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steveo2777787
Dodge Dakota
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3/14/2004
01:10:07
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 Subject: RE: 4X4 Lowering
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hey crashgsxr,
you said you lowered a 4x4 with a flip kit in the rear. what did you lower?
i found a flip kit for the 2wd dakota to flip the axle under the spring like the 4wds are. would i be able to use this and just do it backwards to move the 4wd rear to resemble the 2wd rear? also would i have to cut my drive shaft?
or could just get a complete rear outta a 2wd and swap everything out? ( springs, hangers, shackles, u bolts and pads)
thanks
steve
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kym wilson
Dodge Dakota
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6/20/2004
22:59:53
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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I lowered my 4x4 and the skid plate is 3 in off the ground
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Hater
Dodge Dakota
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6/22/2004
13:05:42
|  RE: 4X4 Lowering
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Why the hell would you ever LOWER a 4x4? .............. Idiots!
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F- Hater
Dodge Dakota
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6/23/2004
15:35:00
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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Guys,
I was flipping through a Stylinconcepts catalog last night and noticed they sold lowering leaf spring for around $80-90. These may be a better option than removing the top/short spring on the rear leafs - Should be able to keep stock ride with a lower profile. That combined with cranking the torsion bars down a little may get the look you want...if not thay also have a shat load of front lowering parts that may work...plus rear flip kits...worth checking out.
My question is why the hell would you want to raise a 4x4? To put bigger tires on? Stress out the U-joints? Get worse gas mileage? Look like a redneck? YEE-HAW!!!
Not everyone lives in rural america and us city boys do use 4wheel to pull thru snow and rip trailers out of the boat ramps, do 4 wheel burn outs, etc. but may never go "off roading" - There are more uses for 4wheel drive than slingin' mud, retard. SO why dont you, your gun rack, and confederate flag keep your dumb @ss comments in your "Raised Dak" forum.
You do your thing, we'll do ours (with style)
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85258
Dodge Dakota
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7/06/2004
14:58:03
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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This is how I lowered my 2004 Dakota 4wd qc last week.
Rear: Lowered ~2.25"
-DJM SH1011-2 lowering shackle. I beleive it is for a Chev C3500.
Front: Lowered ~1.785"
-Cranked Torsion Bar
I really like the looks, The rear is about the same as a Durango 4X4 and front is a bit lower. My 17s and 275/60s don't look so puny any more. Ride quality is decent, but the stock shocks are jiggly now. The rear has the same characteristics over large bumps (steps out). The front has has bump steer on large free bumps and is a bit un settling. So I am ging to raise the front back up about .25" to .5" to get some spring rate back and keep the travel from going so low. This will also even the wheel gap front to rear.
I also plan to do shocks all around, but have not decided what brand yet. Any suggestions?
pictures
http://www.pbase.com/85258/dakota
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F-Hater
Dodge Dakota
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7/08/2004
09:41:32
|  RE: 4X4 Lowering
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That looks sweet! How long did it take you to switch out the shackles? I need to do mine soon. Also, do you feel that the front is softer/more bounce since you cranked downt the tortions?
Any chance of getting your email and possible a few more pics?
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85258
Dodge Dakota
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7/12/2004
10:59:59
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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I actually had a shop do the work for me, they charged me 2 hours labour for both the front and back.
The front feels a little softer, but not floaty. I think the real problem is that the different geometry is causing excess bump steer. "Bump steer" is the toe in or out of the front wheels as the suspension moves through its ride hieght. Now that the truck is lower, the movement of the suspesnsion through its ride hieght is also lower causing causing the tie rods to affect toe more. The softer spring rate will also affect the total suspension travel.
I hope rasing it 1/4" to 1/2" will eliminate most the bump steer on all but the biggest bumps.
