Dropped with traction bars

BlkMax

BlkMax

Member
Sep 1, 2008
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Wasilla, AK
I just picked up an '04 ECSB LB7 for my bride of 23 years. For a lot of reasons we needed another vehicle.

The problem is that she is short.... 5'1" and wants to be able to get in and out easier.

I have been looking at the DJM 3/5 kit, as an alternative to running boards or smaller diameter tires. I don't like boards anymore, and want to have stock tires/wheels. I will be twisting up this truck a little :D, and it will be the new tow rig, so I want the full payload capability (I'm not wild about pulling the overload leaf).

Here is the question: Can I run a set of Caltracs on a DJM 3/5 kit? Has anyone done this? If not, what did you do to reduce axle wrap?
 
Chevy1925

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,661
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Phoenix Az
brian had them on his old truck. normal traction bars will work fine as well
 
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hondarider552

hondarider552

Getting faster
May 28, 2008
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No caltracs will not work with DJM 3/5, nor any drop kit. Have to make a traditional bar (frame to axle tube) and rear end can't be lower than a 6" drop or the traction bar will hit the parking brake bracked on drivers side. I had to cut mine downa bout an inch for the bars to clear.

edit;
with a 3/5 you will have about 2.5" of suspension travel untilll you hit the oem bumpstops. I had a 6" drop and didnt have much of suspension travel..
 
rickettzusaf

rickettzusaf

New member
Nov 30, 2011
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Goldsboro, NC
2007-gmc-sierra-classic-duramax-666-picture7949-rickett-truck.jpg


Front dropped with 2 inch drop spindles and keys backed out. Rear is 3 inch drop spindles and 2 inch drop hangers. Traction bars are 55 inches long. Sitting on 265/70R17 tires.

If I had to do the drop again. I would do lower control arms over spindles.
 
hondarider552

hondarider552

Getting faster
May 28, 2008
10,627
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How many rear springs are you running? I had to cut about 1.5" off of the emergency brake mount and relocate the cables
 
Devon

Devon

broke my curse
May 2, 2010
807
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Hinsdale ma
What wheels are them? I love the subtle look of that truck. They look like cragers or something? 17x9???


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
rickettzusaf

rickettzusaf

New member
Nov 30, 2011
276
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Goldsboro, NC
Thanks for the compliments guys. They are 17x8 Cragar soft 8's with stock lug nuts and stock caps. With the 2" drop spindle you need to have a 17 with at least a 4.5" backspacing because you will run into the lower ball joint at that point. This why I would go with lower control arms when I redo the lowering kit up front.

I was told by my wife to buy a set of 20x8.5 black rockstars that she found with 305/55 10 ply terra grapplers for a steal on Craigslist. I'm trying to get rid of the tires because they are a lil big for my suspension. I know how everyone feels about rockstars but I don't care. They look good to me on my truck. Plus I can color match the stars to match my GMC emblem, traction bars, boost tube, and EGR delete. When I get turbo/s. I'll be matchin that and the intake when it comes around.
 
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baggedLB7

baggedLB7

Goer
May 1, 2011
688
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Utah
Depending on what you want to spend I did a c notch 4 link and bags and it rides and tows very nice. Ive also seen trucks with drops that built custom set ups with the helper air bags that you get from like summit or jegs so they could still tow.
 
Ne-max

Ne-max

I like turtles
Nov 15, 2011
3,361
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48
Lincoln, Ne
On my 01 I put the drop shackles on, took out my over load spring and mounted up some 60 inch traction bars. I still get wheel hop bad. Do I need to put overloads back in or shim the axle?
 
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