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Danny Caudill
Dodge Dakota
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11/21/2002
20:05:09
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 Subject: 4X4 Lowering
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Can someone lower a 4 wheel drive Dak? 3/5 can you use springs and blocks?
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fdg
Dodge Dakota
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11/23/2002
23:21:20
|  RE: 4X4 Lowering
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xhdgh
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Tweaked
Dodge Dakota
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11/24/2002
00:28:08
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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i am also wondering if you can do this, i want to get mine as low as the stock r/t height, can i just buy stock r/t suspension parts? or can you use 2wd lowering stuff and just not be able to haul as much, money really isnt a big thing either, just give me some input on what you think and it would be greatly appreciated, i do need to 4x4 for the snow, so i dont want to sell, im sure it would be cheaper, thanx for the info
97 4x4 5.2 manual
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molchaser
Dodge Dakota
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11/24/2002
11:21:09
|  RE: 4X4 Lowering
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It's been a "burning question" in my mind as well. Aside from the occasional flames there has been a lot of very useful advice posted here.
Here is a link I have been saving
http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/style/316.html
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2k1 R/T
Dodge Dakota
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11/24/2002
14:01:53
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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why do u want to lower a 4x4??
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Sniper
Dodge Dakota
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11/24/2002
20:16:15
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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the Durango R/T's are lowered something like 2/1 from the factory and are still 4WD....a good guy at the parts desk should be able to tell you exactly how.....
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Neil
Dodge Dakota
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11/25/2002
06:39:40
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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I have a Durango. The R/T is not lowered. It has the same ride height as the every 4x4 Durango. The 4x4 suspension is totally different than the 4x2. 4x4 has torsion bars, not coil springs. http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/low/624.html
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Knobbyman
*GenIII*
11/25/2002
10:24:06
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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WHY!? .. I've never understood you guys.. Just buy a r/t you'r only loosing 1 wheel w/ power if you do that because the 4x4's don't have any type of locker up front.
If you get a 4x4 it's not going to do much good as far as ice & snow goes on roads. Just get winter tires. That'll do alot more good then having a 4x4 would. Be ALOT cheeper to.
Well I don't know all the circum stances I just don't understand why you'd want to loose all that groundclearance.
Good Luck finding something anyway.
'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
6" Suspension Lift
305x70x16 GoodYear MT/R's
http://www.knobbyman.com
----Speed only breaks it faster----
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jdub
Dodge Dakota
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11/26/2002
11:42:54
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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since when are tires better than a 4x4 for snow? so your saying tht a fwd car isnt any better in the snow than a rwd just as long as you have good tires. great logic. who cares why they want to lower a 4x4. i have one and i was thinking of droppin it a couple inches for handling and ride quality. why does everyone think that because something is 4wd it should be 5 feet off the ground with mudders that you cant even here yourself think over driving down the road. he was just askin for info, not askin for you to tell him what to do with his truck.
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molchaser
Dodge Dakota
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11/28/2002
18:37:30
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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Why 4WD?
In my case the 4WD is to increase likelihood of not getting stuck. Under any circumstances of tires and conditions there is in improvement in mud and snow with 4WD.
Why lower ?
Well if you use your truck to carry things, which I do, than it is a whole lot easier to load/unload a lower bed and every inch helps access.
Off road is cool for those with that interest and clearance is more important than bed access, however for those in rural areas with gravel roads and snow who use our trucks as cargo carriers, a reasonably low 4WD has definite advantages
I think making 4wd the same height as 2WD is about the right "compromise" for me.
I think I am going to try the easy way and take out small spring in rear and untwist torsion arms to make it level, as my loads are bulky but light.
This will happen after Xmass and I will try to document with a few pics
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DakotaMan2002
GenIII
11/28/2002
23:15:12
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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Well this is just my 2 cents but...
4x4 has torsion bars...easyest way to drop the front it to lossen the bars but the ride will be much softer and give it that "Bouncy" feel.
Also the 4x4's don't have coilds in front so you'd have to find an easy way around thatAs far as the rear would go. You could try the "axle filp" job and get at least 1in 4x4's have the leaf springs on top of the rear axle and the 4x2's have leavesprings under the axle.
you also have the driveshaft angle and transfer case to worrie about.
I'm sure its do able but it be a heck of alot easyier if you went out and bought a 4x2 in the first place.
Just some things to think about....
DakotaMan2002
Home Brew Air intake,Relocated IAT
S-Bolt mod
Home Brew Grill Insert,Bug Guard
Window Visiors,DoorEdge Guards,Tail Light guards
Blaupunkt Austin Head Unit
Kenwood 3-ways {front},Infinity Reference{Rear}
Profile 300watt mono amp, (2) 10
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Mike S.
Dodge Dakota
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11/29/2002
01:32:10
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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Can't say I'm familiar with a 4wd IFS setup, I've
always been trying to figure out how to convert
my 2wd to a solid front axle. Here's a crazy
idea though- what about swapping in the
4wsd setup from a Grand Cherokee or
something? or a custom coil over setup?