I don't have any more pictures yet, but if you want me to take some more I can. email me - racing at whissell.ca
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Pat
Dodge Dakota
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7/13/2004
19:14:47
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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Message:
Hey "85258" i really like how it looks, I have been wanting to do the same thing to my 03 RC 4x4. But am hesitent with turning of the torsion bars. I was wondering if any one else has heard of any company making Torsion Keys for the dakota. It will probally still result in some bump steer like you said but at least the stiffness of the torsion will remain the same.
Also where did you buy the Shackles from and how much did they cost.
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89dak
Dodge Dakota
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7/13/2004
22:02:26
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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lowering a 4x4 is defeating the purpose of having it.
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85258
Dodge Dakota
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7/14/2004
00:23:30
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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I got the shackles from the shop that lowered the truck. He has to do some measuring and search thru shackle catalogs to find the ones that worked. I am in Canada, so I recommend you that you search "DJM SH1011-2" on google and see what you get.
This is what I have figured out about the bump steer. At stock ride hieght the tie rods angle downwards from the steering box to the spindle. At full travel on a bump (wheel up) they still have the downward angle. But when the truck is lowered, start at less of an angle and on big bumps I think the tie rod gets perpendicular thus toeing out the wheel causing a darty front end. Next week I will get the truck up ~1/2" and try some new shocks and report back.
As for defeating the purpose of 4x4 by lowering it... You are ignorant. Does a Durango 4x4 defeat the purpose of having 4wd, are they useless? My ride hieght is the same as a Durango.
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F- Hater
Dodge Dakota
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7/14/2004
13:38:59
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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Ignorance is bliss.
The purpose of a 4 wheel drive vehicle is to have the ability to engage all 4 wheel as necessitated. Unless 85258 disconnect his 4 wheel it is still totally functional and thus does not defeat the purpose of having it. The only limiting factor now is that he doesn’t have as much ground clearance to go off roading. I’ve had my 4x for 2 yrs now and haven’t had it off road once but still manage to find frequent occasions to use the 4 wheel drive. I don’t think its necessary that we need to justify to you, or anybody else, why we want our rides lower.
If you don’t like it TOO DAMN BAD. Keep your narrow minded, sh@t $ss comments to yourself.
85258 - Do you remember if you had ANY bump steer before the truck was lowered? I had that problem and I think it was do to warn shocks allowing too much travel. Please keep us posted with any updates. You literally are paving the way for many of us. Good luck
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90Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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7/20/2004
14:42:13
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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I've had people tell me that I defeat the purpose of owning a truck by lowering my 2wd. I had my friend help me lower my dakota and he was telling me how it is stupid... WHILE HELPING PUT THE SPIDLES ON!!! HEHE
Now lowering a 4x4, not me man, but you're welcome to do with your truck as you may see fit! You have to drive it, not me or anyone else!
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Thats right
Dodge Dakota
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7/21/2004
11:08:28
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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Exactly!
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carmen
Dodge Dakota
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7/21/2004
19:22:23
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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you did not mention if the shop did a front end alignment for you after they lowered it. that will be necessary now that your truck is lower.
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85258
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2004
19:45:40
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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Of course the shop did an alignment after lowering. They set it with in factory specs for everything.
However, when I took it back last week to address the bump steer, they reviewed the alignement settings and changed them.
They reduced the chamber to min. of factory spec because as the wheel travels up camber increases and as camber increases, so does toe out.
They also set the toe, with more toe in to the max in the specs. Both of these helped, but did not eliminate the bump steer. It is not as pronounced nor scary as before.
I will try shocks next and see if that helps, if not, then I will raise it 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch.
A note about the shop that is doing the work... this is not the corner garage, they are a specialy shop that does lots of big power motors and lowering on trucks, SUVs and cars.
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85258
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2004
10:05:34
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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I forgot, the front bump stops have been shroten too as there was evidence that the truck was bottoming out.
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ddudeck
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2004
12:10:35
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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To:85258
I contacted DJM and as soon as I said I had a 4x4 they offered no help and said they didn't offer products for the 4x4's. Will you confirm with your shop that they used the DJM SH1011-2 shackles and if they replaced any thing else (bushings, hangers,..).
