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QUAD2NV
Dodge Dakota
11/11/2001
23:41:47
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 Subject: An 8" 2wd Quad Cab Lift
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Hi all, I'm Dave Doetsch, aka:Quad2nv. I've got the lifted 2 wheel drive Quad Cab that has stirred a few questions in the message board. Some of you have emailed me about the use of coil spacers to gain an extra 2" of lift. I installed my set about 8 months ago and haven't had any problems so far. My ball joint angles were modified for the rack and pinion steering and there were no problems with the alignment. I've also gotten emails about being able to fit 33's on 15x10 rims and the problem of fender rubbing. Trust me, if you use 33's on the 2wd...there will be fender trimming. I've cut my inner fenders all the way to the fender bolt and about 3" up on the plastic lining. I also cut the front lower bumper about .5"-.75" in. You probably don't need to go so extreme, but I take my Dak Quad off road and the extra clearance has stopped me from ripping the fenders off. Incidently, I went to SEMA 2 weeks ago and spoke with EVERY single lift maker and asked about kits for the 2wd 2000+ Dak. Each one gave me confirmation of "something", except Fabtech. All they are coming out with in the near future is Pre-runner fenders. I'm getting the first set within 3 weeks (my Dak will be featured in the application guide for them!). My future plans include swaping Dodge Ram 2wd lift components (3" lift spindle, rotors and calipers) in to gain at least 3"-5" and run a 35"-38" tire while maintaining 2 wheel drive status. I own a small custom truck shop out here in Phoenix so getting parts is fairly easy.
Sorry for such a long first post. I hope I helped a few people I couldn't answer individualy. If anyone has any questions about anything done to my Quad Cab, just let me know. My website is...
www.geocities.com/quad2nv
Thanks again.
Dave Doetsch
2001 2wd Dakota Quad Cab - Patriot Blue
8" lift, 33x12.50R15 Swamper SSR tires, 15x10 Weld Racing Sidewinder rims and a whole lot of bolt on accessories.
www.DoetschConcepts.8k.com
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Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
11/11/2001
23:52:43
| RE: An 8
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Dave, do you fabricate components for trucks or do you only install them? I have a 1990 Dak 2wd 3.9L. I have a 2in susp lift and a 3in body lift. I can only run 31x10.50's. I would like to have a pair of 3in lift spindles custom made for my truck. I have contacted a few places about this. One place in Cali. would do it easliy but they needed the truck there. I live in Florida so thats Not going to happen. But I am open to any thing reguarding suspension lifts to get more clearence.
I have also been told by a guy here that I cant use a lift spindle and the 2in susp. lift together. He said the rack and pinion could not align properly. I thought that lift spindles did not effect any geometery with the steering. Please advise me on this.
Thanks again and I hope you can help me.
Joe E.
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QUAD2NV
Dodge Dakota
11/12/2001
00:26:15
|  RE: An 8
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Joe, the problem with the spindles is that there's at least 8 months worth of R&D involved in designing and testing them. Trust me, if I could get a set made for my Dak I would. My shop is a few miles from AIM industries (aka:Chasis Tech) and they're the ones who are going to make the spindles for my 2001 Quad Cab. The spindles will actually be a 3" Dodge Ram set that is machined to accept my ball joints at the appropriate angles. As far as a spindle not working with a suspension lift (ie: upper A arm and coil), it depends on who made the lift kit. It just goes back to if you're using different brands...are they compatible. Fabtech might make an upper A arm that lifts your truck 3", but if it's designed to be used with a stock spindle or suspension part, that is what throws everything out of wack. I had to fabricate longer drag link arms using heavier duty heim joints so that the truck would still steer right.
Just a side note. I also have a 2wd 1994 Dakota Sport. When I lifted my 2001, I tried to put the factory tires and wheels (255/75R16 on 16x8)on my 94. They barely fit in the fender wells let alone being able to turn them left or right. The 88-94 Daks just had too small of fender openings which prevents them from being able to run a tall/wide tire. Your best bet is to go with fiberglass fenders, even though they might fit weird since each set is different. I get mine soon and will let everyone know how they work out.
