Help. Clunk in rear. Question about lowering kit.

[derk]

I just bought a 07 Tahoe LTZ with 24's and lowering kit. How can i tell what manufacture the kit is? Im thinking its a 2/3 or a 3/5, im not sure. The reason im asking is cuase when it hit meduim size bumps it make a loud clunk(metal on metal) sound in rear. I was thinking about puting in air lift 1000 bags to help it out. but then i started reading and i think all LTZ models already have "autoride".
Im lost and i need to know what should be done to fix this bad sound in the rear end. HELP

Thanks in advance
Derk

 

[NORCAL SS]

do you know if htey used spindles. can you take a pic of the rear set up. does it have shock extenders on it? take a few pics ill help ya out i do tons of these trucks.

 

[Modded]

What color are the rear coils?
Blue, black, silver?
If its blue that will assure you its the DJM coils causing it. Also, companies Suspension Max and Canuck Motorsports make coisl that are pretty much the same as the DJM coils but they are either dark maroon lookinf, or bright silver.

 

[NORCAL SS]

drop it more and get the djm rear trailblazer springs and will ride better

 

[derk]

Here are some pics. I know they are bad angles, I lost my lug key so I cant take off my rims right now

If you look at the pic with the bump stop, its only about 1/4-1/8 of an inch from the frame, that might be my prolem!?!?!?!

I think im going to put some air lift 1000 bags in tomorrow to see if that helps. I will need them down the road when I pull my jet ski and other trailers around.

Any other suggestions on how to improve the suspension??

Thanks
Derk

 

[NORCAL SS]

ok theres the problem on ride.

1) cut the bumpstop brackets off the frame that will get you more clearance.

2) the rear belltech kit comes with spacers id put the spacer in to lift the rear back up that will make it not look like rear is lower than the front.

trust me do what i said above and ride will be much better.


man look at that swaybar angle. This is why i recommmened the rear djm hardware kit with trailing arms fixes that and when you adjust the swaybar back up ride and cornering is improved.


anything else just hollar ill be up late tonight im doing a 3/5 djm on a customers truck who works from 12-8 am. Hes dropping it off at 11pm so ill have it done before he gets off work tomm morning. going to my buddys shop at 3am to do alignment lol

415 519 2432 and im around 24/7 to help.

 

[derk]

Thanks for the help djm direct. I dont have the spacer cause i just bought the tahoe the was it is. Insted of putting spacer in will the air lift 1000 bags to the job?

What size of drop does that look like?
When i cut out the bump stop mounts, do i put the rubber bump stop back in? if so how do u attach it?

Thanks again for all the help!!

 

[NORCAL SS]

you can drill and tap the frame and use those mounts. If not i have the ultra thin djm ones which are like 3/8 in width and work very well also.

that rear drop is a 4-4.5 drop ive noticed the belltech springs tend to sag over time. A member i just sold a kit to put up pics of his rear brackets cut in this section and you can look at that for reference. Once you cut the brakets off and put washers for the shocks it should ride a lot better. Oh yah get that spacer to lift it up so rear wont look lower than front and your set to go

 

[Modded]

That is def. a 4.5"-5" rear drop, and that has good chance of sending impact into the frame to cause that clunk. Also looks like Belltech 23302 coils, though rust has taken a toll on your frame.
Trim your bumpstops as low as possible like I did to get more travel. Mine are about .75" from the frame, and I only bottom out over certain bumps. But with my new 5125 shock install tomorrow, I bet I will not bottom out mush anymore becuase those are some high pressure shocks.
Also Helper bags are just gonna stiffen your ride and jack up the rear at the same time, most likely you will not like it.
I would just pull the bumpstops completely if I were you.

Since I have 26s, the free travel mod is out of the question for me because witht he extra travel it givesm I will completely slam into the fenderwell over bumps and risk body damage, not worth it.
But then again my tires are 1" taller than yours, so you MAY be able to do it.

 

[NORCAL SS]

23305 is the kit number with spacers. there is no such thing as 23302 but now the 23305 has been replaced by the 34324 which fits all 00-10s. Uses the same 5305 springs

 

[Modded]

23323 is what I meant. And its the rear PRO coil kit that does come up with a 1" spacer and red bumpstop.

 

[NORCAL SS]

the bumpstops they provide are good but i use the shorter bumpstops just get a little more travel. reguardless derk give me a call if you need anything or have anymore questions you need answered. sometimes its easier to call then type everything down.

 

[Modded]

Yeah mine are afterkarket bumpstops trimmed down because if I had left them as is, I would have like .25" of travel at best.

 

[derk]

The reason the rear sags is cause of the stereo that in the back. its prob 300-400 lbs.
Thanks for all the input guys.
I guess ill be cutting out the bump stop mounts. and finding a spacer to put in the rear to lift it a little.
Does it look like my hoe has the auto ride shocks? Should i be replacing the shocks to get a smoother ride?

---------- Post added at 01:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:08 AM ----------

hey DJM what do u mean when you say "put washers for the shocks it should ride a lot better" in post 8?

 

[Modded]

He was referring to people with aftermarket Belltech shocks that amke noise. That does not include you since you have stock shocks.
Also you have the non Autoride shocks (by your pic), so you could always get drop shocks to make the ride slightly better.

 

[derk]

would shock extenders help out with the stock shocks? whats the best kind of aftermarket shock to help out? would i need extenders with those?

 

[NORCAL SS]

derk at this point i would look into new rear shocks. your stock shocks have been set up at this height for how long and most likely valving is damaged anyway. I would get shock extenders/new rear shocks belltech street performance.

Lets start off with the basic stuff. Cut the bracket off and add the belltech 1 inch spacers and then see how it is at that point.

 

[derk]

Where can i get this 1" spacer? is there anything else i can use to make the spacer?

 

[NORCAL SS]

belltech has it.

 

[derk]

UPDATE: I removed the bump stop mounts and it fixed the problem. NO MORE CLUNK!! Thanks for all the info DJM and Modded. It was a pain in the a$$ but it was well worth the effort. I was thinking of paying someone to do it but I tackeled the job myself and im very please with the job i did. Took me around ~4 hours start to finish.