For those of you with the Belltech lowering kit and keeping up with a couple of threads pointing out the issues of not having the proper end links I just wanted to let everyone know I got mine in today. After contacting Belltech's Customer Service and getting in touch with Adam the correct end links showed up with all the hardware I'll need. They will be installed in the next day or 2 when the weather clears up.
I'm startiing to get frustrated. I called them and faxed them my invoice. They said they would ship them right away. I called today after not hearing back from them and now they state they are on back order for 4-6 weeks! WTF?
Damn at that rate I'd either cut the end links, or just return the kit for the Ground Force 2/3 drop. If they wouldn't have sent me the parts it's what I would have done. It's weird my 3rd Gem was a cake walk and had a Belltech kit. But this one was a bit of a pain.
I already cut my end links, it's just frustrating to have to wait that long for parts that should have been included in the first place.
I would also never buy the gf kit. It's way over priced, comes with no shocks, requires you to drill a hole to relocate the end links and is only a 3" drop in the rear. No thanks! Hahahahahaha
I spent $100 less with my bt kit, trac bar, cut end links and alignment than the gf kit. Nuff said.
Well i have to say i am getting a bit feed up with all the back and forth. I contacted Adam last friday, and of course I had to wait all weekend for him to get back with me. At first he was very understanding, I forwarded to him my email confirmation to show proof of purchase. then he wanted to make sure i didnt already have the end links. He told me some of the guys had them and didnt even know it, So i sent him a picture of the rear axle, and he replied back and agreed that i deffinatly did not have the new shorter links. He then asked for my opinion on the kit over all. He then gave me some advise that i might want to consider a rear sway bar. that it would give me a bit more stability. WTF what does he think the picture was of? and Why am I asking for the shorter REAR end links? I also had some other issues that I was disscussing with him and sent him a few other pictures. BUt now he has stopped responding at all. Oh and yes he told me the samething, the links are on back order...... I guess he has been over whelmed with all of the people with the same problem? this is getting VERY Frustrating!
I'm guessing once word got out you could get free end links because they weren't in the kit they got swarmed with inquiries, and from a companies stand point it's hard to tell the big boss why there is suddenly an influx of free parts heading out with free shipping. Yes we paid for the parts, but it still sends up a huge red flag of the chain of desk jockeys. I agree it's very frustrating, they need to set up something on their site so the customers can get what they need by supplying proof of purchase and all the other required info.
same here, he told me i should expect mine by the 9th but no later than the 13th. so i hope by the first of next week. He also mentioned something about upgrading to the belltech sway bar. anybody upgraded yet? Is it worth it?I already have the stock bar now.
Can't blame the man for trying to make a sale, for one won't be doing it. I won't be using my truck for autocross so I'll stick with the one I have on there it's good enough for me. But I will say that if I had an Express I'd go for it, it's a little thinker than what we have and definitely a nice upgrade from not having one at all.
Installed the End links, fairly simple so there's no real install pics. Put the rear end up on jack stand to keep it as even as possible side to side, remove the OEM end links using an 18mm socket and wrench for the top. Use a 18mm wrench to loosen the bottom. To keep the ball joint from spinning, I use an adjustable or Vise-Grips. The instructions say use a 16mm, but they're wrong, go figure lol Now the new dog bone styled end link bolts can be installed using a 3/4 socket and wrench. Adjust the sway bar by rotating it up to line up with the holes and slide the bolts through to hold it in place. Tighten them up by had first then use a Torque wrench and tighten them down to 76Ft Lb's. That's it.
No not really, it's still there but in all honesty I just ignore it. It does improve the ride quality though, the back end used to like to jump out when I hit a bump but now it reacts normally.
glad to hear the handling gets better. The only way to fix the axle shift is by doing something with the track bar. that is the sole purpose of it is to locate the axle under the truck side to side. an adjustable bar seems to be the best answer. just need to figure out how to do it or find one what fits our trucks
Just seems weird that it shifts, when you put a load in the truck it shouldn't shift to the side like that, so why would it if you lower it :4-dontknow:
well let me try and help you visualize why, Sorry if I get too carried away. But I know with me it helps to have a picture sometimes to understand things.
As you can see the track bar has two pivot points, one fixed to the frame (point B) and one mounted to the axle (point A). as the stock suspension sits, the track bar should be level to the ground and parallel with the axle. as the suspension moves through the range of travel point A moves upwards but also in an arc, using point B as the center of the arc. The length of the track bar is determined by the distance from point A and point B as the truck sits level and unloaded. So point A is at the longest point in the arc of travel even before there is any movement. as the suspension moves the axle will try and stay level regardless of the angle of the track bar. Thus as point A moves up and theoretically closer to point B the axle is forced to shift to the right. You have to remember that even though the true distance from point A to point B actually never changes (due to the fixed length of the track bar), the Vertical plain going through point A will 1) remain parallel to the axle plain and 2) shift closer to point B.
You mentioned that the stock suspension does not appear to shift when loaded so why does it do it when lowered. Well I bet it does, but just not enough that we would notice.
If you recall, we had to replace our bump stops with shorter ones with the drop kit. that's because the stock bump stops would not allow that much drop with out hitting the axle. So after the drop was done there is only about a 1/2" of shift to the right. I would bet that even with the stock suspension fully loaded the shift is there but, it is less than a 1/2 in. more like 1/4" in most cases. and I bet most people don't even think to look.
So really all we need to fix it is to have a track bar that is about 1/2" longer to push point A further away from point B, thus shifting the axle back to the right by 1/2". Or you could just drill a hole in the axle mount about 1/2" closer to point B, but i would be afraid that that would weaken the mounting point.
ANYWAY, sorry it got so winded. my head hurts now..lol