Decided not to lower.

[nickpohlaandp]

Well, after the barrage of stuff I've slapped on my truck over the past two months I was just about to pull the trigger on a lowering kit, but a post I saw yesterday made my mind up for me. I'm staying with stock height. That's good for me, too, because that means I can install the Airlift 5000 bags and remote compressor that I already have sitting on my floor.

Someone posted up about losing their driveshaft at 75 mph, and somewhere down the thread I read that some people have exacerbated this issue by lowering their trucks, messing with the pinion angle. I've helped one guy off the side of the road in an older Ram, maybe '07-'08, with a separated driveshaft. I figure if I plan on pulling a camper and what not, I might as well not mess with the suspension geometry any. I know pinion angle can be corrected with adjustable control arms, but I think at this point I need to sit back and be happy with what I've got for now.

Thanks to all who post, helping people learn.

 

[THETANK]

I lowered mine strictly for looks not a racing machine. To date I have had no issues and with the way I drive I do not expect any in the future. I think if you spend the $$$$$ to have it installed by pro's nothing much will happen. Just me maybe. Happy cruising.

 

[WadXpress]

That's why you install the adjustable panhard bar. It corrects pinion angle

 

[Hemi450hp]

The driveshaft issue only applies to regular cab 8sp trucks. I have yet to see a 4dr or 6sp truck lose a driveshaft, lowered or stock height.

 

[R/T_Fire]

The driveshaft issue only applies to regular cab 8sp trucks. I have yet to see a 4dr or 6sp truck lose a driveshaft, lowered or stock height.

What Matt said.
I have a regular cab 545rfe, a extreme drop, full rear spohn setup, some extreme pinion angle to match the trans output angle (trans needs to be shimmed) Drive like a bat out of hell and hard and have no driveshaft issues.

Hell I cant even see a difference of where the slip yoke even rides in the transmission tail shaft. There has to be much more to the story and reasoning behind loosing a driveshaft....

This is my first lowered vehicle using off the shelf parts to lower it but I have lifted I don't know how many vehicles where you do stretch the length of the drive shaft requirement and yet never lost one of those either.

Sorry for being long winded but to build a truck right, one must do all things needed. if the set up you put on requires a 1" longer shaft, its not hard to go get it lengthened. or is you are worried about it put a Driveshaft safety look in to catch it.. problem solved and vehicle modification possible and done safely.

 

[jag1886]

I also decided not to lower my truck because of all the crap I read about people having problems with. I lowered the rear of my truck 1" by chopping a coil off and that is good for me. With the added sway bars and shocks my truck handles plenty good.

 

[nickpohlaandp]

Appreciate all the replies. Maybe I won't count it out after all. Time will tell.

That's why you install the adjustable panhard bar. It corrects pinion angle

Panhard bar does nothing for pinion angle. That just keeps your axle centered. Adjustable control arms allow you to manipulate pinion angle. Regardless, I don't want to deal with any of those. If I lower it will most likely be the GF 2/3 kit and none of that will be needed.

 

[charonblk07]

Panhard bar does nothing for pinion angle. That just keeps your axle centered. Adjustable control arms allow you to manipulate pinion angle. Regardless, I don't want to deal with any of those. If I lower it will most likely be the GF 2/3 kit and none of that will be needed.

The adjustable panhard bar does correct the pinion angle laterally (centers the drive shaft as you say) that gets thrown out when you lower the back end and it's something that gets overlooked a lot of times. When the differential moves 1/2" to one side with a 4-6" drop that definitely affects the pinion angle.

 

[THETANK]

luckily my axle did not move to much towards the passenger side so it was easy to centre with the Spohn adjustable pan hard bar

 

[Gary's Hemi]

Has anyone heard of a stock height reg cab 8 speed loosing a driveshaft. I read of 1 that is stock height that has went through multiple driveshafts but that truck does go to the track alot.

 

[R/T_Fire]

Has anyone heard of a stock height reg cab 8 speed loosing a driveshaft. I read of 1 that is stock height that has went through multiple driveshafts but that truck does go to the track alot.

I would assume that is it driver/track related.

 

[Tray Burge]

The driveshaft issue only applies to regular cab 8sp trucks. I have yet to see a 4dr or 6sp truck lose a driveshaft, lowered or stock height.

I put the McGaughys 2/4 drop spinals front w/axel flip kit in back and should I be concerned about my pinion angle, never really thought about it till reading this. Now I'm concerned!

 

[Hemi450hp]

I put the McGaughys 2/4 drop spinals front w/axel flip kit in back and should I be concerned about my pinion angle, never really thought about it till reading this. Now I'm concerned!

You will be OK. You have a 1 piece steel driveshaft, so unless your u-joints are trash, you shouldnt have anything to worry about.

 

[Tray Burge]

You will be OK. You have a 1 piece steel driveshaft, so unless your u-joints are trash, you shouldnt have anything to worry about.

Thanks, I feel better now!

 

[THETANK]

as far as speed goes I just remembered that on my trip in May I was heading for the border on I-15 from Shelby Montana. The speed limit is 80mph and needless to say I stretched it to 90mph, no issues in the roughly 20-30 minutes at that speed. I know crazy speeds for me but now and again I press down on the gas pedal.

If a driveshaft fails can I assume it relates to an incorrect install or not using all of the correct parts/shortcuts etc?

 

[J3FF3RSON]

It must have been my post. And No, the Dealer isn't fixing it, and I'm forced to fix it myself. So for the time being, this Ram will be getting towed to my house to sit in the garage and collect dust until I can locate someone who is willing to make a stronger drive shaft, find a gas tank that isnt $1100 plus labor, and get my adjustable arms from Moes.

Until your ready to throw another $700 at your trucks rear suspension, don't touch the drop.

 

[12vrunner]

The driveshaft issue only applies to regular cab 8sp trucks. I have yet to see a 4dr or 6sp truck lose a driveshaft, lowered or stock height.

I want to lower my reg cab 8 speed with a 2/4 drop should i be worried.

 

[THETANK]

It must have been my post. And No, the Dealer isn't fixing it, and I'm forced to fix it myself. So for the time being, this Ram will be getting towed to my house to sit in the garage and collect dust until I can locate someone who is willing to make a stronger drive shaft, find a gas tank that isnt $1100 plus labor, and get my adjustable arms from Moes.

Until your ready to throw another $700 at your trucks rear suspension, don't touch the drop.

or have it installed professionally and then there are no issues Did it cost me $$$$$ absolutely but again not an issue in 7000 miles (this involved a 4400 mile trip right after install)