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Disgruntled
Dodge Dakota
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10/07/2004
15:16:34
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 Subject: Fishtails
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I just bought a new 2004 Dakota Club cab. When it hits a bump just right, the rear end wants to fishtail excessively.
Dealer checked it over and says this is normal. I'm concerned that with winter coming, the truck could spin out on icy roads.
Anybody else have this problem? Any solutions?
Thanks.
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SR
Dodge Dakota
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10/07/2004
15:36:48
|  RE: Fishtails
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Disgruntled,
Welcome to the club! I bought a new 03 4x4 Quad Cab last year, and know exactly what you are describing. Two things I found which helped considerably:
1. Replace the stock shock absorbers. The stock ones are overpowered by the leaf springs in an unloaded truck, and don't dampen rebounds well at all. Upgrading to a premium shock (like Monroe Reflex or Bilstein--reviews on Ranchos is mixed) will pretty much solve the problem. BTW. Monroe is having a "buy 3 and get one free" sale through the month of October. I put Monroe Reflexes on mine, and am extremely pleased (the stock shocks had less than 5000 miles on them).
2. Bleed a few PSI of air out of your rear tires. This helps the tire absorb more of the bump, without transmitting it up to the suspension.
Another solution, of quesionable practicality, is simply to put a few hundred pounds of something in the back (like bags of sand). This will increase the load on the rear suspension, smoothing out the ride and eliminating the rear end "shiver-skip" when you hit a bump while cornering. The downside is that it will impact your gas mileage.
Search through the archives on this board, this topic has been discussed at length in varying locations.
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Kowalski
GenIII
10/09/2004
12:20:58
| RE: Fishtails
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Good advice. As far as winter driving goes, my truck perfoms very predictably; the inevitable fish tailing you'll see with any rear drive vehicle is easy to control - no fast surprises in normal driving.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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wakely
GenIII
10/09/2004
23:47:40
|  RE: Fishtails
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I added the Roadmaster Active Suspension to my truck and love the results! Curves I used to take at 60 MPH, I can now take safely at 70 MPH. This suspension is well worth the price and time. No more fishtailing!!!
Before installing the Roadmaster, while going thru a tight curve at high speed, if you hit a bump - it felt like the truck wanted to roll (fishtail). All that feeling is now gone!
No, I don't own stock in the company, just my observations.
wakely
2004 QC 4X4 4.7L auto Sport
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wakely
GenIII
10/11/2004
11:20:16
| RE: Fishtails
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Try www.activesuspension.com for Roadmaster.
wakely
2004 QC 4X4 4.7L auto Sport
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Wal
Dodge Dakota
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10/11/2004
12:36:49
| RE: Fishtails
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easy answer... welcome to truck ownership. These aren't cars. If you have posi it's worse. This is NORMAL with any truck. The Daks are better then my old Rangers were. The good news is that after a little while you don't even notice it anymore. I remember my first drive in my Ranger in the rain on the highway and I was about white-knuckled feeling the tiny kick out. After a while you just don't even feel it. There's nothing to be worried about.
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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10/11/2004
13:29:09
| RE: Fishtails
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I've tried new shocks, Monroe Reflex's, I've tried PSI, I've tried new tires with maximum performance stats. Nothing works.
What does work is a couple hundred pounds of lead shot or Sand. Smooths that puppy out like a Cadillac. Helps with the snow too!
Dakotas bounce around more than harem full of women at Madri Gras.
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daffydak
GenIII
10/11/2004
14:06:15
| RE: Fishtails
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yep mine does it too... my old dak did it as well (98 RC 2wd auto) It is kinda scary, but you get used to it. mine has actually broke traction, even with my LSD!! I feel it the most, on uneven/rough RR crossings. I even put some aftermarket shocks (gabriel ultra) and that only helped a little....
