Lowered suspension

sharkeysierra · January 16, 2021

6 hours ago, formulaws6ramair said:

Put the notch in today and it's finally sitting at 4/6...so excited! Rides great, no bottoming out. Still need to modify the perches to correct the pinion angle, it's worse now since I put the lowering shackles in. Don't understand for the life of me what GM changed on this truck from the 2020's. Shouldn't have to modify the belltech kit to fix the pinion angle. Is what it is now, no turning back!

Still need to decide on a wheel but leaning towards a 24x10 Vossen HF6-3. Future mod will be C6 ZR1 calipers to match the blue center caps lol

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If you or the shop disconnected the driveshaft from the axle, was it marked so it went back on the same way it came off?

Was the driveshaft dropped hard in any way? Maybe it needs to be rebalanced?

808 HI · January 16, 2021

On 1/12/2021 at 6:11 PM, formulaws6ramair said:

2021 RST with Belltech set at 3/4.5, IHC helpers in the rear. I'm installing a Twisted Metalworkz weld in under bed notch on Friday so it can finally sit at 4/6. Helpers will be added back on so I can tow my boat.

Has anyone else had an issue on a 2021 truck with a bad pinion angle? I installed the Belltech 1041sp kit on my truck and the pinion angle was -10 degrees when it was done. It vibrated so bad I could barely get it to my buddies shop. We modified the rear perches to get the pinion angle close, but still have a vibration under hard acceleration. Once it's sitting at 4/6, I'll check the pinion angle and modify the perches for final to get the pinion angle 0. I called Belltech and since they haven't test fit on a 2021, they can't confirm fitment. Guess I'll be the guinea pig...it doesn't work outta the box lol.

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Hey man just wanted to know from your perspective how the belltech struts ride from the front ? Im planning to combine them with my IHC control arms for a 4” in the front. Had bad experience with drop struts in the past is why im contemplating.

Also, why did you have to add a drop shackle for a 6” in the rear?

formulaws6ramair · January 16, 2021

Hey man just wanted to know from your perspective how the belltech struts ride from the front ? Im planning to combine them with my IHC control arms for a 4” in the front. Had bad experience with drop struts in the past is why im contemplating.

Also, why did you have to add a drop shackle for a 6” in the rear?

So far pretty good but I don't have a lot of miles on them yet. Before yesterday, the rear bottomed out so much that it was hard to tell how the front rode. It's stiffer than stock, but it's not bad. If I had my choice I'd put the Belltech double adjustable shocks and struts on it so I could fine tune the compression/rebound to make the ride better. The street performance stuff is definitely better than the old nitro drop crap they had years ago.

When I lowered the truck initially I was only going 3/5, so I added the lift shackles that come with the kit to get back up to 5". I was just gonna run the 3/5 with IHC helpers but the truck still bottomed out until you aired it back up to 4" drop....which seems pointless. So I decided to just c notch but I wanted a weld in instead of bolt in.

I think it'll ride firmer then stock on your IHC set up but not bad. Why are you taking the stock struts out?

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808 HI · January 17, 2021

7 hours ago, formulaws6ramair said:

So far pretty good but I don't have a lot of miles on them yet. Before yesterday, the rear bottomed out so much that it was hard to tell how the front rode. It's stiffer than stock, but it's not bad. If I had my choice I'd put the Belltech double adjustable shocks and struts on it so I could fine tune the compression/rebound to make the ride better. The street performance stuff is definitely better than the old nitro drop crap they had years ago.

When I lowered the truck initially I was only going 3/5, so I added the lift shackles that come with the kit to get back up to 5". I was just gonna run the 3/5 with IHC helpers but the truck still bottomed out until you aired it back up to 4" drop....which seems pointless. So I decided to just c notch but I wanted a weld in instead of bolt in.

I think it'll ride firmer then stock on your IHC set up but not bad. Why are you taking the stock struts out?

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I see that you still had bump stops along with the bump stop mount. I had the same issue were I was bottoming out after the install then had the bump stop removed and mount cut off. Currently running no bump stops and running 15 psi on the bags with few hundred pounds of tools and crap in the bed. I daily my truck and for almost a year now with the IHC kit installed, the axle kissed the frame twice on huge dips going 60 mph. At 15 psi it may have lifted it barely 1/4”.

Reason for the upgrade is to get to 4/6 with adding in adjustable struts in the front and replacing the lift shackle with the stock one. Also some guys who replaced the rear shock with belltechs assumed that it rode better than with the shocks the kit came with.

Theres someone on forums who has the kit running 3/6 on 26s with no notch and aired it to 25 psi and claims that he doesnt bottom out so I may just chance it.

formulaws6ramair · January 17, 2021

I see that you still had bump stops along with the bump stop mount. I had the same issue were I was bottoming out after the install then had the bump stop removed and mount cut off. Currently running no bump stops and running 15 psi on the bags with few hundred pounds of tools and crap in the bed. I daily my truck and for almost a year now with the IHC kit installed, the axle kissed the frame twice on huge dips going 60 mph. At 15 psi it may have lifted it barely 1/4”.

Reason for the upgrade is to get to 4/6 with adding in adjustable struts in the front and replacing the lift shackle with the stock one. Also some guys who replaced the rear shock with belltechs assumed that it rode better than with the shocks the kit came with.

Theres someone on forums who has the kit running 3/6 on 26s with no notch and aired it to 25 psi and claims that he doesnt bottom out so I may just chance it.

Yea, I left the bump stop cups there because I knew the notch was going in. Unfortunately the notch took some time to get here.

