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Broeheem
Gen III
8/15/2001
15:00:39
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 Subject: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
I'm betting that one of you has the answer to this one....
What, if anything, is the difference between the suspension configuration on a 2WD Club Cab on 2001's and 97 - 2000's?
I've been trying for weeks to buy a set of performance shocks for a 2001, and I've settled on the Explorer ProComp ES9000's, but I can't find a distributor who has these shocks listed for my year.
I've called DC parts as well as service departments at several dealers, and the answer is always the same.... "I don't know".
The DC part numbers have changed from 2000 to 2001, but nobody can say what the difference is.
Any ideas?
Patriot Blue 2001 SLT Plus Club Cab
4.7L./multi-spd auto/3.55 LSD
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Dakota 2 Time
Dodge Dakota
8/15/2001
16:41:45
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
The only difference I know of is from 98 to 99. (I think) That is when they switched from recirculating ball to rack and pinion steering.
Don't know of any changed from 00 to 01. I have a 97 and an 01 and I can't see any difference on the shocks. Just the steering. Just put some Edelbrocks on my 97.
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y22man
Dodge Dakota
8/15/2001
17:04:54
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
how do you like those edelbrocks?
Jay
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Hawkeye
Gen III
8/15/2001
19:27:10
|  RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
The steering change took place starting on the 2000's. 97 to 99 are the same.
'00 QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
32x11.50 BFG AT's
Urban Warrior
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CW
Dodge Dakota
8/15/2001
19:34:08
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
The 2WD always have had rack and pinion steering, they changed to the rack in the 4x4s in 2000. I don't think there is a change in suspention. It's just that your truck is still very new and there probably no listings for it in many aftermarket parts.
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Hawkeye
Gen III
8/15/2001
19:48:49
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
That must be a Dak thing, because the 99 2wd Durango's have a centerlink setup. We have a 99 4x4 Durango and remember looking at the steering on the 2wd ones thinking of doing a Fabtech susp lift and makng a pre-runner out of it but we went with a 4x4 instead. (unless my mind is really going on me, which is always a possibility.)
'00 QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
32x11.50 BFG AT's
Urban Warrior
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Dakota 2 Time
Dodge Dakota
8/15/2001
20:05:41
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
CW you are wrong. The 97 and 98 have recirculating ball. I know I have a 97 and know what I have. I know what my steering linkage looks like on both trucks . Plus I can feel the difference in the way they drive. The rack and pinion was first introduced in 98 on the R/T and then in 99 on all of the 2 wheel drives. The 4X4 I know nothing about. But I know the 2 wheel drive. You can varify this by finding back issues of the "first drive" test reports from when the R/T was not yet released to the public.
Y22 man, too soon to rate the Edelbrocks. Just put them on last week and my drives the 97 most f the time. The normal handling seems to be fine. I want to test them out on some potholes and speed bumps to test out the inertia valve deal. I 'll report back when I have more travel time on them.
Needless to say, even though mine are basically stock I have been "into" them since the new style was introduced. Modifications will come as parts wear out.
Anyway, I suspect that the reason you can't fnd part listings for a 01 is simply that most don't need to be replaced yet so manufacturers haven't cataloged them yet. With the exception of the steering I can see no different in the suspensions of my 97 and 01 The shocks look exactly the same. Same diameter, length and fittings. When I changed my 97 I went under my 01 to compare just because I'm nosy.
97 CC SLT 5.2 Auto 3.55 Brillant Blue/Silver
01 CC SLT 4.7 Auto 3.92 LSD Flame Red/Silver
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CW
Dodge Dakota
8/15/2001
20:57:27
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
I am not wrong my dad has a 98'and a 95' 2wd and they both have a rack I know for sure. Further more there was a recall on some of the earlier Dakotas for cracking in the frame area around the rack mount, I know because I performed many of these recalls.
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Aaro
Dodge Dakota
8/15/2001
22:46:58
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
The Edelbrocks are great shocks!!!!!!!!good road feel but don't beat you up on big bumps they do what Edelbrock claims.
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Aaro
Dodge Dakota
8/15/2001
23:00:54
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
2wd 1987-2001=rack & pinon, 4wd 1987-1999 recirculating ball, 4wd 2000 and up rack. He is not wrong!
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Dakota 2 Time
Dodge Dakota
8/16/2001
06:41:46
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
CW look again!. I KNOW the 97 and 98 have Recirculating ball. Look in the factory service manual.
I guess you don't know what the difference is? Crawl under and take a look. The difference is obvious.
Like I said, I have a 97 with recirculating ball and in 98 when the R/T came out it was the 1st Dakota to use rack and pinion. This turned out to be sucessful plus cheaper to put in so in 99 they put rack and pinion on all Dakotas (At least 2 wheel drive).
Quite frankly, if you are trying to argue the point because you think rack and pinion is better, not necessarily so. It is just more compact and cheaper. Just like struts are from a manufacturing standpoint.
97 CC SLT 5.2 Auto 3.55 Brillant Blue/Silver
01 CC SLT 4.7 Auto 3.92 LSD Flame Red/Silver
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CW
Dodge Dakota
8/16/2001
09:23:17
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
Thankyou Aaro. Thats what I was sure of. I do know what the difference is I happen to be a Chrysler tech for the past 7 years.
