I am installing DJM 2" Drop Shackles and DJM 2 degree angle shims on the rear of my 2002 SuperCrew right now and I have a few questions?

(1.) Do you replace the factory SHIMS with the new SHIMS?

(2.) Do you put the new SHIMS on top or below of the factory SHIMS if keeping the factory SHIMS?

(3.) Which way does the bigger end of the new SHIMS face? To the front of back of the truck?


Thanks,
Blake

 

they go along with the stock shims.

if there is a size diffrence in the shims, i would put the larger of the two on the bottom.

wider end to the front of the vehicle..

 

I have the DJM 2" drop shackles without having the shims and have not experienced any shimmy, I don't believe for only 2 ", that you even need shims. Also I will be adding 2" drop hangers and while looking at directions, it says thick end of shim goes to rear of vehicle. Anyone may correct me if I am wrong.

 

jimrvz
That is why I am asking. You said that directions show that the bigger end is at the rear of the truck. I called DJM tech support and they told me that the bigger part is at the front of the truck. Well we installed the shims just like the tech guy said. The bigger end is at the front. There is no vibration BUT I have a loud knocking sound every now and then. I also had a sway bar installed and it looks like the sway bar is hitting one of my pipes coming out of the muffler. I hope this solves my knocking problem.

Thanks,
Blake

 

Well, after re-reading the instructions, it mentions a flip kit, so that might change everything. Someone should come along and know more about this than me, and hopefully straighten this out. I believe I got the directions from a tech link at the AIM site.

 

Just an FYI... I have found that after having lowered a Ranger and Blazer that you may often have an occasional knocking when the U-bolts have not been properly tightened all the way. Get down there, snug them down tighter and see is the knocking persists. Later.
JT

 

thich end to the front of the vehicle....

 

I have a 2001 Super Crew with a belltech 2" drop shackles. Do not use the 2 degree shims with your stock shims. You must replace the stock shims if you are going to use the 2 degree shims. The correct way to intall the shims is with the fat part of the shim facing the front of the truck. I confirmed this with belltech and the tech instructions at AIM industries www.truckin.com. Now the reality of my experiance. I ran the 2" drop with the stock shims = vibration. Next I replaced the stock shims with the 2 degree shims. I installed them with the fat part of the shim facing the back of the truck. I know the instructions stated the other way but it just did not seem right. No vibration to speak of at first. I was not until I blew my trans. After the new trans installed I had a vibration at around 2200 rpm under hard excelaration. My U-Bolts were loose. I still had a slight vibration under hard exceleration. On FTW a member with Screw with 2" drop is running with out any shims and has no vibration. Another suggestion I got was turn the stock shims 180 degrees. Since I already replaced my stock shims I removed my 2 degree shims. I have no vibration to speak of. My exhaust system vibrates more now. Also the 2 degree shims work for some. Just do not use the stock shims with the 2 degree shims. I hope this helps.

 

I too had a shimmy after 2" bell tech shackles installed. I installed the 2 deg bell tech shims between the bottom leaf spring and the stock shim. the stock shim needs to stay in place in order to fasten the leaf springs together. It serves as a washer. I just test drove my truck and it deams smooth so I'll give an update when i have a chance to drive it more.

Frank

 

OK I had a chance to drive quite a bit this morning. the 60-70mph shimmy I used to have seems to be gone but now I seem to have a vibration at 25mph and 45 mph. It seems more like a vibration than a shimmy. It used to kinda shake at 65 mph but now it resonates a tighter vibration at lower speeds. Anyone have any thoughts? Is there a way to check pnion angle without special equipment? mabey 2 degrees took it too far?

Thanks

Frank

 

Let me make absolutely sure there is no confusion here. Do not remove the stock shims from your leaf packs!. It is essential that they stay in place. They serve a two fold process of holding the spring pack together at the center and positioning the axle on the spring pack via the alignment pin in the bottom of the shim. I have a 2001 SuperCrew 4x2 as well and on my truck (with 2" DJM drop shackles installed) the fat part of the shim goes to the back of the axle. I can attest that this is the correct mounting of these shims since I measured the driveline angles of both the driveshaft and the pinion both before and after installation. With the shims installed as I've mentioned, the stock driveline angles are maintained with a deviation of <= .5 degrees. I've tested my truck at speeds from 0 to 100mph (legally of course!) with no knocks or vibrations evident. As was noted earlier in this thread, make absolutely sure you torque the ubolts evenly (in a cross pattern) and to the proper torque spec (I think 150 ft lbs). If you follow this process you shouldn't have any issues.

 

Big deal, thanks for the clarification. I spun my shims fat side to the back and obtained a 1 degree downward pinion angle. It seems pretty smooth. I'm gonna get my tires road force balanced to see if it helps out any. I have just a tad of a shake at 75mph. I'm not sure what else to check to obtain driveline bliss. lol

Thanks again

Frank

 

No sweat! Glad to have been of help. Hopefully after the balancing session your truck will run out as smooth as glass. Take care.

 

Ok heres an update, I had a road force balance done yesterday. Got it done for $60 wich is very cheap for this. It seems over all smoother thru all rpms and speeds but I still have a shimmy while going 65 mph - 75 mph but only under a slight load. I'm not sure if its tranny or mabey a bad spark plug or something. I think it may be tranny because it only happens in 3rd or OD. I only have 15k on my fluid but this is prob what I will check next. I've heard it could be an exhaust resonation also.

Frank