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Andy
Dodge Dakota
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3/18/2002
12:49:38
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 Subject: 2 wd leveling
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I've got a '97 dakota sport and am wanting to raise the front of the truck so that it is level with the rear. I don't really like the slanted look of 2 wheeler and would prefer a level ride. Is there any way that I can level out my truck? Do they sell leveling kits anywhere? Any info/advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
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dodgeman
Dodge Dakota
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3/18/2002
15:55:32
|  RE: 2 wd leveling
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Check out www.summitracing.com www.fabtech.com www.just2x4lift.com www.truckinperformance.com www.jcwhitney.com all of these places will have what you are looking for. 2" lift for the front of 2 wheel drive is about $300 depending on what you are looking for. The only thing you need is lift springs and longer shocks. At www.just2x4lift.com you can get 2" lift springs for $119 for a set of two and $44 for each shock. Just a little over $200 for the whole thing.
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Andy
Dodge Dakota
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3/18/2002
16:11:54
|  RE: 2 wd leveling
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Thanks for the info, I checked out these sites and they didn't have what I was looking for. I don't want new springs, I have seen a website a while back with a dakota with coil spring spacers that leveled out the dakota. Unfortunately, I can't for the life of me remember or find that site again. Basically I am on a fairly tight budget and was looking for something around $100. I just want to level out the truck, no bigger tires or large lifts. Any info on cheap easy leveling systems-techniques?
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Texas97
GenIII
3/18/2002
17:14:59
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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I looked on the www.just2x4lift.com site, and I can figure out what exactly i need. Do i need to flip the rear springs over the axle? Will the new front coil springs give me the two inches I want or do i have to get a spacer too? Along with doing this stuff I will be putting on new shocks. Is it required that i also get new A-arms? Any help would be appreciated.
Drive it like you stole it!
97 Dakota CC 3.9L 5 speed
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TallQuad
Dodge Dakota
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3/18/2002
20:05:21
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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Andy, Daystar makes a 2" coil spacer for the Dakota that run about $80. That's about as cheap as your gonna get without buying new springs. You should be able to order them from a local off-road shop and I think jcwhitney.com.
Texas97, how much lift are you doing? You shouldn't need to flip the rear springs if you're just doing 2-3 inches of lift. Just get an add-a-leaf. You will need new a-arms for 3" but not for 2" or under. Hope this helps a little. :)
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Texas97
GenIII
3/18/2002
21:40:03
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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That does help me some, TallQuad, thanks. But what I am having a hard time comprehending, is if i add a leaf in the back, how is that going to raise it at all since the leaf will go under the axle? I may just be stupid and cant visualize, but its not clicking for me, but if you are sure it will work, i will take your word for it. Thanks.
Drive it like you stole it!
97 Dakota CC 3.9L 5 speed
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Andy
Dodge Dakota
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3/19/2002
09:38:17
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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Thanks again. If I were to put in the coil spring spacers would I need to do anything else to finish the leveling process? Would this throw my front end alignment out or cause any front-end problems? I've never done anything like this before so any advice would be helpfull.
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dodgeman
Dodge Dakota
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3/19/2002
10:57:13
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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The spacers will work the only reason why I didn't suggest it is because that puts alot of stress on your ball joints however I guess the springs will also do the same thing. Man once you do the leveling you will want to lift just save your money and do it right "Lift It" I think you will like it. Just my 2 cents. I will be willing to help with any questions you need to have answered that I can.
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Andy
Dodge Dakota
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3/19/2002
11:16:40
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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Dodgeman, thanks for your input. You are probably right, I would probably want to lift it anyways. I guess the saying, "If it isn't broken, don't fix it" doesn't apply to me. The only thing is that I am getting married in two monthes so my budget will be very tight for a while. I was just looking for a fairly inexpensive way to get rid of that nose-down look of the two wheelers, reminds me of pro-street trucks...don't like it! It will be this summer sometime before I get around to doing anything so I still have too much time to think things over. Plus if I get it lifted I would need bigger tires, etc. Thats one can of worms that I can't afford. Hey, maybe I'll win the lottery and then I can do whatever I want...won't hold my breath. Thanks again.
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Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
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3/20/2002
00:21:23
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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Texas97, I have the rear add a leafs and it does lift the truck some. I think it has something to do with the arch of the springs. The add a leafs are not very flexable, where the springs are. So if you add a hardended piece of metal that has a greater arch than the softer metal, it will cause the softer metal to adapt to the arch of the harder metal. maybe this is just a thought outa my head but I honestly think that is how they work. Any one know for sure???
Joe E.
