How to LOWER your DODGE VAN (DAJIBAN!) - Tips and Tricks
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- Опубликовано: 6 июл 2024
- After a lot of trial and error lowering my own Dodge van, I decided to make a video aggregating everything I've learned from my own research and experience to save a lot of $$$ and trouble for others attempting to lower their Dodge vans! #dajibanlife
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PO BOX 1624
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
#vanlife #vans #rv #camper #dodge #ram #dajiban #dajibanlife 
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You need some of those OEM fiberglass skirts after lowering
Thank you very much for these videos, just got my van and really looking forward to getting this done. Going to be sending you videos and pics of the progress.
Thanks again for taking the time to make these.
Good write up man I am actually a new dodge van owner. I watched your videos before lowering my van and I have to admit, it just takes getting in there and figuring it out to get it done. Videos like this help but we both know that this isn’t for the faint of heart lol. That being said with all my headaches and front suspension basically just not working for my build, wanting to give up at times and just lift the damn thing tbh 😂 I stuck in there tho and I have to let you know that there is a way that I found out to get a good amount of travel space between the control arms back without notching your frame or whatever. But I don’t see anyone saying anything about it and for me it was a game changer and I was able to go pretty low in the front by doing it along with the spacing down the shock the way you did. Got a life saving tip for you one that too btw (try just using some old sockets you have laying around and have a few of that same size, maybe rusted a lil or just don’t really use that size and get two that are the same length, use those for the spacers with the bolt thru them instead of stacking washers) I hope these suggestions make sense. And as for getting the travel back. Take that strut bar mount that comes off of the side of the frame and has that kinda “s” shape to it and move it forward. So it sits on the outside of the big sway bar mount they will end up that they are next to each other it’s tight but it will fit trust me and then mark and drill a single hole for bolt to mount it off the front bolt the other hole doesn’t sit over the lc (suppose you could drill thru the strut rod some new holes that are closer and in different spots if you really wanted but it would be overkill and too much work IMO just the one has been fine for me) and you will have just your sway bar mount and bumpstop in between the arms instead of all three stacked up and that thing is thick so it gives you idk what 2” /2.5” more of travel and you have enough room to trim bumpstop even more and also you can cut down the “sides” of that sway bar mount to make the ride smoother if it does hit your shortened stops it doesn’t go deep into them and still end up metal to metal because that side part that goes up will hit with shorter stops . I can send you some pictures if needed. And I am most likley going to make a video on it so people can have it as an option and be able to have the answer because it was a hassle for me in the process but now rides so good I have all the travel I need the bars still do their thing and it’s honestly the answer I think for lowering these dodge vans. Also I have to add that you will have to cut out your steering stop on the lc, it will be in the way just grind it flat so the bar sits on top and you will also need to cut your brake caliper steering stop protrusion arm shorter I just cut the little nub off it this makes it so that the caliper still contacts the same spot just shorter but contacts the side of the arm instead of the stop on the lc for full lock steering. It works exactly the same and didnt cause me any issues and I don’t see how it could, that’s what will get your turning radius back. Sorry for the long comment but maybe people will see this till I post a video about it and it will for sure help them I know that for sure haha lmk if you have any questions on it and I can email you some pics or something
This will also save everyone money on getting drop spindles that isn’t the only way to go lower and retain travel nowwww hahaha no really tho you are going to be like dang this works so much better than having only the two inches of travel and banging frame every lil bump , I did it in my trial and error runs and the metal on metal bottoming out all that stuff but I could not drive it when I was bottoming out like that I had to find a way to gain some travel space between the arms you are a warrior for that one man haha
cant wait to get mine going!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks again for posting your experience and others for throwing in theirs. Looking forward to dropping my 98 with sky high aircoils. Not sure how much drop I will get but I bet more than 2.5 where it is now. I got KYB gas adjust so I appreciate the spacer tip. They have those at Home Depot (with longer bolts). My 98 has the Original 15 wheels, with the 235/75r15s, meh. Trying to find decent Watanabe style is not possible so I may just use black American Racing 16 or 17s. Stay healthy and will post up when I get van channel together. Looking forward to more of yours. 👍
I was gonna say, my friend just lowered his b250 van using Dakota spindles and d350 springs that were cut a little. He’s also using chevy truck lowering shocks to help with the dampening. Next time I get Down to Texas I’ll get more info.
