hey guys i've been looking at buying the add a leaf kit that fabtech sells for the 2wd 97-01 kit. but what gets me is the 2wd dakota, the axel is on top of the leafs. whouldnt adding a leaf just lower the back end of the truck because of that. i dunno if im missing something or what but i dont think fabtech would make a false claim. anyone familiar with this or can help me out here?

 

With add a leaf you add it at the bottom of the leafs.it wont drop it.

 

i know with a 4x4 thats whatyou would do but ur leaf springs are on top of ur axel. my axel is on top of my leaf springs. so i still think if you add it to the bottom, the only thing it'll do is tuck the whole axel up into the frame. do u see what im sayin?

 

No, it would push the axle down,.. There-fore lifting the whole rear up.
(I have Ram 2500 springs on the front and a Add-a-Leaf on the the
back of my Ram 1500. It works out great.

 

NO it wont I did do it on my 2wd. see if you put it inbetween the leaf spring and the axle you will lower it. but you dont! you put it at the bottom of the leaf spring not the top. The axle is on top! you dont move the axle at all.
okay check out this pic. the add a leaf goes under the leafs not the axle. the add a leaf bends theold springs

[IMG]local://upfiles/70180/6955ADF07C8A4A5D9B5AD54582C9A087.jpg[/IMG]

 

$40.00 auto zone-2000 lb capacity helper springs.i put them on my '04 2wd.raised the ride hieght about an inch,but took out the wander of the rear end when you hit a bump and defintely no sag when hooking up to my boat and trailer.only down side is the wieght does not transfer when you do a u turn and step on it.she fishtails real quick now.

 

ok. that picture helped alot. now. how much longer of u bolts did u have to get to compinstate for the lift. and what size lift did u do?

 

Oh I see now. It IS different.
What about a block and U-bolt kit?
That would go between the frame and the axle the,
longer U-bolts to make up the extended difference.

 

YourU bolts only need to be longer just a little. you might get away with the stock ones. It only depends on how thick the add a leaf is. Not how much lift you get.
If you use blocks you will needU bolts as thick as the blocks are. If you have the axle over the springs. Like the picture! The blocks go inbetween the axle and springs. The blocks wont work because they will lower the truck. You would have to do a spring over axle convesion, and that will give you a lift without blocks.

 

on a scale of 1-10 one being easy ten being hard how difficult was it to install ur leaf springs?