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Lowered / Slammed Dakotas
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Broeheem
Gen III
 
4/10/2002
21:52:46
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 Subject: Irritating Hotchkis glitches
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Message:
A few months ago, I bought 18" rims and soon realized that I wanted to lower my truck slightly in order to lose the huge gaps between the top of the tires and the fender lips. Since I'm running 255/55/18's and have the R/T flares, my tires will never tuck, so a 2/3 drop seemed to be the way to go.
From everything I'd heard up to this point, Hotchkis was the best engineered system available, so cost aside... I went for it....
Now I'm wishing I hadn't.
The ride is WAY harsh. Really, I mean, if I had t*ts, they'd be on the floor by now. The rear leaf springs are creaking louder than what I would've expected from, say, an AIM product. Every stop. Every start. Every speed-bump. Squeak squeak squeak. The front-end is just as disappointing, and sometimes downright frightening. At speeds above 40 MPH, the steering wheel shakes and shudders, sometimes really violently. It feels as if a wheel could fall off at any time. Balanced and aligned TWICE, so that's not the problem.
I know there's someone else who's using Hotchkis... does any of this sound familiar?
I'm actually looking forward to buying taller tires and putting the suspension back to stock... when I can afford it (spent it all on Hotchkis, rims and tires). This blows. I love the look of the rims and the drop, but I can't handle this ride and it's accompanying loss of steering control.
Patriot Blue 2001 SLT Plus Club Cab
4.7L./multi-spd auto/3.55 LSD
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Marks DQC
GenIII
4/10/2002
22:07:48
|  RE: Irritating Hotchkis glitches
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Message:
Broeheem,
Your story is unfamiliar to me. I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble.
I love my ride! The truck handles much better. The ride is stiffer but, I rode in a Z06 vette the other day, it was stiffer than my dak. I'm looking forward to getting a better wheel/tire combo in order to make it handle even better.
My rear springs do not creek. No shaking or shuddering of the steering wheel.
During the install I called Hotchkis with a question and they were very helpful. Maybe a call to them would help, I think they take customers problems very seriously.
Hope things work out for you!
2001 Dakota Quad Cab SLT , 4.7L, Auto, 3.55 LSD, Garnet Red over Slate
Zaino, Tint, Vent Guard, Gaylords Lid, Hotchkis, Bilstein, Wet Okole Covers, Painted Grill Shell w/ Ram inserts, S/S Bumper/Valence Cover, Billet Antenna, Precision Roll Pan, APC Clear Corners, Airaid, Gibson
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Ryan
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
4/10/2002
22:30:48
| RE: Irritating Hotchkis glitches
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Message:
I agree with Mark . . I just ordered my Hotchkis kit and Bilstein shocks and I am looking forward to installing them in about a week. Call Hotchkis (1-877-466-7655) and/or Randy at WorldWidePerformanceParts.com (1-727-319-4812) . . I talked to both of them on the phone and the conversations went on for over 15 mintues each until all my questions were answered. They are both great companies and good people to listen too. They know there stuff up and down. Give them a call!!!
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Broeheem
Gen III
4/11/2002
19:22:13
| RE: Irritating Hotchkis glitches
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Message:
I talked to Hotchkis today, and have an appointment to have it looked at. It kinda sounds like I need (at the least) to upgrade the shocks (right now I have the ProComp 9000's) and have all the front-end components checked for proper TQ. The shocks are probably too long, even though the truck isn't lowered very much. Wish I woulda known this all along.... it BITES to hate your $25,000 truck.
Don't know about the squeaking yet, but I guess it'll get solved tomorrow.
Hotchkis is on top of their customer support. Other companies can learn a few things from them (ya hear THAT, AIM?).
Patriot Blue 2001 SLT Plus Club Cab
4.7L./multi-spd auto/3.55 LSD
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