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10-29-2016 #1Registered User
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- Jul 2016
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- Las Vegas
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Late model RAM 1500 handling project
hello pro touring! So I've been retired from the USN for about 29 days now and have been busy modifying my truck to hopefully be a sweet street handler and "maybe" part time autocrosser.
I essentially started with "off the shelf" suspension components "for the most part"......and I'm currently in the evaluate/dial-in everything stage.
To get the thread going here is what I started with..........
Belltech 2/4 drop kit:
rear springs are progressive
rate 1: 88lbs in.
rate 2: 225lbs in.
front springs 800lbs in.
rear suspension adjustable arms and panhard bar
1 1/2" front swaybar
1 1/4" rear swaybar
305/50VR20 rears
285/50VR20 fronts
before pic
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10-29-2016 #2Registered User
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- Jul 2016
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- 24
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10-29-2016 #3Registered User
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- Jul 2016
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- Las Vegas
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some details:
I chose bilstein B8 5125 series shocks that I had to slightly modified to fit......
front shocks
I received my QA1 3/4" OD T-bar kits today to fit inside the 3/4" ID Bilstein hour glass urethane shock bushings so I can finally mount the 360/80 digressive valve 5125 shocks up front.
problem is the urethane bushings are about 6mm too wide (37mm total width) to fit into the c-clips of the T-Bar
so....
this is what I'm going to do...........I have this old roto zip tool I literally use for next to nothing, its probably 10years old and only used twice.
the plan is to mount a 3/4" OD sanding drum inside the bushing, lock the tool down in a vice, and spin the bushing at high rpm, while i carefully shave 3mm off each side so I can utilize the c-clips as designed for an overall width of 31mm
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10-29-2016 #4Registered User
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- Jul 2016
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- Las Vegas
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- 24
Bushings are 36.8mm, distance between C clips 31.7mm, going to shoot for 31.9mm for a slight bushing preload.
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10-29-2016 #5Registered User
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- Jul 2016
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- Las Vegas
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- 24
used 2500rpm drill motor instead of the 30,000 rpm roto zip
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10-29-2016 #6Registered User
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- Jul 2016
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- Las Vegas
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Comparison shot of the bilsteins vs stock shock before install:
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10-29-2016 #7Registered User
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- Jul 2016
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- Las Vegas
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- 24
installed with no issues but I did have to round file (clean up) the ends of the T-Bars to fit the lower A-arm
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10-29-2016 #8Registered User
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- Jul 2016
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- Las Vegas
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- 24
pic of the rear suspension setup:
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10-29-2016 #9Registered User
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- Jul 2016
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- Las Vegas
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- 24
for the rear swaybar I did not purchase one made for the Ram 1500. In order to get it mounted to the axle I had to make some adapter plates, easy enough, as it was essentially a flat metal plate with four holes drilled into them. I moved the mounting location 3" inboard on each side and 1" down. Here is what I'll be making as a starting point:
This particular pic is "not to scale"
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10-29-2016 #10Registered User
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- Jul 2016
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- Las Vegas
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- 24
I ended up using my dremel with 1/8" drill bit and the slide portion of the router head left loose so I could use it as a short travel plunge.......I coated the outside with urethane grease so it moved a little smoother...........I'll be damned if these holes aren't better than 1/64" accuracy both sides! Now "I will" use the drill motor with a step bit and finish the holes........................
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10-29-2016 #11Registered User
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- Jul 2016
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- Las Vegas
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- 24
test fit on the adapters is good
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10-29-2016 #12Registered User
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- Jul 2016
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- Las Vegas
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10-30-2016 #13Registered User
- Join Date
- Dec 2015
- Location
- Ruhr-Area, NRW, Germany
- Posts
- 313