3" Drop I-Beams Diaster - HELP

jaymon · Post by **jaymon** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 3:13 am

I had 3" drop I-Beams put in my 69 F100 at a spring shop with 45 yrs exp. When I picked it up the toe and camber was off, which I made him fix, ( appearently he bent them ) He got the beams locally (havent found out where yet) and they look nice, powder coated, tierod relocaters and new king pins. He also bad mouthed AIM beams. I also lost 40% of my left turning radius and when I put my new manual steering box in this weekend I realized that when the gearbox is dead center and the tires are straight the drag link is over a inch off from the pitman arm. Well no wonder I lost 40% of my left turning radius he just turned the steering wheel to the right to compensate, sounds like really bad parts to me. I am now trying to get my money back or have it put back to stock but he also threw away my original beams. What a mess huh. Has anyone put DJM beams on, ( I heard they were the only good ones ) any info on this would help me alot.

Big D's 69 · Post by **Big D's 69** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 12:43 pm

Man what a run of bad luck. I hope you get all this straightened out. I have heard good things about DJM. Keep us updated on what happens.

SmokeyBear · Post by **SmokeyBear** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 1:02 pm

Sounds like the guy has no idea how to set up an I beam susp. Even if he has 45 years of experience, he may just be a slow learner.

If the wheels are straight and the steering wheel is straight the pitman you know whatie should be too. I think the guy just took a shortcut and needs to redo it again.

LOWERED 69 · Post by **LOWERED 69** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 4:41 pm

I have a set of DJMs on my truck and the camber is negative its noticeable but it doesn't cause any problems.Only thing is uneven tire wear, but it being an I-beam suspension its not the ideal setup for lowering.If the shop heated the DJM beams and bent them dont drive your truck until they are replaced.The DJM beams are made of square tubing and are not solid cast iron like the original ones.When I installed mine on my truck the instructions stated not to heat them up under any circumstances or they will fail.But ya if the beams are made of square tubing and are powder coated grey with a black spatter finish and has red poly bushings you have DJM beams.

jaymon · Post by **jaymon** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 3:16 am

Thanks for the replys. Update - there not DJM or AIM beams but they are cast and look just like AIM beams and are made here in seattle. Have taken it back twice now and found out that he bent ,not heated the beam to fix the camber and had to grind something to do with the wheel stop to retain full turning radius. It now has near full turning radius both L & R plus camber & toe look correct. Sorry I didnt buy DJM beams and try to do it myself but I dont have a garage. I still think they were bad parts. Will have some pics soon in the gallery. Thanks again for the help.

Big D's 69 · Post by **Big D's 69** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:11 am

Glad to hear it all worked out in the end for you.

71 LONG BED · Post by **71 LONG BED** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 12:59 pm

Glad it all came together. I love a happy ending. Can't wait to see pics!

CACWBY · Post by **CACWBY** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 11:52 pm

jaymon wrote:Thanks for the replys. Update - there not DJM or AIM beams but they are cast and look just like AIM beams and are made here in seattle. Have taken it back twice now and found out that he bent ,not heated the beam to fix the camber and had to grind something to do with the wheel stop to retain full turning radius. It now has near full turning radius both L & R plus camber & toe look correct. Sorry I didnt buy DJM beams and try to do it myself but I dont have a garage. I still think they were bad parts. Will have some pics soon in the gallery. Thanks again for the help.

Bending is exactly what they do with cast beams. There are still some shops that make dropped Cast axles, Mor-drop in Oakland is one. You're right about not bending AIM or DJM, you shouldn't have negative camber unless you have shorter springs though. Something like this (the steering problem) happens and darn if I can recall details but I too had less truning one way and had to have some tie rod work. I think there may be an article archived about it.

mikebraun · Post by **mikebraun** » Mon May 28, 2007 2:29 pm

[quote="jaymon"]:cry: I had 3" drop I-Beams put in my 69 F100 at a spring shop with 45 yrs exp. When I picked it up the toe and camber was off, which I made him fix, ( appearently he bent them ) He got the beams locally (havent found out where yet) and they look nice, powder coated, tierod relocaters and new king pins. He also bad mouthed AIM beams. I also lost 40% of my left turning radius and when I put my new manual steering box in this weekend I realized that when the gearbox is dead center and the tires are straight the drag link is over a inch off from the pitman arm. Well no wonder I lost 40% of my left turning radius he just turned the steering wheel to the right to compensate, sounds like really bad parts to me. I am now trying to get my money back or have it put back to stock but he also threw away my original beams. What a mess huh. Has anyone put DJM beams on, ( I heard they were the only good ones ) any info on this would help me alot.[size=9][/size][size=12][/size][/quote]

send me pictures of the green pickup.send close pictures of the outside bed and tailgate what is the paint code on the drivers door.did you lower the truck

mikebraun · Post by **mikebraun** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:09 pm

[quote="jaymon"]

I had 3" drop I-Beams put in my 69 F100 at a spring shop with 45 yrs exp. When I picked it up the toe and camber was off, which I made him fix, ( appearently he bent them ) He got the beams locally (ha
vent found out where yet) and they look nice, powder coated, tierod rel
how did you lower truck esnd pictures of the truck

mikebraun · Post by **mikebraun** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:10 pm

send pictures of your truck

72hiboy4x4 · Post by **72hiboy4x4** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:47 pm

are you shopping for parts or what?

averagef250 · Post by **averagef250** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 12:02 am

Sometimes a please can go a long way.

jaymon · Post by **jaymon** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 12:31 pm

mikebraun wrote:send pictures of your truck

I have some pics in the photo gallery under jaymon - dropped the front with 3" drop I-beams and the back with spring hangers and shackles - it was a california city truck - stock color was yellow - it was that color when I bought it so I dont know the real color but Grant Peterson associate editor of classic trucks magazine painted his truck the same color - if you go to their website and e-mail him Im sure he could tell you

mikebraun · Post by **mikebraun** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 3:42 am

jaymon wrote: I had 3" drop I-Beams put in my 69 F100 at a spring shop with 45 yrs exp. When I picked it up the toe and camber was off, which I made him fix, ( appearently he bent them ) He got the beams locally (havent found out where yet) and they look nice, powder coated, tierod relocaters and new king pins. He also bad mouthed AIM beams. I also lost 40% of my left turning radius and when I put my new manual steering box in this weekend I realized that when the gearbox is dead center and the tires are straight the drag link is over a inch off from the pitman arm. Well no wonder I lost 40% of my left turning radius he just turned the steering wheel to the right to compensate, sounds like really bad parts to me. I am now trying to get my money back or have it put back to stock but he also threw away my original beams. What a mess huh. Has anyone put DJM beams on, ( I heard they were the only good ones ) any info on this would help me alot.

how did you lower it send pictures of truck

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3" Drop I-Beams Diaster - HELP

3" Drop I-Beams Diaster - HELP

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