Drop Kit For Z71 ?

carrerarod · Aug 30, 2002

I assume that drop kits currently available are for 2WD only. Is there a drop kit yet for a 4WD AV?

sparky · Aug 30, 2002

No, I put the DJM drop kit on my Z71.

ahhyeah · Aug 30, 2002

I've got the parts right here for my Z71. It's the 2WD kit from DJM. I've cross referenced all the parts that are changing with the the 2WD Model with Chevy. They are the same except different shocks but the mounts for the shocks are the same. I am using just the torsion bars to lower the front and change shocks and then have it alligned. I also did this with my 95 blazer with torsion bars and it worked perfect. I'm only waiting for my 2003 three to arrive. They are already starting to arrive but mine isn't. How odd. Sparky, could you post the person or company that installed yours so I can contact them. Thanks.

sparky · Aug 30, 2002

Purchased through Low Riders of Vancouver BC. Installed by Dale Adams Automotive of Calgary Alberts

carrerarod · Aug 31, 2002

sparky said:
No, I put the DJM drop kit on my Z71.

Is that "no" currently available kits are not jus for 2WD or "no" there are none for a 4WD?

Looking at your pictures I see you did slam you truck. Is that a 3"/5" or 5"/7"?

Thanks!

carrerarod (canadian living in SoCal)

carrerarod · Aug 31, 2002

Is this the kit you got?

DJM kit for AV's

ahhyeah · Aug 31, 2002

the current kit available from DJM is for the 2 wheel drive model. It is a 3/5 drop. I am going to attempt to install it on my 2003 Z71. I'm trying to contact Sparky's installers but they must be closed for the holiday.

carrerarod · Aug 31, 2002

ahhyeah said:
the current kit available from DJM is for the 2 wheel drive model. ?It is a 3/5 drop. ?I am going to attempt to install it on my 2003 Z71. ?I'm trying to contact Sparky's installers but they must be closed for the holiday. ?

Have you been in contact with DJM to see if the kit would work? I know they had a kit for 4WD 'burbs and Tahoe's...I guess it will be possible for our AV's.

Will you "bag" it after ? I think a 5"/7" might be the look i'm looking for...

ahhyeah · Aug 31, 2002

I would love to find a air bag kit that would work. I would prolly just have to get a hold of some companys that build them for street rods and have them custom make something or see if a universal kit would work. I know we tried to get a kit to work on a 2001 Tahoe last year and no one could get it to work, 'cause it was 4 wheel drive. We'll see I guess.

I did call DJM and the guy that I talked to said that there are some people he heard of in Cali that were getting it to work, but he didn't really know how. And my girlfriend ordered it for me for my birthday and she said all 5 people she talked to said it wouldn't work. I seriously don't think they know what they are talking about, all they worked on was a 2 wheel drive. I'm sure they never had a 4 wheel drive in their shop. All the parts being replaced are the same on a 2 wheel drive, I crossed checked them all with my chevy parts department. And I've lowered 2 vehicles with torsion bars and the ride was only effected by the shocks.

carrerarod · Aug 31, 2002

ahhyeah said:
I would love to find a air bag kit that would work. ?I would prolly just have to get a hold of some companys that build them for street rods and have them custom make something or see if a universal kit would work. ?I know we tried to get a kit to work on a 2001 Tahoe last year and no one could get it to work, 'cause it was 4 wheel drive. ?We'll see I guess. ?

I did call DJM and the guy that I talked to said that there are some people he heard of in Cali that were getting it to work, but he didn't really know how. ?And my girlfriend ordered it for me for my birthday and she said all 5 people she talked to said it wouldn't work. ?I seriously don't think they know what they are talking about, all they worked on was a 2 wheel drive. ?I'm sure they never had a 4 wheel drive in their shop. ?All the parts being replaced are the same on a 2 wheel drive, I crossed checked them all with my chevy parts department. ?And I've lowered 2 vehicles with torsion bars and the ride was only effected by the shocks. ?

Well im in Southern California and have access to some pretty hot suspension guys so i will check with them next week and post what they say!

jewvalanche · Aug 31, 2002

With the drop, can i still put 22" tires with the 305/45/22, or am I going to have to only go with the 20's. I have 2 choices of tire on the 20's. The goodyear II which are the 285/50/20 that are 30.5" tall or the Nitto 305/50/20 which are 32".

chazj · Sep 2, 2002

And one more question about putting the drop kit on a Z71. Will my dual exhaust out the back be effected by the DJM drop kit on my Z71?

Thanks,

--chazj

sparky · Sep 2, 2002

carrerarod said:
Is that "no" currently available kits are not jus for 2WD or "no" there are none for a 4WD?

Looking at your pictures I see you did slam ?you truck. Is that a 3"/5" or 5"/7"?

Thanks!

carrerarod (canadian living in SoCal) ?

A Canadian enjoying warm winters, eh! Oh well I will answer anyway. What I was saying was that no, the drop is not restricted to 4x2's, works on 4x4's as well.
Mine is a 3/5, can't imagine what a 5/7 would look like. You would need to work the wheel wells for sure.

sparky · Sep 2, 2002

carrerarod said:
Is this the kit you got?

