Rear 2" drop shackles for 04 Ram?

[TRXMudder]

I have looked and all I can find are DJM 1/2 - 1 1/2in shackles. Who else makes some? I was told that some would cause the rear shocks to rub or something like that, does anybody know about this? I just want to level the truck out in the rear and figured shackles were the easiest way.

Thanks,
Will

[RAM MAN]

Bell Tech has been a leader in this Industry for years

try giving them a call at 800.445.3767 (they are in California, so allow for the time difference) -

Let us know what you find out
thanks

[TRXMudder]

Well, I found some Ground Force shackles that are supposed to be good on summit, so thats what ill be going with, thanks. How hard are they to install?

[RAM MAN]

I have 2" dropped shackles on my RAM


a buddy of mine runs a auto repair shop and it was easiest to do with it on a lift

start by taking the weight off the wheels

taking off the bolt that holds the leaf springs on the stock shackle

take off the stock shackle

put the new shackle in its place

replace the stock bolt and the leaf springs ....

your done

[lawntycoon]

you can have them cut and welded......i did! See the post nearby ....lowered truck rides like SH*T..i have pics

[03ramsport]

I have some DJM shackles i'll sell you with a k&n filter with 16 miles on it (brand new) for $50 lemme know,,go to my cardomain.com page and i think on page 4 or 5 i have shackle pics still on there,,they will work on an 04,,no problems with the ride or shocks or anything,,u just need to grease them up nice or they will squeek really bad.

[TRXMudder]

dammit, thats what i get for not getting on until now. i already ordered the shackles. thanks for the info guys.

[Medicff0879]

I bought some Belltech Shackles today at O'Reilys for $59. They say on the box that they are for 94-99 RAMs but after looking at mine on the truck they look and align exactly the same on the 04's as I guess they would on the 99 models. Seems to me that they probably wouldnt have changed much with the rear leaf spring anyways?? Im gonna try them out on Thursday and let everyone know how they went (good or bad).

[Medicff0879]

Bell Tech has been a leader in this Industry for years

try giving them a call at 800.445.3767 (they are in California, so allow for the time difference) -

Let us know what you find out
thanks


Whatever you do, DONT buy the 2" drop shackles from O'Reilys. The box states that they are for a 94-99 RAM, the DUMBA$$ at O'Reilys insisted that they would work on the 04 after he took them out there and compared them to the stock shackles. I was going to have them put on this afternoon and decided to call Belltech (just in case). Sure enough, the Belltech tech told me that the 6400series will actually raise the back of the newer model dodges. God forbid I raise it anymore!! Needless to say, fixing to take them back and credit. Guess I will rethink my approach this time.

P.S. The belltech guy said that they only have a 4" spring available in the newer dodge application. There are no Drop shackles for the newer models and he doesnt think there are any plans for them. Imagine that!!

[thekingofpain]

Try the DJM ones---call 800-237-6748 and ask to speak to Mike---
Belltech has their head in their butt---'02/'03/'04 rears are all alike...

I got about 1 3/4" inch drop from them on my regcab, if you know a welder you can weld the DJM holes up and redrill em gaining possibly an extra inch (2.5?)...

[TRXMudder]

Ive got the Ground Force ones on order from Summit. Then Im gonna add some leaf spring clamps to get about another 3/4".

[Medicff0879]

Ive got the Ground Force ones on order from Summit. Then Im gonna add some leaf spring clamps to get about another 3/4".

That is about the drop I want on my truck. If im going to the trouble of paying someone to do it, I want more than 1.5", I prefer 2" minimum. What kind of drop does one have to do to level it out WITHOUT giving it that "Punk a$$ kid" look of having the rear end sit lower than the front.

[TRXMudder]

Ive been told the shackles will give about 1.5 + .75 for the clamps should be around 2.25 total. I think youd need about 3.5 to totally level it out.

[thekingofpain]

Gotta whip out the wallet for special stuff---if you want a particular stance with a limited (less then 3-4") drop id go with a DJM shackle (or similar) and have someone simply modify an already good component---it isnt that difficult but finetuning is involved---you will be happy as its the way you want, shackles are the cheapest way to slightly change a 3rd gen trucks ride appearance...

[thekingofpain]

Leaf clamps sound like NOT the way to go---maybe on an '86 Toyota Corolla or something...

[TRXMudder]

a bunch of guys on DTW have run them w/ no problems. all they do is go around the leafs and you tighten the leafs down to the overloads. Dragsters use them for improved traction and to lessen wheel hop.

[KB112]

Where do U get those 04ram. They must be universal I guess. I have seen stuff like that at this old Napa auto parts store in town before. Actually they were clamps for your springs now that I think of it. Sounds kinda old school to me, like my Dads old Monte Carlo's and stuff being lowered by heating/cutting springs. Your basically just clamping them (leafs) down and putting a lot of tension there I guess. I just wouldnt wanna be around if those things couldnt handle the pressure and popped or broke. Does it affect the load handling capability in the bed? If it does then why not just 86 the overload leaf?But if it works, it works I guess.

KB

[TRXMudder]

Yeah, it probly does affect the load handling capabilities. I never really use the bed anyway though and the clamps are only like 20 bucks so if you decide to take them off you didnt lose that much in the investment. I got mine from Summit and the ones I got are made by Mr. Gasket so Im not worried about them snappin off like i might a cheaper made one from autozone or somewhere like that.

[03ramsport]

if anybody else wants some i still got them.

[Karuzin]

I was having the same problem finding shackles for my 03 ram. What i did was contacted my local spring shop and had the rear springs dearched.
I had them dearch the springs a total of 2 3/4 inches and the truck sits level and still rides like the factory ride. You will have to cut the rear snubbers about an inch so you will have enough spring travel with out bottoming the rear end against the snubbers. Hope this helps.

[lawntycoon]

I dont know why you guys do it the hard and expensive way........its easy enough to do here is a pic of before and after of modifying your shackles.....along with removing your overload spring will give you exactley 3" lower and the truck will be .5 inches higher in the rear....frt=35"/rear=35.5"

my second truck doing this and love it (the secret to the ride is 1/2 inch off the block)

[Medicff0879]

So could any welder do that kind of work?? Just cut it down and weld it back together??

[thekingofpain]

As long as you trust his work---dont want that snappin off when yer havin fun carving an offramp at doublespeed...

Think id buy a set of DJM etc aftermarket shackles and modify them for better then stamped steel assurance...

[Medicff0879]

As long as you trust his work---dont want that snappin off when yer havin fun carving an offramp at doublespeed...

Think id buy a set of DJM etc aftermarket shackles and modify them for better then stamped steel assurance...

That's kind of how I felt about it as well. Something about cutting into metal and rewelding just doesnt sit tight when my a$$ end is riding on it.

[lawntycoon]

take it to a to someone that has the equipment (that does it for a living) landscape trailer reman, welding shop, welding fabricator shop,auto body shop-that works on frames or street rods, Trailer hitch install shop,........