LOL @ Mr Sleepy! a harem of women at Mardi Gras :-)
00 CC Sport Plus 4.7L 4X4 Auto, 3:55 LSD
Flowmaster orig. 40 series (2 chamber) muffler, adjusted tps to .76V, ported TB, home brew intake setup w/K&N filter, more mods to come!!!
Dan
MOPAR=More Power!!
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phillydak
Dodge Dakota
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10/15/2004
23:43:49
| RE: Fishtails
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I thought any rear drive with limited slip differential/posi-rear WILL get squirly when one wheel loses traction and the rear puts the power to the other wheel with traction. I let up on the gas and it falls right back into line.
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miguel
Dodge Dakota
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10/16/2004
00:01:51
| RE: Fishtails
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my dak does that too, it sort of bounces to either side when i go over speed bumps. It's weird and I've always wondered if it was because of my shocks. Other than adding weight to the back, is there another solution that has worked for more than one person?
Oh yeah, is it safe in the winter? all this fishtailing? what to do, what to do....oh well, still love my dak though...
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Kowalski
GenIII
10/16/2004
08:38:53
| RE: Fishtails
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Phillydak - he didn't say he has limited slip - my truck does this too with no limited slip.
Miguel - you're right, its because the stock rear shocks aren't well matched to the spring rate. Lowering rear tire pressure and/or getting better shocks will help. Do a search on this site; many have posted which shocks help with this, Edelbrock IAS is one example. I've heard one QC owner claim Roadmaster active suspension eliminated the problem in his heavier QC, it helped a bit on my RC. I did'n't expect Roadmaster to solve this problem for me though, bought it mainly for more towing control, also good if carrying heavy loads.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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DakotaOwner01
Dodge Dakota
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10/16/2004
10:32:41
| RE: Fishtails
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its a truck what do you expect. all your weight is in the front and none in the back. Drive it in 4x4 or throw a couple 100 pounds of sand in the back for the cheapest solution. The tire presure thing will work also cept it will cause your outeredge of the tread to wear faster.
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Snake
Dodge Dakota
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10/16/2004
10:41:54
| RE: Fishtails
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I put on bilsteins and the problem all put went away. Rides better too!
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miguel
Dodge Dakota
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10/16/2004
13:49:37
| RE: Fishtails
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hey snake, what are bilsteins?
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daffydak
GenIII
10/16/2004
14:04:15
| RE: Fishtails
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miguel, Its a brand of shock..
00 CC Sport Plus 4.7L 4X4 Auto, 3:55 LSD
Flowmaster orig. 40 series (2 chamber) muffler, adjusted tps to .76V, ported TB, home brew intake setup w/K&N filter, more mods to come!!!
Dan
MOPAR=More Power!!
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Germ
Dodge Dakota
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10/16/2004
19:34:19
| RE: Fishtails
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Yea it's totally normal. I find if I'm haulin a** down the road and hit a bump, the back end slides a lil bit. It's a rear wheel drive truck so you fig if those wheels are comin off the ground, of course ur gonna have a lil control problems. I guess I'll try shocks as well. And I haven't had any problems driving in the winter, well none that you normally don't have.
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Hammerdak
Dodge Dakota
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10/16/2004
22:23:28
| RE: Fishtails
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Disgruntled , this happens in any and all pick-ups to some degree. Is this your first truck?
Just don't floor it around corners and be prepared to lift off the gas in a split second if the back kicks out.
Sand(weight of any kind ) in the back will help.
Just make sure it's clean sand and not "road sand" with salt in it, you'll rust out your truck in a real hurry.
Also, you have to secure the weight from sliding around.
If not you'll end up with 50 lb dents in you bed walls.Even sand bags freeze solid as rock if it gets cold enough.
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Trest
Dodge Dakota
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10/17/2004
10:42:39
| RE: Fishtails
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welcome to rear wheel drive cars. There no engine weight to increase traction i had a 93 mustang and in the rain ti still spun like all hell (4 cyl at that) You jsut have to adjust your driving techniques to compenmsate.
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