ride height after djm 3/5

[candyman74]

I just finished putting the djm 3/5 and all new steering and supension parts on my 01 tahoe. after i got everything installed and drove it around the drivers front is 32 and the passenger side is 32.75, but on the driverside the torsion key bolt is at factory specs but on passenger side its almost all the way out? Did i maybe put the torsion key in wrong. Please help me i need take in for an alignment but if i need to correct the key i have to do that first

 

[JayXSP]

Mine is the exact same. I contacted Tony when I put the kit in (about a month ago) and we came to the conclusion that it's just the way the truck is...I think it has something to do with the torsion bars not being as worn out as other trucks that are lower.

Also my measurements were taken with 265/75/16 tires. Not sure what your tires are...but since I put the shorter 265/50/20's on the fronts it now measures at 32" passenger (key loosened up all the way) and 31.75" driver ( key half way cranked)

 

[candyman74]

I have 275/55/20 and doesnt that affect the load on the torsion bar making it softer than the othersude

 

[JayXSP]

Keys don't get "softer" as long as they're in the load range. There's a great post on GMfullsize about torsion bars and how they work...think its called "torsion Bars 401"...I'll post the link tomorrow when I get to work. They act as a linear rate spring so as long as you stay in the "load zone" you won't change the rate of the bar.

I've never seen keys set up exactly the same. The driver is usually cranked more to compensate for the " Chevy lean". ( extra weight due to the gas tank being on the driver side)

 

[MeanGreen03]

Yes, I have my passenger side bolt all of the way out and the driver side bolt all of the way in to get both sides close to even.

 

[candyman74]

So then what should i do its 3/4 higher on pass with bolt almost all the way out i want it lower

 

[MeanGreen03]

Well if you turn the bolt in more on the driver side it will raise it up a little on that side but, in turn, lower the passenger side. Also make sure you have the passenger side bolt pretty much all of the way out (just one turn in from being all of the way out so you have a little tension on the bolt so it won't fall out). I know after I got an alignment it evened out a little more (don't expect too much though). What are your measurements on all 4 corners? If you measure after you back up versus after driving forward it will make a difference. When I first got done with mine I measured after backing up and the front was much lower that what it was after getting an alignment due to the toe forcing the front down.

 

[NORCAL SS]

differnt bolt position on both sides is nothing new on the keys

 

[candyman74]

thanks everyone

 

[Alex33]

This is all an interesting read. My bolts are almost even (each about 1/4" below x-member) and I'm at 30.25" up front

 

[JayXSP]

Alex, what's your setup?

 

[Bikeboy80]

Same thing here... Driver side is cranked all the way in, passenger side is out 5/8" to get the truck to sit level at 32 5/8"

 

[Alex33]

Alex, what's your setup?

Keys/Spindles/H3 Shocks up front

4230/reloc kit/bilstein shocks/shock extenders/free travel mod rear

 

[JayXSP]

Keys/Spindles/H3 Shocks up front

4230/reloc kit/bilstein shocks/shock extenders/free travel mod rear

thats why your lower...spindles and keys allows for more drop than just arms...

im installing 3/4 ton keys (cranked) over the weekend to get the front down a bit more. Only way....

 

[Alex33]

thats why your lower...spindles and keys allows for more drop than just arms...

im installing 3/4 ton keys (cranked) over the weekend to get the front down a bit more. Only way....

I'm thinking of going spindles/arms up front so I'm curious to see how the arms and keys ride.

 

[JayXSP]

I'll be sure to let ya know after I do it.

 

[candyman74]

so after the alignment, driving, and adjusting the torsion bars some more i have got the truck sitting as follows
drivers front 32.5
pass front 33
drivers rear 32.75
pass front 32.75
i know its only half and inch difference in front but its still driving me crazy is there anything else i can do to get that pass front lower?

 

[JayXSP]

I'm in the same boat man...the only option I see is to install 3/4 ton keys and crank em up so that way your not slammed. If anyone else has another option I'm all ears.

My measurements as of now are

Front driver - 31.5"
Front pass - 32"
Rear driver - 32."
Rear pass - 32"

I'm running an inch shorter tire but the overall issue is the same

 

[Max]

One of my adjuster bolts is cranked all the way and my other side is about 1/2 way cranked. There are some serious variances with torsion bars, hence GM's approach to resolving these issues by allowing so much adjustment with the bolts in the tbar crossmember.

 

[JayXSP]

Max, what are your current measurements?