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Tweaked
Dodge Dakota
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11/29/2002
23:27:38
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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my 4x4 doesnt sit quite level, the front is a little lower, is there any way that i can raise the front up to make level or lower the back just a tad to make it look right, let me know thanx
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Rob454
Dodge Dakota
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12/04/2002
21:40:13
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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There is nothing wrong with a lowered 4x4. you cant lower them much anyway. here is what you have to overcome to lower a 4x4 dakota you cant use any parts form a 2 wheel drive dakota to lower a 4x4 with the exception of the rear axle and springs from a RT or durango. you CAN use those for a overall lowering of anywhere from 3-7 inches. reason for the drastic lowering is your springs the axle used.
lets say you use a 4x4 dakota.
now a dakota sits 2 inches higher in the rear.
if you were to use a durango or RT rear axle with 4x4 springs youll have a good 3 inch drop because the RT/Durango axles sit below the axle tubes where on a 4x4 they sit above.
if you were to use a durango rear springs youll lowere it about 2 more inches/ I think the RT is even lower than that so youll get another 1-2 inches. its pretty expensive to lower a 4x4.
the cheap alternative is shackles but I wouldnt go anywhere more than 2 inches lower in the rear. anything more than that youre asking for problems
On the fornt suspension
you can lower it slightly to the point where if you imagine this by looking at the front of the truck
imagine the cv shafts and the frotn housing creating a straight line from one wheel to the other --- you lower it more so the cv shafts look bent at a upward angle think of it like \-/ this than you will wear your cv shafts out faster and possibly have problems with alignment. I wouldnt lower it more than 1 inch and measure the lowering from the center of the rim to the fender lip. not from the ground.
for the rear youre set with a few choices
1. take out the overload leaf spring. it will lower the truck slightly but youll loose cargo carrying cap. ride will be softer on the rear ( wallow) most liekly youll get axle hop.
2. you can see if someone has a spring flip kit. if you look at your axle youll see the spring is on top of the axle so what you want is to bring it below the axle. you can either see if someone has a spring flip kit ( doubt it) or go to a 4x4 shop and have them weld new spring perches below the axle so you can flip the springs. make sure the locating pin has a hole to sit in. the hole needs to be made in the new spring perch the shop will weld on the axle. the shop if its knowledgeable shoudl know what you mean as soon as you say locating pin.
the other option is to find a DURANGO 4x4 axle. either the housing or the complete axle.
the reason for that is the Durango has its spring pack BELOW the axle housing thus its lower than the truck. youll also need durango shocks
e mail me if you have questions
ROB
ss454454@socal.rr.com
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R/T Superbee
Dodge Dakota
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12/05/2002
19:45:28
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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I have a Durango R/T, I dropped it 2" I also did the same on a Dakota 4x4, It took a lot to figure out how but I can tell you. The Durango was easier, use a DJM 2" block Dakota R/T lift kit for the rear, since the Durango's axle is above the springs the lift kit will do the reverse and drop the rear instead. On the front loosen the torsion bars but only go 2" or it will be too soft and replace the font shocks with toxics that are 2" shorter. You also have to cut the rear bump stops. On the Dakota I had to use de-arked leaf springs and replace all the shocks, finding the right shocks was tricky the fronts were toyota.
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R/T Superbee
Dodge Dakota
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12/05/2002
19:48:35
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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Oh, the Durango only cost about $250 to lower. And rides like new.
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custom d
Dodge Dakota
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1/04/2003
15:53:53
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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I have a 98 Durango 4WD that I am in the process of lowering 2 in.. Currently, the only problem I have run into is the front end. After loosening the traction bars I will have to take it to a specialty shop to have them fix the alignment and try to bring the top of the wheels back out. I also have to take off the 20 in. rims before they can fix it, then put them back on. I'll let you know how it turns out.Also, if anyone has information on making your own sunroof please let me know.
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jordan
Dodge Dakota
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1/23/2003
18:33:17
| RE: 4X4 Lowering (PLEASE READ)
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Hey, I have a 1995 Black 4 door Blazer 4x4, I'll be getting either 20 or 22" rims soon, and i want to drop it a few inches in the front and back to cut down on the amount of space in the wheel well(mainly for looks). Can anyone please email (itzdasource@aol.com) with some help on how im going to go about this. Thank you -jordan
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Luie
Dodge Dakota
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12/19/2003
13:18:23
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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R/T Superbee--I also have a R/T Durango and am thinking about lowering it about 2 inches. I read your input and was wondering how your Durango handles around corners after loosening the torsion bars and has there been any excessive wear on the front end due to the lowering.
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nick
Dodge Dakota
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12/29/2003
23:36:12
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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I have a 4x4 dak that ive been trying to lower for a while. So whats the best and least expensive way to lower the 4x4 down. Ive heard lots of answers but i only want one "the best way"
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crashgsxr
Dodge Dakota
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1/06/2004
18:09:51
| RE: 4X4 Lowering
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I have lowered my 4x4!! 6 inches in the rear 5.5 inches in the front. Flip kit in rear gives you 6 inches. Must relocate ebrake cable and shorten driveshaft 1.5 inches. I used rancho shocks in the rear. The front I cranked the torsion bar down so the front half shafts are at the same angle just facing up not down. The ride is surprisingly good too. You must cut the metal extension for the rear bump stop off the frame and the rubber bump stop will bolt directly into the frame in the 2wd location. The front you must cut the bump stop in half to allow more travel. Use a shock in the front for like a 72 plymouth fury and it will be short enough. It actually rides really good too. No cadillac float at all. Hope this helps. I see some of these posts are pretty old it the dates are right
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