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Texas97
GenIII
3/20/2002
00:25:11
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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That was about what I was thinking, Joe. The old ones are gonna have some sag, and the new leafs are going to recurve the springs. Where did you get the add-a-leafs from and for how much if you dont mind me asking? I was just wondering so i can get it all lined up for when i have enough money. Thanks.
Drive it like you stole it!
97 Dakota CC 3.9L 5 speed
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Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
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3/20/2002
00:36:12
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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Hey man, any info I have is yours.
But I dont have that much. I got mine in a lift kit from Trailmaster. It was $175 for 2in spacers on the front, rear add a leafs, and all around new shocks.
Summitracing.com has Pro Comp add-a-leaf kits that include 2 leafs, and new center bolts:
2.5in Mini/mid size pickups= $26.99
Full size= $39.99 all plus shipping.
Also look up JCWhitney.com, trailmaster, any lift co to get other prices. Summit looks good to me though. Hope this helps...
Joe E.
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Texas97
GenIII
3/20/2002
21:28:29
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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Message:
Hey Joe,
What year is your Dakota? I have looked for the lift you are talking about from trailmaster but i cant find it. Where did you get yours? I did find the add-a-leafs from procomp though, but i dont know if i want to go that way yet. What size tires are you running with your setup? Do you have any pics? I would like to see it if you have some... e-mail me if you could, I would sure appreciate it. Thanks again, Joe!
Drive it like you stole it!
97 Dakota CC 3.9L 5 speed
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Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
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3/20/2002
22:18:27
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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Hey Texas97,
I am sorry, I misspoke earlier. The lift I have is a Rough Counrty 2in spacer lift. My 3in body lift is from Trailmaster. Sorry for any comfussion. Rough Country has the add-a-leafs I was talking about starting at $29.00.
For the front, I would seriously think about going with a set of 2in lift coils from AIM or fabtech if they have em. The spacers are fine but mine have lost some of the lift so I am looking at buying new springs now. Other than that, the spacers have shown no problem. But for only a few more $, you can get full fledge lifted springs.
My Dak is a 1990. V6, 2wd, ext. cab. Just about every set back someone could have in the lifted world. I have 5in. of lift now and can only clear 31x10.50s on 15x7 Am Racing Nitros. My truck is on the photo page here, like book 12, 13, or something like that on the top row, second from the left. Its a crapy pict though. I am saving up $ to get a 3in AIM lift soon. Hopefully someone will make some 3in lift spindles also so I can run 33x12.50s. talk to you later man.
Joe E.
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TallQuad
Dodge Dakota
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3/21/2002
01:27:06
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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Hi guys,
Yeah, about the rear add-a-leafs, all they are is just a stiffer leaf which helps the other (stock) leafs hold higher. I have the 3" Fabtech lift and the rear leaf raise the back about 1.75". This actually worked out for me because it leveled the truck out even with 3" more in the front. You could also use shackles in the rear and that works too!
Hey Andy, you could always LOWER the rear to match the front! hehe... j/k! I think dodgeman is right, you should just wait til you have enough $ for a full 3" lift and you'll be happier. The truck would still look fine with the stock wheels and a lift, but, you'll need new rims with a 3" because of the new a-arms it comes with. As for alignment on just a 2" spacer lift, you shouldn't need one unless you can feel the wheel pulling, although, it's always good to align after any lift changes. Mine needed it badly after the 3" Fabtech lift! My next goal are spindles and flipping the rear axle under the leafs to get 4 more inches (in the rear only). 9" should fit 35's nicely!! Just waiting for someone to finish the development of the spindles... :-P
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Andy
Dodge Dakota
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3/21/2002
10:00:02
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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Tallquad, um, don't really think I will be lowering my back end:-)Oh, I know-I can drop the rear of my truck 2 inches and raise the front 2 inches, that way I can have a stuck-up truck! Actually, I don't think that would be a very good idea either. Maybe I had better just leave it alone or put in a 2" lift...the lift sounds more fun. I don't want to be adding new rims and very large tires to my truck. I just replaced the stock 215's with some b.f.g.all-terrain 235's and I don't want to go larger than that, so I think a 2" would fit my needs better. Maybe I'll look into the 2" fabtech kit, anyone have any experience with this kit? How about price? Thanks for all of your help, and remember, if it's not broken, fix it anyway!
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sgt miller
Dodge Dakota
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8/17/2005
12:16:05
| RE: 2 wd leveling
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Message:
i have a 2005 dakota, and i have been looking for a leveling kit that lowers the rear and not the front. i have not been able to find anything for my truck. any help would be appreciated
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