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madmaxin22
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2003
19:39:17
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 Subject: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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considering lowering my 00 CC dak 2wd V6. i have r/t wheels already. i DONT want to go more than 2/3, maybe even just a 2/2 cuz i like the rear up a tad. my dak even seems to sit lower than other 2wd's daks on the road. anyways, i live in PA, so roads are horrible and i have a 1/2 mile gravel driveway. here comes all the questions i have.
i know i want to do blocks in the rear, do i need to get anything to adjust for the drivetrain angle?? will the 38 dollar blocks on summitracing.com work?? now the springs, will these work
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33582&item=1876279452
do these need to be cut or do i tell them what drop springs i want???
if not what springs can i get that are cheap like those. will i be able to do the springs w/o a spring compressor. i have a 2 1/2 ton jack, and air tools. if i do a 2/2 or 2/3, will my stock shocks still WORK. i dont have tons of money to sink into it right now. im not looking to gains much handling, roads around here suck and i'm not a speed demon anyways, or at least most of the time. thanks for any help anyone can give me
maxin
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helton
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2003
19:57:32
|  RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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First off, aslong as you stay around 3" in the rear, you really don't need any shims. Make sure you change out the shocks, Toxic Shocks are really nice. Now the front, before you do any of this, make sure you get a set of ball joints. You don't tp have to keep meesing around with them after you lower it. And the coils you get are up to you, but the ones on EBAY look pretty good. The reason your's looks like it's lower in the rear than others is because it is. I have heard that dealers have some of them lowerd an inch, as mine is raised an inch more. Also, you can goto the local auto parts store, like Auto Zone, and get your bump stops and blocks. Good luck, and hope this helps. And make sure you have a second pair of hands, it's not an easy chore, especially for someone who has never done it.
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chris
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2003
23:46:42
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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If his is a 4x2 it doesn't have torsion bars, so I don't see how the factory could have made it lower then other 4X2 dakotas. You can buy 2' blocks at any local auto store for the rear. As for the front, new ball joints like he stated, and drop spindles and springs. Shocks arn't a must have, but they do tend to give a smoother ride. As stock shocks arn't meant to have the ride height altered, and there are shocks out there intended for dropped trucks.
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n8 dawg
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2003
23:57:29
|  RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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first off....beware on ebay some stuff is good some is a scam...but the guy seems to have a good seller rating so u can try the springs.....blocks..thats up to you but personally dont like that stiff of a ride...also get good shocks.....atleast for the front...with springs it will be bouncy and will need a good shock....not toxic shocks thats what i have and they are cheap and are crappy...belltech, bilstein, or edelbrocks seem to be good shocks
u dont need a spring compressor...i used my floor jack and just let the c. arms down slowly....there an easy install...and blocks are too...shoukld take u to long to do...but it couldnt hurt to have somebody else to help u out...i did most my work on my own except for the shackle/hanger...had a lil help on that
heres my truck i have a 5/5 drop...if u have any more questions my AIM s/n is wharpig i'll be glad to help
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helton
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2003
00:28:48
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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What i meant was that I heard the dealers or factory lower the REAR 1" lower than normal. why? I don't know. But it explains a lot of trucks that are lower than others from the dealership. And I agree, don't use Toxuc Shocks. Been a hell of a ride with them so far. And blocks either. They are cheap and that's about the ride you get. What I am doing this spring is 2" hangers, 2" shackles, and cutting another 1" off the coils. You can get the stuff cheap at http://www.performancesuspension.com/main.htm. I got mine from AIM, but for some reason the web site dosn't have anything for mine anymore.
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Darryl
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2003
01:34:24
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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I have a 99 cc V-6 sport with R/T wheels (255/55/17) and a 2/3 drop,with sway bars and shocks. You're on the right track for a nice drop that handles and looks great. But DONT do it 1/2 a#*, go with 2 " coils from a reputable comp. with the 3" steel blocks, but you have to get shocks or you will be sorry evey time you start it up! If you shop around on the web for the parts you can get a good deal. If you can't afford it now, do yourself a favor and wait, until you can get it all done right....the first time!
Good luck
Darryl
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Darryl
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2003
01:38:11
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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Oh, by the way.....
n8 dawg....nice ride!
Darryl
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madmaxin22
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2003
17:23:36
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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how much would a set of DECENT shocks put me back. so i would do the balljoints at the same time, uppers and lowers?? someone point me to a quality spring that will give me a 2" drop w/ a v6?? only reason i considered doing 1/2 drop is due to my gravel, uphill driveway. + i might be selling the truck by the end of the year and dont want to put a ton of money into it, just something for the summer.......
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helton
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2003
18:43:13
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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Well, shocks should set ya back at least $120, and since you live on a back road so-to-speak, it won't relly matter the drop, unless you drop it 4" or more. You can get the coils cheap at http://www.performancesuspension.com/main.htm. And yes, both top and bottom ball joints. Now, if you need to figure out if your going to keep it or not, cause you don't want to keep lowering it or replacing stuff again anytime soon.