Also, ask if they are interesed in selling the shackles as a kit. There are alot of 4x4 owners that are looking for an easy lowering solution. If they advertised a 4x4 lowering kit they would have lots of people interested. I'd be first in line.
What did you pay for the shackles and the rear end work? I very interested in lowering my 01 QC 4x4.
Thanks for any info!
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steveo27
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2004
16:44:24
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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im not sure bout the gen III dakotas and how everythin is set up.
but i do know...
that you can lower a gen I a good bit. up front, i cranked my torsion bars almost 2"s. from the ground to the fender lip, it is 31"s (im runnin 225/75/15s). i plan on going down atleast another inch tho, i just need to do some trimming to the bumpstops so that it doesnt bottom out.
as for the rear, im in the process of doin it now. for the shackles, im using ones designed to fit 88-98 chevy C1500s, newer rams, and newer fords. they are beltechs, part number bel6400.
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=BEL-6400&N=120%20300253
they are advertised as a 2" drop for that truck, but they are 2.5"s longer than the stock dakota ones, so that should give me about 2.5"s of drop there.
if that doesnt give me the look i want, then im going to install 2" dropped hangers on the front of the leaves, for another 2"s of drop, resulting 4.5"s of drop out back. bringin the height of the rear fender lip down to about 31"s.
the hangers are comin from www.aimind.com, they are the 3rd ones down. they are the 87-96 front drop hangers.
http://www.truckn-store.com/product.asp?returnURL=default.asp&ID=65213
after all of this is done.. im gettin 275/60r15s, and a set of rim (just not sure what yet) so it should pretty good when done.
come check it out. ill keep postin as progress rolls on.
http://www.sounddomain.com/memberpage/605315
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85258
Dodge Dakota
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7/30/2004
18:53:38
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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ddudeck:
That part number is correct, it is listed for a Chev C3500 not a Dakota, but that is what I am using.
pictures of the shackle installed: www.pbase.com/85258/dakota
www.djmsuspension.com/Products/ProductsByMake/Chevy/C3500Parts.htm
scroll down and you will see the shackle, basically what mine looks like.
I referenced steveo27's Bell number to my shop but he tried it and it did not fit my '04. I believe the dakota bolt was to large for the bell bushing, but I would have to check with my guy. He spent a bunch of time searching catalogs of shackes for the dimensions if the bolt holes.
He did not charge me for anything other parts, so I assume he did change the bushings...
He charged me 2 hours for droping the front and the back, $169 CANADIAN. The shackles were $98 CANADIAN. The DJM sites list the shack at $44US whick is way cheaper than I paid, but he had to have them overnighted from another shop in Vancouver and I don't mind him making a little $ for the effort he put in to find the right shackle.
I would not recommend going any lower in the front of the GenIII than what I have (1.75). The geometry gets wonky and the you lose spring rate.
I am still trying to figure out what to do for shocks to eliminate the jiggly ride. I talked to Edlebrock and the tech there did not recommend their Dakota 4x4 shocks as they are valved with the ride hieght and he was uncertain of the implications. He also would not look in the catalog for a shock that has a 2" shorter stroke or ride hieght. I am thinking that may be a Durango or 2wd shock *might* offer a shorter stroke for either the front (durango) or rear (durango/2wd). I might get my guy to see what he has in his catalogs next week.
For me the hieght is just about right. I wanted a 2" drop front and 3" rear and I got a 1.75 front and 2.25 Rear so it is close. This is my company truck and I still need adaquate clearance for going onto our construction sites.
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Android287
Dodge Dakota
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8/14/2004
19:53:00
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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Thankyou for all the info 85258! I only want to drop my 03 so its level with the front. Will these shackles drop it too much? I noticed in the picture that there are two different mounting holes. Do you have these on your shackles? If so then i will use the shorter one.
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