AS for the front diff, the front axle is an open diff. The one wheel spin is normal. I had a 93, 318 Dak 4x4. As far as the rear goes, The lsd rear was an option. It should say on the sticker in the glove box if yours is still there. The only real option for the front end is a locker diff if one is really available. As far as mod parts for your truck, good luck. there isn't much out there. That alone was the biggest reason I went to a full size dodge when it was time to replace my Dakota. The idependent front axles work good for off-roading, but they have some extreme drawbacks too.

 

for things like your tail light lenses check out EBay. If you want lifts try these rocky mountain suspension or performance lifts. A lot of the time you can find bumpers and things on ebay too. This site JParts deals specifically with Dodge and Jeep Parts. Good luck, let me know.

 

Like somebody else said, you've got an open differential. That's normal, and nearly every factory stock truck is equipped likewise. Most 4x4's have open front and rear. With an open differential, both tires have power at all times, but the tire with traction ONLY gets as much power as it takes to spin the opposite tire. So if it takes 10 lb-ft of torque to spin a tire in slush, both tires will have 10 lb-ft of torque being used, and all of the rest of the power is just wasted in spinning that one tire.

I don't know what axle is under the front of your truck, probably a Dana 44 though like the 2nd gen? If so, there are a ton of options for limited slip or locker options. They're not cheap. You'll never find a stock Dakota with a limited slip front differential though, so don't bother with the junkyard looking for one. Limited slip differentials have a bias, basically if one tire wants to spin easier than the other, the internal mechanism will allow only a certain amount of difference between the two tires. Lockers bind the two tires together under power, but allow a difference while off-power to make turning easier. On a street driven truck I wouldn't really recommend a locker up front without being able to disconnect the hubs.

Your biggest improvement is in driver training. Seriously. Learn the how's and why's of four wheeling and you can do amazing things with less equipment. Your second biggest improvement would probably be in investing in a good set of all terrain or mud terrain tires. And then if you've got the budget, think about getting limited slip or locking differentials. Keep in mind that you will spend 3-600 on a differential, plus another 2-300 for install at each end. It's not uncommon to drop a grand on a single axle to upgrade it all told.

 

thanks for the advince quite helpful i thin ill be going with some nice 30 inch mudders :P

 

My truck does the same thing, but when i put it in 4wd low, i believe all 4 wheels spin. Correct me if im wrong.

 

Yes all 4 wheels will spin, but unless you have air lockers or a possi lock type axles, then when you get stuck in certain ways, the tire with the least resistance will be the one to receive the power to turn and the tires that you actually need to turn won't.

 

So youre saying that when i put it in 4wd low, and if had air lockers or a possi lock axle, the wheels would do the same thing as in 4wd high?

 

No, in 4 hi or 4 low, when enguaged one wheel on each axle starts to spin first, then the other will join in. If there is less resistance on one tire, that is where it will transfer power to since it moves easiest, which doesn't help you out of situations, because it is usually the tires that aren't spinning that you need to turn to get unstuck.

With axles like possi locks or airlockers, when in 4 Hi or 4 Low, all tires will turn at the same rate of speed at the same time. The only difference between 4 Hi and 4 Low is the gear ratio in the transfer case. Can't go as fast in low range as you can in hi range, which is good in like muddy situations. The slower your tires can turn, the less spinning out they'll do, which in turn makes the vehicle dig in less.

 

Makes sense.