Quad2nv
2001 2wd Dakota Quad Cab - Patriot Blue
8" lift, 33x12.50R15 Swamper SSR tires, 15x10 Weld Racing Sidewinder rims and a whole lot of bolt on accessories.
www.geocities.com/quad2nv
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Mike
Dodge Dakota
11/12/2001
11:08:07
|  RE: An 8
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Message:
Hey Dave, first of all thanks for all the info! I've been looking into this type of set-up for my 2wd QC for months now (8" lift w/33s) and I had had some questions about a few things. I already have a 3 inch body lift and I have the Fabtech kit in my garage but its not on yet. I'm in Cali so getting 2" spacers shouldn't be much harder to find. My questions are:
1)You mentioned you "had to fabricate longer drag link arms using heavier duty heim joints so that the truck would still steer right". Where would I find these parts and what is involved in this? Will the kit w/spacers work without it?
2)You said, "my ball joint angles were modified for the rack and pinion steering". Doesn't the Fabtech kit come with NEW ball joints in the upper a-arm... would these work fine? If not, what did you do to fix this or what were the parts you used?
3)I have the stock fender flares on now, will they work with this lift set-up along with some front bumper trimming or will they need to be taken off?
Sorry to post so many questions, I REALLY want to finish lifting my Dakota but I also want to make sure I have ALL the extra parts needed to fit the 33's on without any worries. I'm just glad you pointed these problems out before I installed the kit! Please, if you can add anything else to my questions I might not know I would REALLY appreciate it!! Thanks again!
Mike W.
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QUAD2NV
Dodge Dakota
11/12/2001
19:25:00
| RE: An 8
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Message:
Mike, to answer your questions in order...
1) I contacted Sky Jacker and obtained the same heim joints they use in most of their 4wd lift kits. Mine were actually made for the Dodge Ram 5" lift kit (they're found in the lower radius arms). I used 3/4" round steel tubing and welded the heim joints using an adjustable sleeve method. Without this, I found that the end of the rack arms were angled too high and the dust boots always broke. Plus, the alignment didn't hold the first time because the coil spacers lifted the suspension beyond it's anticpated geometry. If you plan on taking the Quad Cab off-road, any hard hits with rocks could pull the link ends out resulting in a total loss of steering.
2)The Fabtech kit DOES come with new upper ball joints but when the spacer was added, the upper A arm wanted to pull loose from the spindle under off pavement driving. I used rebuildable ball joints that had polyurethane dust boots that could be easily replaced. Unlike the factory or even Fabtech ball joints that need to be totaly replaced when damaged. Since I live in the desert, I get alot of dust and dirt flung up into the components. Any type of prevention is rewarded later.
3)Say GOODBYE to your front flares. I too had them and we soon departed the first time I tried to turn the steering wheel (check all my pics..no front flares!). I actually came upon the notion of the coil spacers since I had my mind made up to use 33" SSR's on a 15x10 wheel. When we lowered the truck off the rack it looked alright, but as soon as we tested the turning radius...crunch went the flares and the fender. The resulting removal of the flares led to more trimming of the actual interior sheet metal and that plastic fender lining. The coil spacers were used to lift the front just enough to fit the tires without having to cut past the first bolt that joins the front fender to the cab. Don't get me wrong though, if you use different combinations of wheel offset and width, you might be able to run 33's with non-aggresive tread on something like a 15x8 ...but I doubt it. I still run into problems of rubbing when I'm turning up a steep incline where one tire goes higher than the other at first. This has resulted in the front fenders being pushed about an 1/8"-1/4" up!
Hope I helped answer some of your questions and just let me know if there's any others. I'll post some pics of where I had to cut the inner fenders as well as some of the link arms and ball joints. You can kind of see in the pics of my undercarriage in the "custom frame mods" section at my site. Good luck!
QUAD2NV
2001 2wd Dakota Quad Cab - Patriot Blue
8" lift, 33x12.50R15 Swamper SSR tires, 15x10 Weld Racing Sidewinder rims and a whole lot of bolt on accessories.
www.geocities.com/quad2nv
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Mike
Dodge Dakota
11/12/2001
20:32:47
| RE: An 8
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Message:
Thanks a bunch! That kind of info is golden when it comes to 2wd lifts. I have my heart set on 33's but it seems like a lot of extra work just to get them on. If I'm not doing any heavy off-roading, would you still recomend new upper ball joints or heim joints? And... just in case, will 32's fit fine without the spacers and still be able to have the fender flares on? I don't want to bug you with more questions, but your breed is rare.
