I know that our dakota lack the aftermarket for lifts but what if you installed a lift spaer above the spring INSIDE the strut assembly and installed a spacer on top of the strut assembly essentially giving you 3+ inches of lift up front. Its sad because my 04 quad cab looked like it had a lift from stock. This thing is slammed to the ground.

You can find a 2 inch above strut spacer on ebay for under 100 bucks and the trailmaster inside strut spacer for 1.5 inches for under 100 bucks.

My only concern is our short control arms, too bad people dont make them for the dakotas, the toyota aftermarket had TONS!

Thoughts?

 

I have the spacer block that goes above the spring on the strut.

NIB all there

Make me an offer

 

what brand, where did you buy it from? why dont you use it?

 

IIRC it is a Performance Acc. brand

Can't remember where I got it, some offroad place. It's been a while.

I bought a few "kits" that were out at the time, looked them all over, and just made my own.

I have a 2wd and wanted more lift then any of the kits offered. I do not have to worry about cv joint angle, so off to work I went on it. I am also not worried about parts wear, as I hardly drive the truck, and stuff does wear out, so I just replace it when it does go.

So I have my own lift in front and rear, as I did blocks in the back. With my offset wheels and my own lift, I can clear 33's with no body lift. Thing is, 33's killed my power and mileage, so I went with what is in my sig.

 

I wouldn't recommend this on a 4x4, two spacers is just asking for trouble with the cv joints.

 

Noted but my thinking was that you could use the trailmaster with a 1 inch spacer and should be fine. You could possible see 2.5 inches of lift and still be OK. I would not go that big with the larger spacer as the toyos that have been doing this for years have limited theirs to just a few inches max 2.5-3. I was just asking to see if anyone did this. i am not used to having no reference for parts. I have been jeep forums for too long. I will be experimenting cause its apparent no one on here does much of that.

 

I'm assuming you're referring to the trailmaster installation inside the strut as opposed to above it?

 

yes the trailmaster inside the strut. I just checked under my dak and man they did not leave much room to work in there. There isnt much room for tires either. The knuckle is very close to the tire. Uggh they really screwed us on the front of these trucks.

 

. NJJer
how tall did you make your blocks. I,m gonna make mine next week. I was wondering will a 2" block raise it 2" or will it raise it more. I would like to have 2.5" of lift

 

By blocks you mean in front, correct?

Mine go on top of the strut mount itself. It is a tube with a plate on top and bottom with the required holes in it.

I am not sure how tall it is, but 2" at the top of the strut will net more than 2" at the wheel. Don't forget how the a-arm will increase lift do to its location and the arc it takes.
Sorry, it's late and I am not wording this the best way.

I will look tomorrow and measure mine for you. It netted me 3-3.125" lift at the wheel well.
Way more than any 4wd will be able to tolerate without blowing out cv's all the time.