Billsteins With DJM Arms?
- Thread starter M Hankel
- Start date
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candyman74
Full Access Member
front and rear shocks
ok so i know the PN - 24-013284 are for the front but which ones for the rear
ok so i know the PN - 24-013284 are for the front but which ones for the rear
OP
OP
M Hankel
Full Access Member
For the rear Bilstiens I got these: 24-143806, but I dont think they would work if you're really low in the back. At my ride height (in sig pic with Belltech 5305), the shock dimension sitting still was 17" without the DJM shock relocation brackets These Billstiens fully compressed were 16". The DJM brackets will add 2" of extension to the shock so that would only leave 3" of suspension compression before the shock bottomed out. I fabbed up some custom extensions and modified the DJM shock brackets so that I now have 5" of usable shock compression. Basically I wanted the axle to hit the frame before the shock bottomed out. 
If I were to do it again I would go with a stiffer front Bilstien for the DJM arms and a shorter version of this same shock for the rear. I will say that these rear Bilstiens ride AMAZING!!!!!! Can not stress enough how much better these rear Bilstiens are than the Belltech Nitro shocks I replaced.
Mike
If I were to do it again I would go with a stiffer front Bilstien for the DJM arms and a shorter version of this same shock for the rear. I will say that these rear Bilstiens ride AMAZING!!!!!! Can not stress enough how much better these rear Bilstiens are than the Belltech Nitro shocks I replaced.
Mike
Any pics of these custom extenders?
I'm running the same shock w/ the belltech TB spring and I have enough travel before the shock bottoms out. I have 2" extenders too. I've been told my shocks are too long but I'm not worried. When the $$ is right, I'm getting some King shocks front and rear. BTW, these bilsteins are great for the price and they ride excellent.
OP
OP
M Hankel
Full Access Member
I didnt take any pics but they'll be coming off this weekend for a coat of paint. Wanted to make sure there wouldnt be any issues before painting them in case I had cut/ weld again lol... I made them with several different bolt hole locations so I could run just about any style/length of shocks. Also picked up a vertical milling machine a couple weeks ago and have been having way too much fun with that lol...
Mike
Also picked up a vertical milling machine a couple weeks ago and have been having way too much fun with that lol...Mike
OP
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M Hankel
Full Access Member
Alex, here's the pics I made for the rear shocks.
I started by cutting off the new relocation tabs from the DJM shock relocation brackets. Then I made the new tabs with several different hole locations for different shock lengths. Once those were made, I mocked them up to the bracket with them mounted to the Tahoe and tacked welded them in place. I chose to weld the plates on the outsides of the DJM bracket to allow for side to side movement of the shock when the axle gets crossed up in relation to the body, like driving at an angle over a steep driveway approach etc.. This required making some spacers to go between the new shock bracket hole and the shock itself.
I could have welded the plates on the inside of the DJM bracket and they would have been a perfect width for the shock eyelet hole. But, the bracket would have been practically touching the shock body and would have put a strain against the shock and possibly prevented the axle from moving freely at extreme angles.
So here is the finished results after painting them today. I now have an adjustment range from stock location to, 2", 3" 4" and 5". As the Bilstiens are now, mounted at the bottom location and suspension fully dropped (chassis supported on jackstands), the Belltech springs will not fall out and I have up to 5" of shock compression before the shock bottoms. Way more than needed but at least I know these shocks will last, even if I go quite a bit lower.
Mike
I started by cutting off the new relocation tabs from the DJM shock relocation brackets. Then I made the new tabs with several different hole locations for different shock lengths. Once those were made, I mocked them up to the bracket with them mounted to the Tahoe and tacked welded them in place. I chose to weld the plates on the outsides of the DJM bracket to allow for side to side movement of the shock when the axle gets crossed up in relation to the body, like driving at an angle over a steep driveway approach etc.. This required making some spacers to go between the new shock bracket hole and the shock itself.
I could have welded the plates on the inside of the DJM bracket and they would have been a perfect width for the shock eyelet hole. But, the bracket would have been practically touching the shock body and would have put a strain against the shock and possibly prevented the axle from moving freely at extreme angles.
So here is the finished results after painting them today. I now have an adjustment range from stock location to, 2", 3" 4" and 5". As the Bilstiens are now, mounted at the bottom location and suspension fully dropped (chassis supported on jackstands), the Belltech springs will not fall out and I have up to 5" of shock compression before the shock bottoms. Way more than needed but at least I know these shocks will last, even if I go quite a bit lower.
Mike
candyman74
Full Access Member
yeah after going out an looking at my truck i dont think those brackets will work with the djm rear hardware kit. is there a shorter shock that can be used? i still have some 2in shock extenders laying around so maybe a 3in shorter shock and the extenders would work?
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OP
OP
M Hankel
Full Access Member
A shorter shock would be the better setup IMO. I would like to find this same Bilstien shock in a shorter version. Not sure if they make them though and haven't had much interest in researching it since I already had the shocks and the brackets.
Mike
Nickleahy23
Full Access Member
Just did the Bilsteins on my truck yesterday. I had to bend the tabs of the DJM arms wider to fit the wider sleeve of the new shocks. Had to buy new bolts as well, went with 2.5" x 7/16" and they worked perfect.
Other then that it was straight foward. They definatly ride better then the djm shocks ive had. After 1.5 years they were completely blown and the bushings completely gone on one side. It still doesnt ride GREAT, but its definatly better and much more stable on the highway..I dont get the ****** side to side on bumps, which im guessing was from the missing bushings on the djm shocks. They have much better rebound than the new djm shocks as well.
Other then that it was straight foward. They definatly ride better then the djm shocks ive had. After 1.5 years they were completely blown and the bushings completely gone on one side. It still doesnt ride GREAT, but its definatly better and much more stable on the highway..I dont get the ****** side to side on bumps, which im guessing was from the missing bushings on the djm shocks. They have much better rebound than the new djm shocks as well.
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