Custom Bilstein 2/4 drop 2012 4x4 crew

[Turblown03]

any word on an alignment yet?

do the front tires look tilted in or out at the tops? I just put the drop spindles on yesterday and they tilted the tops way out. its noticeable enough to make me wonder if theres even enough adjustment to correct it w/out adding more custom parts.

Jeff

Sorry Jeff, I've been lazy! Lol, my buddy has been off for the holidays so I haven't had it in for alignment yet.

Mine are cambered in at the top cause the way I lowered it. Anytime coils are used the angle cambers in. I can't remember how my Tahoe was after the spindle drop, but it should come out with the alignment. I'll know for sure on mine Friday!

 

[TylerB]

Mine aligned just fine with spindles.

 

[jcs64]

Mine aligned just fine with spindles.

yeah, but your ram is a 2 wd , isn't it?

turblown,
Keep us updated on the alignment since ive pretty much decided to not use the spindles :-( and my even try your method. (where did you find the best price on the blistein's)
I would still love to see a pic of your upper ball joint angle and your cv joint angle, if you could.
this shows how parallel the cv is stock and how the upper ball joint enters the top of the spindle at just about a straight shot., Id love to see how your method affects these.



jeff

 

[TylerB]

Yes it was 2WD.

If you for sure aren't gonna use the spindles and decide to sell them I will take them off your hands. Please keep that in mind.

 

[jcs64]

tyler, shooting you a PM right now.

jeff

 

[Turblown03]

yeah, but your ram is a 2 wd , isn't it?

turblown,
Keep us updated on the alignment since ive pretty much decided to not use the spindles :-( and my even try your method. (where did you find the best price on the blistein's)
I would still love to see a pic of your upper ball joint angle and your cv joint angle, if you could.
this shows how parallel the cv is stock and how the upper ball joint enters the top of the spindle at just about a straight shot., Id love to see how your method affects these.


jeff

Jeff, I picked up the Bilsteins from a buddy's shop. He had them in-stock and he was only $4 more then the cheapest one I found on Amazon. I think $94 each is the cheapest I found online. Part #24-187367...

I finally got a couple pics, sorry they're not the best. I just stuck my phone under the bumper and snapped a few.

 

[jcs64]

thanks, those pics are just what I wanted to see and ill look them over some more later.

So the new groove you cut and are using now is 1.25" below the lowest on the bilstein? And that worked out to be a true 2" when all assembled?



jeff

 

[Turblown03]

thanks, those pics are just what I wanted to see and ill look them over some more later.

So the new groove you cut and are using now is 1.25" below the lowest on the bilstein? And that worked out to be a true 2" when all assembled?



jeff

I just measured this morning so everything could settle. The front is down 1.5" from the factory shock. Everything I saw on the GF coils they were only getting .5" to 1". I think the 1.5" sits pretty good where it is with the 4' rear drop. If you want to go lower just remember the more tension you take off the coil the more it will drop. That's why I didn't machine the grove at 2" cause it would have dropped it way more than the 2"! lol

 

[jcs64]

So you end up reusing the original bottom spring cup off the old shock?

I didn't know that the part was removable but now I noticed that the Bilstein doesn't come with it. Let me know on that, because I may have just came up with another idea.

Jeff

 

[Turblown03]

So you end up reusing the original bottom spring cup off the old shock?

I didn't know that the part was removable but now I noticed that the Bilstein doesn't come with it. Let me know on that, because I may have just came up with another idea.

Jeff

Yes, once you get the stock shock off you'll have to pull the bump stop off, then the dust Cap on the top of the shock body, and then tap it with a hammer and the spring retainer will pop off also. The Bilstein has the snap ring, a little collar that holds the snap ring in the groove and then the stock spring retainer goes over the snap bring collar. It will show you how to put it together in the bilstein instructions. It's not hard at all!

 

[Turblown03]

Got the alignment done and it was out pretty good when they started. He got the tow all back to good and got the camber back to as close as he could. He said it's not enough to wear tires out, he just couldn't get it 100% back to factory settings..

I kinda got the truck washed (half ass!) to get the salt off and took a quick side view pic.

