2nd Gen Dakota Tech 1997 - 2004 Dodge Dakota Tech - The ultimate forum for technical help on the 2nd Gen Dakota.

Lowering a 2WD & improving handling WITHOUT airbags

  #1  
Old 10-18-2016, 07:32 AM
aaron7's Avatar
aaron7
aaron7 is offline
Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 364
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Lowering a 2WD & improving handling WITHOUT airbags

Hey guys! Picked up a 98 Dak 2wd and going to make it my daily.

I'm used to a low good handling car and I'd like to emulate that feel as much as possible.

I figure poly bushings all around, lowering springs, shocks/struts... but what else can be done with these?

Better sway bars? Replacement tubular suspension pieces?

Don't want to go with bags, like the static ride feel.

I'll need to research the optimal tire size too, those all terrains have to go!

Thoughts?

And yeah, she needs a bath! JUST picked her up!

 
  #2  
Old 10-18-2016, 05:51 PM
magnethead's Avatar
magnethead
magnethead is offline
Legend
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 7,923
Received 152 Likes on 139 Posts
Default

Sure looks like it's riding high, at least in the back.

Doesn't matter what you do, a truck will ride like a truck. You can go to a durango front sway bar and and aftermarket rear bar with hotchkis springs on all 4 corners, but you'll be dropping a pretty penny on doing do.
 
  #3  
Old 10-19-2016, 10:15 PM
Dodgevity's Avatar
Dodgevity
Dodgevity is offline
Champion
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 3,519
Received 376 Likes on 338 Posts
Default

Durango front sway is thicker? They're all over the junkyards.
 
  #4  
Old 10-20-2016, 05:44 PM
magnethead's Avatar
magnethead
magnethead is offline
Legend
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 7,923
Received 152 Likes on 139 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Dodgevity
Durango front sway is thicker? They're all over the junkyards.
So I have been told. I've not gone out and measured.
 
  #5  
Old 10-25-2016, 07:52 AM
aaron7's Avatar
aaron7
aaron7 is offline
Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 364
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Thanks for the Durango tip, I'll bring calipers with me to the boneyard next time.

Was thinking this thing was sitting high in the rear as well. Was there any HD suspension option for the 2WD by chance?

And yeah, she'll never handle like a car, but just trying to get it good as I can.
 
  #6  
Old 10-25-2016, 07:49 PM
magnethead's Avatar
magnethead
magnethead is offline
Legend
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 7,923
Received 152 Likes on 139 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by aaron7
Thanks for the Durango tip, I'll bring calipers with me to the boneyard next time.

Was thinking this thing was sitting high in the rear as well. Was there any HD suspension option for the 2WD by chance?

And yeah, she'll never handle like a car, but just trying to get it good as I can.
not from the factory, but it's possible that a PO added an extra leaf in the pack or put stiff-valved shocks in back or any other number of variables.
 


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Lowering a 2WD & improving handling WITHOUT airbags



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:21 AM.