Here is the project Dakota. 2001 3.9L Manual 4x4 sport.
some of you may have read my previous post describing the damage. Previous owner hit a culvert and believed the truck was stuck in gear with major damage done to the transmission. After I bought it I found that wasn't the case. The shift tower is broken in half, absolutely no damage to the trans. As far as other damage I have found, it's going to need an CV axle, inner and outer tie rod, shock, and probably ball joints. Are there any other parts I should be looking at or replacing to be cautious? Are the CV axle the same on both sides (same part number?) If you guys can help me out that would be great, thanks!

 

Anything obviously bent/broken on that side? (that was the side she messed up, wasn't it??)

 

Yeah that's the side that she hit the Culvert on. The only thing that has an obvious band in it is the inner tie rod where it meets the outer tie rod you can kind of see in the picture

 

Maybe you got lucky then, and an even better deal than you thought.

 

Feeling pretty lucky that's for sure. Just gotta track down the shifter tower, found alot for Rams and Chevy's, bit not so much for Dakota's.

 

My greatest concern is how much it was leaning to the side. So much so that the skid plate was touching the ground. Could that just be because the CV axle and shock are toast? Has a serious wobble and pulls drastically to the left. Couldn't go over 8mph 😂

 

Get the steering stuff straightened out first..... that bent tie rod will most certainly make it drive funny. I don't think a bad shock would make it sit funny though...... maybe there is indeed something in there that got bent.

 

This is how it's sitting. Granted that tire is a 215 and the others are 235's. Just for reference.

 

Kinda looks like that tire got pushed up, and back some.... Is it rubbing on the inner fenderwell there?

 

The wheels are slightly turned but that tire is definitely not supporting the weight like it should which made me think it was the shock.