Who has the best lift out there? What would be the best lift height for a durango so it's not to tipsy? I already have a 3" body lift and it feels a little top heavy. Maybe I should go with wider tires, the only problem with that is I get a tire rub on hard turns with the right front wheel on my chassis. Has anyone heard of converting the front suspension to a coil spring and shocks? Would the dakota front suspension fit on a durango?
thanks for any replies

 

I'm gonna need more info, what year, 4wd or 2wd that stuff is important.

 

i have a 99 4wd

 

From what I understand the Dakota suspension is the exact same thing as the Durango's. Coils won't work without a Solid-axle, because the half-shafts will get in the way, the A-Arms aren't big enough to offset the coils like a HMMWV, and still get a halfshaft to go through.

There are a couple of different lift options. 1.) Rancho makes a 3-inch lift-kit, probably the most durable on the market, and Rancho has a great reputation. 2.) Tuff Country has a 5.5" lift, but I have heard horror stories about the front suspension failing with those kits during heavy 4-wheeling. and 3.) Truckin Suspensions makes a 4.5", 6.5" and 9.5" suspension lift, but I have also heard that they are very weak and won't stand up to serious 4-wheeling.

Me personally, I'm going with the Rancho 3" Suspension Lift because it is the only one that I feel will be able to handle the off-roading that I will be doing, and I won't need much more lift than that for the trails that I woll be going on.

Any SUV is going to be very top-heavy when you lift it, just because there is so much weight up high to begin with, you just have to adjust your driving habits accordingly

 

thanks for the advice and info. I guess rancho has a monopoly on the durango scene.
If you go with the rancho would you go with new leaf springs or keep your old ones?

 

u should get new springs for the front. i think it is illegal in all 50 states to us lift blocks on the front springs. they r ok on the back. every kit i ever got had new leaf springs for the front

 

WTF are you talking about. The 4wd Durango has a Torsion Bar Independent Front Suspension like most modern 4x4s, you don't get new springs with the kit, they just use a drop bracket to keep the correct Stock Geometry. And even if it did have Coil Springs you don't use a block instead of new springs, you would use a spacer, and I've seen Coil-Spring Spacers up to a 3" lift.

As far as the rear suspension, you'll get shackles, you can't use a lift block on a Durango because it's a Spring Under Axle design, so putting a block between the spring and axle will actually lower the truck. Tuff Country does give you the option of an Axle Flip Kit, or new springs.

 

Saint,
maybe he's thinking it's a 2wd cause they use coil springs right? Maybe that's just for the dakota.
Well I am thinking of going with rancho too cause I think they have a better reputation.
thanks for the input.

 

I understand that, but even so you only use blocks with Leaf Springs, you cant use them with Coil Springs

 

ifs is a bitch to lift. so plan on spending lots of money. as far as the rear goes an soa conversion would be your best bet. the problem with shackle lifts is a shackle lift on stock springs will cause axle wrap and possible slipped leaves