DJM kit for AV's

That is the one, of couse I paid way more Canadian pesos for it.

carrerarod · Sep 2, 2002

sparky said:
A Canadian enjoying warm winters, eh! Oh well I will answer anyway. What I was saying was that no, the drop is not restricted to 4x2's, works on 4x4's as well.
Mine is a 3/5, can't imagine what a 5/7 would look like. You would need to work the wheel wells for sure.

Thanks!

re:winters. oh yea.. I was forced to go back home in February and I was quickly reminded why I left the great white north!

sparky · Sep 2, 2002

ahhyeah said:
the current kit available from DJM is for the 2 wheel drive model. ?It is a 3/5 drop. ?I am going to attempt to install it on my 2003 Z71. ?I'm trying to contact Sparky's installers but they must be closed for the holiday. ?

I have never seen the kit advertised as being for 2 wheel drive. As a matter of fact, some of their promo stuff shows a 4 wheel drive. This question never came up during the process.
I would contact Low Riders in BC. You will need to allow for the time zone. Believe they have a web site. Course DJM should be able to help as well.

sparky · Sep 2, 2002

jewvalanche said:
With the drop, can i still put 22" tires with the 305/45/22, or am I going to have to only go with the 20's. ?I have 2 choices of tire on the 20's. The goodyear II which are the 285/50/20 that are 30.5" tall or the Nitto 305/50/20 which are 32".

I came across a 20 that was bang on 31. I think it was a 305/45. I now the tire has been mentioned here often. THat is what I will get on replacement. With 22's I think you are either going to have to cut into the wheel well or go with some real skinny tires.

sparky · Sep 2, 2002

The Extreme said:
And one more question about putting the drop kit on a Z71. Will my dual exhaust out the back be effected by the DJM drop kit on my Z71?

Thanks,

--chazj

That WAS a problem for me. I had the drop kit, the K&N and the flow exhaust all done at the same time.
THe guy doing the install said there was no way, with the drop kit, to fit the second pipe over on the drivers side. Now that is not to say somebody else might not have had a way to do it, but I have one big ass pipe coming out of the passenger side. I was unhappy at the time but I got over it.

ahhyeah · Sep 30, 2002

I finally got something to add to this page

I used the DJM drop kit, just the rear kit. I used the torsions to lower the front. I ordered the front shocks with the rear kit and the only way to use them is install the lower control arm, it will be here in a week, just in time for the IL meet

wfbarto · Oct 1, 2002

ahhyeah said:
I used the DJM drop kit, ?just the rear kit. ?I used the torsions to lower the front. ?I ordered the front shocks with the rear kit and the only way to use them is install the lower control arm, it will be here in a week, just in time for the IL meet

Just a simple question, why are you bothering to change out the front shocks and install the new lower control arms if you are happy with the lowered front using the torsion bars? Or aren't you that happy with the front end with the lowered torsion bars?

I've been thinking about a 3 inch drop in the rear only on my Z-66 but have never pursued it that much. I've been told by others that lowering the rear with shorter coils on the Z-66 would be self-defeated by the load leveling Sachs-Boge shocks that come on the Z-66. So...in order to do this you would have to change out the Sachs-Boge shocks to something shorter. It would be nice if Sachs made a self-leveling shock that was of shorter length to accomodate a shorter coil spring but also had the self-leveling feature built in, but I have not been able to find any info on this.

Anybody got any ideas! Has anybody yet lowered the rear of their Z-66?

sparky · Oct 3, 2002

Now the circle of life is complete. That is the first Av I've seen that is higher in the front

I like the flat slammed look, but that is nice and I suspect it would take more to get yours to bottom out. Nice job.

ahhyeah · Oct 4, 2002

The reason I'm using the lower conrol arm is:
1. I already have the shocks and they don't mount to the original control, the DJM Control arm is needed.
2. I didn't get the complete 3 inches with the torsion bar adjustment, I want to go lower.
3. Adjusting the torsion bar put the lower control arm at different angle and started to wear the bushings out. The new control arm came with new bushings.
4. Using the DJM control arm I get to use more of the traveling distance of the torsion bars for suspension.
5. With the truck lowered, the front original shocks didn't have enough travel distance and would wear out sooner.
6. It's hard to do with a Z71 because of the front axle. So this is a challenge I want to complete it

I'm in progress now, I'll have more pics after I'm finished.

ahhyeah · Oct 5, 2002

well it won't be higher in the front for long... about one more hour and I can pick up my slammed, and aligned AV!!!! Yay

zimmthumps · Oct 5, 2002

Can't wait to see these pics!

steelheadchaser · Oct 5, 2002

This should look pretty wicked when it's all done. Don't tell Goo but I also like a well slammed truck with big wheels. It just doesn't fit in with my primary needs of four wheel drive and ground clearance. It sure would be fun to have a pair though!