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Wanna B Low
Dodge Dakota
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2/18/2002
20:55:40
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 Subject: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
I plan on getting the Western Chasis 2/4 Drop using 2" coils up front and 4" shackles and hangers out back and using Nitro shocks. Doeas anyone ou there have this setup. Any problems info or pointers you can hekp me out withe. Thanks for any help
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TEAMFAST
Dodge Dakota
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2/19/2002
10:00:55
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
I am installing the same drop (Belltech) I have had to customize my exhaust to allow for needed clearance over the axle. Im considering doing it myself. just a matter of lower ball joint removal caliper and shock and voila! As for the back, im going to remove the box so I have clear access to all those rivets. should be pretty straightforward ive done similar repairs to other trucks.
My question is this. Will I have to change the bumpstops? Do they come in the kit or what?
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D
Dodge Dakota
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2/19/2002
12:37:47
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
with a 4" drop in the rear, you dont have to
change the bumpstops. I had mine @5" for
about 6 months and never had a problem
after I put an extra 1" block in the rear, I
shaved down the blocks an extra inch to allow
for the same amount of wheel travel. you
might have to change the bumpstops in the
front to a lower profile bump stop, I changed
mine, but that was with a 3" control arm drop.
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teamfast
Dodge Dakota
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2/19/2002
19:30:39
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
Thanks G!
uhh... I mean D.
LOL
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D
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2002
02:03:16
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
P.S. If you buy a 1" block, you do have to
change the U bolts...when I got them from AIM,
the guy swore up and down that a 1" block
would not need new U bolts. luckily I finished
the install before 9:00pm and the local auto
parts stor was still open.
NEVER BUY AIM...NEVER BELIEVE AIM...
D
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Wanna B Low
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2002
17:07:41
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
Okay how about a good set of shocks. Are the Doestch Tech Nitro shocks good? I really would like a good ride rather than performance. Thanks for any help.
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D
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
01:44:32
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
doestch tech ride pretty rough...I have heard
that the belltech shocks are good(ride wise),
right now, I run the toxic shox from DJM, and
am pretty impressed, i figured cause they
came with the kit, they would be cheesy, but
so far my truck rides almost as smooth as
stock. I had doetsch techs on my 98 s10 that
was lowered 4/6, it rode super stiff but could
handle better than a $40,000 sports car!
Wanna B:
If you want better ride than performance, why
are you opting for the 2" coils, a 2" lower
control arm would be much smoother, mine is
almost the same as the stock ride, just much
lower. get the shackle hanger kit in the rear,
and all you've done is lower the stock
suspension parts, not change the spring ratio.
Even with stock tires, and wheels, I have had
no problems.
D
01/4.7/CC/DJMdrop3-6/mods.
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Dakaty
GenIII
2/21/2002
20:03:52
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
D
I am still trying to figure out the different ways to lower my Dak.
I have a 5.9 QC (heavy).
Hotchkiss offers the 2" coils for the front with "de arced" springs in the rear. (2/3 drop)
Your previous post suggested that the 2" lowered control arms would provide a better ride than the 2" lowered coils. I am primarily interested in the look and ride (in that order) rather than performance.
My performance interests lie going real fast in a straight line (not on "S" curves).
I would also like to preserve the towing capabilites as much as possible.
With my expectations in mind, would you recommend:
FRONT _ 2" control arm (How is this different/better than the 2" lowered spindles?)
REAR _ 3" or 4" shackles in the rear? (Why would this be better than total leaf spring replacement?)
This sounds like a project that I will eventually have done at a good shop (I'm in the Houston TX area if anyone has shop recommendations). However, I would like to become "educated" because most shops will "push" their preferred brand regardless of wether or not it is the best suited for the application.
I appreciate your input as well as input from others.
Thanks
Bill
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D
Dodge Dakota
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2/22/2002
12:56:00
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
2" control arms will lower the stock coil spring
mount, not changing the geometry or the
spring ratio, just the height. a dearched leaf
spring in the rear will make the rear stiffer, but
handle better. A shackle/hanger kit will raise
the leaf spring mounts, therefore lowering the
rear, and keeping the stock spring ratio. If
you're still looking to tow and or carry heavy
loads, I would probably not go with a
dearched leaf spring in the rear. Remember
a dearched leaf spring is a lot easier to install
than shackle hangers. shackle/hangers
require drilling out the stock rivets (pain in the
@ss) but cost a lot less than dearched leaf
springs. If you want to go all out, that will
guarantee no problems towing or heavy
loads, and make the rear ride smoother than
stock, then go with a 4 link and airbag set up
in the rear. You can get a real nice set up for
around $800-$1000.