Once I get the pinion angle corrected, the truck should be perfect. The rear end is also shifted to one side a little more than 1/2", so it might get tight with the new wheel setup. I wish DJM would sell their flip kit separately, it gives you pinion angle adjustment and side to side adjustment. When I called them, they said they only sell complete kits for these trucks, they won't break out their flip kit. This flip kit would solve both my issues.

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808 HI · January 18, 2021

20 hours ago, formulaws6ramair said:

Yea, I left the bump stop cups there because I knew the notch was going in. Unfortunately the notch took some time to get here.

Once I get the pinion angle corrected, the truck should be perfect. The rear end is also shifted to one side a little more than 1/2", so it might get tight with the new wheel setup. I wish DJM would sell their flip kit separately, it gives you pinion angle adjustment and side to side adjustment. When I called them, they said they only sell complete kits for these trucks, they won't break out their flip kit. This flip kit would solve both my issues.

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Just curious, exactly what parts are you currently running on your setup?

Jacob Moody · January 19, 2021

On 1/13/2021 at 2:48 AM, 808 HI said:

Lmk after installed and running it some miles. I was contemplating doing this as well.

So, I had my front struts installed and had an alignment done. It is definitely a much more controlled ride, but there is definitely a stiffer ride characteristic that I am trying to get used to. The factory was so plush, it is taking some getting used to. I guess I had the same results when I lowered my '08 GMC though.

808 HI · January 19, 2021

20 minutes ago, Jacob Moody said:

So, I had my front struts installed and had an alignment done. It is definitely a much more controlled ride, but there is definitely a stiffer ride characteristic that I am trying to get used to. The factory was so plush, it is taking some getting used to. I guess I had the same results when I lowered my '08 GMC though.

What ring setting is it sitting on ?

Jacob Moody · January 19, 2021

1 hour ago, 808 HI said:

What ring setting is it sitting on ?

3 wide, 1 narrow, which is the OEM height since I used drop spindles.

Edited January 19, 2021 by Jacob Moody

808 HI · January 19, 2021

2 hours ago, Jacob Moody said:

3 wide, 1 narrow, which is the OEM height since I used drop spindles.

Thanks for the info. I know what you mean by "controlled" ride which equates to stiffer. Ill probably try out bilsteins 5100. There was a member here who used them and claims that it lowered his truck by a little bit.

Descartian · January 19, 2021

I’ve heard Biking double adjustable shocks are the way to go.

Jacob Moody · January 20, 2021

Update on my lowered suspension experience. The front Belltechs have been installed and the alignment done, and honestly I am not thrilled with the results. The ride is very 'busy', meaning that I can feel every dip, bump and imperfection on every road I travel. When I hit a dip in the road, my truck dives immediately instead of letting the suspension drop and floating over it like the factory suspension. Also, I am having the 'drive' the truck using lots of steering wheel correction to keep the it in a straight line. Here in Texas, the interstate speed limit of 75mph is more of a suggestion and I drive it 5 days a week.

This is the 4th GM truck I have lowered over the years and none have ridden this firmly. All were done with drop spindles, 2 of them were S-10s that already had the axle over the leaf and my '08 Sierra had drop shackles on the back with Street Performers all the way around. I don't know what I can do to make my truck ride better. I may wait 6 months or so for the sting of how much I spent lowering the truck wear off and then raise it back up, maybe just put drop shackles on the back. It's too bad, I love the way it looks!

formulaws6ramair · January 20, 2021

I would agree with your take on the ride. In my area there is a 1.5 miles stretch where the truck is constantly bouncing and it drives me crazy. I was in my wife's brand new Jeep GC Limited and it rode the same, bouncing a lot,, so the rode definitely sucks. But I'm coming from a 2017 Ram with Ground Force coils, which rode like garbage. Then a 2019 Ram with Maxtrac struts in front and coils in the rear, which rode a little better. This truck with the Belltech SP's definitely rides better then both of them by far.

I think the only real solution for a better ride is using a double adjustable strut/shock setup. Viking and Belltech have double adjustables but I don't know if they have anything for the T1 trucks yet. Unfortunately that's not a cheap route to go. But I think having control of both compression and rebound will allow you to fine tune it to where the ride would be far better.

I'm in it for the long haul, this truck is staying lowered forever, especially after all the work I've put into it so far. I will keep the current Belltech setup for a year or so, then start looking to see how I can switch to a double adjustable setup. Always improving lol.

This is my current situation, truck is apart in the driveway with snow all around it, while I modify the leaf spring perches to correct the pinion angle. I'll slow down on the truck after I get this vibration taken care of, hoping the pinion angle correction is the answer. My neighbors must think I'm crazy, brand new truck apart in the driveway, in the middle of a Michigan winter! Lmao

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808 HI · January 20, 2021

Try out the bilsteins 24-186940 made for the NNBS. This member accidently used used them, placed the snap ring to the highest setting looking to level the truck and got an unexpecting result. After looking at the spec difference on bilstein website there is about 3-4" in extended/ collapsed length. He claims the ride is 100% better but didnt expect the height issue. Im very tempted to do this.

Edited January 20, 2021 by 808 HI

Car Dude · January 20, 2021

2 hours ago, 808 HI said:

Try out the bilsteins 24-186940 made for the NNBS. This member accidently used used them, placed the snap ring to the highest setting looking to level the truck and got an unexpecting result. After looking at the spec difference on bilstein website there is about 3-4" in extended/ collapsed length. He claims the ride is 100% better but didnt expect the height issue. Im very tempted to do this.

So if the rings are not installed the result would be a 2" drop or so?