My parts hookup called DJM to get the info on the 02' Ram drop kit. He was told it is a 3/4 drop. Not a 2/4 drop. He was very clear about it. I'm wondering if it is right. I don't think we can go 3" down in the front without tire rubbing. Stock tires are 275 70 R20
Anybody know about this?
RAM MAN
11-16-2002, 06:33 AM
I have a pic, but I'm going to have to dig it up
If I dont post it later today - PM and remind me (dont have time to get it right now)
I think its a 2/4 not a 3/5 drop
sapper85
11-16-2002, 09:16 AM
Whatever you do STAY away from the DJM kit. THere are some of the guys on cardomain.com that have put it on and they say it is the worst mistake they ever made. Almost an ANIT-DJM movment going on over there, there are some seriously upset/pissed off folks over that kit. Might check out some of the trucks over there and read some of the opinions on it and look at some of the pics. If i remember correctly there is one guy who has hd to even redo his cause of the kit. Might be worth checking out to save some heartbreak later on.
later
slayer
11-16-2002, 11:20 AM
I can't open up that site. Not sure what is going on. I've heard nothing but good things about DJM kits, but not about the one for our Ram. Do you have the stock 20's? How did your drop turn out?
RAM MAN
11-16-2002, 03:20 PM
ok - SORRY - Its not the stock 20's
ZS TOY
11-17-2002, 12:56 AM
I have heard some bad things about the DJM kit. I am not technically inclined so I am not positive what parts exactly they are talking about. On the rear axle with the flip kit they are just using a u bolt and it is shearing something off and it is very hard to get it fixed correctly. Sorry I am not more clear about it.
BenZ
slayer
11-17-2002, 11:54 AM
I checked it out but it is one guy who is complaining about the DJM kit. The truck with the western chassis drop sure looks nice. I might go that route.
ZS TOY
11-17-2002, 12:00 PM
I don't know anything about the western chassis kit but I sure do like my Ground Force Kit.
http://zeiners.safeshopper.com/594/cat594.htm?549
Mine is the QC and the RC is a guy from the Jersey area if memory serves me right.
BenZ
slayer
11-17-2002, 11:06 PM
Looks good. How far is the rear dropped? How much was your kit and what kind of shocks does it have?
ZS TOY
11-17-2002, 11:15 PM
All parts are made by Ground Force. It dropped the front 1.5 inches and the rear 4.5 inches. I got a super hook up on my kit, but it looks like I would retail the kit around $1000 installed. The price will vary where you buy and install the kit. It took my tech right at about 5 hours to do the install. This was the first one of these kits that he had done. I will have new pics up later on tonight, I would guess around midnight central time.
They can be seen here.
http://zeiners.safeshopper.com/540/cat540.htm?378
BenZ
ramsportva2002
11-18-2002, 08:15 AM
Slayer
I ordered my Ground force kit from JC Whitney....say what you want about JCW, but it was $549 then I used one of their 15% off coupons so it ended up costing 467. It is B.O. so I got the shipping for free on top of that!
I was going to buy the DJM kit too until I talked to ZSToy and called GroundForce and DJM
THe DJM kit originally only used the locator bracket and U-bolts......there was nothing that tied in the original spring perch and under force(stepping on the go pedal) in a few cases the spring perch was shearing off the axle...imagine the damage that that causes. They have suppossedly since fixed it but it still looks a little half a$$ to me. THe guy on CarDomain is complaining that the springs did not lower like they are supposed to.....and now DJM tells him he needed to cut the coils to get the desired drop.
I went with the Ground force kit because it seemed like it is a more consistant drop
hope that helped
tobtech02
11-18-2002, 02:07 PM
I have the DJM kit on my truck but I do not have stock 20s. I have 20x10 Boze Alloys and 275/45/20 tires.
The kit is not a 3/4 drop. I don't care what the guys at DJM say. They even call it a 2/4 drop on there website and on my invoice when I bought direct from DJM. Regardless of what anyone "says" I measured before and after and it dropped mine 4.5" in the back and 1.75" in the front. I would say that the front has probably settled to 2" now.
