If I'm not mistaken, on 4x4 Dakotas the leaf sits on top of the axle. In that case, you just need blocks and ubolts. 2wd Dakotas and all Durangos should have the spring under the axle, which is where you need longer shackles to lift the back of the truck.

Good luck with getting those old ones off, it can be a pain. I caught mine just before the were going to rust through all the way, but I had to cut the lower nuts and bolts.

 

Ugh, that's right! I've been out of the Dakota world too long! I would just need blocks.

Honestly, the only thing keeping me from lifting the truck is buying new tires. I feel like the stock size tires are going to look silly, and new tires all around just isn't in the budget right now, especially since the Cooper's I have on it are basically brand new.

 

I used to work at an Auto Wrecker.
Some of those bolts had to be burned out with a torch.
Yup. Customers would have to go to another store and buy new spring bushings.
Sometimes I would torch just the bolts and the customer would take it somewhere to have the bushings pressed out so new ones could be installed.
Burning them out works though.

 

Yeah, I'm hoping to avoid the torch and needing to replace the bushings.

 

Stock bushings used to be cheap. No idea now. Been years.

 

Yeah same here, been awhile. I agree that it will probably look a little funny lifted without bigger tires, but I guess it depends on how big your current ones are. Too bad you're all the way in NY, I'd offer to trade my basically new grabber at2's. They're 31's and just a little too much for the little 3.9.

 

If you have the 31" tires on the 16" wheels, it looks just fine. That's what I had on mine.

 

Mine are 265/70 which ends up being around 30.5".

 

Yeah whatever it is. I had the 265/70R16s on at first, then I had 235/85R16s. Either way its 30.5" to 31". It'll look just fine, I assure you. It's not like you're lifting it up 8 inches.

 

Job shouldnt be too bad. Be easier if you use an impact gun but if not you will prob need to cut it.

For me living in the north its all about how you take care of your truck,weekly washings,spring and fall maintenance with undercoating and oil. My 02 ram has been a pa truck all its life and for 150k its about 95% rust free. I spend about an hr every week spraying off my truck and washing the underneath of it.