Ya ever walk into a middle of a converstion and absolutely no friggin clue what the hell they are talkin' about?? [sm=WTFsgign.gif]
It's English but what the hell does it mean?!?! [sm=dontgetit.gif]

Damn gearheads.....

Just let me know if I can ever lift my Dak, ok?? thanks!

 

"...all we need to do is lower the diff and control arms..." Ok, no problem. that will just take a week witha lift and some fab tools. I've been looking long and hard at dropping the front end. maybe if it was my second vehicle.

 

I'm sure this has been discussed before but, rather than reinvent the wheel (so to speak), why not look into if the Durango struts would interchange with a Dakota? Rather than modifying and fabricating to try making parts fit from a bigger/heavier truck like the Ram, it would make sense to look into what, if any, compatibility there is swapping parts from a more 'similar' truck to ours, like the Durango.

Just a thought.

 

Raicenartist, it sounds like you got a great idea, if I am not mistaken isnt the Durango built off the same frames?

 

The idea is to have bigger heavier suspension because the truck makes you seasick w the factory setup. if the durangos have heavy duty/performance aftermarket suspension available then, it's a great idea.

 

I've had 'rough' suspensions on 4X4s before. I DON'T want that again (can you say '85 Toyota with straight front axle? [&:] ). I don't mind the ride on my truck at all. I would just like something a little more responsive and sure-footed in the handling department.

I have to own a truck for business reasons, but I drive like I have a sports car.

 

The Durango is the first thing I looked at but apparently it's not like either the Ram or Dakota. I haven't walked up toone for an inspection but the parts illustrations I can find show the Durango with a torsion bar front suspension and a standard style front shock with "eyes" at both ends. The Ram is the only thing I've found (other than Hondas!) that use the fork mount on the bottom. If someone know of a different application that would fit, please speak up!

 

Well I was mentioning the Rancho kit that has that piece of engineering done.

 

I'm almost positive that won't work. I'd save that time and look into a Ram coil before reusing the Dakota coil.

 

A couple of questions:

1. Someone mentioned the 2006 Ram 1500was 500 lbs heavier,
was that totalweight or weight on the front suspension?

2. These front end lift/spacers (2" - 2 1/2") sold, aren't they
also listed for the Ram 1500 4x4?

3. Lowering the lower control arms????? Is anybody doing this when they add the lift kit ????

What I'm trying to determine is that, using the 2006 Ram 1500 4x4
strut and springs would/should fit the Dakota, the bottom of the strut is the same
and I believe the top/bolt patternis also the same, as the lift spacers fit the Ram and Dakota.

According to the OEM parts manual the Dakota and the 2006 Ram 1500 4x4 use the same:
55366386AA -gromment, 52013672AA-collar, 55366975AA- isolator(spring seat),
55366387AA -isolator(spring),06506276AA-nut (M12x1.75)

But, it would be too costly tobuy 2 complete strut and spring assemblies just to try out.... [:@]

The Dakota and the Raider are built at the Warren Truck Plant and the Durango is built elsewhere???