DJM cuts a couple of inches out of the ride height of a limited edition Dodge Viper with Class A parts…
Story & photos by Marshall Spiegel
This article deals with dropping an ’05 Dodge Viper a couple of inches in the front and a couple of inches in the rear. But the fact that the subject vehicle is a bright red, “big-bucks” SRT-10 is not the real story. Nor is the real story about the good guys at Pacific Muffler & Accessories (PMA) in Gardena, CA, who did the suspension modification. And finally, the “hot tale” is not really about vehicle stance or wheel clearance or “drive-ability” or any of that automotive magazine stuff.
The real story is about DJM twin tube sleeves that now come pre-drilled with threaded holes for grease fitting; the latest DJM control arms that now come with a new ball joint and “lube” boot and new DJM super-strong steel lowering blocks. If you’ve been around this suspension modification business for a while, you may remember when those twin tube sleeves from DJM Suspension had to be drilled for lubrication holes. You may also remember when tearing a stock boot removing a ball joint on a control arm was reason for suicide. And who can forget those aluminum-lowering blocks that weren’t quite strong enough for the more powerful vehicles. Installers still have to screw the zerk fittings into those DJM twin tube sleeves, but that’s because the factory doesn’t want to risk having them broken in shipping. But it looks like the technology at DJM has come a long way.
Therefore, it was altogether fitting that quality components from DJM were selected to lower this Dodge Viper. Here’s the deal. The installation involved a couple of two-inch lowering blocks to drop the rear and a couple of well-engineered DJM lower control arms to drop the front two inches. Juan Morales, the technician at Pacific Muffler & Accessories (PMA) who did the honors didn’t have to sweat tearing the stock boot or damaging the stock ball joints while removing them. The new DJM control arms he was installing come with new boots and ball joints. He didn’t have to sweat the DJM lower control arms because they fit perfectly and provided a perfect two-inch drop. The DJM kit had been engineered so it would, in no way, alter the Viper’s ride and handling. The install was “vanilla” all the way. And the result was a “mucho” expensive Dodge Viper SRT-10 that was exactly the same, just a couple of inches closer to the ground.
The photos show the highlights of the install, Check them out!
 Careful front/rear measurements are taken before install |
 Support rear axle before trying to remove the U-bolts |
 These U-bolts had to be cut off! |
 The 2 inch steel lowering block is installed between the axle and leaf spring |
 New U-bolts are installed |
 Install spring plates over the new U-bolts |
 Tighten spring plates and U-bolts with new washers and lock nuts |
 Moving to the front, loosen and remove upper shock hardware |
 Loosen and remove lower shock bolt, shock will drop out through the bottom |
 The lower ball joint is loosened but not removed |
 Outer tie rod end is loosened and removed |
 Making sure the lower arm is securely supported, remove the castle nut from the lower ball joint and jack up the control arm until it clears the spindle, and push the spindle out of the way. |
 Carefully let the control arm down and remove coil spring |
 Now is time to loosen and remove the nuts on the control arm pivot bolts. (Don't lose these) |
 Go ahead now and pull the pivot bolts out and remove the control arm |
 The Dodge factory arm (right) and the new DJM CALMAX control arm (left) |
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 Using the factory hardware install the new CALMAX control arms |
 Factory coil spring is seated in its original location |
 Using jacks and supports lift the arm and seat the lower ball joint in the spindle |
 Install the front shock in the same location |
 Double check all of your work and remount the wheels and tires |
 After - front measurement, hey it came down 2 inches! |
 After - rear measurement |
The SR-10 Viper lowered 2"in the front and 2" in the rear, looks hot! |
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| DJM Suspension 580 West 184th Street Gardena CA, 90248 |
Pacific Mufflers & Accessories |