 

[jcs64]

man, that does look good, Those lower profile tires must really help get it lower because mine sitting in the driveway right now w/ the drop spindles looks NOWHERE near that low (still the 275/60-20 size)

Thanks for following up w/ the alignment sheets, its good to see. But I got another question, Why does it look like they didn't adjust the camber?
You started of in the red at about -1* on both sides, then you look at the next sheet and its still in the red @ -1* W/ just a .2 change on the one side.
Almost looks like they didn't even try to move it, Huh?

Hows it look dead on from the front? can you notice any camber (or did you before?)

later, jeff

 

[Turblown03]

man, that does look good, Those lower profile tires must really help get it lower because mine sitting in the driveway right now w/ the drop spindles looks NOWHERE near that low (still the 275/60-20 size)

Thanks for following up w/ the alignment sheets, its good to see. But I got another question, Why does it look like they didn't adjust the camber?
You started of in the red at about -1* on both sides, then you look at the next sheet and its still in the red @ -1* W/ just a .2 change on the one side.
Almost looks like they didn't even try to move it, Huh?

Hows it look dead on from the front? can you notice any camber (or did you before?)

later, jeff

My 305/45 R22s measure the same height as factory tires! My buddy has a 12 express and we checked out his tires before I bought mine.

He said the camber adjustment is as far as it will go, that's why nothing changed from before. You can see a little camber from the front but nothing like a ricer driving down the street! LOL

My mustang has been cambered a little it's whole life and I've never had an issue wearing tires funny..

 

[jcs64]

ok, good to know,

The idea I had today might work, but I cant seem to find the parts to try it.
I wanted to get 2 extra lower spring retainers (the pcs that you need to swap over from the stock shocks). I was going to part them in 1/2 in the lathe and weld a 1.25" long pc of tubing in the middle. This would basically do the same thing you achieved (by lowering the spring) but it would have been done for dirt cheap!).
Nobody can find me just those lower retainers :-(
(does your buddy at the 4x4 shop have any kickin around ?)

I may just buy the ground force springs tomorrow and be done w/ it

jeff

 

[Turblown03]

ok, good to know,

The idea I had today might work, but I cant seem to find the parts to try it.
I wanted to get 2 extra lower spring retainers (the pcs that you need to swap over from the stock shocks). I was going to part them in 1/2 in the lathe and weld a 1.25" long pc of tubing in the middle. This would basically do the same thing you achieved (by lowering the spring) but it would have been done for dirt cheap!).
Nobody can find me just those lower retainers :-(
(does your buddy at the 4x4 shop have any kickin around ?)

I may just buy the ground force springs tomorrow and be done w/ it

jeff

I'll ask him.

Not talking crap about your welding or anything, but do you trust that welded piece holding all that pressure?

 

[jcs64]

Im not sceeeared

Ive actually built quite a few car frames and motorcycle frames so I would be fine.
That part really isn't majorly stressed, All the forces would be in one direction (down), and there are no crazy side loads and even a sharp impact would be first absorbed by the spring.
I really think it would work, But yes always work within your limits.

Ps. here the car I just finished ;-)



later, jeff

 

[Turblown03]

That's an awesome car!

I'll let you if he has some.

 

[Turblown03]

man, that does look good, Those lower profile tires must really help get it lower because mine sitting in the driveway right now w/ the drop spindles looks NOWHERE near that low (still the 275/60-20 size)


later, jeff

Jeff, I'm curious on what yours looks like now with the parts installed! What's the model info too?

Thanks

 

[jcs64]

I know your not supposed to do links on this site. but heres a link to my thread on this site so maybe that will be ok?

http://www.ramforum.com/f39/lowering_12_ram_4wd-41487/

Not sure if you saw that or not but ive got some pics in there. I never did any more than just the front drop since I knew right away I wasn't going to stay w/ the spindles. No since in dropping the rear the 4"s since today im going back to stock on the front until I get different parts to try.

jeff

 

[Turblown03]

ok, good to know,


Nobody can find me just those lower retainers :-(
does your buddy at the 4x4 shop have any kickin around ?



jeff

I checked with my buddy and he said he tosses those things all the time! Lol, he'll keep the next set but it's hard to say when that'll be..