Lift for a 96 Dakota? - Dodge Dakota Forum

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Shadow_Hawk
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2002
06:19:31

Subject: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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One of the hardest things i have looked for is a suspention lift for a 96 dakota. Can someone please point me in the right direction.... if there is one.

1996 dodge dakota xtra cab
4wd auto tranny
limited slip diff
5.2l V8
MSD Ignition
K&N injector performance kit
Morpar High performance Computer

JPM
Dodge Dakota
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4/08/2002
23:55:44

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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Trailmaster makes a 4", also bodylifts are always available. www.Natltire.com has the best prices from what I have seen, maybe im wrong?

Shadow_Hawk
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2002
16:49:30

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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Cool.... Now with the independant front suspention, I have herd that lifting it that high would put the u-joints and stuff in kinda of a bind. Would the bind be to a point that it would cause excessive wear or end up breaking sumthing in the long run?

JPM
Dodge Dakota
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4/09/2002
18:11:24

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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Well, the Trailmaster suspension lift uses new control arms that actually have a 4 inch seperator between the control arm and the knuckle, so it doesnt really give any stress to any parts, I would think, Trailmaster says it maintains all factory angles so that it doesnt cause a bind to the CV Joints, etc. I saw a 91 with the lift and crawled underneath it and everything look OK, you can read more about it at www.trailmastersuspension.com and theres a paragraph on that kind of stuff.

Shadow_Hawk
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2002
06:14:30

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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cool thx alot for the help

Walt Felix
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2002
10:51:02

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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The Trailmaster suspension kit seems to be to only option for a 96 Dakota. There are drop brackets for the front diff that drop it down 4” and compensates for the pinion angle. U-joints seem to stand up well. The CV axle angles stay consistent as long as you adjust the torsion bars to the correct height. But most people crank the bars for a little additional lift in the front. That’s when they start encountering faster CV-axle wear. I experience it with my 88 but I cranked the bars up and added add-a-leafs in the rear to get the most lift I could out of it. One suggestion to anyone who plans on installing this kit. Had a welding shop fabricate some sort of skid plate for the new cross member the kit adds. It’s low and doesn’t hold up well when whacked against rocks. I have a .PDF copy of the Trailmaster installation instructions on my website, if you want to get a look at what is involved.

Walt

New Addition to the driveway, 1996 Dakota CC SLT 4x4 with all the bells and whistles. Photos coming soon.

Shadow_Hawk
Dodge Dakota
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4/11/2002
06:28:40

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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I looked at the trailmaster website and checked out the lift. It said that the recomended tire size for this lift is a 31 inch tire. Surely a larger sized tire can go in there with a 4 inch lift. What i would like to have is 32 inch or 33 inch tires stuffed in there. Right now i have 30 inch tires in there stock and its really pushing the pack factor. I notice every once in a while my tires will rub when i turn sharp and hit a bump just rite. Now when this lift is installed and I want to put 32 or 33 inch tires on, do you think there will be some body modifications needed to get those tires in there. From what i can picture in my mind it looks like there will be. They sure didnt think people were going to lift these trucks cuz the fenders just isn't cut out big enough to handle any tires bigger than a 30 inch tire stock. Even with a lift I think it will be pushing it. What would your suggestions be? I'm afraid that if i start this half cocked in goin to get into somthing bigger than im expecting, I figure its better to get my ducks in a row before i start such a big project so when the time comes i have an idea on how to do it.

Walt Felix
Dodge Dakota
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4/11/2002
08:50:54

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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It all depends on the width and back spacing of your rims and the width of the tire you want to run. I have both the 4” suspension lift and 3” body lift on my ’88. In addition to that, I also cranked the torsion bars some. My rims are 15x10 with a 3” backspacing with 33x14.50 Baja Claws mounted on them. I rub slightly when flexing. I probably could run a ’35, but I wouldn’t be able to wheel the truck without tearing up the tires and fenders. Trailmaster is only going to recommend a max tire size that will still allow for full suspension travel WITHOUT rubbing.

Walt

New Addition to the driveway, 1996 Dakota CC SLT 4x4 with all the bells and whistles. Photos coming soon.

jLo
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2002
23:58:26

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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my truck ('94 club cab, 5.2, 4x4, etc.) is at basically stock height, and i have 31's on it no problem, so i'm sure 33's would fit with the 4" lift... rock on!

SuperBee
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2002
02:30:05

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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im wondering if i should get a add a leaf or some lift blocks under the back, have been dabating for a long time, im sure i can fit 30's as is but i just want to raise the rear up a little so it looks a little higher than it is

Walt Felix
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2002
09:12:05

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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Like I said earlier, it depends on a number of factors, including the rims and tires. I had 31’s mounted on a set of 15x8 rims with a 3-1/2” backspacing. The truck had a 3” body lift and cranked bars and I rubbed slightly when turning. 31’s will probably fit fine with rims with a stock width and backspacing on the street. You may get some slight rubbing on the frame when off-road. Change one of those variables and you will most likely rub. The Trailmaster kit requires replacing the rims with ones that have no more than a 4-1/8” backspacing which is a very different dimensions than the stock rims, which have a strong positive offset. The more negative the offset, the more likely it will rub on the lower, rear edge of the fender. Combine that with increased width, since most people upgrade from the stock 7” width to an 8” or 10”, Rubbing becomes a factor.

Walt

SuperBee
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2002
12:36:02

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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im in need of some new rims, mine are the stock magnum 5 spoke wheels and are getting in rough shape, i want some nice new shiney ones (hehehe) but i dont want to spend THAT much on them, i really like the AR-39 but i dont liek the price, and i was thinking about not a huge backspacing because it would jsut trhow crap all over my truck without putting on some wider fender flares and the winter would suck getting salt all over everything

what size BFG did you have on there when you still had the stock rims and everything, i saw pictures of it at a truck show on your site with the stock rims and no body lift

Walt Felix
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2002
13:54:02

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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I don’t remember what size they were. I want to say they were 235/70/R15 but it’s been so long, I don’t recall. I could go out and look in the garage when I get home. I still have them in there, mounted on the stock rims.

Walt

SuperBee
Dodge Dakota
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4/16/2002
01:14:13

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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those are 28"?
thats the size i have on mine, but i want some BFGs and want to know how big i can go with that specific brand

SuperBee
Dodge Dakota
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4/18/2002
02:37:33

RE: Lift for a 96 Dakota?
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any such luck finding time to look walt?
oh well, im not getting them for a few months anyway :-)

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