Found my suspension problem...solutions?

[Physh1]

Ok, did my 3/5 drop a few weeks back and was concerned because the pass side was clearly higher than the driver side. Did some adjusting on the t-bars to help and figured it would settle in. Well, today the real problem was found....

The BellTech rear sway bar is mounted with the DJM links...the panhard bar/mount is sitting on the panhard...see pictures below...

Driver side link, bar, etc...all ok here...


Pass side link, bent sway bar, & problems....panhard is sitting on bar...now I know why my pass side sits so high...


The bar is level @ ride height so I'm not sure what to do.

a) longer links would work but make the ends of the bars point down...
b) longer links and spacers on the axle mount...maybe 3/4" or 1" plate steel with longer bolts...

Any other solutions? Ideas? The sway bar is way bent...I think I'll need a new one anyhow...

Cameron

 

[Physh1]

Is my bar supposed to be shifted to the pass side to clear the panhard mount?

Been using the search and have seen the bar shifted right in a few posts. Only problem I see having is that the BellTech bar doesn't look like it can shift right anymore than it already is.

Thanks, Cameron

 

[waxworkz]

wow i thought i posted in this thread earlier??

i use the hotchkis sway bar and mine is a bit "bent" at the bar ends. it looks like a very shallow "v" but it seems to clear everything. i never bothered to notice, now i might go take a look just to make sure lol

 

[Physh1]

I took another look and think I can shift the bar over but I'm not certain. I think I'll be buying a new rear bar...lol...

When I finished the drop this was the last part to go on. The DJM links didn't fit easily into the frame provisions so I had to grind away a little bushing on both links, fussed with the BellTech Hardware, and I was rushed to get off the lift so I could make my alignment appointment.

1 sway bar fudged...1 lesson learned...

 

[waxworkz]

if youre going to get a new bar, check out the hotchkis stuff. i've been running them for about 7 years and no issues at all

 

[WHITEOUT]

You need to move the driver side bracket over about 1 inch. There is a hole that you will see already drilled in the axle/sway bar mount, mount to that hole, mark the second hole, drill out a hole, then mount sway bar to those new holes. I just did mine. Then you need to put a spacer inside the passenger side link mount and move the new shorter link to the outside of the mount. You also need to then move the sway bar to the passenger side of both end links to clear the pan hard

 

[BOSS]

Alot of trucks, if not all of them, sit higher on the pass side. It becomes more noticable when you drop it. The reason I suspected is because of the years of compressing and uncompressing on the driver-side body mounts due to the forces of accelerating. (Notice your truck lifts up on the driver side when you accelerate)

IF you follow the instructions by mounting the sway on the pass side of the links with the correct spacer, you'll be ok from that point of view and it will clear the ph bar. As for the ride height difference, I bet it's still there when you're done.

As for needing a new one, I doubt you will from what I can see.

 

[Physh1]

The DJM instructions for this blew...

I'll fudge with it tonight and see if I can get it right.

Thanks for the help guys, Cameron

 

[Grocery Getter]

Whiteout is right... you actually need the sway bar to move about 2'' to the passenger's side to clear the pan hard. It also looks like you have your end links on wrong. The point of them being offset like they are is to help the movement to the passenger's side. You want both links to be on the driver's side of the sway bar with the offset toward the passenger's side. So basically you want to mount the links

Driver's side-Outside of sway
Passenger's side-inside of sway

and you'll notice the links are offset and fatter you want the "fattest" part pushing the bar toward the passenger's side. You will have to do like WO said and redrill the mounting bracket about 1'' toward the passenger's side in order to give the driver's side of the sway enough clearance to scoot over 2'' to toward the passenger's side.

 

[Physh1]

Got it all sorted out tonight...I'm a dumbass...lol...