Leaf spring shackle flip. Easy 3.25in lift!! With pics
 

I'm posting this in here because the Dakota 1st and 2nd Gen and Rams use the same spring hangers. The 2nd Geners can use this technique too.

I needed to match the rear of my truck to the front. So I needed a lift without cheater blocks. So a Shackle mount flip and a longer shackle will be done.

I first got my mounts from http://www.gatsbycars.com/dodge.html
The rears are exactly the same as Ram full size trucks. I can verify the bolt holes are perfect. 1/4in thick nice and strong. Easy bolt in no welding or drilling (if you want that is).

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4040027.jpg

I also got 12 Grade 8 1/2in bolts. Stock brackets only used 4 of the 6 holes. I might as well and use all 6 bolts for extra strength.

So first I started by removing the bed. I didn't want to be grinding with the grinder in my face. I was so easy to remove with a few friends to help lift it.

Next came out the cut off wheel to cut off the rivet heads off. The tops very easy, lowers to some time. Gridded down the rest of the heads and knocked off the stock mount. Then cut off the rest of the rivet body, cut it close to frame without gouging into it. Got a punch and a good hammer and only took a few hits. Each side 15mins. Very easy!!!

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4050034.jpg

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4050032.jpg

The frame holes are slightly under 1/2. Just had to run the drill to make exactly 1/2in. Dropped in the stock 4 and drill the other 2, with the mount as the perfect template. Dropped in the last 2 and tightened them all down.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4050035.jpg

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4050042.jpg

Put the bed back and reinstalled the stock shackles. For me I need more so I didn't bolt them up, just used the bolts to mock up. I got 3.25in more lift with stock shackles. I will order a Rams 2in lift shackles. The only note I need to say is the Dakota stock shackle hole is 1/2in with the thread smaller. The new mount is 5/8. The lift shackles will fix this, but if others want to use stock bolts may need to use some kind of insert to keep it centered.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4050043.jpg

Here is a before and after the rear shackle flip.

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P3300005.jpg

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4050040.jpg

Another option is just using your stock mount and just turn it upside down. A Ram owner said 2in lift.
http://i56.tinypic.com/2pqqcs1.jpg

Or use a 2wd shackle mount or the front style of the both trucks. You can cut them off of a junkyard truck. But a new replacement bracket is easier to get a hold of.

I finished up the Rear axle so I was able to install it and take some measurements of the forward shift of the axle. I'm not sure where stock put the axle within the fender well. I measured from the center of the fender well. With the shackle flip brackets I used and stock shackles I got 1in forward. With the 2.5in lift shackles I got 1.5in total.

I bought these shackles from Autozone http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=204654_0_0_

By looking at it you can barely tell that is shifted forward. My only concern is the driveshaft slip. If I were doing just the flip brackets the driveshaft would be fine even at full suspension drop. But with the lift shackles I don't have enough clearance forward for the driveshaft slip.

So I ordered these Zero Rate Add A Leafs today. They will shift the axle back 1in or 1.5in and put it to the center of the fender and give me my slip back in the driveshaft.
http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/Zero%20Rates.htm

With the lift shackles the rear is now even with the front when measuring from the fender lip. The driveway is at an angel so the front is taller and the passenger side is taller due to the driveway.

I hate to have a lift block but at least it is only 1in thick and not my main point of lift. So the leverage it will give will be minimal. And the added hight will help give the rear a better look.

I still have shocks brake lines and cables to relocate! More and More work!!

Here is the lift shackle installed.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4110056.jpg

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4110055.jpg

Here is the wheel with the stock shackles 1in forward from center of wheel well.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4110053.jpg

Here is the wheel with the lift shackles 1.5in forward from center of wheel well.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4110057.jpg

Here is the truck with the lift shackles installed. Almost full lift.
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4110068.jpg

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4110064.jpg

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4110067.jpg

http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/a...p/P4110072.jpg

Nice, thanks for the write up. Now if only of front suspension was easier to lift this might be more helpful lol.

nice dude looks like you can fit some pretty big tires on her now

those 1in lift blocks is what ive been looking for on my 98 ram 1500 4x4 it sits a little low in the rear thanks!