That sounds like a good combo. Will work!
Any info on which shocks ? I am looking to get some shorter better valve rate shocks for lower ride height I have new oems and spaced like the video here but the dampening just doesn’t really handle the stiff springs i have too well
I removed my bump stops because I didn't plan on it taking 2 years to notch the frame lol and yes it bent the frame but that part is gone now.
Great videos 👍 what flip kit did you go with and what vehicle was it for ? Also what application was the short shackle you have on your van ?
Hey thanks! The flip kit is from Western Chassis, I forget exactly which one. I think it was the 2113. It was for a Dodge truck if I remember correctly. The short shackle is also Western Chassis, and it was made for a Chevy truck. As long as it'll fit a 2.5" spring you're good
This is a excellent video. Thanks. Espeically since you went through some trial and error before with shock and spring combos. Also the axle does move slightly when you raise or lower the van. Also when u lower the van u should either have the axle shortened or put in a shorter axle. That way you keeping the pinion in the correct angle.
Learned this the hard way
Why would you need a shorter axle? I haven’t felt a single issue and my angle seems to be just fine hopefully nothing comes up but I literally don’t hear or see any thing out of the ordinary with my axle after slamming mine…and you don’t bring the two points closer just lower and most likely equally or close to it for most going for a good stance so I don’t see what shortening the axle would do idk about this one…
Thanks so much for the clarification and recommendations man! Puts wind back in my sails about lowering my van! So I've combed through the forums and haven't found a good answer so far and was wondering if maybe you saw something I didn't. I've got a B350 1 ton . I know the dakota drop spindles (allegedly)make you retain dakota calipers and ball joint ends , but have you seen any info about if the spindle diameter is different between those spindles(which are definitely 5lug) and 8 lug 1 ton spindles?
Can't say with 100% certainty, but I'd say from my excursions to junkyards and looking at the 8-lug stuff, the spindles are most likely different. I'd visit your local junkyard and compare your existing with a dakota's, or think about ditching the 8-lugs and switching to 5-lug dakota rotors to match the spindles. Might be kind of weird to have mismatched lug patterns front and rear, but that's up to you to decide. Let me know how it goes!
You might be better off just going with a lowering spring to get the ride height you want on your B350 so you can retain all the 8-lug parts. The Moog 7390s have worked well for me on my 1500 and Moog also makes a 7392 which you might want to consider because your vans probably a lot heavier than mine. Another option is to look at springs out of a diesel ram truck. Hope that helps
Very good video I listen to every word I love how you talk I just would suggest no music it’s kind of a distraction but your editing is very good as well
Lol thanks. I actually do very little editing to these videos. I edit commercial grade videos for work so don't want to bring work into something I do for fun
The moog springs worked perfectly for me. Thanks! I gotta figure out the rear, where I only want a 3-4 inch drop. Sounds like I might need a flip kit, 3500 springs, and the stubby leaf shackles.
Sounds like a plan
Or just get Monroe air shocks and put a good amount of air in them. They get more than stiff enough to handle all I did plus a “leaf spring flip” not axle flip and it’s just fine and low / minor adjustments with the air…
Factory 80's 2wd half ton dodge springs work great.
I’m assuming backs, fronts or both?
PLEASE, Can you tell me some more? 80s 2wd 1/2 ton front springs lower the van 2"s ? Or ?
Thanks in advance
What are you using for a Front Lower Lip on your Dajiban...??..
I'm gonna try and find 1 at the Junk yard here in San Diego...
I'm using a lip off a 96 dodge ram truck. I've heard the lips from a ford e series van work too.
What year range Dakota do to recommend harvesting brake parts?
I would stick with same model year as your van, but 94-01
Thank you. I have a 2000 like your first one
@@dajibanlife3017 what c notch kit do you recommend for a 2000 B1500? Since it’s unibody should I get one for 1500 Ram truck?
I think most c notch kits are universal but yeah dodge truck sounds good 👍
Where can we get front springs
Moog
I got to redo my front end
Love your van!
Your driveshaft was hitting because it appears the pinion angle is way wrong.
Yes it was, it's better now
@@dajibanlife3017 Good thing you fixed it! I had mine the same way and the pinion nut came off and destroyed the rear end. But i luckilly found one with a limited slip in it when i replaced it.
Mmm LSD. I'll have to look into that 🙂
Whoops I just commented about pinion angle