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Tim R.
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2002
12:47:14
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 Subject: Technical question
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Message:
How can I improve the turning radius of my Dak??!! It sucks!! I can 180 my Explorer on a regular street and not even come close to the curbs. But my Dak? I have to run over both curbs to complete the turn!!! Did the guys in Detroit think all Dak owners drive 'em in the prairies where a humongous turning radius wouldn't be noticed??? Sheesh!!!
Tim R.
96 CC, homebrew cold air, hi-performance bedliner
p.s. this is, of course, tongue-in-cheek. No flames please. ;P
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Canucker
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2002
12:59:29
|  RE: Technical question
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Sorry I can't help ya, but I found the turn radius of the dak pretty good ... especially for a truck. .. My Mustang couldn't even come close to turning on a residential street. The wife's civic is only barely better.
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Nitro Junkie
R/T
8/19/2002
13:02:17
|  RE: Technical question
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my wife has a 93 corrola and that joker could do a u turn in the driveway it turns so tight.
2000 R/T
Belltech 2"-3" Drop w/ Nitro Drop Shocks
40 Series Flowmaster Dumped Exhaust
8mm Taylor Spiro Pro wires w/ Autolite 3923's
Mopar Performance Distributor
180 T-Stat
Turbo City Dual Tube Air Intake w/ Twin 5" Round K&N Filters
Speed Scene Grill
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JorDak
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2002
14:26:02
| RE: Technical question
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Message:
My old Toyota was worse than my Dak. The Dak isn't too bad.
Part of the problem lies in the IFS(independent front suspension). They usually have a wider turning radius. Trucks with a solid front axle can turn much tighter.
My old '77 Jimmy could turn on a dime.
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DaveR
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2002
14:52:22
| RE: Technical question
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Message:
The older daks have a horrible turning radius. Here is what I do in my 94': IU have a limited slip rear so I just break the back loose around the turn if it is too tight. That way the back wheels pivot around the front. Of course I check for cops first and i don't do it for very long or at super high RPMs, just enough to break the traction for a second.
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Graphite
*GenIII*
8/19/2002
15:13:00
| RE: Technical question
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Tim R., when the dakota went under the redesign, in 1997, the turning radius was reduced. Also 4x4's went to rack and pinion.
www.toilets.com
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scott
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2002
15:29:05
|  RE: Technical question
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The 4X4s went to rack and pinion in late 99 and up.The 97 to early 99s had the worm and sector.
I`ve had both and I don`t think the turning radius was any different .
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PSU
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2002
15:34:30
| RE: Technical question
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Message:
I agree completely that the turning radius sucks. Our 96 explorer could fit into parking spaces in the tighest of lots, whereas my 99 Dakota will need a 3 point to get out.
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Graphite
*GenIII*
8/19/2002
16:04:23
| RE: Technical question
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Message:
Ok educate me. worm and sector = recirculating ball?
www.toilets.com
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Todd W
GenIII
8/19/2002
19:31:45
| RE: Technical question
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Message:
My Dak has a good turning radius, it's surprisingly nimble for a truck.. but I hear that the 4x4s have a different steering mechanism...
'00 RC Sport Forest Green, 3.9L, 5-speed 3.55, Hurst Comp-Plus Shifter, Clear-Corners, Speed-Glo gauges, Airaid Intake with relocated IAT, Autolite 3923s, Ported Throttle Body, Borg & Warner Cap/Rotor, Accel Coil, JBA 9mm Wires, JET Stage II, 185 T-stat, Flowmaster 40 w/dual out
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PSU
Dodge Dakota
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8/19/2002
20:31:35
| RE: Technical question
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Message:
that is probably it. my truck is a 4x4. i know it has the recirculating ball too.
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Jim
Dodge Dakota
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8/20/2002
08:57:12
| RE: Technical question
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Message:
Compared to my old truck my 02 dak 4x4 quad cab turns great. my old truck was a 00 gmc sonoma ext cab and that puppy turned like a bus. the dak turns much tighter and its a bunch longer then the old truck.
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Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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8/20/2002
09:42:48
| RE: Technical question
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Message:
To answer your original question, how to improve your turning radius.
Short of breaking the back end loose(not practical in tight garages/parking lots), I think you have to live with it.
Tangent here:
Someone mentioned an Explorer. Every time a even see one of those UPOS Explorer Sports, I almost loose control laughing. They're not a truck, or SUV, no power, Have the tinkery rear suspension, glad I NEVER EVEN thought about getting one! They'll probably tow about as much as my wifes Mazda Protege.
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Tim R.
Dodge Dakota
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8/20/2002
14:29:26
|  Explorer rocks!!!
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Message:
Ooo. I have to take exception to that statement, Texas Todd. Unless you specifically mean the 2 door Sport model. My 4 door XLT 4X4 is the best vehicle I've ever owned and I've owned a bunch. I've hauled about 3/4 ton of stone dust and landscaping stones many times. It's been on some of the crappiest excuses for fireroads in the Shenandoahs with a full load plus snow and it handled it all perfectly. It's 8 yrs old now with 95K miles and showing some age but I have no doubts that it'll keep performing well for another 5 years/50k miles, whichever comes last.
Oh, and it has a better turn radius than my old Ford Escort!
Tim
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dakdar
Dodge Dakota
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8/20/2002
14:38:21
| RE: Technical question
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Message:
I havea a gen 2 CC the turning radius sucks . I do what DAVER does and give er' a little extra gas to spin and swing the rear around. Bad on tires but its FUN!!! you think dakotas are bad I saw a truck last week(early 90's S-10 ) that had the rear wheels moved back right to the rear end of the box a good foot and a half from their original location . There were big wide tires on it I am assuming he had a 350 under the hood or something. did a bad job on the box though it was all wavewy were the original wheel wells were
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Douglas
Dodge Dakota
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8/20/2002
19:33:21
| RE: Technical question
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Message:
mine turns tighter than my old eclipse so i cant complain. the wifes durango turns so tight that i almost rearended myself. ha ha.
to do u-turns i just crank the wheel over and stomp on it. that only works when no cops are around though.
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