2and 1/2 weeks, so mileage numbers seem to be getting better as we go. I'm getting (at least on the display) 18.3 mpg with a mix of highway and city driving. Plus I came from a 1999 Ford F150 with a V6, so I'm kind of enjoying the Hemi I haven't done any timed 0 to 60 runs, all I do know is it's quick!!!

 

[jub jub]

I haven't done any timed 0 to 60 runs, all I do know is it's quick!!!

Sure got that right. I was surprised how fast it was when I test drove mine. It's the main reason I bought it.

Truck looks good BTW. Why do you want to go with another panhard bar?

I have the towing package and my mirrors are color matched.

 

[UNBROKEN]

I decided to give Bell Tech a shot with my new truck. Looks like it went nice and smooth for you...that's a plus.

 

[BlkRamRt]

I decided to give Bell Tech a shot with my new truck. Looks like it went nice and smooth for you...that's a plus.

doing the full 2/4?

 

[UNBROKEN]

Yea....only a 2/4 though. No lower.

 

[BlownGP]

So the panhard re-location bracket keeps the bar level and prevents the rear end shake?


What's the difference in the nitro shocks and SP?

and you kept the stock front shocks? Do the SP's suck that bad up front. I'm at 50K now so I know getting new shocks would be a plus. Hate to buy the kit and not use parts from it.

 

[MR.REMBERT]

Nice write up and good looking truck. I've got no issues with my SP shocks up front.

 

[The Q]

Nice write up and good looking truck. I've got no issues with my SP shocks up front.

When you installed the front shocks, how tight did you tighten the top mount? When I put the SP shocks in and tried to torque them to the 40 foot pound torque as stated in the instructions the top rubber isolators were squished down almost to the point that the metal caps were going to cut into them.

 

[The Q]

So the panhard re-location bracket keeps the bar level and prevents the rear end shake?


What's the difference in the nitro shocks and SP?

and you kept the stock front shocks? Do the SP's suck that bad up front. I'm at 50K now so I know getting new shocks would be a plus. Hate to buy the kit and not use parts from it.

1. The pan hard re-location bracket seems to do its job! Granted it's only been two days, but I've experienced zero rear end shake.

2. The difference in the two shocks is valving and ride if I understand the BellTech info.

3. I kept the front shocks based on some posts I've read on this and other forums. Now those posts were for older BellTech kits. The shocks that came in my kit were labeled as "new improved" and the box label showed a manufacture date of 6/25/2014. The only thing about the front shocks I noticed was that when I tried to torque the top mount to the 40 foot pounds, the rubber isolators squished out and the metal looked like it would cut into the isolators.

I may try the SP shocks just for kicks, but not torque the top nut to 40 foot pounds.

 

[DERJ]

Nice work!

 

[REX2313]

Looks good with that drop!

 

[BlownGP]

Thanks for the info