Thanks!!
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QUAD2NV
Dodge Dakota
11/12/2001
21:53:47
| RE: An 8
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Message:
Mike, without the spacers you should be able to fit 32's WITH the fender flares on. Again though, as long as you use a 15x8 rim with the proper backspacing. I forgot to mention earlier, with the Fabtech kit you need special offset wheels anyway. So it shouldn't be a problem finding a rim you like that will still allow the tire to tuck in the fender.
QUAD2NV
2001 2wd Dakota Quad Cab - Patriot Blue
8" lift, 33x12.50R15 Swamper SSR tires, 15x10 Weld Racing Sidewinder rims and a whole lot of bolt on accessories.
www.geocities.com/quad2nv
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Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
11/13/2001
00:04:05
| RE: An 8
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Message:
Hey QUAD2NV, hanks for your help on the Gen I stuff. I am kinda at at hard spot when it comes to lifts. I am thinking about seriously haching the wheel wells out. I even thought about ditching my fairly new Bushwacker flairs and going with something that I can custom make. Not as clean looking but maybe my 33's would off set that.
About the fiberglass fenders. With those, roughly, how maninches bigger tire could you run without adding any more like than you have at installation of the fenders? Like right now, I run 31x1050's. If I got the fenders and installed them, what tire size could I run? Thanks for the help.
You are definitly an asset to this site.
Joe E.
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DakotaDave
Dodge Dakota
11/16/2001
23:26:54
| RE: An 8
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Message:
Im very interested in those spindles....I have a 2WD 98 Club Cab Dakota. I have been looking for spindles. I too tryed the spacers I didnt have too many problems but my suspension off road was terrible no travel and was too stiff. I finally took the spacers off and forked out the money for the fabtech suspension. Tell you the truth ... My truck has not rode this nice since I drove it out of the Lot...
I was able to fit 33 inch Tires but I cut and torched some of my wheel well away due to rubbing. They still rub slightly but I have maxed out all of my clearance. It seems im gonna have to go and Torch my weel wells away. By the way ... Give up on those Flares they wont stay on with 33's
Mods:
3 inch body lift
3 inch Fabtech Suspension
33 x 12.5 Pro Comp X-Terrain Muds on 15 x 10 American Eagle Rims
Swapped the Stock 3.92 axle gears for Precission gear 4.56 with a Dana Track lock
Flowmaster Exhaust with High Capacity CAT 3" inch Exhaust pipe
K&N Filter charged
Ignition: Jacobs Pro Street with Energy Pack and UP HILL Chip
Rancho Rxs Shocks
Aries Brush Bar with KC lights
Thanks for the info
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Mike W
Dodge Dakota
11/19/2001
11:02:21
| RE: An 8
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Message:
DakotaDave, do you have any pics of your truck you can post? I'd really like to see how it looks!
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DakotaDave
Dodge Dakota
11/26/2001
00:13:21
| RE: An 8
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Message:
Mike you can view pictures of my truck at
http://home.elp.rr.com/dodgetrucks/Index.html
any questions drop me a line
Dave
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DakotaDave
Dodge Dakota
11/26/2001
00:42:29
| RE: An 8
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Message:
Sorry mike wrong url : http://home.elp.rr.com/dodgetrucks/index.html
thats the correct url.
Dave
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Mike W
Dodge Dakota
11/26/2001
03:07:48
| RE: An 8
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Message:
Great lookin' truck Dave! I got a quick question, how did you mount the front brush guard with the body lift on? Also how much was it (Aries, right?) I haven't seen that brand before. Looks good!
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DakotaDave
Dodge Dakota
11/26/2001
23:42:32
| RE: An 8
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Message:
Mike
I got the Aries from Accessorie choice .. $300 with teh KC lights going out of business sale. ... Ill never see a sale like that again... as far as mounting the Brush Bar with the body lift ... I didnt have any problems the only thing I had to do is drill 3 new holes on the existing mounts so that they would match up to the difference from the holes without a bodylift. I torched the exess bracket off and on the two holes from the original bracket I mounted Tow Hooks..... on driver and passenger side....
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