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Sandy
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2003
19:18:37
|  RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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Hey peeps,
I have a 99R/T. Couple of quick questions. First lowering job for me. First, does the R/T sit lower than a sport? It appears so and the 17's are so deep set, that it looks like there could be trouble after changing spindles. Second, I want to take 2" off of the factory ride. Do I need A/M spindles or not?
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Matt in Cali
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2003
20:19:29
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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if im not mistaken Sandy, the R/T has a 2/3 drop over stock.....not sure though, so i would say it sits lower than a sport. you want to take 2" off all around? if so, drop spindles should do the trick, maybe just a new set of springs might work.
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n8 dawg
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2003
20:23:30
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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thanx darryl...cant wait till i gedt rims....these lil 15's suck....but its winter
sandy the r/t sits 1" lower than sport models....sandy u dont need spidles to drop it 2" u can use coils or c. arms also....and i havent known anybody with a dakota use spindles...as they are kinda rare and hard to find for daks it seems...but know a guy with a s10 that has them and his rides like stock.....where did u find the spindles at? and how much are they? i saw a set of 2" coils on ebay for sale for a r/t i believe for $46...i dont recall the brand but might be worth a look
madmaxin22 just depends on the shockl u get...i paid $120 just for cheap toxic shocks...but after s&h and tax it cxame to $180....good shocks generally cost between $40-$70 each...just makew sure u get good ones for the front
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madmaxin22
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2003
20:38:23
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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could i just get shocks for up front and keep the stockers in the back???? i keep reading of ppl getting springs that dont give the true drop, so what are the odds of actually getting 2" out of a 2" spring w/ a v6?? or should i get a 3" drop spring and figure on getting 2 out of it????thanks agian guys
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Darryl
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2003
21:18:48
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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madmaxin22,
If you get springs make sure they are for the V-6, springs have different rates and they are application specific. I have Belltech 2" drop springs for my V-6 and it gave me a 2" drop. My personal opinion is to get springs over control arms because the stiffer spring rate with the CORRECT shocks and perhaps a stiffer sway bar will perform way better than just control arms. The stiffer the suspension the better she'll corner, not to mention resist bottoming due to the lack of travel. If you are going with blocks out back you MIGHT be able to keep the stockers, but they will be working in only the last 1/3 of their stroke, they might bottom real hard, I have no personal experience with this set up. Remember you're going to be driving this truck for a while, and nothing sucks more than hating the ride of your truck!
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n8 dawg
Dodge Dakota
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1/04/2003
02:23:42
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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i personally like c. arms better...but i had the bad experience with the coils not givin the true drop.....also it rides better to me than the coils...might be b/c djm coils are not as stiff as belltech?
also i dont really think u need new shocks in the rear...but i would suggest getting some iof not now later down the road...but u can try it....if it rides good then dont replace them...iuf they bottom out invest in some new ones....the front i would suggest getting some bilsteins or edelbrocks...or belltech as darryl said they are pretty goos
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Sandy
Dodge Dakota
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1/04/2003
16:55:56
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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I have been scowering the net for suspension. On the back side of my R/T, what is the best way to take out 2 off stock? Blocks & Shocks? That sounds too cheap.
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Lee
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2003
00:13:01
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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Hey guys.. I got some of those springs off of e-bay.. Started puttin them on tonight and it ended up RAISING the drivers side (only did that side) by half of an inch... I got to lookin at the springs and they were half of a coil longer.. What should i do? Start cuttin them down till I get the 2" drop I wanted? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
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helton
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2003
00:39:49
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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If I'm not mistaken, one round on a coil is about 2". But measure to be sure. You may have to cut 11/2 rounds to get your hight.
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jay
Dodge Dakota
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2/08/2003
15:26:17
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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First off they dont make drop spindles for the dakota. second you dont need new balll joints if you do it right. Dont take the ball joints apart ,
just take the bottom control arm bolts out, then put your springs in then use a jack to raise the control arm back up into place.And Finally ,get lowing shocks because i didnt and it sucks.
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Fenris
Dodge Dakota
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2/08/2003
21:15:42
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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Oh, if you get blocks, I suggest NOT getting the ones from Pep Boys. I don't know about the ones from Autozone, but when I looked at the ones @ Autozone, they looked like much better quality than Pep Boy's. The ones Pep Boys carries are made by American Auto Accessory, and this company doesen't even have a customer support center, all they have is a distribution center. I bought a set of 2" blocks and the quality didn't look too good. They're made of cast aluminum, and when you torque em down, they will crack very easily, almost like concrete. I had em torqued kinda low... 75lbs/ft. to be exact, and they still cracked.
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Dillegm
GenII
2/10/2003
15:46:41
| RE: lowering newb, many ?'s for experts!!
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Jay...They DO make drop spindles for every dakota...
www.aimindustries.com
and every other suspension website out there has them.
Dillegm
93 3.9 being painted Black pearl at the moment
http://www.rennysniche.com/dillegm/index.htm
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