Can anyone confirm that it's normal for our Dakotas to have the rear axle shifted to the right (passenger) side? Is it to help with traction during 4WD applications? I haven't found any information in regards to the rear axle shifted (or factory set) to the left. This leads me to believe it's intentional.

Looking down the side of my truck it's noticeable, but it tracks true down the road.

 

Mine doesn't appear to be shifted.

 

If yours is shifted either way, I'd say it's not original. I'm not positive, but every 4x4 Dak I've seen has theirs centered. Mine is a 2WD, but it has the same rear axle as some 4x4's (8.25") and it's centered.

 

Not the answers I was hoping for...I'll have to take a closer look.

 

Maybe take a pic or two from underneath and I can take similar pics and you can compare?

 

Thanks, I'll post them up tomorrow.

 

I won't be around tomorrow, but here are two shot I just took. Hard to say it they'll help:

IMG_1352_zpsd7c43b0d.jpg

IMG_1355_zpsfdd37c6e.jpg

 

Mine is definitely centered. How far off is yours?

 

Wow! That's weird. You can tell by where the flange on the bed meets the tire that you're off a bit.

The springs almost look bent, or twisted, from what I can tell.

My '00 is centered.

 

Yeah, that's definitely off center... I've never seen a Dakota with one like that. Maybe it was swapped from another [Mopar] vehicle with the same rear end, but offset?