As far as rubbing. Not sure how the fronts could rub when there is one out there on airbags with the stock wheels. The stockers are not that wide. I think they put a little smaller tires but they still tucked so the offset is fine.
The quality of the parts that come with the DJM kit is good. There are two problems with the kit that can both be overcome:
1. There is a problem with the rear spring hanger. It has to be welded to the rear axle to prevent it from slipping. DJM claimed that some axles are different than others and it will work on some without modification. When my installer called DJM they seemed to go right to the mod, like it was expected to have to do this on every one.
2. You have to notch the frame with this kit. There is no rear clearance and driving is very annoying. It bottoms out on everything. DJM should suggest this when selling the kit.
I am more dissapointed with the inconsistancies of tech info that I get from calling DJM than the actual kit itself. If they would just let us know this stuff before hand, life would be good. I have attached a picture if you are interested.
Tobtech
MotoP
03-08-2005, 06:59 AM
http://www.club4ag.com/Events%20Pages/Formula%20D%2004/DSC01185.JPG
I just jumped out of a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado C3500 and into a 2005 Ram 3500HD...So new to Dodge (though a Chrysler Minivan owner for a decade now)
Anyway on the DJM stuff.
My Silverado Dually had a DJM 6-8 drop kit in it and here's my impression of the stuff.
The kit came complete with things needed for the drop and nothing really had to be outsourced to have it completed. However, I would say that the kit is a very minimal bag of goods to make it into a nicely completed drop truck. Though the standard kit was enough to drop the truck to correct height to drive it around with style...it left no room to still use the HD to the things HD was supposed to do like tow my trailers and load up with 1200lbs of stuff in the bed.
I pretty much had to modify the leaf mounts and add more U-bolts to make it strong enough to tow my 5th wheel. I also added airbags to increase load cap right at the axle with some fabrication work so that I don't stress the U-bolts. (DJM does state that you shouldn't tow, and also that they will not recommend any airbag solutions)
Anyway, after the modifications, it was just fine... With the C notches deep into the frame and made of really heavy stuff, it was strong enough to not tweak the frame or notch even with the 12,700 lbs trailer on 5th wheel and I covered 19,000 miles of interstate freeways in 2004 with the truck. Chevy was amazing and pulled fine at 70mph on flats even with the Vortec 8.1 + Allison. The reason I jumped into the Ram was I needed a diesel now to cover more ground with less fuel as well as extend the range between truck stops.
DJM stuff is on par with what they claim but I would say that you get what you pay for and it's no where near the design completion levels and build quality of stuff coming out of places like Air Ride Technologies or Belltech. If you are the type that starts with the base kit to build on top of, the DJM kit is appropriate and none of the stuff really is defective...it's satisfactory for DIYers that have more in the plans.
DJM are also usually the first ones to put a kit out for new models and that will really assist the custom truckers with base components necessary to get you off in the right foot before anyone... Be the first to drop stuff like the Escalades and New Rams. They are also happy guys that will share the hobby with you and take your advice in making the stuff better.
Lastly though, many complaints of any customization kits should be done by somebody who knows how trucks work in general... Missing things like not getting the pinion angles correctly or wheel alignment not right is in my view, the fault of the installer and not the parts themselves. These pieces are made to be adjusted and that's why they can also be screwed up bad by a negligent installer.
Although the suspension on trucks are simple and ride height mods cost minimal compared to sports cars and SUV's, it still is the only thing attaching your investment to the 4 wheels (6 in my case) and to the road... Just be cautious and do some RD before you tear it apart... Done right, with your smart planning, anything can turn out great.
My 2 Cents (long one) hahha
cphelan1
03-08-2005, 07:12 AM
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thekingofpain
03-08-2005, 11:17 AM
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I was gonna say---I have no problems with mine, they did slightly re-design the kit but that was a couple years ago---I had a TVS and replaced it with the DJM front and rear and it was alot better ---for me--- DJM makes quality products and stands behind them, they never told me not to tow, and said if I do or load the bed up a rear spring assist of some sort would help if bottoming was a problem, I also walk in and talk to them face to face which might help as well...
