| From | Message |
mark mazzanti
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/03/2006
23:45:07
|
 Subject: Just Lowered
IP: Logged
Message:
Just lowered my 2001 Club Cab. I got Suspension Max 1" drop coil springs for the front ( which lowered it 1 1/2 " ) and Hotchkis rear leaf springs for the rear ( Took out 2 rear shim plates to lower it actually 2 1/2 ". If you want to lower your truck without sacrificing your ride and not having to change out your shocks. This is the way to go. Front springs cost $60 and the rear leafs from Jegs cost $260. I have lowered many trucks before and they ride pretty stiff but this rides just like stock but better handling. Highly reccomend lowering this way if you are worried about ride quality. A little lower always looks nice but if you have daily driver you might want to go this route, I know rear blocks are cheap but it does not look good with your springs sitting down away from your axle and its not as solid as direct mount leaf springs.
|
Chase
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/04/2006
22:58:57
|  RE: Just Lowered
IP: Logged
Message:
For just that little bit of difference, You should have just put a $30 block kit on the back. I lowered mine 2" in the front with drop spindles($200), and 4" in the back with blocks($30), that's more than you, but alot less money, and mine handles just fine.
|
00bluedak
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/18/2006
02:56:52
|  RE: Just Lowered
IP: Logged
Message:
where did you get the suspension max coils from?
|
Mark Mazzanti
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/20/2006
09:28:44
| RE: Just Lowered
IP: Logged
Message:
suspensionmax.com
|
N56629
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/22/2006
01:02:26
| RE: Just Lowered
IP: Logged
Message:
Mark, why didn't you use the Hotchkis front springs? I would think they would have given an even better handling package.
Chase, you might think the handling, with four inch drop blocks, is just fine but that is like a Dakota owner telling a Viper owner that his truck handles just fine. They simply are not in the same league.
|
Gears
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/24/2006
20:01:50
| RE: Just Lowered
IP: Logged
Message:
Mark,
Sounds like a nice daily driver set-up. I just took 2 inch cast iron blocks and milled them down to 1 3/8 inch. Then left the front-end stock. A 2inch drop w/ stock front-end looked nose high, 1 inch block was not enough. It ended up w/ a mild look that is just enough to make people look twice. And the ride is as good as stock.
...........Gears
|
Big Dave
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/30/2006
14:06:18
| RE: Just Lowered
IP: Logged
Message:
i lowered my 2000 Dak ext. cab 2" in the front and 4" in the rear. It sits pretty low and looks amazing, and mines a daily driver. I had it done at the local performance store. It rides like a Caddilac....till you hit a bumb. But its all good. Small sacrifice to make for amazing looks.
|
Kenkura
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/03/2006
01:57:28
| RE: Just Lowered
IP: Logged
Message:
I fullheartedly agree with N56629, there are many paths that you may choose to lower your rear, Blocks, springs, hangers, etc... all ahve a different effect upon the handeling of your truck. It all really depends upon what you are lowering for looks, moderate performance with decent ride quality, or with pure performance involved. blocks obviously being the cheapest and easyest method of lowering the rear very idea if your just going for looks, when I lowered my truck I chose to use spindles and leaf spring hangers as i wanted optimum performance out of my stock springs and wanted to retain my stiffness(clamped my reserve springs to the others) a leaf spring suspension is a variable spring rate spring based upon several things hieght of the axle off the spring contributes to this the stiffest location for the axle to be is on the spring if it is raised above (or below) it will have an adverse effect upon the springs static rate aswell as your chance for getting wheel hop is much greater as it gives the axle leverage on the spring thus magnifying its torque output to the spring thus causing it to ben in an S shap under burnouts, hard launches or powershifts which gives you wheelhop. just givin a little insight as to the specifics of the leafsprings and how different forms of lowering can effect them. granted the way i lowered my rear is not for the shy it requires cutting or drilling out 16 1/2" Rivets that hold the stock hangers to the frame. while no way of lowering is right or wrong it all truely depends on what you are looking for out of your suspension if your goin to cut through corners like a sportscar I surely would not advise blocks
|
| | P 1 |
|
Post a reply to this message:
Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages
|