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Pete
Dodge Dakota
8/16/2001
09:27:34
|  RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
i have to put in my 2 cents....
ive got a 97 2wd Dakota, and i was recently at a dealership looking at newer Dakotas, and noticed the front suspension looked different than mine - the upper arm on my truck mounts to the top of the frame, while the Dakota at the dealership looked like it mounted to the side of the frame....
is this a 2x4 vs. 4x4 difference?
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Dakota 2 Time
Dodge Dakota
8/17/2001
21:27:46
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
I suggest checking with DC. 2 wheel drive Dakotas 98 and 97 are recirculating ball. They changed to Rack and pinion after ythe R/T was introduced. If you don't believe me, come out to Fremont California and I will show you a 97 and and 01 and you can see the difference for yourself.
And don't think my 97 is an early one because the paint is the Brillant Blue which was a late introduction. Truck built in May 97.
And CW if you are a Chrysler tech and you can't tell the difference, well, now I know why Chrysler service departments are so bad.
97 CC SLT 5.2 Auto 3.55 Brillant Blue/Silver
01 CC SLT 4.7 Auto 3.92 LSD Flame Red/Silver
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kota on 20s
Dodge Dakota
8/17/2001
21:48:51
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
dakota 2 time, the 98 2 wheel drive has a rack and pinion steering. i should know i look at it every time i change my oil. only the 4x4's had the recirculating ball.
The R/T's had no influence on their decision to change the 4x4's over to the R&P.
ERic
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Dakota @ Time
Dodge Dakota
8/18/2001
04:53:16
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
kota on 20s. First check back articles in all of the mags from when Dodge Had the R/T as a Concept and was teasing everyone with whether it was going into production. After that then comment. I know nothing about the 4X4s and fon't know or care what they use. They just ain't my bag.
I know eactly what is on my 97. It is recirculating ball. When I changed the shocks last week I also did a lube job. I was also thinking about my old 69 Super Bee and how similar the Dalota is to it in many ways, except of course that the Dakota (2 wheel) does not have torsion bars. Oh well, maybe some day Dodge will "Rediscover" how great those were.
I also spent some time under my 01 recently when I gave it it's 1st oil change. Love the fact you can reach the filter on the 4.7, right up front. But I digress. I was even thinking about how easy it wasto see why Dodge wanted to use the rack. It is so much cheaper in costs plus installing it at the factory is a snap.
From a handling standpoint, I notice more differences coming from use of different tires than I notice from the types of steering.
Simply put and I'll end it her. I have a 97 2 wheel drive with recirculating ball, even the original brochure (which I still have along with the windoew sticker) andf an 01 2 wheel drive with rack and pinion (and also the 01 brochure and window sticker).
BTW, the sticker price and my real price both for the 01 was less than the 97 and both ordered almost exactly alike. Only option different is no factory alarm on the 97.
97 CC SLT 5.2 Auto 3.55 Brillant Blue/Silver
01 CC SLT 4.7 Auto 3.92 LSD Flame Red/Silver
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kota on 20s
Dodge Dakota
8/18/2001
12:58:28
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
IP: Logged
Message:
well my 98 has a rack & pinion, they must have changed in 98 on the 2WD.
also the R/T came out in 98, so how could it have any influence on the regular daks in 98? its not like they made a special prototype of the R/T, they just stuck a 360 from a ram in it. i did see one early one with 17x10" rims on it, but they were disgarded for the 17x9's.
Eric
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CW
Dodge Dakota
8/19/2001
20:37:53
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
IP: Logged
Message:
Hey two timing dakota, here is a incident report that preceded the recall on the first gen. Daks. But since they don't have a rack I guess there was no recall ,yeah right.
http://tis.eh.doe.gov/docs/sa/sa.0003.html
Sorry bur this is irrifutable evidence.
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Dakota 2 Time
Dodge Dakota
8/20/2001
04:14:45
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
IP: Logged
Message:
Who's talking about Gen Is? I only made comments on Gen III which I have 2 of? Your "evidence" doesn't mean anything as the Gen III is completely different than the Gen I or IIs. That includes changes in streering.
As I said, anyone wants to come to Fremont California I will show you a late 97 CC with 2 wheel drive and recirculating ball steering. Just post your email here I will make arangements.
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Broeheem
Gen III
8/20/2001
05:54:20
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
IP: Logged
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Who's talking about STEERING? This thread was about suspension, and after nearly twenty posts, I still haven't heard anything difinitive.
Patriot Blue 2001 SLT Plus Club Cab
4.7L./multi-spd auto/3.55 LSD
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CW
Dodge Dakota
8/20/2001
09:22:38
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
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Message:
Broeheem, I appoligize for taking up space in your thread to argue with someone else. Won't happen again. Next time I won't pay attention to them. I will ask the parts department to see if I can find anything out and let you know.
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CW
Dodge Dakota
8/20/2001
14:15:12
| RE: Suspension : 2001 vs earlier
IP: Logged
Message:
I checked with parts, the 2000 front shocks have the same part number as the 2001 so the 2000 will fit just fine. I don't know why other dealers couldn't tell you that.
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