The lower profile tires you have could be one reason the ride is stiff. My Jeep Patriot has 215/65-17 tires and the ride is stiffer than on my 05 dakota that had 265/70-16 tires.

 

I just purchased a 08 Dakota "Big Horn" and although I don't have that many miles on it yet,
I like the the stiffer ride, a lot better than the 05 SLT wishy washy ride. I'm NOT sorryto
have replaced it with the 08..[:'(] I also have the 18 wheels with 265/60/18 and do not think
that it makes the ride any more stifferthan the 17 wheels with 275/60/17 on the 05.
Just my Opinion.....

 

The wheels and tires I am supose to begetting are the std 16" alloyswith 265/70/16s, that, I would think with the added sidewallwould have to help smooth it out some. I just always preffed not to feel the road, I am kinda partial to towncars and the big old caddies from back in the day. I know this truck will never ride like an oldCaddi but when people descibe the 05-07 as boat like, I have to say that actually sounds appealing to me for some reason. I had a 600-800# load in the back of my 08 last weekend and it road pretty decentwith the load back there , as soon as I unloaded it though, I started thinking about getting that 07' setup again. LOL

 

When we say boat-like we mean during a hurricane

 

You know, my 07 I havent really totally had a squishy boat like ride. I keep hearing this and I dont recall flopping around to much, I mean at 80 mph on the highway, and I hit a dip I can feel the squishy rebounding. I dunno if its the heavy duty suspension and the 18s or I need more miles under me?

 

Lightningblt02, if you get a chance and don't mind, could you send me a pm with your vin#, dealers seem to havea hard time figuring out what parts go to what trucks without a VIN. I sent my dealer a quote request with my 08's vin, but I bet they end up asking my for the vin number of an 07' before they get me the part numbers for a similar 07' model , and since you have pretty much the same truck as I do, except the year model, I would think you vin would work real well for getting like model comparison parts. For example I am sure the parts are different spring rates for a 2wd v6 vs a 4x4 v8. I am a little concerned if I don't give them a vin # they might sell me parts for a v6 2wd or something.

 

CC1999
You're right about needing VIN numbers. It's also true for a lot of the parts recyclers that use car-parts.com type software. The easiest thing I've found is to go on Autotrader or Ebay and search for the truck with the options you're looking for. When you find it, write down the VIN and use that for your search.

I called a couple of Dodge dealers about a month ago and I was able to get the part numbers for the '08 struts/shocks but they weren't available to order and the dealers didn't even have a price list for them yet. Just the same, one place said they had eight back-orders already from Dakota owners wanting to put them on 05-07 Daks.

 

I'm interested to know if the spring #'s are the same between the 08 and older. If the shock and spring has to be changed, they can be assembled at any place with a heavy duty spring compressor and just bolted in.

 

I have heard a rumor that they started putting a better suspension under the front of the later '07's but like I said that's just a rumor. I'm not too hard on mine but I don't slow down to a crawl for small bumps and imperfect roads either. I've already blown 3 front shocks and had them replaced under warranty without ever taking the truck off the road or hitting any really nasty potholes.

 

The labor is the same to change the shock or spring. The spring must be removed to change the shock.