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Al
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2002
04:40:55
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 Subject: Hotchkis x-brace?
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Anyone know of a source for the Hotchkis cross brace? It's not on their web site. I read an install in a magazine and they said it helped handling substantially. Thanks!
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intense99dak
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2002
09:00:53
|  RE: Hotchkis x-brace?
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The cross brace is not made by Hotchkis, but rather kenny Brown. Check it out here www.kennybrown.com/dakotabrac.html
Chuck Robbins
'99 IB Dakota Sport
Visit my site at intense99dak.com
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sandman
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2002
09:10:01
| RE: Hotchkis x-brace?
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Was this install on a 4x4 or 2x4 Dakota? You normaly brace the strut mount towers on cars that are heavily loading their sus. dureing hard cornering usualy exceedeing .85g's. I bet that you would see larger improvements buy adding additional crossmembers to the frame. If you reduce frame flex all of your corning forces will be transmitted to the sus. wear they belong. It is easier to tune your sus. once you get rid of unpredictable fram flex. This is why so many tuners of unibody cars design sub frame conectors. If your truck is a 4x4 I would leave it alone. Sometimes frame flex is benifical while off roading.
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sandman
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2002
10:57:34
|  RE: Hotchkis x-brace?
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Al, I just looked at what intense99dak posted. That looks like it would work just fine. I mis-understood your post.I thought you were talking about engine bay x-brace or strut type brace. This same idea has been used on old hot rods for many many years. In the past you usualy used rectangular tubeing and weded it in place or welded hard points and bolted it in. This kenny brown designs looks like it would be much easier to work around and install.
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Al
Dodge Dakota
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6/08/2002
22:24:08
| RE: Hotchkis x-brace?
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Thanks guys, Kenny Brown is the one I was thinking of. Yeah, the idea is to tie together the frame better so the suspension can do it's job. It's a 2-wheel drive, and I'm aiming for better handling. I've replaced the a-arm and sway bar bushings with poly, changed to KYB shocks, and put on a set of Scorpion Zero's, all of which has helped, but it's still mega-squirrley on uneven corners. Next is the brace, and then if the handling's not good enough maybe the full Hotchkis treatment. I've seen a lot of praise for the Bilstein shocks; what makes them so special? Has anybody compared them with the KYB's?
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cudashoe
Dodge Dakota
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6/09/2002
00:44:22
| RE: Hotchkis x-brace?
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there is absolutly nothing out there but FULL Hotchkis. I love uneven corners!!! Those x-braces arent even close to Hotchkis. I dont know of another company that can do better than they do.
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Gary F
Dodge Dakota
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6/09/2002
15:47:21
|  RE: Hotchkis x-brace?
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I have one of those Kenny Brown X-braces. Word of warning, they don't fit properly if you have a 2001+ reg cab with 4.7L and a 3rd cat. I was dissapointed with Kenny Browns attitude when I mentioned this to them, especially after they said it would fit. I sure won't ever buy anything from them again. Piss poor customer service.
Gary F
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intense99dak
Dodge Dakota
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6/11/2002
08:24:16
| RE: Hotchkis x-brace?
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I haven't compared the sport-tuned Bilsteins to the KYB's, but I have compared them to Belltech Nitro Drops and there is no comparison. The Bilsteins are light years ahead of the Belltech's with regards to handling and especially ride. Yes the Bilsteins are a serious chunk of change, but I seriously doubt if there is an equal quality shock out there.
Chuck Robbins
'99 IB Dakota Sport
Visit my site at intense99dak.com
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
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6/11/2002
10:32:43
| RE: Hotchkis x-brace?
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Message:
I found this short article on chassis stiffening pretty helpful..
http://www.nascar.com/2001/TECH/10/24/circletrack/
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