I opted to change the look, not the ride of my
dakota, I have had a rough riding s-turn
carving truck before, and thats only fun on the
weekends, not during the commute to work
everyday on shyte quality streets. I bought my
3-5 DJM kit from Godfathercustoms.com for a
little over $500 (plus a 1 inch block for $15). a
proffessional shop would probably install the
kit for about $200-$300. I did mine with the
help of my brother, and his lift and air tools, it
took us a good 4 hours, drilling out the rivets
took the longest time.
good luck, remember to get a good allignment
immediately after lowering (i was lazy and
didnt, and 1000 miles later both front tires
were bald)
D
01/4.7/CC/3.55/airaid/dyonmax3"/TBspacer/
180stat/JetStage2/removed fan/DJMdrop3-6
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Dakaty
GenIII
2/22/2002
14:45:01
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
IP: Logged
Message:
D - Thanks for the reply.
I'll help me make the final decision when the time comes.
With regard to the alignment, are the "alignment specifications" for the lowered truck the same as stock??
Bill
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teamfast
Dodge Dakota
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2/22/2002
16:49:27
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
As far as wanting a system that doesnt bottom
out with a slight load in the rear, whats the
wiser suggestion? leafs or shackles and
hangers? Im looking for a 2/3 or 2/4
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D
Dodge Dakota
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2/22/2002
22:27:39
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
I believe the allignment specs remain the
same, because the geometry remains the
same, with my 3" drop in the front the camber
is slightly off barely noticable to the eye, and
havent had any problems with tire wear. the
heel/toe was adjusted easily, but the camber
can only be adjusted with a 3" drop by
removing the upper a-arms and redrilling the
holes to make them an extra 1/4" to 3/8"
longer. Make sure you go to a shop with
newer allignment racks, because mine didnt
fit on any of the old ones I tried.
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1FLAMED92DAK
Dodge Dakota
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3/06/2002
22:48:23
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
Yeah AIM sucks, Their shipping prices are outrageous also, 32 dollars to ship their springs and the TIRERACK was 12 and that was EIBACH springs they were pretty even on the price after shipping so i went with the EIBACH springs and i'm very satisfied with them.
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Quad Cab
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2003
13:40:38
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
I have 2 Q's for any body?
1. Do they make Eibach for dakota?
2. If I wanted to drop the rear 2" or 3" can I just add blocks and be done with it?
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90Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2003
17:19:22
|  RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
Eibach makes springs for dakota, go to thier site and look them up for your model year. http://www.eibach.com/ I prefer spindles over springs since you don't need an allignment after the fact and you keep you stock spring ratio. I will do springs only if I need/want to go lower. I am dropping a 318 in mine so I will probably just buy v8 springs.
You can add blocks but noone in thier right mind will recommend it, at least I wouldn't. The 3" blocks will drop the shock mounts below the wheel, which means it will be on the ground in the case of a flat tire... not good, I've also had too many of them break. This is at least true on the 87-01 models. I recommend the drop hangars only.. Belltech and Western Chassis make the best ones I've seen to date.
Good Luck!
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don
Dodge Dakota
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4/25/2003
02:08:37
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
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Message:
yeah i just finished a 2/4 drop... using chassis
tech, AIM screwed me over! never use them...
well they are cool... but go in there knowing
exactly what your going to buy b4 hand. i have
the same set up as you. but next time im
going to buy something a bit more easy to
drop... then a DAMN dodge... 12 hours later... i
finished, the backend was the hardest.
goodluck w/ yours.
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don
Dodge Dakota
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4/25/2003
02:11:27
| RE: 2/4 Drop question
IP: Logged
Message:
if anyone in az needs a drop i know of a good
bunch of guys that can help you out. MBK
Concepts... if you need more information, just
email me. good prices.
-don
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