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Andy
Dodge Dakota
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8/12/2004
21:37:27
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 Subject: gen1 droping the front
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Ok i have a gen dak a 1990 3.9 to be exact anyway i put 3 inch lowering blocks in the rear and i dont like how its sits low in the back which i knew it was going to do.Anyway I work for menikey and im a mechinc whateverim not good at spelling but im good at working on anytihng so i was tired of looking at the back being down so i pulled out the gas tourch and had a my buddy joey sit on the fender and heated the springs till they lowered and measured them to make sure they were the same and it look even but it drives very funny it wobbles and i dont like it so someone please help asap thank Andy from NJ
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Noltz
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2004
22:17:12
| RE: gen1 droping the front
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Good sir, I beg you not to call yourself a mechanic until you've gone through the schooling and taken the exam. Any mechanic would have told you cutting the springs is the WORST thing you can do to the suspension.
The fix: Get a set of proper lowering springs for your truck and install them. You need to take a hacksaw and cut about 1" off the bumpstops. Then get the truck aligned. If you have the cash, get lowered shocks too. You'll have to measure the length of the shocks you have, and find a set that are about 2.5" shorter with the same mounting holes.
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DakYoda
Dodge Dakota
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8/20/2004
23:29:41
| RE: gen1 droping the front
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if cutting springs is so wrong, why do i see the guys on horsepower tv and trucks talk about lowering vehicles by cutting the springs?
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Noltz
Dodge Dakota
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8/24/2004
00:05:42
| RE: gen1 droping the front
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Honestly, I've never seen them say cutting the springs is good. If they did, they're completely wrong. And I'm sorry, I don't want a flame war, but those two shows are almost complete garbage. They never show the relevent information or explain things properly. They're all about selling products. I love to watch the end results on those shows (I'd love to own the Bulldog-enhansed Diesel Ram), but I'd never buy it without doing my own research.
Regarding why cutting coils is bad, I'll try to explain;
Nearly all coil springs are constant rate. You can identify them by looking at the spacing of the coils while it's unloaded. If the spacing is nearly consistant (except at the top and bottom, where they sit in the coil pockets or strut), it's a they're constant rate. An example of constant rate springs: Apply 100 lbs to the spring, it compresses 1". Apply 200 lbs to the spring, it'll compress 2". 300 lbs drops 3", and so on. (This example is a very soft spring)
Rising rate springs are different. Most lowering springs are rising rate. The coils are spaced tightly at one end, and open up wider at the other. The tightly wound springs will compress easier, while the more open springs take more to compress. A rising rate spring example: 100lbs compresses 1". 200lbs compresses 1½". 300lbs drops 2", 400lbs compresses 2¼", 500lbs goes down 2½".
By utilizing a rising rate spring, you can expect a more reasonable ride quality over small bumps, but not bottom out over larger bumps.
I hope this clears things up a little. There is some argument that cutting the springs makes them stiffer. This may be true, (I don't believe so) but they're still a constant spring rate & not engineered to work that way. I'd be happy to answer any other questions.
Cheers,
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CHRIS-93DAK
Dodge Dakota
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8/26/2004
19:45:38
| RE: gen1 droping the front
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i have a set of 2" drop spidles and a set of 2" coils for sale for an 86 to a 96 dakota. Make an offer if intrested cchiricos@ msn.com
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Kev
Dodge Dakota
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8/29/2004
23:28:34
| RE: gen1 droping the front
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Andy never said he cut them he siad he heated them up
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Noltz
Dodge Dakota
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9/16/2004
01:20:57
| RE: gen1 droping the front
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Quote:
Kev; Andy never said he cut them he sian he heated them up.
You're kidding, right? So instead of a spring that has been cut, we've got one that's been heat treated. Heat treated, as in now it's brittle and can't be bent?
.... {delete, delete}...you know, I could go on, but we'd just be wasting our time. Drop springs aren't expensive, just buy what's needed.
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